Style: For large stretches, the narration is quite matter-of-fact. The research paid off here - motivations and goals are clear, and the characters feel real. No surprises, but in a historical novel, surprises shouldn't happen when it comes to plot anyway.Characters: The historical characters are portrayed in quite interesting ways, and stereotyping is mostly avoided. The fictional plotlines are notably simpler and more straightforward.
Plot: The historical events around Empress Matilda and Stephen of Blois form the background most of the plotlines are historically accurate and dealt with in chronological order.
Perhaps Eustace, Stephen’s presumptive heir was a bad person, but maybe not the worst person in the world, all the time, to everyone, with no redeeming value whatsoever.In any event, despite reading every evening for an hour or two, it seemed to take forever to finish the book. Finally, the characters were so one dimensional as to become almost cartoonish. I can’t say for a fact how 12th century English nobles conversed, but I’d be surprised if it were anything like presented in this novel. Second, the dialogue was not well done and was at times laughable. I can’t testify to the accuracy of the history, but have to believe that about half a dozen of the twenty or so sieges and maneuverings could have been omitted without detracting from the work. First, the book was about 200 pages too long, becoming agonizingly repetitious at times. In addition to the main characters, several other historical personages are presented, most notably Eleanor of Aquitaine, Louis VII of France and several religious figures of the era.While the subject is ripe with possibility, execution of this piece of historical fiction was sub-standard in my opinion. Instead, his far more popular nephew, Stephen, usurped the throne, leading to almost 20 years of non-stop war and bloodshed, before Maude’s eldest son, Henry, finally prevailed, becoming one of the most successful English kings in history as Henry II. He designated his only surviving legitimate daughter, Matilda (Maude) to succeed him. This is excellent history on a seldom touched upon subject, 12th century English history, more specifically, the succession crisis which ensued when Henry I, son of William the Conqueror died without a male heir.
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