Posts Tagged ‘Elizabeth Lambert’

15
Jul

Mistress to the Crown

   Posted by: Felicity Pulman    in Bookworm

Mistress to the Crown

Book Review:  Mistress to the Crown

Isolde Martyn, Mistress to the Crown.  Harlequin Mira, Chatswood, Australia, 2013. ISBN 9781743560211

It’s wonderful to see a new book from Isolde Martyn, and Mistress to the Crown more than lives up to the reputation of Martyn’s award-winning The Lady and the Unicorn and Knight and the Rose. The author’s knowledge and love of medieval history is evident as she deftly weaves fact and fiction together to flesh out the character of Edward IV’s mistress, the hitherto much maligned ‘Jane Shore’.

Jane’s plight (a young girl trapped in a loveless marriage to an older, impotent man) is sympathetically portrayed as is her motivation to change the odds stacked against her by becoming the mistress of a nobleman. She doesn’t just ‘sleep’ her way to success, however; feisty and independent, she forges her own destiny while at the same time keeping her door (and her heart) open to the poor, the needy and the misjudged who petition her for help – with a fitting reward for her kindness just when she most needs it. Historical details flesh out the scenes without intruding on these ‘affairs of the heart’ that make Jane such an appealing and memorable character.

Readers will enjoy this witty and page-turning glimpse into a past that is now so very much in the public eye with the unearthing of the remains of Edward IV’s brother, Richard III, from beneath the council carpark in Leicester.

Note:  This review has been previously published on Goodreads.  I meant every word, I think it’s important to those members who write books about this period that we get behind them and let people know about and enjoy their work.

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14
Jan

MISTRESS TO THE CROWN

   Posted by: Dorothea Preis    in Bookworm, News, NSW Branch News

Thursday, 31 January 2013, sees the official launch of Isolde Martyn’s much anticipated new novel Mistress to the Crown, about Edward IV’s mistress “Jane Shore”.

‘What joy to find a novel that blends sound research with a love story that, on its own would attract a wealth of romance readers. Isolde Martyn links her skill as an award-winning novelist with her depth of historical knowledge to reveal the life and loves of Elizabeth Lambard (Mistress Shore), and presents her as one of the strongest, most accomplished, lovely and lovable women of the 15th century. It’s fact and fiction at its best, a must-have for your bookshelves.’

Julia Redlich, Former Fiction Editor of Woman’s Day; Secretary of the New South Wales Branch of the Richard III Society

We all remember Isolde’s previous novels The Lady and the Unicorn (1996) and The Silver Bride (2002), both of which also play during the Wars of the Roses.  Isolde is a member and former chairperson of our branch.  Incidentally it was The Silver Bride, which brought me to the NSW branch of the Richard III Society.

If you can make it to Sydney, all members of the Richard III Society are very welcome to attend the launch, but please let Isolde know if you are attending.

Booklaunch for Mistress to the Crown

When: Thursday, 31 January 2013; 18h00 for 18h30 start
Where: Shearer’s Bookshop (beneath Palace Cinema), Norton Street, Leichhardt
RSVP: isolde@isoldemartyn.com (by 21 January 2013)

Looking forward to seeing you there!  And of course making the acquaintance of the Mistress to the Crown.

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