Charlotte Collins by Jennifer Becton Mr. Collins has suddenly passed away in an unfortunate riding accident, leaving Charlotte a widow in her mid-30’s. She invites her sister, Miss Maria Lucas, to live with her and use her as chaperone on outings within their group of acquaintances. Both Charlotte and Maria end up with two interested gentlemen—though Charlotte has made it… Read more »
The Princess of Nowhere by Prince Lorenzo Borghese Pauline Bonaparte Borghese, sister of Napoleon Bonaparte and wife of Prince Camillo Borghese, is introduced to us as a vain and frivolous creature who is free with her favors and unconcerned with the consequences of her actions. We see the royal Italian couple through the eyes of Sophie, a young ward placed… Read more »
The Lady in the Tower by Jean Plaidy This is the book that started my obsession with Jean Plaidy–the first of her novels I read and my absolute favorite characterization of Anne Boleyn. Eight years have passed, and reading it again I stand by my initial delight in finding an admirable protagonist in Anne–after having been introduced to her by… Read more »
The Merry Monarch’s Wife previously titled The Pleasures of Love by Jean Plaidy ‘But when I consider the truth of her heart Such an innocent passion, so kind, without art I fear I have wronged her, and hope she may be So full of true love to be jealous of me O, then ’tis I think no joys are above… Read more »
The World’s a Stage Kathleen Kellow 18th Century Irish actress Peg Woffington and actor/manager David Garrick are brought to life in this rather hard-to-find novel by Kathleen Kellow (a pseudonym of historical author Jean Plaidy). Peg began life in a poor home without a father, and found her calling at an early age. She rose to fame in Ireland playing… Read more »
Wicked Company by Ciji Ware In mid-Eighteenth century London, during the early reign of King George III, our protagonist, Sophie McGann is the daughter of a Scottish printer and bookseller. Forced to make her way, she employs her talents as a printer and playwright in the cut-throat arena of the Drury Lane theater and its competitor, Covent Garden. Sophie’s guarded,… Read more »
The Venetian Mask by Rosalind Laker I knew I was taking on a bit of a heavy read when I started this novel, but I finished it in less than 3 days. Extremely detailed, the story takes place in Venice during the time of the French Revolution and the final days of Carnival and mask-wearing. This particular place and time… Read more »
The Third George by Jean Plaidy Fifth in the eleven book Georgian Saga, The Third George covers the intermediary life of England’s King George III—after his liaisons with Hannah Lightfoot and Sarah Lennox, just before his marriage to Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz and ending with his first serious mental episode, which required the Prince of Wales to take over as Regent…. Read more »
The Tudor Secret by C. W. Gortner England, Summer 1553: Brendan Prescott, a foundling serving in the household of the Dudley family, is immediately immersed in political intrigue when he joins the court as Lord Robert’s squire. With an unknown background and generic face, he makes the perfect spy and is only too happy to lend his services to the… Read more »
The Tudor Rose by Margaret Campbell Barnes This is the story of Elizabeth of York as told in her own voice. The story begins with a mature young woman, who is the eldest of King Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville’s children, and her character is immediately shown to be admirable. Perhaps she is a bit too compliant at times, but… Read more »
The Passionate Brood A Novel of Richard the Lionheart and the Man Who Became Robin Hood by Margaret Campbell Barnes This is the story of King Richard I of England through an interesting perspective: the reputable legend–Robin Hood. Though he is not narrator or a main character by presence, he is the heart of the story and, one might say,… Read more »
The Princess of Celle by Jean Plaidy This story begins with a family of brothers, of whom one will inherit the family titles and fortune: Hanover, Celle and Osnabruck. When it falls on the one brother least eager for the responsibilities, Duke George William, he passes it on to a younger brother with a few concessions — the main one… Read more »
