Helen Hollick Guest Post-I Am the Chosen King

 

This is really a part two post to a review I recently posted on Helen Hollick's spectacular historical fiction novel I Am the Chosen King.  (review post) I was so absorbed in the lives of many characters who are brought to life in this book, I had a few questions to ask Helen. Here is my rather random question and her fascinating response. 

Wisteria asks:

I read in your author notes that there was little factual information to go on when writing this trilogy. How do you develop the characters of Harold and Edith and Edith? I loved Harold, yet he had to balance the love of two women. How did you present Harold so that the reader has empathy and love for this character?  On the flip side, William adored one wife, Matilda, yet he was despicable and I loathed him.
All these characters can be identified by their personalities through your written word. Can you discuss this?

Helen Hollick

Phew, this is a one to think about!

I suppose there was more factual information for I Am The Chosen King (called Harold the King in the UK) then any of my other books, as the Battle of Hastings which occurred in 1066 – and the events that led to it – was fairly well recorded because it was such an important occurrence; one that changed history for good.
Having said that, most of what was recorded was written by the Victors, the Normans, so much of it was biased (at best) and plain untruthful (at worst)

For instance, Duke William of Normandy had no right to the English throne whatsoever – but you won’t find that written in any Norman account!
I stripped the “facts” of Norman propaganda, which meant doing a lot of reading between the lines, guessing, and using logic and common sense.
I will take one example: we know Harold went to Normandy around 1064/5. It’s depicted in the famous Bayeux Tapestry. We see him going to pray in the Church first, then going aboard a ship, then landing in Normandy and being wrongfully arrested. Why he went, why he was arrested, and why Duke William secured his release and was angry about the arrest, we don’t know. It is more than likely that Harold was intending to visit William, got blown of course and landed in the wrong place. Harold went on to be an honoured and welcomed guest at Duke William’s court – until everything went wrong. (I won’t say what!)

So I had to interpret those scenes, make sense of the bare facts and weave them into a believable, convincing story.

The framework of my characters’ characters was fairly easy to unravel. Harold I have always liked, he gave the impression of being a fair-minded, just man who saw honour and loyalty as his prime importance– be it to King, Country or family. Edith, his sister, I saw as a bit of a spoilt madam. She wanted things her own way, but I also felt very sorry for her. She got her wish and became Queen, but the wish turned out to be a disappointing one. Like her predecessor, though, (Queen Emma – from Forever Queen) Edith was determined to keep her crown, so would do anything, anything at all, to keep it.

Edyth Swanneck, Harold’s common law handfast wife I saw as a gentle, patient, motherly type of woman – who would give her life for Harold and her children if she had to. So their characters seemed natural and obvious to me, and the more I wrote the more “real” these people were to me.

I had a hard time writing about Duke William – I loathe the man, but I wanted to make him a realistic character, not an utter monster (even if he was *laugh*) so giving him an alternative background to his battle-hardened warrior image seemed logical. We know, as fact, that he was loyal to his wife and did not have mistresses or lovers because it was remarked upon and recorded (sorry I can’t remember exactly where) as unusual in a man of his status. I am not convinced he “loved” Matilda, but he was a man of principle, and I think possessive, maybe controlling. Sex, beyond producing children was not a major need for him. His “interest” was in the battle campaign, the manly world of the battlefield.
Just a pity he couldn’t keep his interests firmly in Normandy!

I want to thank Sourcebooks for the opportunity to be a part of this Blog Tour along with the review copy of her book that I received.  It is always fun to get a chance to talk to an author after you have read her/his book. I fell in love with Helen Hollick's writing when I read The Forever Queen, so I was eager to read I Am the Chosen King.  If you have not read any of her books, I highly recommend you take a peek. You might not even need a bookmark.


© [Wisteria Leigh] and [Bookworm's Dinner], [2008-2011].

Review-Diamond Ruby by Joseph Wallace

DIAMOND RUBY
Joseph Wallace,Touchstone, 2010, $25.00,pb, 464pp, 978-1-4391-6005-3.


Ruby Thomas, a child of seven catches a fly ball hit by Casey Stengel on April 5, 1913. As she looks at the ball she imagines herself a pitcher. Whether her unusually long arms often a source of ridicule, contribute to her success one will never know. Catching baseball fever that day, Ruby is destined to make a mark on the world.

Later, using a tree in her backyard as a target, she discovers her athletic gift. A mighty fastball with pin point accuracy. Some years later, when her family dies during the Spanish influenza outbreak, she becomes the sole support for her two nieces. Driven by the need to care for them, she lands a job at a Coney Island sideshow throwing fastballs. The attraction, called the Birdcage, is a challenge to anyone to beat her speed. The abusive owner schedules her long arduous hours with little rest. The pay is low and the work takes a painful physical tole on her throwing arm. One day Babe Ruth and Jack Dempsey, curious visitors, show up at the Birdcage to watch Ruby, and the resulting newspaper article rockets her fame. When given the opportunity to pitch for a minor league team, Ruby agrees.

As her adoring public craves more of Ruby, others of bad intent emerge. The Ku Klux Klan threatens her, the underworld wants to own her, and the baseball commissioner wants to ban her. All Ruby wants is to play ball and shelter her family.

Wallace has written a dramatically powerful story of determination. Ruby faces difficult choices, she is inspiringly special with an innate ability to endure immense hardships. The character genuine, not sainted, but human facing persistent challenges. Based on the life of Jackie Mitchell, Diamond Ruby is a historically uplifting unforgettable journey back to the excitement of the roaring twenties.

Disclosure: This book was given to me by HNR for review. This review originally was published in Historical Novels Review August 2010 issue.



© [Wisteria Leigh] and [Bookworm's Dinner], [2008-2011].

Slipped Past Me Saturday-The Unchaste Life

AN UNCHASTE LIFE: MEMOIR OF A TUDOR QUEEN
by Anne Cato
Publisher: Lyon-Rampant Publishing (August 2006)
9780978114602

I subscribe to Foreword Reviews and as my summer vacation is always rather randomly and carefree, I didn't get to read this month's issue until this week. I also read the online version, which is where I discovered this historical fiction book about Catherine Howard, the fifth wife of Henry VIII. ForeWord's review was glowing rating it 5 out of 5 stars. I was curious to see how the reviews stacked up elsewhere. On Library Thing, the average rating was 3.63 on their 1-5 point scale. Only 12 members own this book. Amazon had three reviews with a range of 3-5 stars.

Obviously, this did not generate a lot of enthusiasm or interest when it was published in 2006. However, after reading ForeWord Reviews article, I am adding this to my wish list. I think I'll take a trip to my local Indiebound bookstore and order it this weekend. Sound's too good to pass up and, the ABC Historical Fiction Challenge is now on the letter "Q".
I'll let you know what I think.

How about you? What books have you read about that have you thinking..hmmmm, sounds too good to pass by.

© [Wisteria Leigh] and [Bookworm's Dinner], [2010].

Review-Darcy's Voyage, by Kara Louise

DARCY’S VOYAGE: A Tale of Uncharted Love On the Open Seas
by Kara Louise
Sourcebooks Landmark
9781402241024
Historical Fiction
September 2010
$14.99/$17.99/£7.99 UK
505 pages




Summary
Elizabeth Bennet is off to America to visit her aunt and uncle. Her father, is loathe for her to go, but after placing her in the care of the competent captain, he acquiesces and waves goodbye from the docks. Elizabeth is sailing in steerage on Pemberley’s Promise, and soon discovers that the dark and close quarters are undesirable. She walks on deck in the early morning to breathe the clean air. She gives up her bed to a woman with sick children, leaving her only place left to sleep on the floor. The handsome and aloof Mr. Darcy, sailing in one of the most elegant cabins, has taken notice of the unconventional and attractive Elizabeth. In true Pride and Prejudice style the characters of Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet banter back and forth as they stroll the boards of the ship. They met once before several years ago in a carriage ride. It was clear then as now their social circles were completely opposite, yet drawn to each other. This is the story of the marriage, between Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy that occurred while on board the ship. A marriage on paper only, for propriety’s sake, as they both agree to a future annulment upon Darcy’s return to London.

Review
With the countless retells of Pride and Prejudice on the shelves these days, I was not sure I wanted to sit down for another version. With welcomed delight, this one is full of life, honors the memory of the original and offers a scenario of happenstance that works. I did notice that this Elizabeth is a little more agreeable, with a little less of an edge to her colorful conversations. Her personality is softer in the beginning, than the original Elizabeth, but perhaps she is characterized this way on purpose. Traveling alone without the security of family surrounding her, she is more vulnerable. I fell in love with Mr. Darcy all over again and it is painful to read his despair upon losing Elizabeth in America. In fact their separation caused me frequent anxiety reading the story, hastening my pace to find out how it all works out. The love between the two is prideful and the prejudice still remains. As they once again appear to be star-crossed, these memorable lovers from historical literature are presented by Kara Louise with endearment. Darcy’s Voyage takes you beyond the continent and back, and with her responsible portrayal, you still feel the depth of their passion, their desire and their need for one another. Loved it!



What were they thinking.....

Mr. Darcy

“Wrought with anxiety, he paced back and forth up on the deck for some time, compelled to rush into his room and declare his love, and yet held back by the apprehension of how she would receive it. Those little voices with whom he had argued earlier surfaced again, but this time more meekly, and he was able to rid his mind of them. He knew he could not live without her, and it was worth it to take the risk: the risk of what his family would say, what his friends would say, and most importantly, what she would say.”(Chapter 12)

Elizabeth Bennet

“She sat still, fervently keeping an eye to the door, wondering when he would return. She absently fingered the coverlet that lay on her bed, sketching in her mind what she would say to him wondering what she should say to him. As each minute ticked away she could not decide if she more greatly feared his prompt return or desired it.” (Chapter 13)

Disclosure: I am an Indiebound Affiliate. I received this review copy from Sourcebooks for free.


© [Wisteria Leigh] and [Bookworm's Dinner], [2010].

Review-The Crimson Rooms by Katharine McMahon

Sometimes I get so caught up in where and when I review a book that one slips through the cracks. This review was published in Historical Novels Review a few months ago. It was one of my top pics for 2009. Such a fabulous book and after reading it I vowed to read other books by her. Thanks to Vivienne at Serendipity for her Monday Mailbox listing that jogged my scattered memory.

Here is the review, late but never the less a favorite.

THE CRIMSON ROOMS, Katharine McMahon, Penguin Group, 2010, $25.99, 384pp, 9780-399-15622-9

Set in London in 1924 just after World War I, Evelyn Gifford, is a young lawyer of thirty, single, living home with her mother, aunt, and grandmother. When her brother is killed in the war, her father, now deceased saw the need to provide an education for Evelyn. After receiving her credentials, seeking gainful credible employment proves difficult in this male dominated profession, yet she ultimately is hired by Mr. Breen, of Breen & Balcombe.

Evelyn worships her brother James, his memory is vivid, his death continues to disturb her sleep. They were close. She opens the door one evening and is confronted with a woman who introduces herself as Meredith. In tow is a small boy, the resemblance to James is striking. When the young woman announces she knew her brother intimately, and that this is his son Edmund, Evelyn has no doubt but to believe her. Meredith’s appearance raises more questions about her brother’s past she must ultimately face.

While sorting through this turn of events, a murder of a young newlywed occurs and Evelyn’s firm takes the case. The victim killed by a bullet through the heart, allegedly by her husband, a veteran. All evidence points to his guilt yet unabated, with determination to help save his life, Evelyn searches for evidence to clear him. In the process of the investigation Evelyn meets someone who alters her life in ways she never imagines. Was it perchance or planned?

Katharine McMahon keeps the adrenaline pumping from beginning to end. The spunk and spirit of Evelyn is endearing and her disappointments will make you wince. The action intense, love, mystery and women’s struggles make this her best novel yet.

Disclosure: This copy was sent to me for review by Historical Novels Review.

ABC Historical Fiction Challenge, Mistress of the Revolution

I am slowly working my way through this challenge, but I have to admit, I'm not doing so well on the deadlines. When the letter is posted, you have a fortnight to read and post the review. Well, I am trying, but so far I have only read letters, E, F and G. My review for Etta will be late posting, and so will the letter G. For the letter G, I read The Confessions of Catherine de Medici, by C. W. Gortner. I'll post this after the print review is published, so sorry for that delay.






However, I do have a posting for the letter F. The book is Mistress of the Revolution by Catherine Delors. The location is of course France which will fulfill the requirement for this letter.


MISTRESS OF THE REVOLUTION
Catherine Delors, Dutton, March 2008, $25.95,HC,464pp, 978-0-525-95054-7.


Mistress of the Revolution is the story of Gabrielle de Montserrat, a survivor of the French Revolution. Gabrielle, although of noble birth, is raised in a convent as her own mother turned her away. At the age of fifteen she is taken home to live with her brother and mother and although her mother loathes her, it soon becomes clear that her brother is enamored by her. During this time she loves to ride and during an outing meets Pierre-Andre Coffinhal a local commoner. They fall in love and plan to marry but when her brother the Marquis discovers the mismatch he is furious. As her guardian, without recourse, she is forced to marry a much older, cousin who beats her and treats her as nothing more than a common whore. He dies suddenly leaving her and her young daughter with no means of support. Desolate and alone, she accepts a generous offer to live in Paris with the Dutchess d’Arpajon who becomes her mentor, protector and confidant. She becomes a kind friend, but fearing her own death and what would certainly cause financial hardship for Gabrielle, the Dutchess encourages her to seek male companionship. Her future is bleak for a woman without means in Paris, but her beauty attracts many men with numerous proposals, although without a dowry, marriage is not an option.

Delors recounts compelling horror with terrifying details of this unsettled revolutionary period of time in France. The political turmoil of the day is the backdrop of Gabrielle’s story and it is through her eyes we witness this bloodbath known as The Reign of Terror.
The real historical figures in Gabrielle’s story are many including Marie-Antoinette, Louis the Sixteenth, Pierre-Andre Coffinhal, Robespierre, Lafayette and countless others. Gabrielle did not live, but her character is full of spirit and has a tenacious will to survive. Gabrielle’s existence is fragile at best and Delors uncovers the drama and tenuous journey women had to tread during the late 18th to early 19th century through her pathetic and unhappy story. This is a heartbreaking, tear brimming story with well researched details of the French Revolution which shouldn’t be missed.

Disclosure: I purchased Mistress of the Revolution for my own enjoyment.

Review-THE YARD DOG, by Sheldon Russell

THE YARD DOG,
Sheldon Russell ,Minotaur Books,September 2009, $24.99/C$31.99, 292pp,978-0-312-56670-8.

Hook Runyon is a railroad agent, a yard dog. His name is a nickname he inherited after an unfortunate accident left him without one arm, a prothesis instead. His job is to protect the railroad from hobos, pickpockets and other criminals. He works at the yard that is situated near Camp Alva, a POW camp in Oklahoma. He lives in a caboose, bulging with his collection of rare books, a passion which is second only to his love of shine. One day Spark Dugan, is found dead under one of the railroad cars. He is a coal picker who keeps Hook’s bin full, and this day when Hook wakes up his box is empty.

When called to investigate, he is in a quandary as he immediately notices that nothing appears right. His boss wants a quick rap up, seeing the death as an accident caused when Spark Dugan carelessly fell asleep while drunk. But when it comes time to file the paperwork for the railroad, Hook labels the cause of death, homicide. Along with his buddy and moonshine supplier Runt, he will attempt to find out what happened to Spark . He knows one thing is for sure, Spark Dugan would have never picked a railroad car to sleep under, and another puzzlement, his face in death showed no fear.

The setting inside and amid the countryside of a POW camp surrounding the railroad offers unique fresh material supported by accurate historical elements. Unforgettable characters captivate your emotions with Hook Runyan as a possible future series protagonist. World War II is brought chillingly close to home in this action packed mystery that is a white-knuckle achievement by Russell.

Sunday Salon, February 21, 2010

What a beautiful day in Connecticut! The temperatures are mild, a light wind is blowing and you can feel Spring Thaw in the air. That reminds me, I better fill up that bird feeder again. I think I am the neighborhood bird sanctuary for the winter.



As far as reading this week, I signed up for another challenge. You know those tempting little challenges just seem too impossible to avoid. I try to limit my participation, try to close my eyes, try to be firm and say no. But in all honesty they really look cute on the sidebar of a blog. So, I have accepted the ABC Historical Fiction Challenge hosted by Historical Tapestry. Here are the details....

I am a little late signing up, so my first letter is E. I have chosen the book Etta, by Gerald Koplan which I actually started and finished yesterday. It was a lightning quick read that was too hard to put down. I hope to catch up along the way. I can't wait to read everyone's reviews and see what everyone is reading.

HT is going to host its first challenge! Based in Mysteries in Paradise's community challenge we now present you The Alphabet in Historical Fiction. To participate, just follow the rules:

Each fortnight you have to write a blog post about an historical fiction book of your choice (it might even be something you already read before), but it MUST be related to the letter of the fortnight.

You have several possibilities:

- the first letter of the title
- the first letter of the author's first name or surname
- the first letter of a character's first name or surname
- the first letter of a place where an historical event took place

You just have to choose one of them and participate.

Please check our blog each 1st and 15th of the month to find out our new letter, and then link your post back to our page through Mr Linky (see below). Then come and check to see who else has posted and visit their blog to find out all the details of the book they were reading.

You have until the end of each fortnight to complete your mission.



As far as today's reading for Sunday Salon, I will be reading Making Rounds with Oscar, by David Dosa, MD. This is the book about an amazing cat named Oscar, who seems to know when a patient is close to death. I remember reading about this unique cat, who makes the rounds at a nursing home in Providence, RI. At first I thought how depressingly sad this must be, but apparently not so. Patients find comfort and warmth in her visits. Well, I will have to let you know because I just started the book.