LIVING THE HISTORY

Tuesday, May 07, 2013

Pembroke Castle

I’ve just come across this in medieval writings on Secular Women. It shows what an extraordinary woman Isabelle de Clare, wife of William Marshal was. Within a few weeks of William’s death, she was in Normandy seeing to affairs there in order to pave a clear way for the inheritance of her sons. I did not realise this at the time I was writing The Scarlet Lion, although it would probably only have changed the ending by a couple of sentences.

I, Isabelle, Countess of Pembroke, one-time wife of Lord William Marshal, announce to all present to scrutinise these writings, namely that I have an agreement with the lord King. The lord King (Philip Augustus) has given to me and to my sons our land in Normandy, which my Lord William marshal had been seised with on the day he died, save for his rights and services. Let it be known that the lord King has given permission to my sons, William and Richard, to enter and leave France, as they wish, with five knights and their followers in such a manner that they as well as the knights swear to the lord King that they will not harm him or his kingdom through themselves or through others, and that if they know anyone who would, they will let the lord King know as soon as possible. Also they who guard my fortresses at Longueville and elsewhere in Normandy should swear to the lord King that they themselves – or by their order – will return them to him by great or small force. I pledge my land in Normandy to my lord the King as surety for firmly keeping these agreements. In order that this may be a firm and stable agreement I confirm the present letters with the authority of my seal. Enacted near Pont de L’Arche in the month of July in the year 1219.

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"Eeanor’s life story has been told many times over in historical novels but rarely with such insight, emotional intensity and page-turning readability." Pam Norfolk, Lancashire Evening Post.

"In the world of the arts, the Black Legend and the Golden Myth still hold sway, as seen in novels, such as Alison Weir's, which seek to portray both the scandalous, adulterous queen of legend and the powerful female ruler. Historians may shake their heads at the perpetuation of such myths, but many historical novelists such as Sharon Kay Penman and Elizabeth Chadwick are seeking to apply modern scholarship to their fiction, and consequently avoid the most egregious of the legends that surround Eleanor."

Professor Michael R. Evans in Inventing Eleanor - Bloomsbury Academic.

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"What I loved about this novel, and I have felt this way about all of Elizabeth’s novels that I have read, is that she does not pander to stereotypes or write scandal for the sake of it. The historical Eleanor is defamed beyond belief- a whore chasing anything in trousers, a woman who committed incest with her uncle, a woman who was ‘ahead of her time’, and so on. Elizabeth’s Alienor is none of these things. She is treated fairly, as a woman of her own time, written in a believable way. Elizabeth does not go for scandal because she does not need to- the writing in this novel makes that very clear. Her scene setting is lovely, her character development top notch, and the book is a compulsive page turner. I couldn’t put it down." Sarah Bell

."The Summer Queen is a fabulous novel based on the most up-to-date and meticulous research. This is historical fiction at its best and I loved every page of it." Kate Atherton, blogger.

"I have read just about everything I can about Eleanor and enjoyed both biographical and fictional accounts of her life but I must say that your creation of Eleanor is the most compelling." Reader from Australia

"I loved the story; I loved the way the author wrote Alienor as a woman of her times instead of a thoroughly modern independent woman, or a slut in chase of anything in pants. As with all Chadwick novels, there's also the added plus of being sucked into another century with the sights, smells and sounds that wrap up a darn-near perfect reading experience. I couldn't put it down, and very sorry I'm going to have to wait for the next installment. Reader from the USA

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"I often see the expressions, `fleshing out the history' and `making it real', and they more than apply here...the main aspect that made me keep turning the pages and burning the midnight oil? The things that I didn't know about Alienor.." Reader from Australia

"Chadwick has succeeded where many other novelists have failed by giving us not just the legend but the very human young woman – intelligent, determined, witty and sexy." Pam Norfolk. Lancashire Evening Post.