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Review
Whitaker makes the story fresh ... she has a wealth of material in the couple's letters to each other and uses it to dramatic effect (SUNDAY TIMES )
A well-reserached and well-written account that brings history to vivid life. (DAILY EXPRESS )
Whitaker's engaging style and the fast-paced narrative make for a highly entertaining read. Drawing upon a wealth of contemporary sources, the author creates a vivid, finely drawn portrait of her two protagonists and their court. (Tracy Borman BBC HISTORY )
A well-reserached and well-written account that brings history to vivid life. (DAILY EXPRESS )
Whitaker's engaging style and the fast-paced narrative make for a highly entertaining read. Drawing upon a wealth of contemporary sources, the author creates a vivid, finely drawn portrait of her two protagonists and their court. (Tracy Borman BBC HISTORY )
Book Description
From quarrels, passion, treason to execution, discover one of the great overlooked love stories of history.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
18 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Charles I and his wife Henrietta Maria's marriage has been overshadowed by the events of the Civil War and anti-royal propaganda at the time. Charles has been presented in history as a shy and weak man, while Henrietta (an unpopular Catholic bride) was said to be dominating and haughty. The author has gone beyond these stereotypical views and has been vigorous in looking at as many sources as she could to bring the couple back to life. The story begins with Henrietta Maria in exile, learning about the death of her husband. Then we are taken through a joint biography of their lives, from an uneasy start in marriage to a love story which blossomed, and then to the downfall of the Civil War. Despite the couples flaws, there can be no doubting their love for each other and for their children, which is extremely touching. This is a very good read and is entertaining history at its best. I highly recommend this book and I will certainly look for more books by this author.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Gombrich memorably wrote that "dates are the hooks on which we hang the tapestry of history". Monarchs come a close second. European history gets horribly complicated in the 17th century, because you really have to get your head around the 150 years of relationship fluctuation between England, Scotland, Spain, Holland and France. (And that's just for starters.) Since it weaves together pretty much all five in a readable and enthusiastic history-verging-on-romance, this book is well worth the time spent. The author has made the right choices when emphasising people, places and conflicts, so that you finish the book with a strong sense of what to follow it with (in my case William and Mary, since I'm in a rush to reach the 1700s en route to the Seven Years War). So, apart from being accessible and occasionally touching, it is good, wholesome, historical fare.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I approached this book completely ignorant of Stuart history, being very well read in Tudor history and reasonably well read in Yorkist history. Therefore, I was a little worried that I would not be aware of any possible issues that divide opinion amongst historians, authors and readers. Whitaker clearly makes the point that history has seen Henrietta Maria as dominating in her relationship with her husband Charles I and haughty in her relationships elsewhere. Whitaker somewhat destroys this view that has held fast since the seventeenth century but still leaves you with the distinct impression she had huge influence on Charles especially in his tolerance of Catholics until civil war broke out in the 1640s.
Whitaker tells an intensely romantic story of Charles' attempts to secure Henrietta Maria as his bride just prior and just after his accession, explains their initial quarrelling and then describes how their marriage blossomed into something quite unique in the 1530s.
Running alongside this relationship is the treatment of England's Catholics with a gradual but still obvious descent into civil war; Charles' tolerance and advancement of England's Catholics, his attacks on English Puritanism and Scottish Presbyterianism and Parliament's attempts to seize power in areas Charles argued were his prerogative as a result of it's belief that Catholicism would return through the back door.
It offers a simple introduction to the Civil War itself, something I hoped Whitaker would not touch upon in too much detail.
What impressed me the most, something that is rare in popular historical fiction is that Whitaker gets straight to the point and sticks to the point. The book doesn't start with irrelevant and pointless background or delve into the events of the Civil War that are irrelevant to the marriage of Charles and Henrietta Maria.
Great stuff!
Whitaker tells an intensely romantic story of Charles' attempts to secure Henrietta Maria as his bride just prior and just after his accession, explains their initial quarrelling and then describes how their marriage blossomed into something quite unique in the 1530s.
Running alongside this relationship is the treatment of England's Catholics with a gradual but still obvious descent into civil war; Charles' tolerance and advancement of England's Catholics, his attacks on English Puritanism and Scottish Presbyterianism and Parliament's attempts to seize power in areas Charles argued were his prerogative as a result of it's belief that Catholicism would return through the back door.
It offers a simple introduction to the Civil War itself, something I hoped Whitaker would not touch upon in too much detail.
What impressed me the most, something that is rare in popular historical fiction is that Whitaker gets straight to the point and sticks to the point. The book doesn't start with irrelevant and pointless background or delve into the events of the Civil War that are irrelevant to the marriage of Charles and Henrietta Maria.
Great stuff!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
great book
what a fantastic book! Katie Whitaker managed to combine good history with a serious laugh - the bizarre diplomatic protocol and religious fanatacism of that age are just too... Read more
Published 21 days ago by M. Baerends
A PASSIONATE BOOK
This book is absolutly incredible. Before i read this i had only a vague knowledge of the life of Charles I, altough i knew more about the civil wars from the side of Oliver... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Scott Jarvis
Civil War Story
At first I thought that the book was going to be about the romance between King Charles I and Henrietta, but I quickly realised that this was just more than a love story. Read more
Published 12 months ago by C. Berry-Davies
A ROYAL PASSION
This book offerers a an intiate insight into the relaionsip between CharlesI and queen Henretama. It is of intest to me because I studed the Enlish Cival war when I did my BA. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Mr. Tristan R. Matthews
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