A Marriage of Fortune
1467, and the Paston household in Norwich is rocked by crisis. As more crises occur, the book delves into the hearts and minds of women of the Paston family over 17 years. At the heart of them all, spinning a web of control, lies Margaret Mautby Paston, the ‘Captainess’. The family is on the up: Margaret’s deceased husband, John Paston I, was said to be grandson of a ‘bondwoman’. But, through education and strategic marriages, the couple’s son, John Paston II, has gained the title of ‘Sir’.
Margaret’s mission is to continue that rise. But, she is a woman. She must act through her son, Sir John, the official head of the family. She urges him to action—in the Inns of Court, and at the king’s court. But Sir John, over a hundred miles away in London, seems tardy. Possibly he is unwilling, maybe unable, to do his mother’s bidding. His sisters must fill the breach: they must make valuable marriage alliances. But what of their happiness?
The Paston family is well known, and the family tree at the start of the book is a bit of a give-away. Nevertheless, I found this book skillfully written and engaging to read. By focussing on the emotions of the women, with historical details seen through Paston women assessing the people they meet, O’Brien brings the characters to life and kept me wanting to read on.
As Margaret makes plans for her children, the political chaos of the Wars of the Roses complicates her choices. I found it interesting to read about how a non-noble family, without personal ties to either of the royal branches, navigated those battles. But the battles of the heart trump those of politics. These are real people, brought to life. Recommended.
