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A Royal Ambition
Determined to marry Owen Tudor, a Welsh gentleman-at-arms, Catherine, the widow of King Henry V, vies with powerful men close to the throne who wish to control her life and that of her son, the new king.
293 pages, Hardcover
First published July 1, 1999
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About the author
Iris Gower
53 books23 followersIris Gower (b. 1935) was a Swansea-based novelist. Her historical romances are all set within Swansea and Gower in South Wales.
Iris (real name Iris Davies) was born in Mumbles and lived in Derwen Fawr, a part of Sketty, Swansea. She had four adult children, though her husband of 48 years, Tudor Davies, died on 15 April 2002 after suffering a major stroke. She later lived with a partner, Peter.
She was one of the top-selling authors in the country, and was awarded an MA in Creative Writing by Cardiff University, as well as an Honorary Fellowship at the University of Wales, Swansea. She wrote and published around 40 books including 26 novels.
Gower died at Singleton Hospital, Swansea on 20 July, 2010. She was 75 years old.
Iris (real name Iris Davies) was born in Mumbles and lived in Derwen Fawr, a part of Sketty, Swansea. She had four adult children, though her husband of 48 years, Tudor Davies, died on 15 April 2002 after suffering a major stroke. She later lived with a partner, Peter.
She was one of the top-selling authors in the country, and was awarded an MA in Creative Writing by Cardiff University, as well as an Honorary Fellowship at the University of Wales, Swansea. She wrote and published around 40 books including 26 novels.
Gower died at Singleton Hospital, Swansea on 20 July, 2010. She was 75 years old.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
March 27, 2022
Easy read - enjoyable.
August 16, 2024
This was the first time I've tried an Iris Gower novel. May be the last. The story of Queen Catherine was slow, and she came across as having very little back bone at some points. The story did improve slightly as it progressed. Gower says a lot without actually making much of the story. Although my opinion of the book, may be biased having previously read several books of similar time period by Gregory and Sanson and they tend to focus on not only the key kings and queens but also the political intrigue in more detail.
November 22, 2022
What a lovely read so wonderful a story you instantly feel you are part of it
It shows you how in them times Royal family did have to accept what happened to them
Even though this is fiction it is so close to what May or did happen years ago
So enjoyable and also so sad at times but a absolute love story
A brilliant Author and a must read
It shows you how in them times Royal family did have to accept what happened to them
Even though this is fiction it is so close to what May or did happen years ago
So enjoyable and also so sad at times but a absolute love story
A brilliant Author and a must read
October 27, 2022
Really quite badly written but at least the font was large so it was over quickly!
February 8, 2010
This is a novel about the relationship between Catherine of Valois and Owen Tudor.
I found the story here to be rather underdeveloped. Catherine and Owen meet at about the time Henry V marries Catherine and are instantly attracted to each other, but there's little chemistry between the two. Once Henry V is dead, his brother Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, periodically appears to menace Catherine and Owen in a rather vague fashion, but nothing really comes of this plot line (although Humphrey has been held responsible for jailing Owen Tudor after Catherine's death, the book ends before this takes place). Much of the last part of the novel is taken up with rather tedious storyline involving Owen's romantic entanglement with one of Catherine's ladies (oddly, it never seems to occur to Catherine just to send the lady away). Catherine herself seems to spend an inordinate amount of time resting in bed--at almost every tense point in her story, someone gives her something to calm her nerves so that she can sleep.
There are some sweet moments between the young Henry VI and his half-brothers, and this book is an agreeable enough, quick read, but so much more could have been done with the characters here.
I found the story here to be rather underdeveloped. Catherine and Owen meet at about the time Henry V marries Catherine and are instantly attracted to each other, but there's little chemistry between the two. Once Henry V is dead, his brother Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, periodically appears to menace Catherine and Owen in a rather vague fashion, but nothing really comes of this plot line (although Humphrey has been held responsible for jailing Owen Tudor after Catherine's death, the book ends before this takes place). Much of the last part of the novel is taken up with rather tedious storyline involving Owen's romantic entanglement with one of Catherine's ladies (oddly, it never seems to occur to Catherine just to send the lady away). Catherine herself seems to spend an inordinate amount of time resting in bed--at almost every tense point in her story, someone gives her something to calm her nerves so that she can sleep.
There are some sweet moments between the young Henry VI and his half-brothers, and this book is an agreeable enough, quick read, but so much more could have been done with the characters here.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews