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A review by tasmanian_bibliophile
Stormbird by Conn Iggulden
3.0
England was cold that month.’
In 1437, after 15 years of regency, Henry VI was declared of an age to reign. He proved to be a weak and malleable king, dangerously dependent on two men to run his kingdom. The two men are spymaster Derry Brewer and William de la Pole, Duke of Suffolk. Henry VI has decided that peace with France would be a good thing, but with English territories in France under threat and rumours of revolt in England, not all of his nobles agree.
‘The whole country is waiting for young Henry to be half the man his dad was, to finish the glorious work that took half of France and made their precious Dauphin prince run like a little girl.’
A secret deal is struck by the Duke of Suffolk and Derry Brewer for Henry to marry Margaret of Anjou, a young French noblewoman. This deal involves returning English0held territories back to France. Richard, Duke of York (amongst others) is outraged. Unrest in England leads to the rebellion led by Jack Cade, and it isn’t at all clear whether Henry will prevail.
This is the first book of a trilogy Conn Iggulden has planned on the Wars of the Roses. The focus in this novel is on the politics and warfare, on the intrigue and infighting, on the treachery. It was a turbulent period, and while Conn Iggulden has taken some liberties with the history, he breathes life into the people and events. Most of the characters are based on real historical figures and those that are not – such as Derry Brewer - help to bring the various strands of the story together.
‘Historical fiction sometimes involves filling in the gaps and unexplained parts of history.’
I enjoyed the novel for its pace and found Conn Iggulden’s depiction of both Henry VI and Margaret of Anjou more sympathetic than in some other novels I’ve read. If historical accuracy is more important to you than a rollicking good read, then this may not be the novel for you.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
In 1437, after 15 years of regency, Henry VI was declared of an age to reign. He proved to be a weak and malleable king, dangerously dependent on two men to run his kingdom. The two men are spymaster Derry Brewer and William de la Pole, Duke of Suffolk. Henry VI has decided that peace with France would be a good thing, but with English territories in France under threat and rumours of revolt in England, not all of his nobles agree.
‘The whole country is waiting for young Henry to be half the man his dad was, to finish the glorious work that took half of France and made their precious Dauphin prince run like a little girl.’
A secret deal is struck by the Duke of Suffolk and Derry Brewer for Henry to marry Margaret of Anjou, a young French noblewoman. This deal involves returning English0held territories back to France. Richard, Duke of York (amongst others) is outraged. Unrest in England leads to the rebellion led by Jack Cade, and it isn’t at all clear whether Henry will prevail.
This is the first book of a trilogy Conn Iggulden has planned on the Wars of the Roses. The focus in this novel is on the politics and warfare, on the intrigue and infighting, on the treachery. It was a turbulent period, and while Conn Iggulden has taken some liberties with the history, he breathes life into the people and events. Most of the characters are based on real historical figures and those that are not – such as Derry Brewer - help to bring the various strands of the story together.
‘Historical fiction sometimes involves filling in the gaps and unexplained parts of history.’
I enjoyed the novel for its pace and found Conn Iggulden’s depiction of both Henry VI and Margaret of Anjou more sympathetic than in some other novels I’ve read. If historical accuracy is more important to you than a rollicking good read, then this may not be the novel for you.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith