Rate this book

To Defy A King (2010)

by Elizabeth Chadwick(Favorite Author)

4.09 of 5 Votes: 4

ISBN

1847442366 (ISBN13: 9781847442369)

languge

English

genre

Romance

publisher

Sphere

series

Bigod

review 1: Subtittle is William Marshal Book 5. I've not read the other books in this series, but found this novel quite engaging. The focus is not on William Marshal;that goes to his young daughter Mahelt. She is setup to marry the son of another noble family to ensure stable alliances in an era when King John (1166-1216)rules with an erratic and heavy hand. In the end the barons rebelled and forced upon him a peace treaty that became known as the Magna Carta. The controversies and plots take second stage to Mehelt's "engagment" and subsequent marriage. It's hard to tell how much of current attitudes about female freedom leak into Chadwick's portrayal of Mahelt, yet the portrayal of her seems perfectly logical. Contemporary attitudes defined constricted roles for women, and those ar... moree etched nicely. Mahelt's independent attitude and curiosity about politics make for an interesting read.The building conflicts with King John provides good background tension. Believable. A good read.
review 2: I have read and thoroughly enjoyed all of Elizabeth Chadwick's books about the Marshal family, beginning with William's father John Marshal (A Place Beyond Courage) and then William himself (The Greatest Knight, The Scarlet Lion). This appears to be the last of the books and whilst it is equally as well written and researched as all her others, I felt it did rather repeat a lot of what happened in the last of the William Marshal books, but it is told from the point of view of his daughter, Mahelt. I wonder if I read it too soon after reading the 'Scarlet Lion' books and it is maybe better read as a stand-alone book which introduces the Bigod family. Much of Mahelt's early life is chronicled in The Scarlet Lion and To Defy a King is, in some ways, a look at the bits of her life which weren't included in that earlier novel - the two overlap chronologically so it is not, as I first assumed, a tale of the next generation; William is still alive in this book. less

Download links for: To Defy a King

Advertising