Philippa of Lancaster: English Princess, Queen of Portugal
This is a biographical novel, translated from Portuguese, of the life and imagined thoughts of the daughter of John of Gaunt. The first part, set in England from 1364 to 1386, describes Philippa’s childhood and relationship with Katherine Swinford, her father’s mistress. When she is 26 Philippa accompanies her father and his second wife, Constanza of Castile, and their daughter, Catalina, to Portugal so that King João can choose which of them to marry. After much hesitation he decides on Philippa.
The second part of the novel concentrates on the domestic life of Queen Filipa until her death in 1415. She had eight children and two step-children. Mistresses, illegitimacy and their sometimes disastrous effect on history are a persistent theme throughout the book. Chaucer’s benign influence on Philippa comes out strongly, as do her engagements with the Portuguese advisers to King João. Between descriptions of life in various Portuguese palaces, there are interesting insights into why and how Portugal became England’s oldest ally and the positive part played by Queen Filipa in achieving this.
The translation from Portuguese reads very smoothly, but there are occasional misprints, and a few historical anachronisms such as tea drinking in the 14th century and a palace courtyard with an araucaria (monkey puzzle). This tree was first introduced into Britain from Chile in 1795, and not much earlier into Portugal.
There are two simplified genealogical tables, a dramatis personae and a short bibliography but, unfortunately, no map of Portugal. Although it is a novel, the book contains 16 pages of superb colour plates showing the main characters and the buildings connected with them. In some ways, therefore, this book can be regarded as a biography with imagination.
