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goannelies's review
4.0
At thirteen, Ailenor Of Provence travels to England to wed king Henry III, who’s a lot older than herself. Against all odds, the couple does find happiness and affection together. But as a foreign queen, Ailenor is not liked at court and is seen as a ‘she wolf’ when her Savoyard relatives get high positions at court and in the clergy. Luckily, she finds friendship with two remarkable women. Rosalind, a young embroideress and Nell, the king’s sister. Nell’s love interest is none other than Simon De Monfort, but she’s not free to wed since she has taken a vow of chastity after her late husband’s death. Ailenor sees her chance to act as a modern Guinevere and decides to aid the lovebirds.
The silken rose is the first part in a trilogy about three of England’s medieval queens who were seen as she wolves in their time. McGrath wants to give them a more human voice. This books tells the story of Eleanor Of Provence, Henry III’s queen, but McGrath uses the spelling ‘Ailenor’ to distinguish her from all the English Eleanor’s (it was quite a popular name back then).
I liked to read about Henry III’s reign, as he’s a forgotten king stuck between his father ‘bad’ king John and his son Edward Longshanks, who have both gotten more attention in popular culture. But Henry’s reign was a long one and during all that time Eleanor sat faithful at his side on the throne, so the two of them certainly deserve more attention. I did know something about Eleanor. In particular that she has three sisters who would also make important marriages. Her eldest sister Marguerite becomes queen of France, thus bringing the sisters to opposite sides of the European power struggle.
The book opens with Ailenor traveling to England during a cold and wet winter. She likes her husband immediately but he finds her yet too young to consummate the marriage. Ailenor quickly makes friendship with the king’s sister Nell, who is widowed and has taken a vow to never marry again. Determined to be a good queen and smitten with tales of king Arthur and Guinevere, Ailenor develops a love for poetry and embroidery. She offers Rosalind, a very talented embroideress, her own workshop at Winchester. At the same time she petitions the king to help Nell, who has fallen in love with Simon De Montfort but needs the Pope’s blessing to wed again.
We discover court life through the eyes of this three different women. Rosalind is the only one not based on a historical character and although she has quite an interesting story herself, I liked the focus on Ailenor and Nell more.
Henry’s relationship with Nell’s husband Simon De Monfort is a complex one. Especially when events in Gascony are escalating. Eventually it will lead to rebellion, but those events are not included in this book. That may look as a strange choice, but I do understand that McGrath wants to focus on Ailenor’s story and not on the quarrel between two men.
There are many more things going on in this novel, such as the third crusade, the struggle between Ailenor’s Savoyards and the English nobles, witchcraft, Henry’s second family the De Lusignans causing unrest… You get a full insight into the politics and royal intrigues of the 13th century.
I really liked how the relationship between Ailenor and Henry was portrayed. They have a strong affection for each other, but Henry is a volatile king and the couple knows many ups and downs. Ailenor dares to stand up to Henry, which is not always appreciated.
I’m looking forward to read more about Eleanor Of Provence, and to continue with McGrath’s Rose trilogy as I know almost nothing about Eleanor Of Castile, the main subject of the next book in the series.
https://inanotherera.wordpress.com/2020/09/03/the-silken-rose-by-carol-mcgrath/
Dutch review:
Ailenor Of Provence trekt op haar 13de naar het natte en koude Engeland om te trouwen met koning Henry III. Hoewel haar man heel wat is ouder is, groeit er een sterke genegenheid tussen hen. Maar Ailenor is een buitenlandse koningin en dat maakt haar niet zo populair aan het hof. Gelukkig sluit ze al snel vriendschap met Rosalind, een jonge borduurster en Nell, Henry's zus. Nell heeft na de dood van haar man gezworen nooit te hertrouwen, maar is ondertussen verliefd op Simon Of Monfort, een van de veelbelovende ridders aan het hof. Ailenor besluit om de twee te helpen.
The silken rose is het eerste boek van een trilogie over Middeleeuwse koninginnen die (onterecht?) als she wolf werden gezien. Eleanor Of Provence (of Ailenor, de spelling die de auteur gebruikt) bijt de spits af. Ze was de vrouw van Henry III, een vaak vergeten koning omdat zijn regering niet zo merkwaardig was in vergelijking met zijn vader en zoon. Maar Henry regeerde wel decennialang met Ailenor aan zijn zijde.
Ailenor zelf stemt uit een gezin met 4 zussen die elk een groots huwelijk zullen sluiten. Zo wordt haar zus Marguerite koningin van Frankrijk.
Dit boek vertelt Ailenor's verhaal vanuit drie perspectieven. Ailenor, Rosalind en Nell. Enkel Rosalind is fictief en haar perspectief dient om de lagere klasse een stem te geven.
Hoewel ik Rosalind best sympathiek vond, droeg haar persoonlijke verhaal weinig bij tot het verhaal. De focus ligt op Ailenor en Henry en de politieke bekommernissen in Engeland en Gascony. De relatie tussen Simon De Montfort en Henry zal jarenlang ups en downs kennen en hoewel de echte rebellie in dit boek niet aan bod komt (een keuze die ik zowel vreemd vind als kan begrijpen want dit is Ailenor's verhaal), voel je de spanningen goed doorheen het boek.
Ailenor krijgt een menselijk gezicht. Haar wordt verweten dat ze haar familie belangrijke posten heeft toebedeeld ten koste van Engelse nobelen en ook dat is een groot thema doorheen het boek. Net als de hoge kosten van Ailenor's persoonlijke uitgaven.
Ten slotte leren we ook veel over de liefde van Ailenor voor poëzie, de verhalen van King Arthur en borduren. Een groot deel van het verhaal gaat over opdrachten die Rosalind krijgt van Ailenor om de verschillende paleizen te decoreren. De roos komt verschillende keren symbolisch terug, net als zijde. Beiden verwijzend naar de titel van het boek.
Voor mij was dit een mooie kennismaking met Eleanor Of Provence. Jammer genoeg ben ik niet helemaal weggeblazen over de schrijfstijl en de verschillende perspectieven die McGrath heeft gekozen. Maar ik zal met plezier deel 2 over Eleanor of Castilië (waarover ik echt niks weet!) lezen.
Er staan nog een aantal boeken over Eleanor Of Provence en haar zussen op mijn lijstje. Heel benieuwd om daar eens aan te beginnen.
The silken rose is the first part in a trilogy about three of England’s medieval queens who were seen as she wolves in their time. McGrath wants to give them a more human voice. This books tells the story of Eleanor Of Provence, Henry III’s queen, but McGrath uses the spelling ‘Ailenor’ to distinguish her from all the English Eleanor’s (it was quite a popular name back then).
I liked to read about Henry III’s reign, as he’s a forgotten king stuck between his father ‘bad’ king John and his son Edward Longshanks, who have both gotten more attention in popular culture. But Henry’s reign was a long one and during all that time Eleanor sat faithful at his side on the throne, so the two of them certainly deserve more attention. I did know something about Eleanor. In particular that she has three sisters who would also make important marriages. Her eldest sister Marguerite becomes queen of France, thus bringing the sisters to opposite sides of the European power struggle.
The book opens with Ailenor traveling to England during a cold and wet winter. She likes her husband immediately but he finds her yet too young to consummate the marriage. Ailenor quickly makes friendship with the king’s sister Nell, who is widowed and has taken a vow to never marry again. Determined to be a good queen and smitten with tales of king Arthur and Guinevere, Ailenor develops a love for poetry and embroidery. She offers Rosalind, a very talented embroideress, her own workshop at Winchester. At the same time she petitions the king to help Nell, who has fallen in love with Simon De Montfort but needs the Pope’s blessing to wed again.
We discover court life through the eyes of this three different women. Rosalind is the only one not based on a historical character and although she has quite an interesting story herself, I liked the focus on Ailenor and Nell more.
Henry’s relationship with Nell’s husband Simon De Monfort is a complex one. Especially when events in Gascony are escalating. Eventually it will lead to rebellion, but those events are not included in this book. That may look as a strange choice, but I do understand that McGrath wants to focus on Ailenor’s story and not on the quarrel between two men.
There are many more things going on in this novel, such as the third crusade, the struggle between Ailenor’s Savoyards and the English nobles, witchcraft, Henry’s second family the De Lusignans causing unrest… You get a full insight into the politics and royal intrigues of the 13th century.
I really liked how the relationship between Ailenor and Henry was portrayed. They have a strong affection for each other, but Henry is a volatile king and the couple knows many ups and downs. Ailenor dares to stand up to Henry, which is not always appreciated.
I’m looking forward to read more about Eleanor Of Provence, and to continue with McGrath’s Rose trilogy as I know almost nothing about Eleanor Of Castile, the main subject of the next book in the series.
https://inanotherera.wordpress.com/2020/09/03/the-silken-rose-by-carol-mcgrath/
Dutch review:
Ailenor Of Provence trekt op haar 13de naar het natte en koude Engeland om te trouwen met koning Henry III. Hoewel haar man heel wat is ouder is, groeit er een sterke genegenheid tussen hen. Maar Ailenor is een buitenlandse koningin en dat maakt haar niet zo populair aan het hof. Gelukkig sluit ze al snel vriendschap met Rosalind, een jonge borduurster en Nell, Henry's zus. Nell heeft na de dood van haar man gezworen nooit te hertrouwen, maar is ondertussen verliefd op Simon Of Monfort, een van de veelbelovende ridders aan het hof. Ailenor besluit om de twee te helpen.
The silken rose is het eerste boek van een trilogie over Middeleeuwse koninginnen die (onterecht?) als she wolf werden gezien. Eleanor Of Provence (of Ailenor, de spelling die de auteur gebruikt) bijt de spits af. Ze was de vrouw van Henry III, een vaak vergeten koning omdat zijn regering niet zo merkwaardig was in vergelijking met zijn vader en zoon. Maar Henry regeerde wel decennialang met Ailenor aan zijn zijde.
Ailenor zelf stemt uit een gezin met 4 zussen die elk een groots huwelijk zullen sluiten. Zo wordt haar zus Marguerite koningin van Frankrijk.
Dit boek vertelt Ailenor's verhaal vanuit drie perspectieven. Ailenor, Rosalind en Nell. Enkel Rosalind is fictief en haar perspectief dient om de lagere klasse een stem te geven.
Hoewel ik Rosalind best sympathiek vond, droeg haar persoonlijke verhaal weinig bij tot het verhaal. De focus ligt op Ailenor en Henry en de politieke bekommernissen in Engeland en Gascony. De relatie tussen Simon De Montfort en Henry zal jarenlang ups en downs kennen en hoewel de echte rebellie in dit boek niet aan bod komt (een keuze die ik zowel vreemd vind als kan begrijpen want dit is Ailenor's verhaal), voel je de spanningen goed doorheen het boek.
Ailenor krijgt een menselijk gezicht. Haar wordt verweten dat ze haar familie belangrijke posten heeft toebedeeld ten koste van Engelse nobelen en ook dat is een groot thema doorheen het boek. Net als de hoge kosten van Ailenor's persoonlijke uitgaven.
Ten slotte leren we ook veel over de liefde van Ailenor voor poëzie, de verhalen van King Arthur en borduren. Een groot deel van het verhaal gaat over opdrachten die Rosalind krijgt van Ailenor om de verschillende paleizen te decoreren. De roos komt verschillende keren symbolisch terug, net als zijde. Beiden verwijzend naar de titel van het boek.
Voor mij was dit een mooie kennismaking met Eleanor Of Provence. Jammer genoeg ben ik niet helemaal weggeblazen over de schrijfstijl en de verschillende perspectieven die McGrath heeft gekozen. Maar ik zal met plezier deel 2 over Eleanor of Castilië (waarover ik echt niks weet!) lezen.
Er staan nog een aantal boeken over Eleanor Of Provence en haar zussen op mijn lijstje. Heel benieuwd om daar eens aan te beginnen.
annarella's review against another edition
5.0
I found this story terrific, well researched and engrossing.
I didn't know a lot about the specific historical time and was happy to learn more while being entertained by this complex novel.
The mix of historical facts and fiction works well and the author did a great job in keeping them balanced.
The characters are well thought and the historical background is vivid.
An excellent read, highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
I didn't know a lot about the specific historical time and was happy to learn more while being entertained by this complex novel.
The mix of historical facts and fiction works well and the author did a great job in keeping them balanced.
The characters are well thought and the historical background is vivid.
An excellent read, highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
cate_ninetails's review
4.0
It's telling that the non historical character in this story, Rosalind, is an embroideress because as the events of The Silken Rose unfold much attention is paid to medieval courtly attire. For me this did occasionally become distracting as many terms were oft repeated seemingly meaninglessly without adding much to moving the story along.
I admire that the author makes much of the women in this period who are strong and clever in their own right, traits perhaps frowned on in the period. This take on Queen Ailenor is almost modern as she deftly steers her sometimes bumbling husband the king into more intelligent decisions while still attending her duties as wife. Coming as she did to England at such a tender age it is a marvel the amount of power that she consolidated in time. I was pleased to learn that this is a planned first in a new trilogy and look forward to maybe learning more about often overlooked queens.
I admire that the author makes much of the women in this period who are strong and clever in their own right, traits perhaps frowned on in the period. This take on Queen Ailenor is almost modern as she deftly steers her sometimes bumbling husband the king into more intelligent decisions while still attending her duties as wife. Coming as she did to England at such a tender age it is a marvel the amount of power that she consolidated in time. I was pleased to learn that this is a planned first in a new trilogy and look forward to maybe learning more about often overlooked queens.
annarella's review
5.0
I found this story terrific, well researched and engrossing.
I didn't know a lot about the specific historical time and was happy to learn more while being entertained by this complex novel.
The mix of historical facts and fiction works well and the author did a great job in keeping them balanced.
The characters are well thought and the historical background is vivid.
An excellent read, highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
I didn't know a lot about the specific historical time and was happy to learn more while being entertained by this complex novel.
The mix of historical facts and fiction works well and the author did a great job in keeping them balanced.
The characters are well thought and the historical background is vivid.
An excellent read, highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
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