- Paperback: 310 pages
- Publisher: Vintage; New edition edition (2 Jan 2003)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0099286661
- ISBN-13: 978-0099286660
- Product Dimensions: 19.4 x 13 x 2.2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,284,121 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
The Pretender is the second book in Jane Stevenson's trilogy which began with Astraea, the story of Elizabeth, Queen of Bohemia (daughter of James I) and her secret marriage to an exiled African prince. While The Pretender continues the theme of 17th- century royal and political intrigue, Elizabeth and her prince are now dead and the couple's only son, Balthazar, is making his living as a doctor, an early surgeon in fact, in a world well removed from the court. Having been brought up in secrecy by his father in Holland, Balthazar the "mulatto" met his mother, briefly, only once. His adult life was to be lived without family and without any real sense of identity. Neither black nor white, reared not as a royal of either European or African descent, Balthazar is forced to confront his unique heritage alone and forge his way in an unstable world where disease and deceit wait at every turn.
After completing his medical training and working in his home town, Balthazar moves to London, keen to make his way in his mother's world. Here, influenced by two very different people, he decides to try and make a new life in Barbados. Before leaving Holland, Balthazar is introduced to Aphra Behn, singular for her time both as a female novelist and playwright but also as an English intelligence agent. The chance encounter leaves a lifelong mark on the rigorously honest and decent doctor. This intriguing, unusual book is crammed with fascinating detail about the everyday lives of 17th-century men and women. Reading such carefully structured prose, modestly oozing intelligence, clarity and insight on every page, reveals more than many a history book on the Restoration period. Stevenson has left no stone unturned in her coverage of every facet of life in the 1600s from local dialects to medical practices, from fashions to culinary preparations. Neither has she stinted in her meticulous research into the wider issues of the day: religion, politics, class, and the historical significance of the rise of sugar cane and the impact of the slave trade in the West Indies. Jane Stevenson is a writer of immense talent and The Pretender is not only a superb sequel to Astraea, but a book easily strong enough to stand on its own.--Carey Green --This text refers to the Unknown Binding edition.
Sunday Telegraph
‘Jane Stevenson is a writer of formidable ability’
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I am a historian of the 17th century, and am not normally allowed to approve of historical novels as they are often inaccurate, etc. But in the case of Jane Stevenson, you overcome the unlikely premise (the secret marriage of Elizabeth of Bohemia with a black doctor, or the coincidental meetings with Aphra Behn) as the atmosphere and set-pieces are spot on. Meticulously researched detail make this really evocative of the Restoration period, much much better than Rose Tremain. The characters are delineated well enough to make this a quick read but also one from which you can learn much about history. Highly recommended.
Format:Paperback
I read Astraea, the first book in the trilogy of which this is the second part, and found it interesting though not compelling. Here the story moves forward 25 years and the child of Elizabeth of Bohemia and an ex-African prince, ex-slave is now an adult of mixed race and living in Holland. The other reviewer here has commented extremely favousrably on the historical background, and while I'm not as qualified to tell, I would expect that to be the case given that Stevenson is an English professor.
But however good the 'history' the book just doesn't have a compelling enough plot or characters to make it come to life. Balthasar and Aphra Behn are just cardboard, which is a huge disappointment. This might be an accurate depiction of Restoration Europe but it's a dull novel, in my opinion, with no life to it. I struggled with it then finally abandoned it on the tube hoping that perhaps someone else will get the enjoyment from it that completely escaped me. A huge disappointment I'm afraid.
But however good the 'history' the book just doesn't have a compelling enough plot or characters to make it come to life. Balthasar and Aphra Behn are just cardboard, which is a huge disappointment. This might be an accurate depiction of Restoration Europe but it's a dull novel, in my opinion, with no life to it. I struggled with it then finally abandoned it on the tube hoping that perhaps someone else will get the enjoyment from it that completely escaped me. A huge disappointment I'm afraid.
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