8 months ago

Review:  Lady of The EnglishAuthor: Elizabeth ChadwickPublisher:  Sourcebooks Landmark - division of Sourcebooks Inc Source: ARC from Sourcebooks    Aisle B Rating:    EightChinon, Anjou, April 1127   Matilda turned without a curtsey, and walked away, her head high. Her cheek was numb from the blow, but she could taste the blood where the inside of her mouth had met her teeth. Her mind was in a turmoil. As a little girl she had not wanted to go to her marriage in Germany, but she had been too small and powerless to object. Now, she was old enough to object, but still powerless, because what sort of power did a woman have except that which was filtered through men?Excerpt from Lady of the English page 66The German Emperor Heinrich has died and in his wake he leaves his Empress Matilda widowed at the age of 23. Now she beckoned home by her father King Henry I  of England to become a bride for his courtly needs. Her bethroyal to 14 year old Geoffrey of Anjou will reinforce the bounty her father seeks in the alliance made for his gain. Adeliza, King Henry’s Queen is barren despite his attempts to impregnate her with a heir. Younger than Matilda - she is all too aware that her empty womb leaves her in a precocious state while Henry begets his mistresses pregnant at the slightest chance.  Matilda becomes her only ally in the court where men rule with commanding words and fists to subjugate their women into submission. Together Matilda and Adeliza learn that history can be changed only in subtle ways, through secret alliances and letters they embark to recapture the throne from a new king whose governance rebukes their existence. **************************************************************************Elizabeth Chadwick’s The Lady of the English is a phenomenal historical fiction embued with royal intrigues defined by alliances made by two women of the early 12th century: Matilda Empress of Henry I & mother of the renowned Henry II and Adeliza Queen of England - Matilda’s stepmother. Chadwick interweaves their legacy with deference to their intelligence and sheer will power to live within the royal court. History roams from the moment Matilda is summoned back  in the Summer of 1125 to the stakes played by her heirs to win back the throne from  newly anointed King Stephen 1135. Adeliza is her constant ally in the power struggle to regain her family’s royal justice and together they remain strong with their convictions, a crucial element to history’s enthronement plight.Matilda refuses to be victimized by her womanhood while Adeliza accepts her role within the confines of a patriarchal society that devalues her worth.  Their lives seen through this historical context is challenging and realistic to the struggles women had to surmount.Chadwick’s Lady of the English examines the role Matilda - a much hated figure in historical lore, as a woman who strove to outbest those who underated her intelligence and hunger to rule a throne, denied her reach due to her sex.  Matilda will astound you for her tenacious willpower - there lies Chadwick’s forte , her strength are her protrayals of key women figures who have led men to historical prominence.  Bravo and kudos for such an incredible read focused on the vision of women from the early 12th century!

Review:  Lady of The English
Author: Elizabeth Chadwick
Publisher:  Sourcebooks Landmark - division of Sourcebooks Inc
Source: ARC from Sourcebooks   

Aisle B Rating:  3.87 of 5 stars3.87 of 5 stars3.87 of 5 stars3.87 of 5 stars3.87 of 5 stars 

Eight
Chinon, Anjou, April 1127

   Matilda turned without a curtsey, and walked away, her head high. Her cheek was numb from the blow, but she could taste the blood where the inside of her mouth had met her teeth. Her mind was in a turmoil. As a little girl she had not wanted to go to her marriage in Germany, but she had been too small and powerless to object. Now, she was old enough to object, but still powerless, because what sort of power did a woman have except that which was filtered through men?

Excerpt from Lady of the English page 66

The German Emperor Heinrich has died and in his wake he leaves his Empress Matilda widowed at the age of 23. Now she beckoned home by her father King Henry I  of England to become a bride for his courtly needs. Her bethroyal to 14 year old Geoffrey of Anjou will reinforce the bounty her father seeks in the alliance made for his gain.

Adeliza, King Henry’s Queen is barren despite his attempts to impregnate her with a heir. Younger than Matilda - she is all too aware that her empty womb leaves her in a precocious state while Henry begets his mistresses pregnant at the slightest chance.  Matilda becomes her only ally in the court where men rule with commanding words and fists to subjugate their women into submission.

Together Matilda and Adeliza learn that history can be changed only in subtle ways, through secret alliances and letters they embark to recapture the throne from a new king whose governance rebukes their existence.

**************************************************************************

Elizabeth Chadwick’s The Lady of the English is a phenomenal historical fiction embued with royal intrigues defined by alliances made by two women of the early 12th century: Matilda Empress of Henry I & mother of the renowned Henry II and Adeliza Queen of England - Matilda’s stepmother.

Chadwick interweaves their legacy with deference to their intelligence and sheer will power to live within the royal court. History roams from the moment Matilda is summoned back  in the Summer of 1125 to the stakes played by her heirs to win back the throne from  newly anointed King Stephen 1135. Adeliza is her constant ally in the power struggle to regain her family’s royal justice and together they remain strong with their convictions, a crucial element to history’s enthronement plight.

Matilda refuses to be victimized by her womanhood while Adeliza accepts her role within the confines of a patriarchal society that devalues her worth.  Their lives seen through this historical context is challenging and realistic to the struggles women had to surmount.

Chadwick’s Lady of the English examines the role Matilda - a much hated figure in historical lore, as a woman who strove to outbest those who underated her intelligence and hunger to rule a throne, denied her reach due to her sex.  Matilda will astound you for her tenacious willpower - there lies Chadwick’s forte , her strength are her protrayals of key women figures who have led men to historical prominence. 

Bravo and kudos for such an incredible read focused on the vision of women from the early 12th century!