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Lädt ... Here Lies Our Sovereign Lord (1957)von Jean Plaidy
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Melde dich bei LibraryThing an um herauszufinden, ob du dieses Buch mögen würdest. Keine aktuelle Diskussion zu diesem Buch. A great finale to a great series. This trilogy was so well written. As I stated before I was a bit apprehensive about reading a historical fiction series written in 1956 but these books stand the test of time. I breezed through all 3 of them as they held my attention I couldn't put them down. I can't wait to start her series on Catherine de Medici. A must read for any fans of the British Monarchy. Charles the Second was quite a man and King! This last volume of Jean Plaidy's Charles II trilogy is just as well researched as the precious two volumes and just as full ofd great historical detail anout his mistressses, Nell Gwyn and the, perhaps, lessor known Louise de Keroualle as well as the his venal and ungrateful natural son, the Duke of Monmouth. Ms Plaidy was the quen of historical fiction in her day and even though this novel was written almost 60 years ago, it is still an enthralling read. Zeige 5 von 5 keine Rezensionen | Rezension hinzufügen
Gehört zur ReiheStuart Saga (6) Ist enthalten inThe Loves of Charles II (The Wandering Prince / A Health Unto His Majesty / Here Lies Our Sovereign Lord) von Jean Plaidy Victoria Victorius, Sixth Wife, In the Shadow of the Crown, Queen and Lord M, Godess of the Green Room, Myself my Enemy, Regents Daughter, Beyond the Blue Mountains, Queen from Provence, Revolt of Eagles, Queens Husband, Star of Lancaster, Passionate Enemies, Louis the Well Beloved, Wandering Prince, Murder in the Tower, Health Unto his Majesty#, Courts of Love, Red Rose of Anjou, Queen of Scots, Here Lies our Soveriegn Lord, Madame Serpent #, von Jean Plaidy
The third book in the Charles ll trilogy covering the last years of his life. Charles II, the Merry Monarch, is determined that his people shall know peace and religious freedom. But the shadows cast over the throne by his son Monmouth and his wayward, Papist brother, the Duke of York, are proving too much for his popularity. Amidst these dramatic events that shaped Restoration England our promiscuous regent was often to be found in the company of his many woman. Including the ready arms of little Nell Gwyn, his buxom, pretty and witty mistress. Here Plaidy brings to life the various loves and political losses of one of our most amorous Kings. Keine Bibliotheksbeschreibungen gefunden. |
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Google Books — Lädt ... GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)823.9Literature English & Old English literatures English fiction Modern PeriodKlassifikation der Library of Congress [LCC] (USA)BewertungDurchschnitt:
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It's too dry with long descriptions that sound like they're taken from a history book. It's also slow-paced and lacks drama, owing to too much “telling” instead of “showing”. The following quote is blatant telling:
“young Bowman, who nervously stood before the King.”
It wouldn’t have been hard to “show” Bowman’s nervousness.
Reporting on scenes is another reason for this novel’s dryness. Having been told a character has died, the event is then told in backstory. This results in passive prose. It includes ‘had’ (past perfect) many times, such as “The doctors had come,” which again is reporting on a scene rather than taking the reader inside the action as it unfolds.
Repetition is another downside. For example, the reader doesn’t need to be told over and over that Nell wants titles for her sons. I like the relationship between Charles and Nell, but rather than be repeatedly “told” that Charles likes Nell because of her wit, why not “show” this in a few dramatized scenes?
It’s dry information that we get, rather than a lively story. The author uses a lot of reported speech, which she would’ve been better off changing to dialogue to bring the characters to life, rather than explain what they say.
Ms Plaidy was also an author who couldn't or wouldn't effectively chapterize her novels. As a result of overlong chapters, it’s hard to tell when time has passed to a significant extent. In this book’s opening chapter, we’re told at one point that Nell is ten. Numerous paragraphs go by, and I’m suddenly confused to learn that Nell is now thirteen. So, she’s aged three years yet nothing in the narrative indicates that this much time has passed.
I've rated this three stars mainly for the sections featuring Nell, which are much livelier than those with her rival Louise, and much better than the dry and dull scenes that focus on King Charles and members of his family.
Something about Jean Plaidy’s books keep me coming back for more. Perhaps it’s her obvious love for English and French history, which I share, that draws me back. I wish she’d focused less on turning out as greater quantity of novels as possible and concentrated more on quality writing. A novel like this one should be revised 15 to 20 times, yet this at best feels like a fifth draft. ( )