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A review by farawayeyes4
The Crown by Nancy Bilyeau
5.0
The Crown thrusts us into the heart of the Tudor era---particularly the Dissolution of the monasteries. Rather than focusing exclusively on the court of Henry VIII, we're taken all over England---from Smithfield where those who participated in the Pilgrimage of Grace are burned to abbeys and monasteries tied to historical figures. We're taken to the house of Norfolk and more. What Bilyeau has done is give us a different perspective than the normal novel on the period. Instead of following one of the wives or Thomas Cromwell or Henry VIII himself, we follow a novice of the Dominican Order named Joanna Stafford---and it works.
We learn about the mood and the feeling of those affected most by the Dissolution. We see the societal upheaval up close. Joanna has chosen to become a nun because that has been her calling for a long time---and yet her timing couldn't be worse in many regards. The suppression of all religious houses will happen no matter what she or anyone does at this point---even if there's hope tangled up in a fabled crown worn by a former King. We see her do whatever it takes to find it and stand up for her way of life in the process---and yet we know the historical end. Knowing that doesn't make the story any less moving or tenuous, however. There's moments where there may be true hope in the face of this difficult period.
What Bilyeau truly accomplishes, however, is giving us a true and real understanding of the humanity at the heart of this situation. We need not really see Henry VIII or Cromwell and their arguments in favor of their plans to truly get the two sides of the story---and we really don't need the most graphic depictions of the Dissolution to understand its impact. Instead, we are given living and breathing individuals that are impacted greatly by what is happening and follow their story to its completion. Joanna is real and well rounded. She's not perfect, she's not saintly---and yet we can connect to her religious passion no matter our own persuasion. Her convictions are powerful motivators and her relationship to the other characters give us so much reality and understanding of the greater situation. She connects well with Brother Edmund, Sister Winifred, and Geoffrey Scovill. Each relationship seems to bring out a side we learn something new from. It makes Joanna a fascinating character to follow.
Bilyeau also shows her grasp of the period---both in the upheaval of the political situations and in the smallest details about how people would have acted, dressed, eaten, slept and more. No detail seems too small to capture just what it might have been like to live in this period where the sands are shifting and yet so many things seem fixed forever. The descriptions of tapestries, books, food, and courtly behavior as seen in the Norfolk house make its foreign to modern eyes fresh and alive---as if this is a party no different than celebrities would have today. She captures the mindset of religion and state well in the characterizaton of Gardiner. By being on the extreme fringe of the court at large, we see so much more that we wouldn't otherwise. It allows the text to build to a strong conclusion and gives us insight into Joanna and everyone else in the story.
The mystery elements are well executed. We don't know who committed the murder of Lord Chester, where the Crown is or what it might be able to do, and what it'll mean in the long run for not only Dartford Priory but for everyone in England. Just as one thinks they've figured it out, some twist comes into change things and reveals a different layer that enriches the story. The tragedy of who committed the murder and why also tangles up nicely with Joanna's own history and gives us a bit of commentary on not only sixteenth century femnisim but commentary on our modern conversation surrounding these sensitive topics such as rape and more. Both elements are handled well and makes the story seem more relatable to the modern senses rather than just the simple loss of a way of life long gone to our modern world. The wrap up of the mystery in this novel also leaves one satisfied.
Most of all, Bilyeau takes us back in time and makes us recognize ourselves in this world long gone. The Tudors ruled 500 years ago. In that time, the world has changed greatly (and one can argue if for the better in some ways). This time fascinates because so much of our modern world as we know it generates here---the shoots of democracy, religious freedoms, and so much more start in this era. We can see those seeds explored wondefully in what Bilyeau has presented here. Joanna is a strong female lead who gives us insight into the period. We cheer her on because she chooses not to be rescued in the end but to rescue herself. She proves that she's not simply just the woman of her time---she proves that strong women are in all times, waiting to live up to their greatest potentional. It's refreshing to see this period through her eyes and the next two novels in the series will hopefully build upon that element well.
The Crown tickles the fancy of most fans of this period---and gives us more. If you're interested in a different look at this era, this is the series for you.
We learn about the mood and the feeling of those affected most by the Dissolution. We see the societal upheaval up close. Joanna has chosen to become a nun because that has been her calling for a long time---and yet her timing couldn't be worse in many regards. The suppression of all religious houses will happen no matter what she or anyone does at this point---even if there's hope tangled up in a fabled crown worn by a former King. We see her do whatever it takes to find it and stand up for her way of life in the process---and yet we know the historical end. Knowing that doesn't make the story any less moving or tenuous, however. There's moments where there may be true hope in the face of this difficult period.
What Bilyeau truly accomplishes, however, is giving us a true and real understanding of the humanity at the heart of this situation. We need not really see Henry VIII or Cromwell and their arguments in favor of their plans to truly get the two sides of the story---and we really don't need the most graphic depictions of the Dissolution to understand its impact. Instead, we are given living and breathing individuals that are impacted greatly by what is happening and follow their story to its completion. Joanna is real and well rounded. She's not perfect, she's not saintly---and yet we can connect to her religious passion no matter our own persuasion. Her convictions are powerful motivators and her relationship to the other characters give us so much reality and understanding of the greater situation. She connects well with Brother Edmund, Sister Winifred, and Geoffrey Scovill. Each relationship seems to bring out a side we learn something new from. It makes Joanna a fascinating character to follow.
Bilyeau also shows her grasp of the period---both in the upheaval of the political situations and in the smallest details about how people would have acted, dressed, eaten, slept and more. No detail seems too small to capture just what it might have been like to live in this period where the sands are shifting and yet so many things seem fixed forever. The descriptions of tapestries, books, food, and courtly behavior as seen in the Norfolk house make its foreign to modern eyes fresh and alive---as if this is a party no different than celebrities would have today. She captures the mindset of religion and state well in the characterizaton of Gardiner. By being on the extreme fringe of the court at large, we see so much more that we wouldn't otherwise. It allows the text to build to a strong conclusion and gives us insight into Joanna and everyone else in the story.
The mystery elements are well executed. We don't know who committed the murder of Lord Chester, where the Crown is or what it might be able to do, and what it'll mean in the long run for not only Dartford Priory but for everyone in England. Just as one thinks they've figured it out, some twist comes into change things and reveals a different layer that enriches the story. The tragedy of who committed the murder and why also tangles up nicely with Joanna's own history and gives us a bit of commentary on not only sixteenth century femnisim but commentary on our modern conversation surrounding these sensitive topics such as rape and more. Both elements are handled well and makes the story seem more relatable to the modern senses rather than just the simple loss of a way of life long gone to our modern world. The wrap up of the mystery in this novel also leaves one satisfied.
Most of all, Bilyeau takes us back in time and makes us recognize ourselves in this world long gone. The Tudors ruled 500 years ago. In that time, the world has changed greatly (and one can argue if for the better in some ways). This time fascinates because so much of our modern world as we know it generates here---the shoots of democracy, religious freedoms, and so much more start in this era. We can see those seeds explored wondefully in what Bilyeau has presented here. Joanna is a strong female lead who gives us insight into the period. We cheer her on because she chooses not to be rescued in the end but to rescue herself. She proves that she's not simply just the woman of her time---she proves that strong women are in all times, waiting to live up to their greatest potentional. It's refreshing to see this period through her eyes and the next two novels in the series will hopefully build upon that element well.
The Crown tickles the fancy of most fans of this period---and gives us more. If you're interested in a different look at this era, this is the series for you.