4.25 stars

This is fiction during the times of Edward II and Edward III. It is told from the point of view of Eleanor, the wife of Hugh le Despenser, who was a favourite of Edward II for a while. Eleanor was only 13 when she married Hugh, but she seemed to be completely in love with him. However, he was often away, and apparently committed piracy (among other bad things). Still, he loved Eleanor and their children. He also may have “loved” the king. Later in the book, once Edward II is gone (he was likely murdered), and a teenage Edward III is ruling, it is really his mother and Roger Mortimer (her new lover) who rule through him. But they were ruthless, and when Edward was older, he was not going to go along with this.

This was really good. I think I’ve only read one other book (nonfiction) about this time period and these kings. (The focus of that book was on Mortimer.) It took a bit to get “into” this one since I was unfamiliar with the time period and the people, so I spent a bit of time at the start figuring out who everyone was. Also, there are so many people with the same name! The author tried to distinguish most of the time, but it was still sometimes a bit confusing. But still very good, I thought. ( )

Summary: One star because the cover is lovely, shame about the prose.
Also see: Sarah's review from 2015 -- mostly for the gif's

Review:
This is a weak romance done in a historical setting. In my opinion it does NOT qualify as Historical Fiction. I've managed 236 pages of this [just over a 1/3rd of the book] and finally cannot stand to read another page. While it is known that I don't enjoy romance novels, I don't object to romance and etc within a storyline - especially if it highlights and rounds out the story / plot.

The main character is tepid, overly-naive, and deliberately ignorant of what is going on around her. Considering who and what she is this makes no sense to the story line. In the pages I've read there have been at least six (mostly vaguely described) sexual interludes. Not even well-written interludes. She and her husband go off to France for a half page or so and instead of hearing about their trip we get a half paragraph of how the King is upset and her father-in-law making a half-a**ed reason for why they are gone. Before moving onto other items. Character motivations and the general political dynamics are either hugely glossed over or completely ignored. I could go on and on and on about this but I won't subject you to the horror.

Here.. Excerpt from The Traitor's Wife - The "they went off to France and now the King will be mad" scene

      
       To his dismay, Hugh's father lets slip to the king that his son and Eleanor have crossed the Channel without license over the holidays:
Her father-in-law, meanwhile, had returned to court and was paying his respects to the king. Edward had spent a very pleasant Christmas at Langley with Gaveston and the queen, and was in good spirits. "And how is your family, Hugh? How is Philip?"
       In the case of those he liked, Edward could remember all manner of minutiae. Philip had never been to court; Hugh had probably never mentioned his name  more than once or twice to the king. Yet Edward had never forgotten him. "He is a cause of concern to me, sir, as you may recall. He is not at all strong, and the winters are always bad for him. Would that he had a tenth of Hugh's good health." Hugh stopped awkwardly, for he had not intended to mention his eldest son.

"Aye, Hugh. And how are he and my little niece Eleanor?"

"Quite well."

"They are still at Loughborough?"

Hugh had a policy of never lying to his king. "No, your grace. They are-"

Edward saw his advisor's discomfiture. "Abroad."

"Yes, I am afraid so. Abroad."

       Edward shook his head. "Without license and against my orders. Hugh, you know I cannot let this pass unnoticed. If your wild son flouts my authority in this manner, what will the barons who hate me do? I must seize his lands."

"You must do what you must do." Hugh grimaced. "He is my beloved son, but he has always been lacking in a sense of propriety. It is that Warwick streak, I think."

"What does he do on these jaunts of his?"

Hugh could answer truthfully. "I don't know, your grace. He is a grown man, and minds my own affairs splendidly when I am unable to attend to them because of my duties here. I ask no questions, and he tells me nothing."

"Piracy."

     Hugh and Edward turned to look at Gaveston, who had been bent over a table spread with maps during the whole of their conversation. Hugh was well used to Gaveston's constant presence, but there were times when he had to acknowledge that it might irritate others. Though in all fairness, he reminded himself, Gaveston had always willingly left the room on the one or two occasions that Hugh had requested privacy. Did he do so for others? Perhaps not. Gaveston looked up and smiled dazzlingly. "He disappears for long stretches; he never seems to be in want of money when he returns, does he? So his wife says to my wife anyway-women do talk. I don't think with luscious little Eleanor there would be a wench he stays with, and such cost money anyway. He'd be coming home poorer if that were the case."

    "That is utter nonsense. My son is not a pirate," said Hugh loftily. "And my young daughter-in-law is not luscious." He stopped, aghast at the trap he had wandered into.


This was a vibrant and complex period of history. There was a real opportunity to tell at least one of several incredibly good stories here in a true historical fiction context and from what I read every single one of them was missed.

One star because the cover is lovely, shame about the prose.

I finally decided to finish this in case it improved. It did not. ( )

Wonderful book. Love to read about ladies who endure so much with such grace. ( )

I loved this book. I had just finished reading the non-fiction book on Queen Isabella and went straight into this historical fiction book about Eleanor le Despenser (de Clare) - granddaughter of Edward I of England. Alot of dialogue which I love and the characters are well developed. When you are reading on a work night it is hard to put the book down - you are constantly telling yourself one more page - one more chapter. I knew about her first husband Hugh le Despenser from the previous book but really next to nothing of his wife Eleanor and although this is historical fiction, Susan Higginbotham did much research on her and just filled in the gaps. A must read for any English Monarchy reader! ( )

What a life Eleanor de Clare led! Granddaughter and niece to kings, two husbands-almost three. I loved this book. I have read some of the reviews and I do think it may be a good idea to have some idea of the background of the characters involved, as it can be rather confusing. But with patience it can stand alone as an account of one woman's remarkable life. ( )