Helen CastorRezensionen

Wonderful! Castor provides details about the queens before Elizabeth I, writing with such an engaging quality that it makes her book absolutely captivating.

The book opens with the death of Henry VIII’s young son King Edward VI in 1553 when all potential heirs were female meaning England would have a female reigning monarch for the first time. Then Castor goes back to provide biographies of Empress Matilda, Eleanor of Aquitaine, Isabella of France, and Margaret of Anjou who were all queens in the names of their husbands or sons. And although Matilda reigned briefly, “Bloody” Mary, daughter of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon was the first queen to rule in her own right.

Outstanding! Highly recommended.

*2.5

It took 21 hours to read this aloud to my wife in segments before bed.

I really liked this one but it's gonna take me a bit to write a decent review.

When I first read this book, I hated it.

Honestly, the writing style is pretty boring, but the info is good, so i'll let it pass...

Probably not a good choice for a Kindle book. I found myself trying to find maps from the times of each queen to try and figure out the constantly changing borders. I did alternate the 4 queens' stories with some other lighter reading. In the end, I got bored with it TBH. That is more a reflection on me than the author. The book is well researched and understanding that not much information was written about the women during these times, it is very impressive to get such detailed accounts. I'm more a fan of historical fiction, it seems. This feels more like a book you'd read in a great feminist history class.½

An excellent read. At times it's bewildering, as indeed were the Wars of the Roses. It is wonderful to look through this window into the past to see how one family negotiated an uncertain path, the pivotal roles the women played, the early years more like unremitting gang warfare than we normally find in history books.

Well, the title says it all. Very readable non-fiction about women who ruled in varying capacities in the hundreds of years before Queen Elizabeth I. While this was a good book, my excessive historical fiction reading (thank you Sharon Kay Penman) meant that there wasn't much new in this book for me. But the review was fun.½

This book examines the lives of four “would be” queens of England prior to the reign of Elizabeth I. Of course Queen Mary (elder half-sister of Elizabeth) was the first female ruling monarch of England, and details of her life are presented as well. I have read extensively on English history through the years, so most of this history was not exactly new.

Having recently read the book When Christ and His Saints Slept, I was well familiar with the story of Mathilde, the presumptive heir of Henry I, whose crown was unceremoniously usurped by her nephew Stephen. There followed a twenty year civil war which was only settled by the agreement that Mathilde’s son Henry would succeed Stephen on the throne. While this account of Mathilde’s life was necessarily shorter than the full length book on the subject (which was somewhat novelized), it was probably more suitable in length and historical accuracy.

I was also familiar with the story of Eleanor of Aquitaine, wife of Mathilde’s son Henry, having read Allison Weir’s presumptive biography. I say “presumptive” since there is far too little source material to fill a book on her life without an abundance of filler and presumption. Again, this book contains all you need to know about her dalliance with royal power.

The other two historical personages covered in this book were not as well known to me. My knowledge of Isabella was largely derived from the highly fictionalized portrayal in Braveheart. In some of my reading on English history, I had been exposed to a more historically accurate account of her travails, but this was a very good refresher in that regard.

The final “queen” was one of which I had very little previous exposure, Margaret of Anjou, whose husband was essentially an imbecile. Most of these women attempted to rule either in the presence of incapable or disinterested leadership on the part of their husband, in the name of their minor sons, or both. Unlike in France, where the Salic Law forbade the succession of a female ruling monarch, the problems of these women were not statutory in nature, as much as human nature of the period.

It was only with the death of Edward VI (only son of Henry VIII) and the utter absence of any possible male successor, that Queen Mary was allowed to assume the crown. In fact, the issue was more one of religion than gender, as the Protestant Edward was so desperate to avoid handing the crown to his Catholic older sister, that he designated a distant female relative (Lady Jane Grey) as his successor. Mary nevertheless survived he power struggle and paved the way for Elizabeth I to succeed her.

Wow - this was a very interesting book, but it was not an easy read. It was well-researched, and the author really did make the queens come alive with her descriptions. Reading it was definitely worth the effort.

La historia de varias reinas inglesas que determinaron que Isabel pudiera llegar al trono con total tranquilidad, pero convirtiéndose en a reina Virgen y madre de toda inglaterra. Muy interesante la vida de Leonor de Aquitania sobre todo½

Fabulous

Review from The Herald Issue 66 - Summer 2015

Helen Castor’s latest work analyses the life and deeds of Joan of Arc and, importantly, puts her actions into context with political rivalries in France at that time - an amazing book about an amazing peasant girl who overcame so many obstacles to save France from inevitable destruction and captured the hearts of minds of every generation since her death.

This book is different from most accounts of the Maid of Orleans which tend to be biographical focusing on her personality, her visions and her martyrdom. Castor lets you see Joan in context as one of many visionaries at that time, a product of the utter desperation of the kingdom of France, and her fall and death resulting from bitter feuding between rival French factions.

Joan of Arc was a remarkable woman who achieved amazing feats through pure strength of will and character. She made an indelible impact on all those she met and took France from the brink of collapse right to the gates of victory. Helen Castor brings this feat to life, powerfully recreating the vicious rivalry, the climate of murder, and the mistrust and hatred between the two factions - a story often untold, and this book really emphasizes the importance and impact on Joan of Arc. This feud allowed Joan to flourish and use her charisma to unite opposing forces, but their rivalry would also cause her gruesome death.

Mark Taylor

Joan of Arc is an iconic figure in history. The pure maid who received visions from God telling her to lead the army into battle with the French. The holy innocent who was burned at the stake by the vengeful English.

In this book Castor looks at the events surrounding the short time between the appearance of Joan to the Dauphin of France and her demise. This is a book which looks at the historical facts as recorded through the annals of contemporary historians and also the records of Joan's trial but it doesn't try to explain where Joan came from and what she was about.

There is a theory, not explored here, that Joan was supported and set up by Yolande (the Dauphin's mother-in-law) and that she was an innocent pawn in a complex political argument involving France, England and Burgundy. Joan provided a focus and a motivation for the French which eventually led to the tide turning for them. What is mentioned here is that there were a number of individuals who claimed to have seen visions, what made Joan so compelling?

Castor is a good writer and her knowledge and understanding of the complexities of the years following the death of Henry V (of England) is central to this book. Could Joan of Arc have such influence and longevity if she had not appeared in time such as this? Probably not.

Read for an assignment with a deadline, so skimmed/skipped a fair amount but read quite a bit.

Generally a good work on about the lives and struggles of the Self-made Paston family who rose from the ranks of peasantry during turbulent era of the Wars of the Roses.
'The Paston letters' from which most of what we know about the Pastons surviving are the largest collection of surviving personal letters from the later Middle Ages.

The political realities and upheavals of the age are here, along with the great, royal and powerful, and political events in which the family members might be involved or directly effected by.
There is also however, the personal, birth, death marriage, love, lawsuits and service.

I liked the author before reading this from seeing her two television series. Definitely would like to go back and read 'properly' at some point, and read the author's other book.
Definitely a worthwhile read if interested in 15th century England, or socio-political history.

Very very good but I'd not the heart to read it all. Life was as it was then as it is now.

I have only read one section, that on Margaret of Anjou, but it has been excellently researched and written.

Interesting book on the lives of several generations of the Paston family from Norwich, set against the backdrop of the Wars of the Roses and the family's ups and downs. Amid the general political history of the period, excerpts from family correspondence give glimpses into the lives of an ordinary family and how the wars progress and affect them. Most of the letters discuss their real estate and an inheritance, which the family finally wins after many years. The family rose from villeinage [tenant farmer status subject to a lord] to gentleman and even peer status then centuries later the wheel of fortune turned again.

"To the fifteenth century Pastons, it had seemed that last remembrance would depend on" [their properties and monuments]. Little remains of them. What did endure was a cache of family letters discovered fortuitously in the 18th century, edited lovingly and published. Thus the family occupy a unique place in English history of the late Middle Ages.

This was an interesting look at the steps taken over hundreds of years that led to Queen Elizabeth I peacefully ascending the English throne. The information was well organized and flowed smoothly.

This was an interesting look at the steps taken over hundreds of years that led to Queen Elizabeth I peacefully ascending the English throne. The information was well organized and flowed smoothly.

She-Wolves is a very engaging piece of nonfiction which chronicles the lives of four English queens: Empress Matilda, Eleanor of Aquitaine, Isabella of France, and Margaret of Anjou.

The book was framed around the year 1553 when King Edward VI died and all potential heirs was female. It introduces the idea that England would for the first time have a queen, but then gave the event context by going back to the biographies of the four previous female rulers. The end of the book contains a brief section on the three queens after 1553 (Jane Grey, Mary, and Elizabeth) and examining how they presented themselves as queen and utilized power.

Matilda’s father made his lords swear that she was his heir and would rule after him. However, the throne was seized by an usurper, King Stephan, who got to the treasury before anyone else. What followed was civil war with Matilda fighting for the right to the throne. However, she eventually gave up her own claim in favor of that of her son.

Eleanor of Aquitaine was married first to the King of France but arranged an annulment to marry the King of England. She had a very long and eventful life, and her’s was probably my favorite section of the book.

Isabella of France was married to King Edward II, who ignored his duties and the war with Scotland in his obsession with his lover, a man named Piers Gaveston. This led to lasting problems with his lords and to Isabella eventually seizing the throne in name of her young son.

Margaret of Anjou was a French woman married to King Henry VI during the War of the Roses. Her husband was not a capable ruler, and Margaret believed that she should be the one filling the void.

These women were all trapped by a catch-22 that limited female rulership: women were too weak to be rulers, but if a woman was strong enough to rule then she was monstrous and unnatural. To try and avoid this, these four woman found power in their roles as wives and mothers.

I found She-Wolves fascinating and a hard book to put down. It wasn’t too academic and could be easily understood by someone without background in medieval history. The writing was likewise elegant and never became obtuse or unwieldy.

I thought the political intrigue, conspiracies, and battles for power were very interesting. I would recommend this book to history buffs, people interested in historical women, or people who enjoy books such as Game of Thrones.

Originally posted on The Illustrated Page.

Joan of Arc by Helen Castor

From goodreads.com:

Joan of Arc, A History by Helen Castor

We all know the story of Joan of Arc. A peasant girl who hears voices from God. A warrior leading an army to victory, in an age that believes women cannot fight. The Maid of Orleans, and the saviour of France. Burned at the stake as a heretic at the age of just nineteen. Five hundred years later, a saint. Her case was heard in court twice over. One trial, in 1431, condemned her; the other, twenty-five years after her death, cleared her name. In the transcripts, we hear first-hand testimony from Joan, her family and her friends: a rare survival from the medieval world. What could be more revealing?
Hardcover, 352 pages
Published May 19th 2015 by Harper (first published September 30th 2014)
ISBN0062384392 (ISBN13: 9780062384393) characters Joan of Arc

Leona's Review:

Because I had always had an interest in Joan of Arc ( maybe because the name Joan runs in my family, including mine), I was interested in reading and reviewing Joan of Arc, A History by Helen Castor.

The book is full of history and not all about Joan the Maid. The first section, Before, and the last, After, mainly describe the time before and after Joan.
The book has family trees: English and French Claims to the Throne of France, The Valois Kings of France and The Dukes of Burgundy.
I have an advanced reading copy that is an uncorrected proof copy and it did not have the illustrations but they will be in the published book. As far as I am concerned, maps are very important in these historical books, even in the fiction novels that are historical.

Contents:
List of illustrations
Cast of Characters
Family Trees
Introduction: 'Joan of Arc'
Prologue: The field of blood
PART ONE: Before
1 This war accursed by god
2 Like another Messiah
3 Desolate and divided
PART TWO: Joan
4 The Maid
5 Like an angel from God
6 A heart greater than any man's
7 A creature in the form of a woman
8 I will be with you soon
9 A simple maid
10 Fear of the Fire
PART THREE: After
11 Those who call themselves Frenchmen
12 She was all innocent
EPILOGUE: 'Saint Joan'
Notes
Select Bibliography
Acknowledgements
Index

Most of my book marks for my notes are in the section of Joan and the Notes. The Notes are also part of the book, so readers should read this thoroughly.
I found this book more historical than a biography. Lots of dates, events, places and people make up this book. The names of the characters are a great assistance in reading.

I kept reading about Joan in men's clothes and did find in the Notes section the reason; "For the Old Testament prohibition on cross-dressing, see Deuteronomy 22:5- ' A woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment; for whosoever doeth these things is an abomination to the Lord thy God.' " (page 268) In the section, Joan, many mentions are made of her clothing.

I did email to the author, Helen Castor, and asked if Joan could write because I kept reading the Joan had "written". She replied the next day and said a clerk would have written for her. On re-reading my notes, I found I had marked "As she directed, the clerk added the inscription 'Jhesus Maria" before her name. 'Jeanne la Pucelle': Joan the Maid". (page 108)

I was not aware that Joan's ashes had been thrown into the river near Notre Dame. I have been in that Cathedral and would have felt differently when I had looked into the river Seine if I had known. (page 221) My information: go to http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=7038d

It has been years since I have read about Joan and forgot the times she was in prison and so many hardships.

The book is dedicated to : For Luca.

The acknowledgement pages list many names that helped with this book.

I give this a 5 star rating. It is a book I would read again and will look for more readings about Joan of Arc, Joan the Maid.
My daughter would call me and ask what I was doing and I would say "Reading my history book" and she knew what I meant.

I was given a complimentary copy to read and review. The opinions are my own. I thank the author, Helen Castor, and the publishers, HarperCollins.
HarperCollins email is harpermarketing@harpercollins.com

Helen Castor may be reached at: http://www.helencastor.com . From goodreads.com: Helen Castor is a historian of medieval England and a Fellow of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge. She directed studies in History at Sidney for eight years before deciding to concentrate on writing history for a wider readership.

Leona Olson
http://www.mnleona.blogspot.com

This is exactly what the title advertises, much more a history than a biography. Castor does such a great job of grounding the Joan of Arc story in the politics and dynamics of the time, it really changes what's become a kind of familiar, overly-hyped fairy tale. But because it's set late in the Hundred Years' War, there are extremely dense machinations, alliances, and family lines in play, so this is not a quick, escapist kind of read.

It's worth while going back and forth to check out the family trees at the front of the book until you get a handle on who's who—these are some seriously intermingled bloodlines—and where everyone's from. If you have the patience for that, though, it's totally rewarding. What a great story... and even though Joan herself is onstage for only a short time, she's a really affecting character. I liked this one a lot, and got a strong sense for a piece of history.½

A good book for those people whose knowledge of Joan of Arc, or as she was known then Joan the Maid, is sketchy this book will fill in the blanks. As with a lot of stories of saintly figures it is hard to tell who she really was. The one thing is she was the catalyst who turned the tide of English dominance in France. Everything else is mysterious.

I found this a nice, relatively easy, but informative read about the Paston family, taking as source material that treasure trove from the Middle ages, the Paston letters. Being of Norfolk stock with a mother who's keen on history, I've known of the Paston letters for some time, but I've never realised how extensive they are. The Paston family were prodigious correspondents in the middle ages, and seem to have been inveterate filers of this correspondence. Their descendents, though, seem to have not tidied up for a couple of hundred years, because the letters then turn up in the mid 1700s, and are catalogued for the first time. I had in my head there'd be a couple of letters. Turns out that there are surviving over 1000 from about a 100 years. And they wrote about everything. The important events of the day, land squabbles, money worries, clothes, cloth, life, death, betrayal - everything. All of life is in these. And the great thing about them is that if you took away the archaic phrasing and language, they and their emotions, hopes, fears are so recognisable.
In this book, you're taken through the events of the family and the wider country as they rise from peasant farmers to the nobility. It's not a smooth ride, and they get involved in disputes about land and wills, they make bad decisions about patrons and who to appeal to for help, they are pig headed, they go to war, they survive battles and all the while their letters contain their thoughts, wishes, petty squabbles and disappointments. They are fascinating for the window they provide on the past, and that they are such characters in their own right.

A dense but readable history of the Paston family during the Wars of the Roses, made possible thanks to the survival of the family's large archive of correspondence. Castor uses the Pastons as a focal point for the broader history of the period in English history, mostly successfully. It all gets to be a little bit too much after a while, though.½