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The Protector
As one of the most enigmatic and most reviled kings in English history, the man who will become Richard III emerges from the pages of The Protector as a loyal brother, a fearless soldier, and an able administrator of the north of England. Neither saint nor villain, he is thrust unwillingly into power by the untimely death of his elder brother, King Edward IV, who leaves the crown to his son, a twelve-year-old boy. On his deathbed, the dying king names Richard protector of the new king and of the realm, but the youth is wholly under the influence of the Woodvilles, his mother's family and Richard's sworn enemies. The result is a power struggle in which Richard must fight to gain not only physical possession of the new king but also his affections as well. In this contest, he is joined by an old ally, William Lord Hastings, and by a new one, the charismatic Henry Stafford, Duke of Buckingham. Both men will play pivotal roles in the events that follow. In the process, Richard will learn of an old family secret that has the capacity to change his life. He will also endure stunning betrayals from the two men who are closest to him while himself committing what is arguably the greatest betrayal of allthe seizing of the crown from his brother's son. This action leaves both the deposed king and his younger brother, Richard's namesake, open to a fate that Richard could not have foreseen, one that is wrapped in the riddle of his relationship with Henry Stafford and that will haunt him for the rest of his days.
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April 24, 2022
The Protector
By Kathleen Kelley
Reviewed April 14, 2022
I bought this book prior to the covid outbreaks, and for a long time it languished among the many books waiting to be read on my Kindle. I was finally induced to read it and can only say that I’m sorry I waited so long. Not sure what to expect, I feared it was going to be another so-so work of that sub-genre of historical fiction I refer to as Ricardian lit. Boy was I wrong!
The Protector covers less than a year, starting with the death of Edward IV, to the succession crisis and Richard’s accession to the throne, and concludes with the quashing of Buckingham’s Rebellion. The story is well told with all the plots, counter-plots, and skullduggery of a good political thriller combined with well-drawn character development, a good notch above what I have often encountered in similar books.
This is no plaster saint Richard and for that I am grateful. I do not deny identifying as a Ricardian but at the same time I dislike him being turned into some kind of one dimensional good guy in the white hat, with authors assigning modern sensibilities to a medieval prince because that’s just wrong.
The first time we meet Richard is at Middleham Castle when he and his family are just returning from a day out hunting and upon returning home learns the news of his brother’s death. At one point during all this, he chastises his wife for what he sees as her coddling their son, a boy prone to illness. A short time later, his temper has cooled and he regrets speaking harshly to his wife but is unable to bring himself to apologize, and as I read this I found myself thinking, “This is how real people interact.”
He’s certainly not the bad guy in this story but is very human and at times flawed, sometimes impatient, sometimes quick to temper. In short, Richard is basically a decent man, but his ambition and tendency toward ruthlessness prove to be his Achilles heel.
Richard’s interactions with Young Edward, the “uncrowned king” are likewise realistically drawn. The boy is smart and clever, especially for a 12-year-old, and things get off to an awkward start when Richard has to tell his nephew that his favorite uncle, Anthony Woodville, has been arrested. However, each time Richard tries to smooth things over between himself and his nephew, Harry Stafford, the Duke of Buckingham, opens his mouth and says something that only complicates matters.
Speaking of the Duke of Buckingham, there have been numerous discussions and ponderings as to what Richard saw in Buckingham and, just as importantly, what did Buckingham see in Gloucester. Was it some kind of personal magnetism? A means to an end? Something else?
In this story, there’s something definitely going on between the two them. In the beginning, Richard sees only the positive things about Buckingham and looks upon him as a surrogate for his brother, George. He sees the duke’s pleasing exterior and support without paying attention to those darker traits that ultimately leads to his betrayal of Richard. As for what Buckingham sees in Gloucester? Well, I’m not going to tell you everything! What I can tell you is that more than once I was mentally shouting at Richard to tell Buckingham to put a sock in it.
By the time the royal party makes it into London, I couldn’t help but think that a smooth transition of power from father to son could never have taken place, not with the son being so young and so many others wanting their own piece of the governmental pie. When Richard tries to make amends with Edward, the young lad has an outburst of anger, taunting his uncle with what happened to previous protectors, insinuating a bad end for Gloucester. Though the boy regrets his outburst, he is too proud to admit this, making Richard’s later decision to take the crown that much easier.
After Richard is crowned, Buckingham, once the new king’s staunchest supporter, finds things not working out as he had envisioned. Instead of being a kingmaker and influential partner, Harry finds Richard “less and less tractable to his guidance.” What he had thought of as a joint venture was not how things were turning out. “He had naturally expected to be consulted on all decisions.” Really? Yes, good ol’ Harry was getting more than a bit full of himself. The real deal breaker is when Richard nixes Harry’s suggestion that the king’s son and heir be betrothed to Harry’s daughter. It is from such disappointments that betrayals are conceived. Too bad Henry Stafford, Duke of Buckingham hadn’t bothered to pay attention to what happened to the last guy who was called kingmaker.
Another character I found myself drawn to is Anthony Woodville, Earl Rivers. He is one more whose intentions are good, but allows himself to be drawn into the plotting against Gloucester, even though the two men have some admiration for each other, and I found myself feeling sorry for him when he is confronted with the truth of what is happening at Stony Stratford.
“Anthony Woodville was far different from the rest of his grasping, insatiable clan. He was learned, erudite, and urbane in a way that few men could boast, yet he wore his many accomplishments with a self-deprecating humor that was immediately endearing.”
In the end, Rivers pays the ultimate price for this betrayal of the protector. The old saying about the road to hell being paved with good intentions came to mind when I was reading Anthony Woodville’s side of this part of the story.
In real life, Woodville in his will (written shortly before he was executed) elected Richard, the man who had him arrested and tried, supervisor of his executors, obviously trusting the man to do the right thing. “Over this, I besech humbly, my Lord of Gloucestyr, in the worshipp of Cristes passhion and for the meryte and wele of his sowle, to comfort help and assist, as supervisor (for very trust) of this testament, that myn executours may with his pleasure fulfill this my last will.” I thought the author did a good job with drawing out this conflict between two men who, under different circumstances, might have been good friends.
Back in London we have William, Lord Hastings and members of his retinue – William Catesby, John Howard, and others. William is a long-time friend of Richard’s, but becomes besotted with King Edward’s former mistress, Jane Shore, and enjoys a liaison with her following the king’s death. Unknown to Hastings, Mistress Shore is simply using him so that she can eventually get back her preferred lover, Dorset. Hastings comes across as a sad, pathetic creature, an older man who is trying to recapture his youth by taking Shore to his bed. Unfortunately, his pleasures do not last long.
There are many other characters of interest, men (for the most part) who each had their own role to play in the succession crisis of 1483. Among them are Bishop Thomas Rotherham; John Morton, Bishop of Ely; Lord Thomas Stanley; Robert Stillington, Bishop of Bath and Wells with his bombshell news about Edward IV’s pre-contract with Eleanor Butler; and Dr Argentine who becomes a kind of Cassandra, foretelling doom and gloom for Richard if he dares to set aside his nephew and take the crown for himself. I’m leaving a lot of others out, but this review is already getting quite lengthy so I will leave it to you, gentle readers, to discover the rest for yourselves.
Although I’m familiar with the events in this book, I found the author’s approach to be filled with the kind of little details that made them refreshingly different while still the same, and kept me wanting to read. The portrayal of the attempted Woodville coup felt realistic with complex and interesting personalities on both sides. Is this what actually happened? Perhaps yes, perhaps not, but the way it plays out in this story makes sense and doesn’t come across as contrived. The same can be said about the events leading to rebellion. As mentioned in the beginning, the book ends with the immediate aftermath of Buckingham’s rebellion, and Richard finding kingship isn’t all it’s cracked up to be while learning some bitter lessons about loyalty and betrayal.
"He might have told them of his loneliness, raised to a pinnacle no one else could share, where no man was truly his friend and every man a potential enemy. But they would not have understood. They would have protested their love and loyalty with all the vehemence of wounded innocence, even as the traitors had done before them. Somehow, on this particular morning, he did not wish to hear it."
One last comment and that is that I love the cover, a beautifully composed grouping of symbols including a crown, a white rose, a gold chalice, and Richard’s white boar device. It’s said that you can’t tell a book by its cover, but a good cover goes a long way in getting me to take a closer look. In fact, it’s what attracted me to this book in the first place.
The Protector is among the better works of Ricardian fiction and is well worth adding to your library.
By Kathleen Kelley
Reviewed April 14, 2022
I bought this book prior to the covid outbreaks, and for a long time it languished among the many books waiting to be read on my Kindle. I was finally induced to read it and can only say that I’m sorry I waited so long. Not sure what to expect, I feared it was going to be another so-so work of that sub-genre of historical fiction I refer to as Ricardian lit. Boy was I wrong!
The Protector covers less than a year, starting with the death of Edward IV, to the succession crisis and Richard’s accession to the throne, and concludes with the quashing of Buckingham’s Rebellion. The story is well told with all the plots, counter-plots, and skullduggery of a good political thriller combined with well-drawn character development, a good notch above what I have often encountered in similar books.
This is no plaster saint Richard and for that I am grateful. I do not deny identifying as a Ricardian but at the same time I dislike him being turned into some kind of one dimensional good guy in the white hat, with authors assigning modern sensibilities to a medieval prince because that’s just wrong.
The first time we meet Richard is at Middleham Castle when he and his family are just returning from a day out hunting and upon returning home learns the news of his brother’s death. At one point during all this, he chastises his wife for what he sees as her coddling their son, a boy prone to illness. A short time later, his temper has cooled and he regrets speaking harshly to his wife but is unable to bring himself to apologize, and as I read this I found myself thinking, “This is how real people interact.”
He’s certainly not the bad guy in this story but is very human and at times flawed, sometimes impatient, sometimes quick to temper. In short, Richard is basically a decent man, but his ambition and tendency toward ruthlessness prove to be his Achilles heel.
Richard’s interactions with Young Edward, the “uncrowned king” are likewise realistically drawn. The boy is smart and clever, especially for a 12-year-old, and things get off to an awkward start when Richard has to tell his nephew that his favorite uncle, Anthony Woodville, has been arrested. However, each time Richard tries to smooth things over between himself and his nephew, Harry Stafford, the Duke of Buckingham, opens his mouth and says something that only complicates matters.
Speaking of the Duke of Buckingham, there have been numerous discussions and ponderings as to what Richard saw in Buckingham and, just as importantly, what did Buckingham see in Gloucester. Was it some kind of personal magnetism? A means to an end? Something else?
In this story, there’s something definitely going on between the two them. In the beginning, Richard sees only the positive things about Buckingham and looks upon him as a surrogate for his brother, George. He sees the duke’s pleasing exterior and support without paying attention to those darker traits that ultimately leads to his betrayal of Richard. As for what Buckingham sees in Gloucester? Well, I’m not going to tell you everything! What I can tell you is that more than once I was mentally shouting at Richard to tell Buckingham to put a sock in it.
By the time the royal party makes it into London, I couldn’t help but think that a smooth transition of power from father to son could never have taken place, not with the son being so young and so many others wanting their own piece of the governmental pie. When Richard tries to make amends with Edward, the young lad has an outburst of anger, taunting his uncle with what happened to previous protectors, insinuating a bad end for Gloucester. Though the boy regrets his outburst, he is too proud to admit this, making Richard’s later decision to take the crown that much easier.
After Richard is crowned, Buckingham, once the new king’s staunchest supporter, finds things not working out as he had envisioned. Instead of being a kingmaker and influential partner, Harry finds Richard “less and less tractable to his guidance.” What he had thought of as a joint venture was not how things were turning out. “He had naturally expected to be consulted on all decisions.” Really? Yes, good ol’ Harry was getting more than a bit full of himself. The real deal breaker is when Richard nixes Harry’s suggestion that the king’s son and heir be betrothed to Harry’s daughter. It is from such disappointments that betrayals are conceived. Too bad Henry Stafford, Duke of Buckingham hadn’t bothered to pay attention to what happened to the last guy who was called kingmaker.
Another character I found myself drawn to is Anthony Woodville, Earl Rivers. He is one more whose intentions are good, but allows himself to be drawn into the plotting against Gloucester, even though the two men have some admiration for each other, and I found myself feeling sorry for him when he is confronted with the truth of what is happening at Stony Stratford.
“Anthony Woodville was far different from the rest of his grasping, insatiable clan. He was learned, erudite, and urbane in a way that few men could boast, yet he wore his many accomplishments with a self-deprecating humor that was immediately endearing.”
In the end, Rivers pays the ultimate price for this betrayal of the protector. The old saying about the road to hell being paved with good intentions came to mind when I was reading Anthony Woodville’s side of this part of the story.
In real life, Woodville in his will (written shortly before he was executed) elected Richard, the man who had him arrested and tried, supervisor of his executors, obviously trusting the man to do the right thing. “Over this, I besech humbly, my Lord of Gloucestyr, in the worshipp of Cristes passhion and for the meryte and wele of his sowle, to comfort help and assist, as supervisor (for very trust) of this testament, that myn executours may with his pleasure fulfill this my last will.” I thought the author did a good job with drawing out this conflict between two men who, under different circumstances, might have been good friends.
Back in London we have William, Lord Hastings and members of his retinue – William Catesby, John Howard, and others. William is a long-time friend of Richard’s, but becomes besotted with King Edward’s former mistress, Jane Shore, and enjoys a liaison with her following the king’s death. Unknown to Hastings, Mistress Shore is simply using him so that she can eventually get back her preferred lover, Dorset. Hastings comes across as a sad, pathetic creature, an older man who is trying to recapture his youth by taking Shore to his bed. Unfortunately, his pleasures do not last long.
There are many other characters of interest, men (for the most part) who each had their own role to play in the succession crisis of 1483. Among them are Bishop Thomas Rotherham; John Morton, Bishop of Ely; Lord Thomas Stanley; Robert Stillington, Bishop of Bath and Wells with his bombshell news about Edward IV’s pre-contract with Eleanor Butler; and Dr Argentine who becomes a kind of Cassandra, foretelling doom and gloom for Richard if he dares to set aside his nephew and take the crown for himself. I’m leaving a lot of others out, but this review is already getting quite lengthy so I will leave it to you, gentle readers, to discover the rest for yourselves.
Although I’m familiar with the events in this book, I found the author’s approach to be filled with the kind of little details that made them refreshingly different while still the same, and kept me wanting to read. The portrayal of the attempted Woodville coup felt realistic with complex and interesting personalities on both sides. Is this what actually happened? Perhaps yes, perhaps not, but the way it plays out in this story makes sense and doesn’t come across as contrived. The same can be said about the events leading to rebellion. As mentioned in the beginning, the book ends with the immediate aftermath of Buckingham’s rebellion, and Richard finding kingship isn’t all it’s cracked up to be while learning some bitter lessons about loyalty and betrayal.
"He might have told them of his loneliness, raised to a pinnacle no one else could share, where no man was truly his friend and every man a potential enemy. But they would not have understood. They would have protested their love and loyalty with all the vehemence of wounded innocence, even as the traitors had done before them. Somehow, on this particular morning, he did not wish to hear it."
One last comment and that is that I love the cover, a beautifully composed grouping of symbols including a crown, a white rose, a gold chalice, and Richard’s white boar device. It’s said that you can’t tell a book by its cover, but a good cover goes a long way in getting me to take a closer look. In fact, it’s what attracted me to this book in the first place.
The Protector is among the better works of Ricardian fiction and is well worth adding to your library.
Read
July 8, 2022I started this book months ago but abandoned it before I got to page 100, because I found the characters to be all one dimensional and , boring, but I just recently finished reading "Requiem of the Rose king" and there I enjoyed Richard being in a relationship with Buckingham, so I decided to go back to this book and I'm glad I did it.
The book begins with Edward IV on the edge of death and a fun discussion between Dorset and William Hastings, that serves as an introduction to explain how everyone moved in favor of themselves in the face of this tragedy, because Edward's death represented a blank space in power and a change in the political game that is why everyone was defensive, the book explains well the position of each person, I liked in this part the participation of Jane Shore who as a mistress of the King has to be intelligent and quick to survive in that cruel world.
It is worth keeping in mind that this novel is not going to tell everything that happened in the war of the two roses, in fact, as its name indicates, it is going to focus on the transition Edward IV - -Edward V -- Richard III. More specifically in Richard and his position as protector of the Kingdom, in the middle of conspiracies, lies and betrayals, at the moment in which the story begins Richard, apart from his royal obligations, is a man with passive almost boring personal life, a sickly son, a quiet, simple and fragile wife, nice friends and not more but when he is called to be a protector everything changes, Harry stafford Duke of Buckingham, who is a cousin of Richard (although not a close one) offers his help and support, together they unite forces against the Woodvilles and any other obstacles, seeking peace in the country and of course staying up in the political hierarchy, but politics is not the focal point of this story, it will actually be the attraction that arises between Richard and Harry, Richard immediately notes that Harry is handsome and is also all sweet and willing with Richard, but over time the union becomes almost a flirtation that many perceive, and that it will be consummated in a sexual act between them, which makes that Harry becomes obsessed with Richard but Richard cannot handle the blame so easy and is not willing to give himself to that relationship, regardless of Buckingham's insistence and Richard's desire because deep down, it is not completely unpleasant in fact a good part of the book Richard is torn between maintaining his principles and surrendering to the forbidden, the context offered by the book is plausible and very interesting, Richard is not that he is morally distracted, but he is in a vulnerable moment, you see, many want his head, many lie to him and many more awful things oh and he has a frustrating sex life (because of Anne's fragility, he can't allow himself to get her pregnant) and a couple life that is apparently too simple, and well, Buckingham is there for Richard, taking care of him, being servile, gallant and perfect.
But after that encounter Richard tries to keep his distance from Buckingham, while preparing to take the crown, and it is just then that something happens, Richard discovers what I thought was a passive Anne, flirting with Francis Lovell and Rob Percy , in Anne's room, the situation is fun to read and I also consider it believable, both Francis and Rob are accompanied by their wives but that does not prevent them from flattering Anne and seeing her with desire, although Anne is not cheeky yes she enjoys the attention, Richard is not calm at all and arrives scolding everyone's behavior, above all he is annoyed with Francis who we know always had a sexual interest in Anne, who perhaps even fueled Francis' interest, perhaps not for us but for them as medieval people somehow Anne did adultery so this compensate the things, whatever, once they are alone Anne and Richard had a huge discussion for the distance and everything what is happening, in the end Richard, tormented by everything, takes her in a rough way, which she enjoys, and makes her pregnant, but Anne has an abortion and is near death which makes Richard reflect and define his priorities, he tells us that he married in love with Anne and discovers that he still loves her, he briefly yearns for Harry but shakes the idea and moves on, this is a breaking point, for Buckingham who is getting more and more upset over Richard's rejection and because politically he doesn't feel as powerful, so he starts the rebellion, spiteful and obsessed, that's all we read.
Honestly, as I said, the first 100 pages were a bit boring for me, but little by little the story becomes entertaining, the characters are complex and captivating, it is probably not a super accurate story, but it is very entertaining and it puts situations that are possible, fun and that add a lot to the story, and it's well written.
If I have a complaint and it is the reason why I give 4 stars, it is that the book could have more organized specially last chapters and I feel that Katherine's story is poorly developed. Finally I would love to read a prequel to know about Buckingham and his first years of marriage, as well as Richard's teenage life, because I think the author is very talented, and certainly if I think a version of the Richard / Buckingham relationship to be possible, it would be this novel because it even respects the religious context and the historical.
The book begins with Edward IV on the edge of death and a fun discussion between Dorset and William Hastings, that serves as an introduction to explain how everyone moved in favor of themselves in the face of this tragedy, because Edward's death represented a blank space in power and a change in the political game that is why everyone was defensive, the book explains well the position of each person, I liked in this part the participation of Jane Shore who as a mistress of the King has to be intelligent and quick to survive in that cruel world.
It is worth keeping in mind that this novel is not going to tell everything that happened in the war of the two roses, in fact, as its name indicates, it is going to focus on the transition Edward IV - -Edward V -- Richard III. More specifically in Richard and his position as protector of the Kingdom, in the middle of conspiracies, lies and betrayals, at the moment in which the story begins Richard, apart from his royal obligations, is a man with passive almost boring personal life, a sickly son, a quiet, simple and fragile wife, nice friends and not more but when he is called to be a protector everything changes, Harry stafford Duke of Buckingham, who is a cousin of Richard (although not a close one) offers his help and support, together they unite forces against the Woodvilles and any other obstacles, seeking peace in the country and of course staying up in the political hierarchy, but politics is not the focal point of this story, it will actually be the attraction that arises between Richard and Harry, Richard immediately notes that Harry is handsome and is also all sweet and willing with Richard, but over time the union becomes almost a flirtation that many perceive, and that it will be consummated in a sexual act between them, which makes that Harry becomes obsessed with Richard but Richard cannot handle the blame so easy and is not willing to give himself to that relationship, regardless of Buckingham's insistence and Richard's desire because deep down, it is not completely unpleasant in fact a good part of the book Richard is torn between maintaining his principles and surrendering to the forbidden, the context offered by the book is plausible and very interesting, Richard is not that he is morally distracted, but he is in a vulnerable moment, you see, many want his head, many lie to him and many more awful things oh and he has a frustrating sex life (because of Anne's fragility, he can't allow himself to get her pregnant) and a couple life that is apparently too simple, and well, Buckingham is there for Richard, taking care of him, being servile, gallant and perfect.
But after that encounter Richard tries to keep his distance from Buckingham, while preparing to take the crown, and it is just then that something happens, Richard discovers what I thought was a passive Anne, flirting with Francis Lovell and Rob Percy , in Anne's room, the situation is fun to read and I also consider it believable, both Francis and Rob are accompanied by their wives but that does not prevent them from flattering Anne and seeing her with desire, although Anne is not cheeky yes she enjoys the attention, Richard is not calm at all and arrives scolding everyone's behavior, above all he is annoyed with Francis who we know always had a sexual interest in Anne, who perhaps even fueled Francis' interest, perhaps not for us but for them as medieval people somehow Anne did adultery so this compensate the things, whatever, once they are alone Anne and Richard had a huge discussion for the distance and everything what is happening, in the end Richard, tormented by everything, takes her in a rough way, which she enjoys, and makes her pregnant, but Anne has an abortion and is near death which makes Richard reflect and define his priorities, he tells us that he married in love with Anne and discovers that he still loves her, he briefly yearns for Harry but shakes the idea and moves on, this is a breaking point, for Buckingham who is getting more and more upset over Richard's rejection and because politically he doesn't feel as powerful, so he starts the rebellion, spiteful and obsessed, that's all we read.
Honestly, as I said, the first 100 pages were a bit boring for me, but little by little the story becomes entertaining, the characters are complex and captivating, it is probably not a super accurate story, but it is very entertaining and it puts situations that are possible, fun and that add a lot to the story, and it's well written.
If I have a complaint and it is the reason why I give 4 stars, it is that the book could have more organized specially last chapters and I feel that Katherine's story is poorly developed. Finally I would love to read a prequel to know about Buckingham and his first years of marriage, as well as Richard's teenage life, because I think the author is very talented, and certainly if I think a version of the Richard / Buckingham relationship to be possible, it would be this novel because it even respects the religious context and the historical.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 3, 2022
I read this novel a few years ago, and when recently asked to review it, I thought I remembered it well. It turns out what I remembered was the sex: Richard, in a vulnerable moment, succumbing to Buckingham’s sexual advances; Buckingham raping Jane Shore; and, Katherine Woodville having an affair with a fictional member of the Vaughan family.
What I didn’t remember was the account from Hastings’s perspective of the machinations of the Woodvilles to seize control of the government immediately upon the death of Edward IV. I had also forgotten that Anthony Woodville was not made a party to his family’s scheme at the outset because it was thought that he would not be entirely agreeable to it. He saw no reason not to meet Richard of Gloucester at Northampton in order to escort the new king to London until he learned from Richard Grey that Buckingham was also to join them there. At that point, Anthony agreed that they had to have a plan to thwart Richard’s protectorship as the Woodvilles feared both dukes; Richard who had publicly vowed vengeance for the death of Clarence and Buckingham who hated the family he had been forced to marry into.
The principal players during the protectorship are well represented here, even if the characterizations are one dimensional. Edward V is every inch a Woodville who taunts Richard by pointing out the fate of past protectors. Richard himself is shown as an uptight individual who finds it difficult to express his emotions openly. He feels more comfortable in the company of his soldiers than in that of his wife. It seems perfectly in keeping with his character that he suffers self-revulsion when he has sex with Buckingham. Buckingham is homosexual and mysogynisic. Buckingham’s volte-face is explained as the result of being spurned as a lover after their one sexual encounter. A possibility, certainly, and this is not the only work of fiction that has suggested it. Overall, an entertaining and well-written novel, although if you are looking for a more well-rounded Buckingham, try Isolde Martyn’s The Devil in Ermine’s whose protagonist displays an ascerbic wit, appreciates nature, architecture, and women, and craves respect and high office above all.
What I didn’t remember was the account from Hastings’s perspective of the machinations of the Woodvilles to seize control of the government immediately upon the death of Edward IV. I had also forgotten that Anthony Woodville was not made a party to his family’s scheme at the outset because it was thought that he would not be entirely agreeable to it. He saw no reason not to meet Richard of Gloucester at Northampton in order to escort the new king to London until he learned from Richard Grey that Buckingham was also to join them there. At that point, Anthony agreed that they had to have a plan to thwart Richard’s protectorship as the Woodvilles feared both dukes; Richard who had publicly vowed vengeance for the death of Clarence and Buckingham who hated the family he had been forced to marry into.
The principal players during the protectorship are well represented here, even if the characterizations are one dimensional. Edward V is every inch a Woodville who taunts Richard by pointing out the fate of past protectors. Richard himself is shown as an uptight individual who finds it difficult to express his emotions openly. He feels more comfortable in the company of his soldiers than in that of his wife. It seems perfectly in keeping with his character that he suffers self-revulsion when he has sex with Buckingham. Buckingham is homosexual and mysogynisic. Buckingham’s volte-face is explained as the result of being spurned as a lover after their one sexual encounter. A possibility, certainly, and this is not the only work of fiction that has suggested it. Overall, an entertaining and well-written novel, although if you are looking for a more well-rounded Buckingham, try Isolde Martyn’s The Devil in Ermine’s whose protagonist displays an ascerbic wit, appreciates nature, architecture, and women, and craves respect and high office above all.
July 9, 2022
This is a book tha saw me conflicted till the last about the rating. I admit it could easily have been a 4 stars, but for some questionable choices. The writing is superb, in terms of style, and the effort the author put in her historical research is amazing: the book is full of all those vivid details that make the story believable and captivating.
On the other hand, with all this research, would you tell me she didn't have the chance to throw away some old myths, like Richard a dark small changeling amidst a throng of golden and tall brothers, the plight throth instead of the marriage, Anne and Edward frail and sickly, the Protectorate confused with a continental regency, Elizabeth Lambert called Jane Shore (without a note explaining the change for artistic purpose)? I felt disappointed. And yes, before objection raise, I admit I'm more demanding with recent books. I can condone rough mistakes in older novel, but from new ones, deep researched besides, I expect more.
The choices I didn't appreciate are basically the sordid ones. Richard and Buckingham lovers, Buckingham a rapist... also the Katherine Woodville storyline didn't serve much purpose. What was the need of them? The author is clearly a talent, she's far from a Philippa Gregory, who needs to put incest here and there just to wake up the reader.
The story is a bit slow in some parts. At the beginning I struggled to get into it, and in the end I struggled to finish it. So I would say the best part is the middle section. In the end, with all the focus on Buckingham and, above all, Morton, my attention was lost.
A good book, but with different choices it could've been far better.
On the other hand, with all this research, would you tell me she didn't have the chance to throw away some old myths, like Richard a dark small changeling amidst a throng of golden and tall brothers, the plight throth instead of the marriage, Anne and Edward frail and sickly, the Protectorate confused with a continental regency, Elizabeth Lambert called Jane Shore (without a note explaining the change for artistic purpose)? I felt disappointed. And yes, before objection raise, I admit I'm more demanding with recent books. I can condone rough mistakes in older novel, but from new ones, deep researched besides, I expect more.
The choices I didn't appreciate are basically the sordid ones. Richard and Buckingham lovers, Buckingham a rapist... also the Katherine Woodville storyline didn't serve much purpose. What was the need of them? The author is clearly a talent, she's far from a Philippa Gregory, who needs to put incest here and there just to wake up the reader.
The story is a bit slow in some parts. At the beginning I struggled to get into it, and in the end I struggled to finish it. So I would say the best part is the middle section. In the end, with all the focus on Buckingham and, above all, Morton, my attention was lost.
A good book, but with different choices it could've been far better.
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