Monday, May 3, 2010

Vanora Bennett, The Queen's lover

I just finished reading the new Vanora Bennett: The Queen's lover. This is about pre-tudor England, Henry V. The story revolves around Catherine de Valois (daughter of Charles VI) - who is raised to be Queen (similar to many other Catherines). She is married to Henry as part of a treaty, and fulfils her duty. She camps with him (with mud mud and more mud) on his campaign trail through France, then arrives into England, with 'cold mud'. The descriptions of her travels, meeting various people, her inner thoughts .... are fascinating. Watching her mature, and go through the cycles that all women do (how is it your mother is always right?) and seeing the whole picture, while grasping at love too. AND the first six Henry's were NOT Tudors, but her second son, with Owain (this Queen's lover) has a son who becomes Henry VII, first tudor king of England.
I would love to have Bennett write the sequel - e.g. what happens during the War of the Roses, her thoughts on the beheading of Owain, and Henry's victory (Catherine and Owain's grandson) over all of them.
It was always convoluted history, but it is FASCINATING in Bennett's writing hands. AND Owain was Welsh, hence the celt connection.

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