The Love Knot

by Elizabeth Chadwick

In the summer of 1140, Oliver Pascal returns home from a long pilgrimage to discover England ravaged by civil war and his family lands forfeit to the conflict between Henry I's daughter Mathilda, and her cousin Stephen of Blois, who has seized the crown at her expense. Riding to the Earl of Gloucester's keep at Bristol, Oliver stumbles upon the aftermath of a mercenary attack on an isolated village. Among the survivors are Richard, an illegitimate royal son and half-brother to the Earl himself, and the boy's young nurse Catrin. Widowed, stubborn and proud, she has much in common with Oliver, a man still grieving for a wife lost in childbirth.

At Bristol, Catrin meets Ethel, a wise woman and midwife, who begins to train her in the healing arts and is instrumental in bringing Oliver and Catrin together as lovers. But the endurance of that love is threatened by the perils of injury in battle, the danger of childbirth, the upheaval of continuing civil war, and the risk of loving in exchange for nothing but heartbreak. In the end Catrin must decide where her true loyalties lie.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Romance, Historical Romance, Medieval, Fiction, 12th Century

474 pages, Paperback

First published December 3, 1998

About the author

Best selling historical novelist Elizabeth Chadwick won a Betty Trask Award for her first novel The Wild Hunt. She has been shortlisted for the UK's mainstream Best Romantic Novel of the Year Award 4 times and longlisted twice. Her novel The Scarlet Lion about the great William Marshal and his wife Isabelle de Clare, has been selected by Richard Lee, founder of the Historical Novel Society as one of the landmark historical novels of the last ten years.
When not at her desk, she can be found taking long walks with the dog, baking cakes, reading books (of course!) exploring ruins, listening to various brands of rock and metal music, and occasionally slaving over a steaming cauldron with re-enactment society Regia Anglorum.

Reviews

[Tea Jovanović · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prava poslastica među ljubavnim istorijskim romanima... Autorka na koju valja obratiti pažnju... U Engleskoj je poznata i popularna koliko i Filipa Gregori koja je kod nas poznatija jer se Laguna više potrudila... :)

[Krista · Rating 4 out of 5]

A likeable novel, set during the protracted civil war between Empress Matilda (Mathilda in this book) and Stephen de Blois, and contemplates on the lives and emotions of ordinary individuals who are trapped in their nobles’ war. This book seems like a feel-good version of the more sober When Christ and His Saints Slept although it has its own historical merit, and as this is tagged under historical romance, the main fictional characters do reasonable love affair and even pining over.

[Joana’s World · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adoro romances históricos e esta é uma história que envolve os leitores

[Misfit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even Chadwick's second best novels are a cut above much of the historical fiction genre.This is one of her earlier books and more of a historical romance than true historical fiction, the main characters being fictional. This is the second time I've read the book, in between I had read SKP's When Christ and His Saints Slept about England's civil war. Having a better understanding of that complicated period made this novel much more enjoyable than the first time.

I don't understand a previous reviewer's comment about Wicca, I didn't get that in the book at all -- all I read was that Catrin became an experienced midwife and herbalist. All in all a very nice story, Catrin was stubborn to a fault, Oliver steadfast and honorable, a truly evil villain and a surprise return from the past of someone long thought dead.

[Tara Chevrestt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this, tho I found it a bit predictable. It was an entertaining tale involving the war of Stephen and Matilda, midwifery, superstitions, and knights. Oh, and let's not forget romance. The main character is Catrin who has been widowed for three years (or so she thinks) and after being caught in the middle of the Stephen and Matilda war in England, 1140, she barely escapes with her life from an evil band of raping, pillaging merceneries. She meets and falls in love with a knight that is fighting on the Empress's side. Not willing to be dependent on a man and not satisfied sitting in a castle listening to gossip, Catrin learns the healing arts and midwife trade. Just when she is about to marry her knight, Oliver, she runs into her presumed dead husband, Louis. Louis had staged his death previously and now holds Oliver's life in his hands, as Louis is fighting for Stephen and has captured Oliver and his men. While the country is divided between Stephen and Matilda, Catrin's heart is divided between her long lost husband and the fond memories he comes with and her new love for Oliver.

Catrin makes a difficult choice and it turns out to be the wrong one. Will she be able to correct her mistake and find happiness with the right man? The drama enfolds in between battles for the crown. Readers not only get a romantic tale and an intriguing love triangle, but details about the long Empress Matilda vs Stephen feud.

Four stars instead of five because there were some areas where it seemed to drag on more than it should and it was a bit predictable. As always tho, Chadwick writes with much attention to detail and adds just enough true history to awe, but not bore.

[Susan W · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a true love story; not simply a romance. Chadwick managed to flawlessly intertwine 12th century history with a personal story of loss, love and betrayal. Chadwick's colorful and lively cast is lead by Oliver Pascal and Catrin who have both felt loss and betrayal before meeting each other after Catrin's village is burned to the ground by a group of murdering mercenary soldiers. Everyone is dead except Catrin and the son of her companion -- a young boy who is the king's bastard son.

The story follows Oliver to war and Catrin's quest to honor her marriage after finding out her less-than-honorable husband is actually alive after disappearing a few years earlier. When her scoundrel husband disappears she finally heads back to the man she loves -- Oliver.

I like the way Chadwick gives us familiar characters from book-to-book but also gives life to new people. Some we hate and silently high five when they meet an untimely death, others we just want to reach through the pages and hug.

[Natasa · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like a colorful romance where true love triumphs over adversity but with some adventurous, determined women and a real knight in shining armor then this book is for you. Full review you can find on my blog: https://poetryofreading.blogspot.com/...

[Liliflaj · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ovo je knjiga koju zaista vredi procitati! Jeste da je ljubavna prica ('ljubavni cvor') ali nikako nije samo to. Ko voli price sa istorijskom pozadinom puno toga moze da sazna o istoriji Engleske iz ranog srednjeg veka.

[Adelaide Silva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Uma história de amor que é acima de tudo um romance histórico.

[Emmy · Rating 4 out of 5]

**3.5**

I apologize in advance if this review is...uneven. I read the first 60% of the book and then took a 2 month break before picking it up again to finish it, which I had pretty much never done before. Usually when I go that long without picking a book up again I never finish it so this was a novel experience for myself (sorry, couldn't help myself).


Anyway, if I remember correctly I was enjoying this, but the angst I hit at the 60% mark was just too much for my poor heart to bear.


Basically Oliver comes across Catrin on his way to Bristol, having just returned from the Holy Land. Catrin is one of only two survivors of a raid on their village and he brings them both with him. Once in Bristol Catrin starts learning to become a midwife and herbalist and the two slowly fall in love. Which I loved btw. Oliver was still traumatized by his wife and child dying in childbirth (which is why he made a pilgrimage) and Catrin herself has only been a widow a year, her husband having drowned. So the two of them both have sadness in their past, but they learn to love again with each other and it all unfolds slowly and, IMO, realistically.

There is also a bad guy running around who they have to deal with, but the real kicker, and SPOILER ALERT, is when Catrin's husband returns. He had faked his death to escape justice after killing a jealous husband. You see, he was not really the good guy Catrin thought she loved, but a charming and handsome fraud who deceived most people to get him way. Anyway, when he returns (and this is the first thing that made me set this aside for a while), Catrin sleeps with him! Nope nuh-uh.



Cheating is not okay. I was so pissed with her after that. And then to make matters worse she goes back to him leaving Oliver brokenhearted! Argh! And this is where I put the book down. I was so mad at Catrin and sad for Oliver. Although i suppose this is what makes a good book? When you are so invested in the characters that you FEEL for them.



And so I had to put it down. The ending was good though. Once things turned around I was loving it again, although because it's Chadwick, I was tense the entire time that something else bad would happen. She doesn't pull any punches.

Also as usual with a Chadwick book, the history of the time period invades the entire story and it is excellently done. And you can always rest assured that the history is accurate with her! Chadwick writes well, she's done her research and she knows how to transport you to medieval England and I love that about all of her books that I've read.

Notable Quotes:
"Her heart was too soft and she sought for love in all the wrong places, but if that is a sin, then more than half of us is damned!"

"Yes, but the real enemy is that neither one trusts the other to keep living against the daily odds."

[Dangermousie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A rare Chadwick I did not care for. Mainly because I loathed the heroine. Usually Chadwick is good at giving us pragmatic, strong, yet flawed heroines to love but Catrin was awful and I couldn't stand her. If bitterness, selfishness and bitchiness were money, she'd be able to buy both Stephen and Matilda twice over.

[Julie Yates · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable! Set during the Anarchy this was a bit more romance plot than a true historical fiction, however the details of the hardships (and joys) medieval life during the English Civil War are outstanding as always. Like the best historical fiction, you come away from the story not only caring about the main characters (who are fictional in this case) but actually learning some history. [As another reviewer mentioned, its like a feel good (and shorter!) "When Christ and His Saints Slept"

Hero Oliver is mourning the loss of his wife in childbirth, his brother to the war, and his estates to King Stephen. Now a landless knight in service to Empress Matilda's forces, he comes across a village destroyed by mercenaries and rescues the heroine Catrin, also mourning the death of her husband. They help each other heal, even as Oliver is called to repeatedly fight King Stephen's forces.

Again, as an earlier Chadwick work a bit more romance than usual - there's some unlikely coincidences, betrayals, and the heroine acts so dumb you want to strangle her at one point. But still really enjoyed this.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I felt like dipping back into historical territory for a change, and this makes 13 for me from Elizabeth Chadwick's library.
It seems a good price from Amazon for the kindle.

[Mela · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was one of those of Chadwick's novels that I liked a bit less. Historical background and accuracy were great as always. It is just that the main plot and characters haven't gripped my interested like e.g. in The Winter Mantle, Lords of the White Castle or Shields of Pride. Of course, it was still much much better than most historical fiction.

it was easier to be angry than to examine why

His right hand on its hilt, Oliver left the main thoroughfares and entered the narrower alleys, his shoes squelching in mud and dung. A dog growled as it dashed past him, a dead rat dangling from its jaws. Two grimy little boys contemplated throwing pats of mud at him, but changed their minds when he drew an inch of blade from his scabbard

I have missed you beyond all reason, and that there is not a kissing bunch large enough in that hall to show you how much

Three generations after the Conquest, the nobility was dominated by men of French-speaking Norman extraction. It was true that their offspring were suckled by English wet nurses, and that their sons and daughters grew up speaking both tongues, but French was the language of the court and it was considered vulgar to admit to any great knowledge of English. Saxons were peasants and traders, occasionally merchants. Any who displayed overt signs of wealth were treated with suspicion and frequently harassed. For a man of rank to admit to Saxon heritage in public would be like throwing down a challenge to his peers. Older blood. A stronger claim, based on heredity not robbery

'Where there's life there's hope,' he said sternly. 'Where there's life there's pain,' Oliver responded, but opened his eyes.

By the way, I have some doubts that Catrin learned so fast and so much about 'the healing arts'.

[Bibliobee · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was a 2.5. Chadwick's books are all very similar for me, in that they all have a choppy flow. Where as most good books have an organized development, climax and ending, Chadwick's works seem to be disorganized, with choppy development, several climaxes, and abrupt (or even disappointing) endings. Another thing that all of EC's books seem to have in common is annoyingly repetitive language. The Love Knot was no different. If I read "oblivion", or "delivered the afterbirth", one more time, I was going to crush my e Reader.
I keep reading these historical novels because, while they are definitely not without faults, they are decent and a good way to fill a lazy day. If you are looking for a book in this vein, I would recommend absolutely anything by Sharon Kay Penman. Her works take place in primarily the same time and place, but in my opinion, are of a much higher standard.

[Susana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic book, the more I read the more I like Elizabeth Chadwicks work. Lovely, witty, enchanting and non the less enthralling story.

[Claire (Clairby11xxx) · Rating 4 out of 5]

(8/10) I just love Elizabeth Chadwick novels, this is a lighter one with fictional main characters, as always the historical research was extensive and detailed. Books I will return to again and again.

[Margo · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was a bodice-busting romance with lots of historical detail. I loved the history but I'm not a fan of love stories.

[Tita · Rating 4 out of 5]

O ponto central do livro não é a luta pelo trono entre Matilde e Estevão mas sim o romance entre Oliver Pascal e Catrin, mas não deixa de ser um livro interessante.
Oliver e Catrin são pessoas marcadas pela dor de perderem o seu cônjuge, que se conhecem em condições marcadas pela guerra mas que com o tempo vão-se apaixonando um pelo outro. Gostei bastante da interacção entre as personagens, nomeadamente da língua afiada de Catrin, que tem sempre uma resposta pronta e apesar de ser óbvia que Catrin e Oliver se vão apaixonar, é um relacionamento engraçado de acompanhar.
Mas de repente, Catrin descobre que afinal o seu marido Lewis não está morto (ou caso tenham lido a sinopse já sabiam de tal) e é o homem responsável pela captura dos soldados que lutam pela Imperatriz Matilde, entre os quais está Oliver. Tenho que referir que não me agradou que a sinopse referisse que Lewis não está efectivamente morto pois teria mais impacto se descobríssemos tal facto enquanto íamos acompanhando a história e tal só acontece a cerca de metade do livro e não logo no início da história. *Spoiler alert* A decisão de Catrin também não me agradou. Seria óbvio que ela teria que decidir com quem ficar, bem como a escolha serviu para mostrar o verdadeiro carácter de Lewis e o “crescimento” de Catrin mas custou-me ver Oliver de coração partido *Fim de Spoiler*
De forma a ressalvar mais o romance no livro, senti que dois aspectos poderiam ter sido melhor explorados. Acho que teria sido interessante que Richard, o filho ilegítimo do Rei Henrique e de quem Catrin era aia, tivesse um papel mais marcante, afinal de contas no início do livro achei que seria um dos personagens importante mas ao longo das páginas fomos perdendo o contacto com ele. Bem como Randal de Mohun, que achei demasiado previsível.
No entanto, algo bastante positivo, foi de nos ter sido dado a conhecer a rotina das parteiras e curandeiras e como facilmente poderiam ser acusadas de bruxas mas ao mesmo tempo serem respeitadas.
Apesar de não ter uma componente história tão forte como eu esperava, mas que apenas serve de pano de fundo ao romance dos protagonistas, achei a história interessante e senti bastante empatia por Catrin e Oliver, o que me fez querer ler o livro muito rapidamente. Um livro em que as personagens têm dúvidas e personalidades bastante reais.

[Karen Field · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although it took me longer than usual to read this book, there’s a good reason for it. The Love Knot by Elizabeth Chadwick is a historical romance and the author has used a style of writing that fits with the era of the story, which is the 12th Century. Because of this, it meant I had to read slower than normal in order to grasp the meaning of the words and take the story in. This sounds like a hindrance, but it wasn’t. Apart from the fact that, like everything, it only took a short time to get used to the writing style, I found that it gave the story more authenticity.

I have always enjoyed a good romance story and this was one of them. A true romance, in my opinion, has a real story behind it. Something that is interesting with characters that you would want to befriend in real life. I tend not to read the sloppy romance that has no substance to it and is filling with cardboard cutouts that are meant to be characters because those types of books are simply not interesting enough to keep my attention. The Love Knot was far from being sloppy and the romance thread was only a small part of the story as a whole. I really enjoyed it.

The thing I especially liked about this book was the history. I’ve always had an interest for castles and knights and everything that goes with it, so I didn’t start reading this book with no knowledge of the period. However, as the story progressed I found that I was not only interested in the romance blossoming between Oliver and Caitlin, I was interested to learn more about life in the 12th Century. It was clear that the details had been thoroughly researched by the author and that goes a long way with me. It helped me settle into the story and “see” the surroundings through eyes that have not been tinted with a rose colour, which so many medieval type stories are these days. The author showed the dirt, the hardship, the death, the pain, but she also showed how the people of those days were able to find contentment with what little they had. I appreciated that.

The Love Knot is a story worth reading. I recommend it and I’ll be keeping an eye open for more books by this author.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found The Love Knot to be an easy read. It's a historical romance set during the war of succession between Stephen and Matilda. While the romance hews close to historical facts, it treats the conflict itself and politics in broad strokes. It does not approach the level of detail about the conflict that is covered in Sharon Kay Penman's While Christ and His Saint's Slept. I would say that the level of detail was more similar to Pillars of the Earth, but The Love Knot's portrayal of medieval life seemed more accurate. In The Love Knot, the women wore braids and wimples - no billowing, long hair in women. Also, Chadwick was careful not to use anachronism.

The Love Knot centers on the story of the love between Catrin and Oliver. The storyline itself was rather predictable - it certainly did not help that the cover of the book reveals taht Catrin mistakenly believed herself to be a widow. I would have preferred not to have known this from the outset, as it left out any real possibility of a plot twist. Fortunately, for such a character driven plot, the main characters were likeable.

Based on other reviews, I expected a lot of detail about childbirth in the middle ages. There really wasn't much detail at all - just some mention of "travail," amniotic fluid, and the placenta. I would say that most births mentioned (Catrin was a midwife) took a page to describe at most. I think some readers might be a little too squeamish, particularly since the historical fiction drama describes battles and gore (much more grotesque than childbirth) with much regularity!

Overall, The Love Knot was a pleasant, light read. I've read better historical fiction novels, but The Love Knot kept me interested.

[Sheree · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favourite reads of 2008
The Love Knot is set during the turmoil of civil war between King Stephen & Empress Matilda in 12th century England.
Oliver Pascal returns home from a pilgrimage to the Holy Land after losing his wife in childbirth. After losing his lands to King Stephen, Oliver becomes a hearth Knight to Robert of Gloucester, illegitimate brother to Empress Matilda.
Oliver rescues the only survivors of a village raided by mercenaries, Richard an orphaned boy is the illegitimate son of the old king and half-brother to Earl Robert & Catrin, maid to the young boy's mother and widowed.
Richard and Catrin are accepted into the household of Robert of Gloucester but Catrin being an independent, spirited young woman, soon tires of court life. Ehelreda, the old midwife & healer offers to teach Catrin the trade of a midwife & the secrets of her ancient art. I thought Ethel was an endearing character and I thoroughly enjoyed learning more about childbirth and healing in the middle ages.

The Love Knot is a carefully-woven tale, each page flowing with rich colour & detail of the period. The characters are beautifully portrayed & I was carried along by the emerging love between Oliver & Catrin. I liked the fact that they were 'ordinary' characters, a landless knight and a lady's maid.

Much of Elizabeth Chadwick's research is carried out as a member of Regia Anglorum, an early medieval re-enactment society; while aiding authenticity Elizabeth does mention that it is not a guarantee to 100% accuracy.
This a vivid historical read intricately woven with romance & mystery

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the very first Elizabeth Chadwick book I ever read and is my favourite historical fiction book by a female author, to date.. I could not put it down. Something about the way it was written really inspired me.
The only problem I had with it, well, there were two problems actually, one was the depressing and overtly descriptive manner she used over and over and over again to detail childbirth and midwifery in the 12th century. At one stage I thought if I read "and then delivered the after birth into her hands" one more time I was going to gag.
The other problem was Chadwick's main female character is always such a sad sack. Why does she make them so miserable? If I was standing next to one at a party I'd be grimacing in my canapes and wondering how I could get away without offending. Her female characters tend to mope around with the weight of the world on their shoulders while the minor female characters, and the men, are blessed with multi layered traits and personalities. In The Love Knot, the female character is not that bad (though she could still do with a nice dose of happy). The story was strong and believable and the era Chadwick wrote about was well represented by her special, tailored brand of impeccable research

[Neide Parafitas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Após uma longa peregrinação, Oliver Pascal regressa no verão de 1140 à sua Inglaterra, mas depara-se com um cenário de devastação, criado pela guerra civil. Entre os sobreviventes encontra um bastardo do rei - Richard - que é também filho de uma grande amiga sua, e a viúva Caitrin, a jovem aia do rapaz.

Decidido a protegê-los, Oliver leva-os ao Conde Robert, irmão do rei. A viagem até lá aproxima Caitrin e Oliver mais do que qualquer um deles poderia esperar. Sendo ambos viúvos, os dois descobrem que têm mais em comum do que pensavam no início e acabam por se tornar íntimos.

Mas, a dada altura, Caitrin descobre que afinal o seu adorado marido não morreu! Que fará ela? Conseguirá ela aliar uma boa consciência aos desejos mais secretos do seu coração???

Uma bela história que fará as delícias dos leitores apreciadores do romance histórico! :)

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book to be a very good read. It has all of the things you want in a book. I liked the main characters a lot. It makes you feel your right in there seeing it all happen. Not may authors can do that but, this one can. 4 stars cause it didn't knock my socks off. LOL I would recommend this book to anyone who likes to read about knights and survival of the fittest or smartest.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read somewhere that Elizabeth Chadwick was a really good historical fiction writer. This book was so-so for me though. It was very long and the romance seemed to dominate more than the history...which is fine for me, but Catrin made some stupid choices that annoyed me. I did want to see how it ended so I did finally finish it. Don't know that I'll read another by the same author though.

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm really glad I got this one from the library, that way I didn't feel too badly when I gave up reading it only half way through. It was okay, but fit into my "boring & typical" romance criteria. Don't get me wrong, I'm all about a good romance every now and then, but this was not it...

[Jojo · Rating 4 out of 5]

http://devaneiosdajojo.blogspot.com/2...

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elizabeth Chadwick’s novels are a deeply immersive joy to read. As a girl who grew up on Karen Cushman’s medieval children’s novels, Chadwick is the perfect version of this for my adult life. I’ve only read three of her novels so far, but The Love Knot is definitely my favorite yet. Oliver and Catrin are so easy to connect with and feel empathy for. Especially Oliver, goodness, he’s an absolute sweetheart. He is flawed but forgivably, and he makes up for it by being a loyal, tender man. I also enjoyed the nuance of Catrin’s strengths and weaknesses. She is headstrong and makes wrong choices that she struggles to own up to. But she also possesses deep loyalty to her friends and loved ones, compassion and intelligence. I adore a female lead that feels both strong and feminine, that proves there is strength in femininity.

Despite moments of grief and the realism of medieval hardship, there is also something comforting about The Love Knot, and I have no doubt I will come back to it again someday when I need to escape to another world.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having completed 'The Love Knot', I've read all of Elizabeth Chadwick's back catalogue and so will now have to wait for new releases, grrr. This was one of my favourites. Set against the turbulent times of the Stephen/Matilda conflict, it charts the ups and downs of the relationship between Catrin, a nursemaid then midwife, and Oliver, a knight. As with all of her books, you forget you're reading a novel and become so immersed in the past; it's pure escapism :) My only gripe with this one is that there is what I consider to be a major spoiler in the summary on the back. The whole time I was reading I was waiting for this (not nice!!) twist to happen which was annoying - so I'd advise avoiding the blurb!