Like many people I am fascinated with the history of the British monarchy, in particular the Plantagenet and Tudor years, which were as fraught with political turmoil as we are now. Worse since being on the wrong side of things could easily result in the loss of your head.
There is a lot of historical fiction written about these eras, some of it excellent, some just good, some quite awful and I’ve read a good amount of it. I thought I would start the history novels I enjoy off with a good (not great) one that leads to better things.
Phillipa Gregory’s novel The Lady of the Rivers, is a combination of history and legend woven together to bring to life a woman who is less known than she should be. Jacquetta of Luxembourg was descended from Charlemagne and kin to most of Europe’s royal families. She was married at a very early age to John Duke of Bedford and after his death she ran off with one of the men of her household, Richard Woodville, a man far below her station. She did so without the king’s permission and as a minor member of royalty that was a dangerous move.
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