Books We Love (Or Not)

Set in twelfth century France and England, this is a vivid and accessible retelling of the extraordinary life of Eleanor of Aquitaine, wife to two kings who were both allies and rivals, mother to two future Kings of England, plotter and politician extraordinaire, famed patron of the arts and a legendary beauty. The story is told from Eleanor’s point of view as a fictionalized autobiography—loaded with intrigue, passion and family drama—during the fifteen years when the dangerous lady was incarcerated in a remote English castle by her own husband, the betrayed and angry King Henry II.

I am a selective customer when it comes to Eleanor, having written a novel myself set at her court-in-exile, and having dared to use this remarkable woman as a secondary character in my story. Yet I say without reservation that THE BOOK OF ELEANOR was an exceptional novel, bringing me closer to “the essence of Eleanor” than anything I’ve read on this historical figure before, and an excellent dramatic counterpoint to Alison Weir’s stellar non-fiction biography of Eleanor’s life and times, which is called ELEANOR OF AQUITAINE: A LIFE–another book I recommend highly to anyone curious about Eleanor’s life and times.

The voice in this story was extraordinary, sprightly and wry, brilliant, humorous at times, passionate yet dignified. In the very first paragraph, Eleanor’s voice exploded from the page, sucking me in and never letting go until the end. I would read anything else this author has done, and I think there are real lessons to be learned here about making an unwieldy and substantial history accessible and intriguing for the modern reader.

Note that the story was published first in German, underscoring to my mind yet again the great interest of European readers in quality historical fiction. Look out for SHIELD OF THREE LIONS and BANNERS OF GOLD, the other medieval novels published by this talented author.

Set in ancient Egypt, this compelling story is a novelization of the true life of Hatshepsut, the famous female Pharoah who dressed like a man and called herself king. The hero of the book is Senenmut, the queen’s real-life scribe, lover, and tutor to her doomed young daughter Neferure. The story of this brilliant and daring female monarch is told by Senenmut and by Nehsi, the queen’s charismatic Nubian bodyguard.

This book was immensely appealing to me on so many levels. Although the entire story was true, it was told in a very dramatic and personal way that never bogged down for me—-not once. In fact, it was very difficult to put the book down once I started reading it. Particular strengths included Hatshepsut’s motivation for her unconventional decision, and the terrible tension between her and her militaristic heir and nephew Thutmose (who became a famous pharoah himself, and sought feverishly to obliterate all evidence that his aunt had ever ruled). Some historical novels weaken my connection to the story with frequent, multi-year jumps in chronology, as years elapse between chapters. This book avoided that challenge and presented a smooth and continuous narrative. When years passed, it was done so gracefully that I almost didn’t notice. The life-long romance between Senenmut and Hatshepsut was also very poignant.

Tarr has a considerable backlist, including a number of other novels written in ancient Egypt as well as Crusader and fantasy novels, and I definitely want to read them! Two thumbs way up for this book. It’s one of the best historicals I’ve read in a long time.

Set of course in Tudor England under the reign of King Henry VIII, SECRET DIARY is a startlingly good retelling of Anne Boleyn’s story via a fictional journal that is discovered and read by her daughter Elizabeth Tudor when she becomes Queen. Elizabeth finds unsettling parallels between her mother’s story and her own illicit and dangerous love for Lord Robert Dudley.

The crisp and authentic period voice if this novel was a particular strength; I could hear Anne’s voice and Elizabeth’s ringing in my head. Maxwell also manages a great interweaving of research with the story, including some unusual tidbits that found their way into my own Tudor-era story. The story was nicely paced (which is often a challenge in historical novels that span many years), and the device of journal entries spaced several months apart was smooth and effective. The book also created strong sympathy for the flawed yet appealing Anne Boleyn. The reader gets the strong sense of an intelligent, independent and ambitious woman who was ultimately punished for these so-called failings.

MADEMOISELLE BOLEYN by the same author was another exceptional read, every bit as good as SECRET DIARY. This novel embodies the brilliantly executed idea to focus on the girlhood of Anne Boleyn at the French court, before she returns to England and becomes Henry VIII’s beloved. Thus, the story is “fresh” in part because it covers a period of Anne’s life that is not well traveled by other novels. It ends when Anne arrives back home on English soil, just before her fateful meeting with Henry VIII–which gave me a definite chill. This book was almost good enough to bring me to tears!

These two novels are must-reads for any fan of Tudor history or anyone curious about the charismatic Anne. Fans of Philippa Gregory’s Tudor-era novels are certain to like these books. Historical romance readers who like a rich tapestry of history with their romance will also enjoy the read.

Check out also Maxwell’s latest release, SIGNORA DA VINCI, set during the Italian Renaissance, which tells the story of the famous artist and his courageous mother. Details on this and other releases by this talented author can be found at http://robinmaxwell.com

This book is a novelization of the early life of Elizabeth Tudor, set of course in sixteenth-century England. Eminent historian Alison Weir makes her sophomore venture into the world of Tudor-era historical fiction with a vivid and dramatic retelling of the early life of Elizabeth Tudor. The story ranges from Elizabeth’s childhood when her mother Queen Anne Boleyn is beheaded, to Elizabeth’s precipitous descent from princess to bastard, to her survival through several regime changes and her imprisonment for treason–to her triumphant ascent as Queen of England.

This book has something for everyone: political intrigue, sex, scandal, rebellion, vivid characterization and lovingly captured historical detail. Elizabeth is shown as the spirited, brilliant but flawed and human woman she must have been. I can’t speak highly enough about the book, and about Weir in general. The author is best known for her non-fiction historical books, but her treatment of this story proves she’s also a gifted novelist. Look out also for INNOCENT TRAITOR by the same author, which is a novelization of the story of Lady Jane Grey, the Nine-Days Queen. Fans of Tudor history and the intricate, passionate work of Philippa Gregory should enjoy this book.

My favorite Elizabeth story of all time is still “I, ELIZABETH” by Rosalind Miles. Check out my review of this one under the “favorite novels” page on my website at www.XeniaNavarre.com