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The Miracle at St. Bruno’s
The Daughters of England, book 1 of 19
by Philippa Carr

The first book in Philippa Carr’s celebrated Daughters of England series is at once a love story, a mystery, and an epic historical saga set during the tumultuous reign of Henry VIII

Damask Farland, named after a rose, is captivated by the mysterious orphan Bruno. Discovered upon the abbey altar on Christmas morning, then raised by monks, Bruno becomes the great man whom Damask grows to love—only to be shattered by his cruel betrayal.

This dramatic coming-of-age novel is set in sixteenth-century England, during the chaotic years when Henry VIII stunned the royal court by setting his sights on Anne Boleyn. It’s also the tale of a man whom many believed to be a holy prophet . . . until a shocking truth is unearthed in the shadows of a centuries-old abbey.

The Lion Triumphant
The Daughters of England, book 2 of 19
by Philippa Carr

Played out against the seething rivalry between Inquisition-torn Spain and Elizabethan England, The Lion Triumphant traces the linked fates of strong-willed Catherine Farland and Captain Jake Pennlyon

Called “The Lion,” Captain Jake Pennlyon is a fearsome and virile plunderer who takes what he wants, and his sights are set on Catherine Farland. Blackmailed into wedlock and haunted by memories of the gentle boy she was forbidden to wed, Cat vows to escape. Fate intervenes when she’s taken prisoner aboard a Spanish galleon . . . unaware that she’s a pawn in one man’s long-awaited revenge.

Beginning as Elizabeth takes the throne of England, and spanning the years until the legendary defeat of the Spanish Armada, The Lion Triumphant follows Cat’s journey from the thrill of a first passion to the ferocity of a mother’s love. Despite the twists of history, her fortunes—and her heart—will remain tied to one seductive buccaneer.

The Witch from the Sea
The Daughters of England, book 3 of 19
by Philippa Carr

A reluctant bride has just begun to love her volatile husband when she rescues a mysterious woman who will bring terrible danger to them all

Linnet Pennlyon, proud daughter of a sea captain, finds herself in a vicious trap: Pregnancy has forced her to marry the cunning Squire Colum Casvellyn. Once their baby is born, she devotes herself to their son. Yet, little by little, against her will, Linnet finds herself drawn to her passionate, mercurial husband. Dark secrets lurk in their castle: The squire’s first wife died amid rumors of foul play. When a beautiful stranger washes up on the shore, Linnet suddenly finds she’s no longer in control of her family—or her life.

It falls to Linnet’s daughter, Tamsyn, to uncover the truth about a long-ago night . . . and put to rest the rumors about her beloved mother. Her discovery sets in motion an unstoppable chain of events that will reverberate for decades to come.

Saraband for Two Sisters
The Daughters of England, book 4 of 19
by Philippa Carr

The twin daughters of Tamsyn Pennlyon take very different paths—only to reunite in a firestorm of explosive secrets and illicit passions that threaten to divide them forever

Twins Angelet and Bersaba Landor may look alike, but their personalities couldn’t be more different. Angelet is sweet, gentle, and submissive, while Bersaba is secretive, sensual, and headstrong. When the sisters are separated by forces beyond their control, Bersaba finds her life taking a dark turn.

After years apart, the twins are reunited within the echoing halls of Far Flamstead.As Angelet finds herself at the mercy of the manor’s secret past, Bersaba gives in to a perilous temptation. Bersaba will risk everything—even her life—for the love of one man. Against the backdrop of seventeenth-century England, a time of bloody revolt and new beginnings, Bersaba and Angelet discover that the ties that bind them can also tear them apart.

Lament for a Lost Lover
The Daughters of England, book 5 of 19
by Philippa Carr

As England is rocked by civil war, a daring young woman attempts to discover her true legacy—and encounters betrayal and breathtaking love

Under the sway of the puritanical Oliver Cromwell, England simmers with religious persecution and political unrest. Like their exiled king, Arabella Tolworthy and her parents have retreated to France but yearn for their native country. When Arabella is separated from her family, she makes her way alone in an increasingly dangerous world and meets two people who will change her life: an actress named Harriet Main and the dashing nobleman Edwin Eversleigh.

As the British king is restored to his rightful throne, Arabella’s odyssey mirrors the strife and turbulence of her beloved homeland. As she tries to make peace with her past, she’s confronted with an unexpected threat to her future—and a second chance at lasting love.

The Love Child
The Daughters of England, book 6 of 19
by Philippa Carr

A family secret unleashes intrigue, incest, and cutthroat treachery in this stunning tale from a master storyteller

While Restoration England continues to be torn apart by political and religious turmoil, fourteen-year-old Priscilla Eversleigh gives herself to fugitive Jocelyn Frinton in a moment of youthful passion. Desperate to conceal her shameful secret from her family, Priscilla journeys to Venice, Italy, where her illegitimate daughter, Carlotta, is passed off to another woman—and a conspiracy is born.

Priscilla’s past will haunt her in the decades to come. As fortune-hunters circle, Carlotta becomes a pawn in a twisted game of greed and revenge. Now Priscilla must make the ultimate sacrifice—even if it costs her the man she loves—which will shape not only Carlotta’s future, but also the lives of the generations of Eversleigh women to come.

The Song of the Siren
The Daughters of England, book 7 of 19
by Philippa Carr

During a bloody Jacobite upheaval, two half-sisters are torn apart by their passion for the same man and bound together by their love for a child

Carlotta, the love child of Priscilla Eversleigh and Jocelyn Frinton, grows up in the shadow of war during the reign of Queen Anne. Carlotta’s personal struggle begins when she’s abducted by the charismatic Jacobite leader Lord Hessenfield. During her time as his hostage, they fall into a passionate affair. When she’s released, the pregnant Carlotta marries to save her daughter Clarissa’s legitimacy, but plunges into reckless affairs with other men—including the man beloved by her half-sister, Damaris.

As England and France vie for dominance, the destinies of Carlotta and Damaris play out on the world stage. Carlotta overlooks the shy Damaris, who forms a tender bond with Clarissa. Damaris’s quiet strength will be put to the test when she must risk her own life to save Clarissa.

The Drop of the Dice
The Daughters of England, book 8 of 19
by Philippa Carr

A young woman tries to move beyond her shadowed legacy, but finds her heart divided and her loyalty challenged

Clarissa Field never knew her mother, but hears whispers that she was a notorious femme fatale. Unknowingly, the girl follows her mother’s passionate path and loses her heart to Jacobite rebel Dickon Frenshaw. But 1715 England is a dangerous place to be a young woman in love. Dickon is caught and exiled to Virginia, and Clarissa is married off to rakish soldier Lance Clavering.

Caught between two men, Clarissa must navigate a hotbed of scandal, treachery, and betrayal. As civil strife threatens to ignite revolution, Clarissa is accused of being a spy. She faces a terrible choice, and must transform her life to prepare her daughter, Zipporah, for her legacy.

The Adulteress
The Daughters of England, book 9 of 19
by Philippa Carr

To the world she has committed an unforgivable sin . . .

Is it possible for people to be possessed?

That’s the question happily married Zipporah Ransome asks herself when she journeys from Clavering Court to her family’s ancestral home in Eversleigh. At nearby Enderby House, a mysterious place connected to her notorious grandmother Carlotta, Zipporah discovers the power of her untapped desires—and the price of their fulfillment.

Enigmatic Frenchman Gerard d’Aubigné changes Zipporah’s life forever. Unable to resist his sensual charms, Zipporah embarks on an illicit affair that leaves her with a haunting secret. Soon her life begins to mirror Carlotta’s, as scandal, violence, and deception threaten to destroy her home. No one, especially not Zipporah and her daughter, will be left unscathed.

Zipporah’s Daughter
The Daughters of England, book 10 of 19
by Philippa Carr

A young woman discovers she’s been living a lie and journeys to France, which teeters on the brink of revolution—only to find her destiny as a true daughter of England

Discovering that the man who raised her was not her birth father comes as a great shock to teenage Lottie. She always thought she’d marry her childhood love, Dickon, and stay at the family estate, Eversleigh. But fate takes Lottie across the sea to France and the mysterious palace of Versailles.

As the daughter of Comte Gerard d’Aubigné, Lottie encounters a world far different from her cloistered existence at Eversleigh. Here, she meets her half-sister and marries gallant patriot Charles de Tourville. As Louis XVI takes the throne with his queen, Marie Antoinette, Lottie is called back to England, where she finds that Dickon may not be the man she thought he was. Meanwhile, France descends into revolution and Lottie’s family becomes increasingly endangered.

Voices in a Haunted Room
The Daughters of England, book 11 of 19
by Philippa Carr

A country in the throes of bloody revolution. A young woman torn between two men. A decision that will change her life forever.

In the wake of the storming of the Bastille, Claudine de Tourville and her family flee France for the peaceful shores of England. When they arrive at her mother’s ancestral estate, Claudine feels as if she has come home. At Eversleigh Court, the seventeen-year-old finds herself caught between her wildly different stepbrothers. David is quiet, studious, and devoted, but it is the passionate, reckless Jonathan who enflames her heart. With France reeling from the execution of its king and queen, Claudine plunges into her own escalating web of deception and betrayal. A decision made in haste will come back to haunt her as a long-lost love returns to England and sends her life spinning out of control.

Philippa Carr is at her provocative, liberating best as she describes a world torn between oppression and freedom.

The Return of the Gypsy
The Daughters of England, book 12 of 19
by Philippa Carr

In early-nineteenth-century England, a woman risks scandal, disgrace, even her own life for a forbidden passion

From the moment the handsome, raffish stranger with the gold earring throws her a kiss, Jessica Frenshaw is enchanted. Rumored to be a half-Spanish wanderer who can predict the future, Romany Jake is unjustly put on trial for murder. After the verdict banishes him from England, Jessica despairs of ever seeing him again. But one fateful day, Jake Cadorson returns to reclaim what he has lost—including the woman who saved him from the gallows.

From the ballrooms and lavish estates of Regency England through the bitter bloodshed of the Napoleonic Wars, Return of the Gypsy weaves a spellbinding tale of blackmail, murder, and illicit passion as a woman risks everything for the man she loves—a man who isn’t what he seems.

Midsummer’s Eve
The Daughters of England, book 13 of 19
by Philippa Carr

From the sea-swept shores of Cornwall to the rugged outback of Australia, Romany Jake’s daughter searches for the great love she left behind

On a fateful midsummer’s eve, Annora Cadorson witnesses a horrifying event that shatters her innocence. Expected to marry Rolf Hanson, the hero of her girlhood dreams, Annora instead flees to London, far from her family, her home in Cornwall, and her unsettling memories.

In a city teeming with intrigue as Queen Victoria ascends the throne, Annora meets a man who will play a crucial role in her life. But fate intervenes once more. Amid a heated battle in Parliament, scandal erupts. Annora flees again, this time to the primitive outback of Australia, where she confronts a secret from her father’s violent past. Unexpected tragedy will send Annora back to where it all began, as she comes face to face with the man she never stopped loving . . . a man who may be lost to her forever.

The Pool of St. Branok
The Daughters of England, book 14 of 19
by Philippa Carr

In the haunting mists of St. Branok’s Pool, a terrible crime will bind together a woman and a man forever

Young Angelet is fascinated by the haunting rumors surrounding the Pool of St. Branok—superstitious tales of its cursed, bottomless waters. The innocent Cornish girl shares the ghostly story with Benedict Lansdon, the handsome, illegitimate grandson of a family friend, and promises to show him the spot. But tragedy strikes when they meet at the pool, and Angelet and Ben become complicit in a crime that could send Ben to the gallows.

Ben returns to Australia, but the pair feels bound by their terrible secret. After a whirlwind season in London, Angelet marries Gervaise Mandeville, a charming rogue with a weakness for gambling. As the casualties from the Crimean War mount, Gervaise decides to try his luck in the Australian gold rush. Angelet travels across the world with him, only to once again be ensnared in a fatal act of violence. Alone in the outback, Angelet faces her own day of reckoning from a long-ago crime—and gets a second chance at love.

The Changeling
The Daughters of England, book 15 of 19
by Philippa Carr

Three young women bound by ties deeper than blood are swept up in a web of intrigue and betrayal in this haunting gothic tale

Rebecca Mandeville arrives at Manorleigh with her mother amid rumors that Rebecca’s politically ambitious stepfather may have murdered his first wife. Homesick for her native Cornwall, Rebecca feels she’ll never belong at Benedict Lansdon’s ancestral estate—a place haunted by the phantoms of past crimes. When tragedy strikes, Rebecca struggles to move on, and becomes inextricably linked to two young girls: her half-sister Belinda and an orphan named Lucie.

Teeming with scandal and murder, The Changeling is at once an atmospheric ghost tale and a gripping story of familial betrayal as powerful as the woman at its haunting center.

The Black Swan
The Daughters of England, book 16 of 19
by Philippa Carr

The riveting Cornwall saga continues with the story of Lucie Lansdon, the sole witness to a horrifying crime much too close to home . . .

After her father is murdered, Lucie Lansdon’s eyewitness testimony sends a fanatical Irish terrorist to the gallows. Fate claims another victim when Lucie receives news that her fiancé has died in Africa. Reeling from the deaths of the two men she loved most, and convinced that her life is cursed, Lucie finally finds happiness when she marries the gentle Roland Fitzgerald.

But her domestic life with Roland and his sister is not all it should be. Someone is watching—and waiting to carry out a cunningly orchestrated plan of retribution. As Lucie’s life is threatened and she begins to doubt her sanity, she’s visited by someone she believed lost to her forever. On the verge of uncovering the truth about a long-ago night, she places her trust in the wrong person.

A Time for Silence
The Daughters of England, book 17 of 19
by Philippa Carr

While the world teeters on the brink of World War I, a young woman’s indiscretion leads to a seething viper’s nest of blackmail and murder

In 1912, with war looming on the horizon, thirteen-year-old Lucinda Greenham is sent to an exclusive boarding school in Belgium. Her joy in sharing this adventure with her best friend, Annabelinda, is cut short when Annabelinda has a clandestine affair leading to pregnancy. Annabelinda’s family arranges a “rest cure” and when the girl returns to school, she seems to have forgotten the incident. Then, in the wake of Germany’s invasion of Belgium, Lucinda and Annabelinda are forced to flee across Europe and find a welcome savior in the dashing Major Marcus Merrivale.

Safely back in England, Lucinda vows to keep her friend’s secret. But someone in the household has uncovered the truth about Annabelinda and the lively baby called Edward. Now Lucinda, who has lost her heart to a decorated soldier, is faced with keeping another secret. As a blackmail plot erupts in murder, and war eradicates a way of life forever, Lucinda discovers that there is a time for love . . . and a time for silence.

The Gossamer Cord
The Daughters of England, book 18 of 19
by Philippa Carr

With World War II on the horizon, a British woman risks her life to uncover the truth behind the disappearance of her twin sister

Violetta Denver and her twin sister Dorabella are inseparable—until Dorabella falls in love with Dermot Tregarland. The newlyweds settle in Dermot’s isolated ancestral home along the Cornish coast, and Dorabella soon has a little boy. But Violetta can’t shake the terrible foreboding she’s felt since her sister’s marriage. When she hears that Dorabella went swimming one morning and was swept out to sea, she refuses to believe that her beloved twin is really gone, so a grief-stricken Violetta travels to the Tregarland estate.

There, against the terrible grandeur of sea-swept cliffs, Violetta learns that Dermot’s first wife also drowned under suspicious circumstances. When death claims another victim, Violetta knows the answer lies in the history of the Tregarlands—and a haunting legacy of madness and bad blood. With the help of Jowan Jermyn, Dermot’s neighbor, Violetta moves closer to the truth . . . and closer to a murderer whose long-awaited revenge is about to come full circle.

We’ll Meet Again
The Daughters of England, book 19 of 19
by Philippa Carr

As World War II rages through Europe, two sisters battle for happiness and love

The German army is advancing through Europe and the Battle of Britain is grimly underway. With her fiancé, Jowan, missing in action, Violetta Denver despairs of ever seeing him again. While Violetta waits for news, her sister Dorabella finds herself torn between two men: her French ex-lover Jacques and the heroic, mysterious Captain Brent.

But James Brent may not be what he seems—and soon both Dorabella and Violetta are caught up in a dangerous game of espionage and treason as they travel to wartime London. With their fates hanging in the balance, the twin sisters are bound by a shocking secret. Dorabella risks her life to follow her heart . . . and Violetta refuses to give up hope that one day she will be reunited with her lost love.

Daughters of England
by Philippa Carr

In tumultuous seventeenth-century Britain, ambition, family, and love collide

I was beginning to realize that there was something unusual about our marriage . . .

When fifteen-year-old Sarah Standish runs off to London to be an actress, she discovers a city beyond her wildest dreams. But the most exciting fantasy of all is the real-life stranger who sweeps her off her feet. Sarah marries Jack Adair, the thrillingly handsome Lord Rosslyn. She’s deliriously happy, until she learns her husband’s secret.

Years later, the Adairs’ daughter Kate comes of age. Her father is desperate to retain control of Rosslyn Manor. To do this he needs a strategic alliance and the proper heir, but Kate has promised her heart to someone else. As England battles for its throne, Kate fights for the right to lead her own life, and discovers that love can triumph over the ambitions and follies of men and kings.

From Historical Fiction to Suspense: Victoria Holt’s Mistress of Mellyn

Today is the 20th anniversary of Eleanor Hibbert’s passing on January 18, 1993 and in honor of her memory I have taken on her first suspense novel, published in 1960 under the pseudonym Victoria Holt—Mistress of Mellyn. While I have previously read The Queen’s Confession and My Enemy, the Queen, both biographical historical novels have the exact same quality and style of her Jean Plaidy novels. In fact, I am unsure why they were even published under Holt, unless it is was to keep with the pace of publishing one Holt novel each year (as two other “Jean Plaidy” novels were published during those same years).

Mistress of Mellyn is different from Plaidy, Kellow and Tate novels in that it is undeniably of the mystery and suspense genre, and though may be labeled “Gothic Romance”—with tacky vintage covers to accompany the brand—they are no more romantic than her other works, or at least not in the sense of today’s romance novels. Noticeably missing, if the reader is familiar with Plaidy novels, are the abundant archaic and uncommon words, historically accurate timelines and the politically infused drama centered on royalty. The characters of this particular Holt novel are completely fictional and not found in history books or other literature, however are well-rounded and make a very interesting story, most notably for the array of differing personalities represented. From dark and mysterious, to light and humorous (and the in-between Miss Prim-and-proper Martha herself), there is a plethora of possibilities to analyze when solving the mystery of Mellyn. Much is written on the landscape of Cornwall and details of its history and customs, so it is not completely void of all the attributes that make Jean Plaidy novels enjoyable for historical enthusiasts.

Book Description from the 1966 Crest Paperback:

House of Darkness
From the moment Martha Leigh first glimpsed the cold, brooding manse high on the fog-shrouded Cornish cliffs, she felt a chill of apprehension.

Then she met her employer, the arrogant master of Mellyn, and his spoiled, headstrong daughter, Alvean, and knew why the three governesses before her had left the eerie mansion.

Slowly, almost imperceptibly, Martha began to be aware of an atmosphere of menace. There had been whispers of past horrors, warning of violence yet to come—and now there were the strange accidents. It was madness to stay on.

But Con TreMellyn’s dark charm had overpowered Martha’s natural caution. Against her will she fest irresistibly drawn to the handsome, enigmatic master of Mellyn.

Now, even as she found herself being pulled deeper and deeper into a frightening web of unseen terror, she knew she could not, would not leave…

My synopsis:

Set in the Victorian era, Mistress of Mellyn is the story of Martha Leigh, a gently born daughter of a parson, who failed to attract a husband during her “coming out” year, though her younger sister succeeded in this endeavor. As such, she doesn’t have a very high opinion of her charms and takes her new role as governess very seriously, determined to succeed in her apparent calling. When she arrives at Mount Mellyn, a large Elizabethan castle on the Cornish coast facing the sea, she immediately feels an eerie presence and quickly learns the sordid details of the demise of her young charge’s mother, Alice. As the weeks pass by she finds herself very curious about Alice’s mysterious past, and the master of the house, Connan TreMellyn. Her fascination with the latter both excites and frightens her, as she begins to suspect he may have had a hand in his wife’s death.

There is an intriguing cast of characters alongside the prim but excessively likable Miss Leigh—the humorous Peter, and his friendly sister, Celeste, who are from a neighboring estate. The daughter of the house, Alvean TreMellyn, is obstinate and a bit selfish, but Martha soon finds the chinks in her armor and sets to win her over while teaching her proper behavior—something three governesses before her failed to achieve. The Cornish speech and customs of the servants really serve in bringing them to life and making Mount Mellyn into a tiny world of its own, which is ultimately a little sad to leave behind. The author fortunately wrote a few pages past the climactic ending to tie up loose ends. This is a very satisfying read!

Favorite quote: “I felt this man impaired my precious dignity to which I was clinging with that determination only possible to those who are in constant fear of losing what little they possess.”

To end this discussion in the tone it began, I leave readers with thoughts of this incomparable, prolific author on the day of her death twenty years ago. I read somewhere online (and I am unsure how much truth there is to it) that Eleanor Hibbert died at her typewriter, in the midst of writing. She died as she lived—devoting all of her time to what she loved best. In her own words: “I write regularly every day. I think this is important. As in everything else, practice makes perfect. Research is just a matter of reading old records, letters, etc., in fact everything connected with the period one is researching. I can only say that I love writing more than anything else. I find it stimulating and I never cease to be excited about it.”

A Triptych of Poisoners

A Triptych of Poisoners by Jean Plaidy

What makes men and women commit murder? Is it environment and upbringing? Or is it some characteristic unaffected by surroundings and contacts?

In this triptych, the author has sought to answer these questions by an analysis of the lives of three notorious poisoners, each guilty of more than one murder, and living in different periods of time.

First is Cesare Borgia, most notorious of all poisoners, who among his many crimes was suspected of the murder of his brother, and was the self-confessed murderer of his brother-in-law. Sadistic and sinister, even for fifteenth-century Italy, his brief life was one of the most evil ever lived. Was he to blame for his sins? Or does the blame lie with an indulgent parent and a barbaric age?

Second is Marie d’Aubray, Marquise de Brinvilliers—beautiful, reckless poisoner of seventeenth-century Paris. Marie and her lover Sainte-Croix sought to discover the lost secrets of the Borgias, that she might remove those who stood between her and her family fortune. Visiting the Paris hospital as a Sister of Mercy, experimentally trying out her concoctions on the patients, Marie was indifferent to the sufferings of others. Who was to blame?

Last comes Edward Pritchard, the Glasgow doctor. Living mid-way through the Victorian era, the doctor was as knowledgeable in the art of poisoning as his predecessors and had no compunction in, removing any who stood in his way.

In these studies Jean Plaidy discloses the similarity in all three and asks: Whose is the guilt?

REVIEWS

“Miss Jean Plaidy, one of the best-known historical novelists writing today, strikes something of a new and absorbing line. With an examining mind and a wealth of research, she is seeking to find out what makes men and women commit murder. So she turns to the lives of three notorious poisoners, each guilty of more than one murder. Cesare Borgia, of fifteenth-century Rome; Marie d’Aubray, of seventeenth-century Paris; and Edward Pritchard, of Glasgow, midway through the Victorian era. Were they to blame for their crimes? This is an arresting book, thoughtfully presented.” – East Anglian Times

“Jean Plaidy has another winner in A Triptych of Poisoners, which analyses at some length the lives of three of the world’s most notorious poisoners. She presents the facts and offers her conclusions as to why men and women commit murder. Her conclusion? Egoism—fantastic, monstrous, unrestrained egoism. Colourfully written and showing that Jean Plaidy has studied the history of her subjects deeply.” – Edinburgh Evening News

“Jean Plaidy is an engaging writer, distressing though her sub ject may be, and her triptych is a first-rate piece of word painting.” – The Sphere

“The hard facts of history are interspersed with rollicking evil. For Dr. Pritchard, Jean Plaidy has given us a Hogarthian print, for the Marquise, an elegant clearly written study, and for Cesare Borgia, a magnificent riot of colorful wickedness, exhausting to read, highly entertaining.” – Books and Bookmen

DEDICATION

For F. J. Olive, at whose suggestion this book has been written.

WORKS CONSULTED

The Outline of Italian Civilization
Decio Pettoello

History of the Italian Republics in the Middle Ages
J. C. L. Sismondi, Recast and Supplemented in the light of Historical Research by William Boulting

Cesare Borgia
Charles Yriarte, Translated by William Sterling

Lucrezia Borgia: A Chapter from the Morals of the Italian Renaissance
Ferdinand Gregorovius

Lucrezia Borgia
Joan Haslip

The Life and Times of Lucrezia Borgia
Maria Bellonci, Translated by Bernard Hall

The Marriage at Ferrara
Simon Harcourt-Smith

France
William Henry Hudson

The Old Regime in France
Frantz Funck-Brentano

The History of France
M. Guizot, Translated by Robert Black

Madame de Brinvilliers and her Times, 1630-1676
Hugh Stokes

The Marchioness of Brinvilliers
Albert Smith

Trial of Dr. Pritchard (Notable Scottish Trials Series)
Edited by William Roughhead

The Book of Poisons
Gustav Schenk, Translated by Michael Bullock

Copyright dates: February 1958, May 1970, June 1971
Robert Hale & Company

CONTENTS

Cesare Borgia
Fifteenth-Century Rome
Page 13

La Marquise De Brinvilliers
Seventeenth-Century Paris
Page 75

Dr. Pritchard
Nineteenth-Century Glasgow
Page 131

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

1. Cesare Borgia, Duke of Valentino, by Raphael
2. Cesare Borgia by Bartolomeo Veneto
3. Lucrezia Borgia as S. Catherine by Pinturicchio, Borgian Apartments, Vatican
4. Giovanni (Juan) Borgia, Duke of Gandia, by Pinturicchio, Borgian Apartments, Vatican
5. Madame de Brinvilliers on her way to Execution, after the drawing by Charles Lebrun in the Louvre
6. Antoine Dreux d’Aubray. After the engraving by R. Nanteuil
7. Dr. Edward William Pritchard, 1825-1865
8. Mrs. Edward Pritchard murdered by her husband in 1865
9. Mrs. Taylor
10. Dr. Pritchard with his wife, his mother-in-law and his five children

review: The King’s Confidante by Jean Plaidy

The King’s Confidante

by Jean Plaidy

St. Thomas’s Eve, republished as The King’s Confidante, is a story of the life of Sir Thomas More – scholar, lawyer, councilor to the King and ultimately Chancellor, after the fall of Wosley. But most importantly to More, he was a loving husband and father, as well as father-figure to many.

The story begins with More’s difficult decision to pursue a family life instead of becoming a monk — something he will continue to question throughout his life. Though he was a family man at heart, he was also deeply religious, bordering on fanatical worship of the Catholic faith. His relative open-mindedness in the humanist respect when writing Utopia did not extend to his own deep-rooted faith. As the years passed he seemed to lean more and more to the tyrannical when it came to religion. He personally answered Martin Luther and persecuted heretics.

Even so, More is such a likeable character in this novel. He is kind, thoughtful and generous. He treats everyone with respect and the utmost fairness. He is a perfect minister on the King’s council… until Henry elevates him under the impression that he will do as told. Henry VIII had much respect for Sir Thomas More, and at first was amused by his honesty and integrity, but soon learned that More would stand in the way of his divorce from Katherine of Aragon.

This novel is the story of a happy family that continually grows as adopted children, step-children, spouses and grandchildren, most of whom live in the household, flourish under More’s love and devotion for learning. Many scholars, artists and the like find solace in the More home as well, which adds even more culture to the atmosphere.

I don’t feel that the reprint title, The King’s Confidante, was a good choice. He wasn’t seen as inside the King’s intimate circle. Henry was amused by him and somewhat valued his honesty, but I would not put him in the category of ‘confidante’. I think publishers are really overusing the terms king and queen these days to sell books, and this was the only thing they could come up with. I much prefer St. Thomas’s Eve, which has a meaning pertaining to the story.

review: The Queen of Diamonds by Jean Plaidy

The Queen of Diamonds

By Jean Plaidy

The affair of the diamond necklace rocked the monarchy of France and precipitated the French Revolution. The insanely gaudy and expensive diamond necklace was originally intended for Madame du Barry, mistress of Louis XV, but his death came before the completion of the necklace. At almost 2,000,000 livres, the cost was more than anyone could afford — apart from royalty. The jewelers Boehmer and Bassenge had hoped the new Queen, Marie Antoinette, would buy it and save them from bankruptcy, but she refused stating that the money was better used to equip the military.

Cagliostro, a charlatan working for a secret society, finds himself traveling to Paris on a mission. On the way he meets the Cardinal de Rohan who, out of favor at court, dreams of being a political power behind the throne as well as a favorite of the Queen, for whom he harbors tender feelings. In a series of events that seem to come together almost as if there was divine intervention, a couple joins the party of conspirators, and each participant has his or her own intentions of advancement.

Jeanne de la Mott-Valois is descended from an illegitimate son of Henri Deux, and this she flaunts to any who will listen. As a result she earns a small pension from the crown, but she craves much more. She is a very clever con artist who dominates her soldier husband and schemes to turn their existence from poor plebeians to high society. She becomes the Cardinal’s mistress with extortion in mind, and soon a seed is planted in her mind by Cagliostro: Why shouldn’t she become friends with the Queen, or appear as though she has? Together, with the jewelers who are near ruin because of the diamond necklace, they could convince the Queen to buy the necklace.

With tempers in France running high against the monarchy, the King and Queen cannot afford a fresh assault on their reputations, but this is exactly what happens when it is known that there was a plot involving the Queen. Through no fault of her own, Marie Antoinette loosened the stone that toppled the monarchy of France.

With each character with his or her personal agenda in mind, this is truly a historical mystery and the first I’ve read of Jean Plaidy written in this fashion. Even so it is no less historically accurate and even more verbose than usual.

review: Indiscretions of the Queen by Jean Plaidy

Indiscretions of the Queen

by Jean Plaidy

I began this book slightly biased against Caroline of Brunswick, as I’ve read of her in other books and articles. Leave it to Jean Plaidy to turn one’s opinions around completely, and simply by telling the facts in an amusing and straightforward manner. I had a similar experience with her novel Madame du Barry.

Caroline’s life started in Brunswick, Germany where her father was Duke and mother was King George III of England’s sister. She and her elder sister were not brought up properly, mostly due to her mother’s negligence owing to her own sadness: a home where her husband’s mistress reigned supreme and several of the royal children had disabilities. Caroline grew to be wild, completely extroverted and indiscreet. She did, however, have a very kind heart and was not purposely hurtful toward others.

Once she became betrothed to the Price of Wales, she began to look forward to a new, exciting life in England. It was not to be; the Prince disliked her on sight and showed it in the most humiliating ways possible. As soon as Caroline carried the heir to the throne, he separated from her and tried his best to make her life miserable.

George IV was a despicable character in this book! He was completely selfish, taking and discarding mistresses (and wives) at his whim and thinking of nothing but fashion, etiquette and where he can find money to live his extravagant lifestyle. Marriage with a lady who was not Catholic was a necessity for both his popularity and his pocket, as well as the getting of an heir to the throne. Though he had 12 siblings, none of his brothers had produced legitimate children and his sisters mostly remained unmarried, and so he felt he must do his duty to further his dynasty. Unfortunately for Caroline, George chose his bride blindly.

Even though life had dealt her a bad hand, she made the most of her situation, entertaining friends and endearing herself to the English people through her charity and genuine affection for all children. The old King, George III, was her friend and many political figures flocked to her, as she was the future queen and much more popular than her husband. If only the Prince would have let her alone she would have been content with life.

Caroline’s story is uproariously funny at times and quietly sad at others. Her character is one who can inspire both exasperation and adoration – a strange combination. She was truly an admirable Queen of England.

review: My Enemy, the Queen by Victoria Holt

My Enemy, the Queen

by Victoria Holt

Lettice Knollys, the Countess of Leicester, because of her beauty and attractiveness, was a constant rival to Queen Elizabeth I. A Boleyn relation, she was summoned to court to attend the queen at an early age, and the Queen recognized her right away as one of those young women she would have to watch closely, less they become ‘wanton’ and stir up gossip in her court. Queen Elizabeth is described as coquettish towards the male favorites, but stern and strict with the ladies. Though she liked having beauties surrounding her, she always wanted to think of herself as the most beautiful of all. And so, she became jealous and angry if any of her women had lovers or wed secretly.

Robert Dudley, the Earl of Leicester, was the favorite among favorites and could do no wrong (at least in the long run). The Queen would reprimand him again and again, but always took him back into favor. The worst offense, according to the Queen, was his secret marriage to Lettice. Once it was known they had wed, the Queen went into a rage and refused to have Lettice, newly dubbed The She-Wolf, at court ever again. Robert, however, was allowed back into her good graces after a while and returned to favor.

This story is from the perspective of Lettice, who is not exactly an admirable character – she is vain, selfish and overly ambitious. She is, however, a good mother and the choices she makes are justifiable for the most part. I quite enjoyed reading about her extremely long life (94 years!) and her complex relationships. I was not impressed by her attraction to Leicester, but I think it was depicted in a way that allowed her to be human – a woman with a weakness who made mistakes and admitted such.

I’ve read several accounts of Robert Dudley from different authors, and I have to point out that this one is the most unflattering. It is insinuated that he poisons anyone who gets in his way, though never stated as absolute fact. In this novel he is sinister and his only goal in life is climbing his way to the throne, no matter by what means. In Lettice he sees an ambitious woman who also matches his amorous appetites, and once he is certain the Queen will not marry him she is settled on as his partner in life. The fact that she had a husband did not stop him, and one more person conveniently died a suspicious death, making Lettice available for a second marriage. Unfortunately for her, this was her ticket to a life in the country, never to be admitted to court again. It wasn’t long before she began to realize that perhaps Robert wasn’t worth the trouble.

This is a wonderful account of the happenings at court not directly related to politics – Elizabeth’s shortcomings, gossip and scandals. While it’s not entirely fair to the Queen, as it mostly shows her weaknesses, it does give a sense of that other side of her – the coquettishness and aversion to marriage. Though she was not at court to witness everything, Lettice had friends and relatives close to Queen at all times, including her son, Essex, who was a great favorite. As such, she had firsthand accounts of everything and was able, in a way, to be involved even if Elizabeth would not see her face to face.

Elizabeth’s death came 30 years before her own, though because she was impoverished by Leicester’s debts she remained in the country caring for her grandchildren.

review: The Goldsmith’s Wife

The Goldsmith’s Wife

by Jean Plaidy

Jane Shore, notorious mistress of King Edward IV, is a refreshingly honest person. She is a beauty and knows her charms, but she is also very moral, but not overly religious. She always wants to do what she feels is right and stands by her convictions even at her own peril.

Jane unwillingly enters a marriage with one of her merchant father’s connections, a goldsmith named William Shore. She wanted to marry for love, but found being a young, wealthy and beautiful woman attracted too much attention from men who wanted other than honorable marriage. Running from a particular stalker, she thought she would be safe with a ring on her finger.

Marriage to Will was nothing like her romantic dreams and she found herself susceptible to the charms of other men. She soon came to the notice of the King and against her better judgment moved to court to play the role of favorite mistress. Never asking for anything for herself, she used her influence for the good of others and became a fast favorite of the people. She was even on friendly terms with the Queen, who was grateful King Edward had such a selfless mistress who didn’t get involved in politics or empty the royal coffers.

Near the end the story turns from Jane’s unfortunate fall from grace to the story of the Princes in the tower. I’ve read so many takes on this particular part of history and didn’t think I would be surprised, but Plaidy actually had a little spin on the conspiracy that I haven’t read before. It also seems very plausible.

I enjoyed Jane’s ending (as an old woman), even though it is different from what I’ve read before. Even Wikipedia has her ending her days with Thomas Lynom and the birth of a daughter. A book I read earlier this year, Figures in Silk, also had her marry Lynom and have a child. I do wonder why Jean Plaidy decided to write the story a bit differently, but I am not unhappy with the ending she created. It seemed to compliment the personality that she gave to Jane.

I really enjoyed this book very much and now count it as one of my favorite Plaidy novels (of the 30+ I have read).

I thought I would include the Author’s Note that Plaidy wrote for this book, as I agree wholeheartedly with her opinion.

“It is unfortunate that Shakespeare’s play, Richard III, with its misstatements and distortions and exaggerated character-drawing of the central figure, should be generally accepted as history. But such is the case, so that if Richard is written about from any other angle an explanation seems advisable.

Handicapped as he was by living under Tudor rule, Shakespeare naturally dared not contradict the historians of the day, whose concern it was to vilify Richard in order to applaud the Tudor usurpation, and in so doing lay the blame for the foulest crimes of the period upon Richard.

Since the Tudors guiltily destroyed any state papers which might confound their falsehoods, it is not easy to discover the truth of what happened during Richard’s brief reign. The evidence obtainable has been sifted and analyzed, and I am sure that the fair-minded will agree that the picture of Richard as presented in The Goldsmith’s Wife is a balanced one.

As for Jane’s discovery of Anne Neville, that is entirely fictional. How Richard discovered his future wife is a mystery; but, taking into consideration Jane’s adventurous and warm-hearted nature, together with the fact that, owing to her upbringing in Cheapside, it is more likely that she, rather than any other at court, would have been in touch with the humbler citizens of London, my theory of Anne’s rescue seems plausible.“

review: The Plantagenet Prelude by Jean Plaidy

The Plantagenet Prelude

by Jean Plaidy

The Plantagenet Prelude was published 11 years before her autobiographical novel on Eleanor of Aquitaine, The Courts of Love, and focuses on the men in Eleanor’s life rather than Eleanor herself. I wasn’t expecting this proud, selfish woman that Plaidy portrays, as she was so much more likable in The Courts of Love. We get a better understanding of Louis, king of France and Eleanor’s first husband, and a much more intimate view of Henry, Duke of Normandy and later king of England.

First the book follows Eleanor from a 14 year-old bride, crusader, and several years of marriage to Louis that only produces 2 daughters. She then meets Henry and is determined to obtain a divorce (which she had been planning for years anyway) and marry the Duke, 12 years her junior.

Meanwhile, there is another relationship expanded upon – that of Henry and his Chancellor, Thomas Beckett. I really enjoyed the story of how his parents met. I believe that was my favorite part in this novel. I don’t know why I was expecting not to like Thomas (perhaps I had him mixed up with Bernard of France), but it has to be something I’ve read of him in the past, some other characterization. He was a very good and likable man in this book, and became a saint and martyr. He reminded me a lot of Thomas More, as he had like ideals and convictions.

A few years and many kids later, Henry and Eleanor find themselves king and queen of England, holding vast lands in France – but there is no longer a romantic bond between them. Henry has his Fair Rosamund and Eleanor begins to see where the true power lies… with her children.

The next book in this saga is Revolt of the Eaglets, where Henry comes up against his sons. It should prove interesting and I cannot wait to get through the entire Plantagenet saga.

review: Revolt of the Eaglets by Jean Plaidy

Revolt of the Eaglets

by Jean Plaidy

This novel begins exactly where The Plantagenet Prelude left off. The aftermath of Thomas a Becket’s murder was still plaguing Henry II, while Eleanor was planning to urge her sons into revolt. Kings die, sons die, Eleanor is imprisoned for many years, but still she lives and is the ripe old age of 67 when she is finally released from her prison.

This book expands upon Richard’s dukedom of Aquitaine, while his brothers Henry and Geoffrey scheme and intrigue endlessly and to their detriment. They just cannot take empty titles from their father. In a way, I felt sorry for Henry. He did love his sons and wanted very much for them to work for him and be on good terms, with himself and one another. He saw that together they could be all powerful and rule a great part of Europe. But he would not relinquish one piece of land – one castle – to any of them, except in name. He had the final word on the managing and holding of these possessions.

On the other hand, his fits were shameful and childish, he treated Eleanor horribly and he had a really scandalous relationship with a very young girl, a princess of France and his son Richard’s betrothed. He was a good ruler; a very smart statesman and never loath to look after his dominions. These were his strengths, but the previous attributes mentioned make it very hard to like him as a person. Near the end, when he is so very desperate for the love of his family, one does wish he had it easier. But, as Eleanor continually tells him: the fault is his own. He was selfish and thought of his own desires, not allowing Eleanor her freedom or their sons leave to govern their small territories.

This novel ends with Henry’s death, Eleanor’s freedom and John waiting in the wings. You get a very sickly feeling from John in this novel and I am sure we will read more of him in The Heart of the Lion and most assuredly in The Prince of Darkness. I look forward to continuing on with the Plantagenet saga!