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3.88 AVERAGE
3.88 AVERAGE
This was not my favorite of the Gregory's Tudor novels but it was pretty solid. As always, this book left me deeply intrigued by the real history behind the time and the person. After reading these it never fails, I immediately start looking for nonfiction books on the same subject.
The story is told from the point of view of Margaret Pole. One of the last of the Plantagenet line. Margaret is such an interesting woman. She lived a long life and went from royal line to lowly knight's wife, to destitute, to one of only two woman during the time to own lands in her own right, to member of the royal court, to prisoner in the Tower. Her life was filled with so many ups and downs. She was truly a great woman.
The parts about her were great. However, I found the book to be too long. I think too much time was taken during the period Henry was trying to set Catherine of Aragon aside and marry Anne Boleyn. Too many details about every lost child. To me, Margaret's personal story was more interesting, perhaps because I hadn't really heard it before. I thought the book did a great job of portraying a country in turmoil with a king that was becoming more and more irrational. Painting a picture of how difficult it was to members of the court/aristocracy to keep their heads during the era. Literally. I don't think I fully realized how unhinged Henry VIII was until this book. He was literally just killing people on a whim. In the afterword of the book Gregory describes him as a serial killer...and I don't think she is wrong. In the end, I think the man was a monster as was very clearly suffering from some kind of mental illness.
I wish it would have gone a little deeper into how Margaret felt about Geoffrey, her son that supplied "evidence" against her. He was responsible for her son's, grandson's, and her death. How was there not some resentment? Not sure if the woman should be beatified, but she was definitely a remarkable woman.
Definitely a read for anyone who is a fan of Gregory's other books in the series or who is interested in the Tudors/Cousin's War era (as long as you can stand a little embellishment/foray beyond the facts).
The story is told from the point of view of Margaret Pole. One of the last of the Plantagenet line. Margaret is such an interesting woman. She lived a long life and went from royal line to lowly knight's wife, to destitute, to one of only two woman during the time to own lands in her own right, to member of the royal court, to prisoner in the Tower. Her life was filled with so many ups and downs. She was truly a great woman.
The parts about her were great. However, I found the book to be too long. I think too much time was taken during the period Henry was trying to set Catherine of Aragon aside and marry Anne Boleyn. Too many details about every lost child. To me, Margaret's personal story was more interesting, perhaps because I hadn't really heard it before. I thought the book did a great job of portraying a country in turmoil with a king that was becoming more and more irrational. Painting a picture of how difficult it was to members of the court/aristocracy to keep their heads during the era. Literally. I don't think I fully realized how unhinged Henry VIII was until this book. He was literally just killing people on a whim. In the afterword of the book Gregory describes him as a serial killer...and I don't think she is wrong. In the end, I think the man was a monster as was very clearly suffering from some kind of mental illness.
I wish it would have gone a little deeper into how Margaret felt about Geoffrey, her son that supplied "evidence" against her. He was responsible for her son's, grandson's, and her death. How was there not some resentment? Not sure if the woman should be beatified, but she was definitely a remarkable woman.
Definitely a read for anyone who is a fan of Gregory's other books in the series or who is interested in the Tudors/Cousin's War era (as long as you can stand a little embellishment/foray beyond the facts).
The tyrrany of King Henry finally really laid bare.
While I know I had read that Countess Salisbury had died a messy death from one of the other books, that ending was horrific in its detail.
While I know I had read that Countess Salisbury had died a messy death from one of the other books, that ending was horrific in its detail.
Another Philippa Gregory delight. By now, it's clear she's a strong weak spot for me, but I really enjoyed this last book in the series.
Very good. The last book of the Cousins' War. The brutality of the Tudor rule under Henry VIII.
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I can't believe I have read this entire huge book and my only emotion is a tiny little shrug. An overblown book I wish I hadn't spent so much time on.
This is actually the first book in The Cousin’s War series that I have read, although I do own the majority of them. I can tell you that you do not need to have read the other books in this series to enjoy this book, it reads as a stand-alone book with references to people who are featured in the other entries in this series.
I have read many other Gregory novels in the past and the style here is no different than that of her Tudor series. In this installment we are treated to Margaret Pole and the issues facing her family at the hands of Henry VII and ultimately Henry VIII. Some of the events that unfold in this book will feel a little repetitive if you have read The Constant Princess, also by Philippa Gregory. Margaret Pole is young Katherine of Aragon’s lady and she is embroiled in the whole “did they or didn’t they” scandal that surrounds Katherine and Prince Arthur’s marriage, but this time seen from a slightly different view.
I ultimately liked the Pole family featured in this novel – I found them to be likable and their story interesting and engaging (Gregory is fairly sympathetic to the York family). There always seems to be one bad egg in every family, and the Pole family has one of those too. I felt bad for all of the things that this family had to go through at the hands of the King of England. It had to be quite an unsettling time to live through, full of uncertainty. As the book is being told in the first person the end is very interesting, and I think very well done, for how Margaret’s story ends.
Overall this was a good read with just a few small places where the story slowed down.
Oh, and the curse? We are beat over the head with what that is all about. Subtlety is not her strong point.
This review was previously posted at The Maiden's Court blog.
I have read many other Gregory novels in the past and the style here is no different than that of her Tudor series. In this installment we are treated to Margaret Pole and the issues facing her family at the hands of Henry VII and ultimately Henry VIII. Some of the events that unfold in this book will feel a little repetitive if you have read The Constant Princess, also by Philippa Gregory. Margaret Pole is young Katherine of Aragon’s lady and she is embroiled in the whole “did they or didn’t they” scandal that surrounds Katherine and Prince Arthur’s marriage, but this time seen from a slightly different view.
I ultimately liked the Pole family featured in this novel – I found them to be likable and their story interesting and engaging (Gregory is fairly sympathetic to the York family). There always seems to be one bad egg in every family, and the Pole family has one of those too. I felt bad for all of the things that this family had to go through at the hands of the King of England. It had to be quite an unsettling time to live through, full of uncertainty. As the book is being told in the first person the end is very interesting, and I think very well done, for how Margaret’s story ends.
Overall this was a good read with just a few small places where the story slowed down.
Oh, and the curse? We are beat over the head with what that is all about. Subtlety is not her strong point.
This review was previously posted at The Maiden's Court blog.
I totally was not out to get sucked into another series or sail through them all in a very few short months. But this one grabbed me as something different. Yes, the history through a wife's eyes has been done and is growing in popularity, it's here to stay. That is how this series started out, but it's so much more, even from book one. It's the Tudors and Plantagnents. It's the Rivers. Its The Elizabeths you never heard of. And this one! It's a stand alone (but if you can take the time, read them all).
I've been fascinated with the king who divorced or beheaded 6 wives since I first heard of him as a young girl. (Please tell me you have been, too!) It took me a much longer time to understand the destruction of the Catholic Church in England. But this book, told from the POV of disregarded Margaret Pole, had me realizing a whole different facet. What Henry VIII did to his country, to his men, to his cousins, shows a whole other tyrant. A madman.
But what is more interesting to me is that people don't speak up. They think it will stop at each narcissistic act. Appease the monster and he'll leave us alone. But he doesn't, as is shown by history time and time and time again, and soon the narcissist turns into a tyrant, a fascist, a demigod whose tide swallows us whole, even on a whim.
I kept wondering how Gregory would write the (well documented historical) ending. Bravo to you! You wowed me and got it oh so right.
I've been fascinated with the king who divorced or beheaded 6 wives since I first heard of him as a young girl. (Please tell me you have been, too!) It took me a much longer time to understand the destruction of the Catholic Church in England. But this book, told from the POV of disregarded Margaret Pole, had me realizing a whole different facet. What Henry VIII did to his country, to his men, to his cousins, shows a whole other tyrant. A madman.
But what is more interesting to me is that people don't speak up. They think it will stop at each narcissistic act. Appease the monster and he'll leave us alone. But he doesn't, as is shown by history time and time and time again, and soon the narcissist turns into a tyrant, a fascist, a demigod whose tide swallows us whole, even on a whim.
I kept wondering how Gregory would write the (well documented historical) ending. Bravo to you! You wowed me and got it oh so right.
Gregory's books are my comfort read. They don't disappoint.