The Forever Queen.
From Sourcebooks"Hollick, Helen (Author)
Nov 2010. 656 p. Sourcebooks/Landmark, paperback,
From Sourcebooks"Hollick, Helen (Author)
Nov 2010. 656 p. Sourcebooks/Landmark, paperback,
$16.99. (9781402240683).
Like Bernard Cornwell, Hollick mines the richly textured history of Saxon England, producing a striking portrait of an unruly era poised on the threshold of major transformation.Wife of two kings, mother to two more, Emma has a remarkable life story providing a suitably dramatic backdrop for this fictional romp through the fractured political and social landscape of eleventh-century England. Married off to King Aethelred of England at age 13, Emma, daughter of the Duke of Normandy, far exceeds her value as a strategic female pawn, as she pledges her enduring allegiance to her adopted homeland. Despising her weakling husband, she and her children retreat to Normandy when England is invaded by the Danes. However, her all consuming passion to save her country and retain her crown eventually leads her into the confidence as well as the arms of Cnut, Viking king of England.
My thoughts
This was my first read by author Helen Hollick and it won't be the last. A very well written and researched novel. It tells the story of Emma of Normandy and her marriage to King Aelthred and King Cnut of Denmark.
Two of her sons, one by each husband, and two stepsons, also by each husband, became kings of England, as did her great-nephew, William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandy. A story filled with historic detail in a time when there was a lot of fighting for control of England. Her marriage to King Aethelred was not a happy one but she does fare better with King Cnut. The author has described this turbulent era masterfully and has the reader waiting to turn the next page. Emma's marriages created a strong link to Normandy and England. The novel starts in 1002 with the marriage of Emma to King Aelthred and ends in 1042 when her son Edward ascends the throne as King of England. The only thing I did not like about the book was the names of the characters and I had a hard time keeping them all straight.I received this book from Sourcebooks and was not monetarily compensated for my review.
Thank you for reviewing Forever Queen on your blog - I'm glad you enjoyed the read.
ReplyDeleteThe names were difficult, I agree, but that is a disadvantage of writing historical fiction - those are the real names, I have to use them. As a reader when coming across awkward names (and believe me, historical fiction is not the only culprit - fantasy and science fiction have very weird names at times!) I always say the names as they sound, it really doesn't matter if it's correct or not.
Thanks again, your opinion is highly valued