King Henry II, exhausted from everlasting conflict with France and the habit of his sons rebelling against him finds love, solace, and passion after falling for the youthful beauty of Alys and makes her his mistress.
Henry II, now in his late 50’s, exhausted from a lifetime of war remains one of the greatest Kings who ruled England. The founder of the ‘Devil’s Brood’, he and his advisors modernized England’s government and society and much more. But it was his jealous family life which caused his life to fall apart.
Alys was the timid 8-year-old daughter of the King of France when sent to England and ultimately forced into marriage with Henry’s violent son Prince Richard, but he ridiculed and rejected her. Within six years, Alys had developed into a ravishing beauty, who was suddenly appealing to the old King himself.
As they grew closer, Alys realised she could only save herself by becoming more powerful. She didn’t want to be a royal mistress like Rosamund, or a princess married to a violent and absent prince like Richard. No, her ambition was to become queen, to replace the formidable, feisty monarch, Eleanor of Aquitaine, one of the most beautiful powerful and wealthy women in the world. When a son, William, is born to old Henry and Alys, the young princess now has her life complete, but she needs desperately to succeed and protect him. England has become a maelstrom of baronial factions with Eleanor marshalling her sons, young Henry, Richard, Geoffrey, plus John who try overthrow their father and take possession of his empire. All want the right to rule their own lands, even before old Henry is dead.
Alan Gold is an internationally published and translated novelist, whose books of historical fiction bring back to vivid life some of the most fabulous women who have been written out of history. Alan’s first novel was a story which he uncovered working for Reuters International News Agency in Israel; because of its controversial themes, he didn’t write it until coming to Australia. The Jericho Files, which was published by HarperCollins was an international success. Since then, he’s written over thirty novels, with subjects ranging from the Bible to ancient and modern history. His two latest novels are The Devil’s Apprentice, a fictionalised autobiography of the real Faust and his problems with the invention of the printing press, and His Head on a Platter, about the life of the Renaissance artist Artemisia Gentileschi due to be published by Romaunce late 2023.
My thoughts: drawing on the limited historical facts about Princess Alys of France and her life at the English Court, this is a complex and rather tragic story. Henry II is at war with his family, they’re tired of his bad temper and stubborn refusal to pass any responsibility onto his sons, Henry, Geoffrey, Richard and John.
Eleanor of Aquitaine is remembered as powerful and important in her own right, but her marriage was rocky and Henry frequently took mistresses. Alys is keen on becoming queen. But she hasn’t counted on Henry’s love for his wife and sons, even as they rebel against him.
An intriguing look at life in the early Plantagenet court, at a time when the English throne ruled more than half of France too and struggled with their neighbours and the Pope.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in the blog tour but all opinions remain my own.
ramblingmads 