I have read three older historical fiction novels recently which I’ve decided to write about all in one post to avoid boring those of you who don’t share my interest in ‘kings and queens’ novels – and also because I’ve fallen hopelessly behind with my reviews again and need to start catching up!
The first book I’m going to mention is With All My Heart by Margaret Campbell Barnes (1951), which tells the story of Catherine of Braganza, the Portuguese princess who comes to England as the wife of King Charles II. Although I’ve read a lot of other novels set during the reign of Charles II, this is the first one that specifically focuses on Catherine. Catherine is portrayed very sympathetically throughout this novel, beginning with her early days in England, trying to adjust to a climate and culture so different from Portugal’s, and later, when she discovers that she will have to share her husband with his many mistresses.
There is some overlap between this book and the last one I read by Barnes – Lady on the Coin – which is about Frances Stuart, one of the other women at the court of Charles II, but the two novels have a different feel, probably due to the very different personalities and positions of their heroines. One notable difference between the two books is that while major events such as the plague and the Fire of London are only touched on lightly in Lady on the Coin, they are given much more attention in this book and that made this one a more interesting read.
The second queen to feature in my recent reading was only queen for nine days: she is, of course, Lady Jane Grey and her story is told in Destiny’s Lady by Maureen Peters. The book takes us through Jane’s life from her childhood in the household of Catherine Parr and Thomas Seymour to her acceptance of the crown, her imprisonment and finally her beheading in 1554. Jane’s mother, Frances Brandon, is very much the villain of the novel, but remembering that it was published in 1972, I think that was the accepted view of Frances at the time – it only seems to be more recently that historians have started reassessing what we know of her again.
I have read a few other books by Peters and I complained that they were too short to do the subject justice. This is another short one, but as Jane Grey’s life was sadly also very short, I felt that the length of the book was adequate for everything that needed to be said. The pacing is better and there is not the same sense of struggling to squeeze a person’s entire lifetime into two hundred pages. Having said that, I would only really recommend Destiny’s Lady if you just want a brief overview of Jane’s life or are looking for a light and undemanding read set in this period. If you would prefer a more in-depth novel about Jane, you will need to look elsewhere.
Finally, I read The Queen’s Caprice by Marjorie Bowen, a book about a queen of Scotland this time. The story of Mary, Queen of Scots, is a fascinating, eventful one and always a good subject for historical fiction. Bowen’s novel is a straightforward fictional biography of Mary, covering the period from her return to Scotland in 1561 following the death of her husband, the King of France, and her imprisonment at Lochleven. In between, there’s always something happening: a murder, a plot, a rebellion or a disastrous marriage or two!
This is an interesting look at Mary’s life, although as it was published in 1933 I think the style will be too dated for some readers and it’s probably not the best book to read as a first introduction as Bowen does seem to assume we have some background knowledge of the period. It isn’t a very flattering portrayal of Mary either – as the title suggests, a lot is made of her capriciousness and her tendency to think with her heart rather than her head, making poor decisions regardless of the consequences. I was never sure whether our sympathies were supposed to be with Mary or with her ambitious half-brother, James Stewart, the Earl of Moray. I’ve read a few other books by Marjorie Bowen and while I thought this one was worth reading, it isn’t one of my favourites.
Have you read any books about Catherine of Braganza, Lady Jane Grey or Mary, Queen of Scots? Which would you recommend?
She Reads Novels 
I really enjoyed reading Antonia Fraser’s biography of Mary Stuart, but you’ve probably read that one too.
No, I haven’t read that one yet! My non-fiction reading is sadly lacking, but I’m definitely interested in trying some of Antonia Fraser’s books, particularly the Mary Stuart one.
I thoroughly enjoyed John Guy’s biography of Mary – My Heart is My Own. I felt he was very much pro-Mary – not suggesting she didn’t make some unwise decisions, but putting them into the context to show that she often didn’t have many other choices.
Thanks – I’ll think about reading that one. Most of what I’ve read about Mary has been quite negative so it would be nice to read something slightly more positive for a change!
the only novel I read that briefly touches upon the life of Catherine is Dark Angels by Karleen Koen, which tells the story more from the perspective of one of her Ladies in Waiting. While the book covers a range of factual and fictional episodes in Restoration England, it does provide a very sympathetic view of Catherine, showing her as a kind, religious, simple queen forced to contended with a new country, a husband with several mistresses and painful miscarriages. I must look up With All My Heart!
I’ve read some good reviews of Karleen Koen’s books but have never tried one. I do love the Restoration period though, so maybe I should read Dark Angels. I’m glad it also has a sympathetic view of Catherine!
Well done on catching up – I had to resort to double-reviewing at the end of last month!
Well, I’m still not completely caught up yet, but posting three reviews in one does help a lot!
Three, great mini reviews Helen 🙂 I haven’t read about any of these ladies, but I do have a copy of Lady on the Coin to look forward to reading.
I hope you enjoy Lady on the Coin!
Thank you 🙂
I too am so far behind on posting reviews. The worst aspect is when weeks have gone by since I finished a book so trying to review it takes longer as I dredge it from my memory. Yours is a good solution.
In The Weight of Ink, there is some good coverage of the Plague and the Great Fire.
My favorite Mary Queen of Scot’s book is still Mary, Queen of Scotland and the Isles by Margaret George. All I know about Lady Jane Grey I learned in The Autobiography of Henry VIII, also by Margaret George.
Yes, it’s best to write a review as soon as possible after finishing the book – if I wait too long I forget what I wanted to say about it.
That’s another good reason to read The Weight of Ink! I’ll definitely have to add that one to the TBR, I think. I do have a copy of Mary, Queen of Scotland and the Isles but haven’t read it yet, although I have enjoyed some of Margaret George’s other books.
Of these three, I’ve only heard of Marjorie Bowen, but the first one sounds best. BTW, I just finished The Weight of Ink, and I think it’ll be on my top ten list this year.
It sounds as though I definitely need to read The Weight of Ink!
Good idea!