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A review by katykelly
Cecily by Annie Garthwaite
4.0
Historical backstory: the women's side.
1430s England. Now I've enjoyed The White Queen, other Tudor novels and read non-fiction on Henry VIII and his wives, I do like learning about this period.
So when I partway through this realised the family tree connection to those famous monarchs, I was even more interested, with Cecily being mother to a king who sired kings and queens - her influence would have been felt through those generations.
While this is almost a 'typical' woman's story of the period in some ways - endless pregnancies, births, losses of children and day-to-day menial tasks, Cecily being who she was means this is also the tale of a woman working behind the scenes in the ways she was able to, to influence some very significant events.
Watching her discuss political manoeuvres with her husband, and use her own techniques with other ranking women, and observe them for information, it did show just how much power a woman could yield, if she had skill and the right ear to bend.
I liked this as an audiobook, it brought the slowly ageing voice of Cecily in front of me, the conversation of her tale. The sadness of the life of a woman, its confines, but also how that didn't have to be the case - I very much enjoy seeing the other stories from history we hear less of.
For fans of historical fiction and those who enjoy putting the royal family tree in context.
With thanks to Nudge Books for providing a sample Audible copy.
1430s England. Now I've enjoyed The White Queen, other Tudor novels and read non-fiction on Henry VIII and his wives, I do like learning about this period.
So when I partway through this realised the family tree connection to those famous monarchs, I was even more interested, with Cecily being mother to a king who sired kings and queens - her influence would have been felt through those generations.
While this is almost a 'typical' woman's story of the period in some ways - endless pregnancies, births, losses of children and day-to-day menial tasks, Cecily being who she was means this is also the tale of a woman working behind the scenes in the ways she was able to, to influence some very significant events.
Watching her discuss political manoeuvres with her husband, and use her own techniques with other ranking women, and observe them for information, it did show just how much power a woman could yield, if she had skill and the right ear to bend.
I liked this as an audiobook, it brought the slowly ageing voice of Cecily in front of me, the conversation of her tale. The sadness of the life of a woman, its confines, but also how that didn't have to be the case - I very much enjoy seeing the other stories from history we hear less of.
For fans of historical fiction and those who enjoy putting the royal family tree in context.
With thanks to Nudge Books for providing a sample Audible copy.