The Royal Rebel (Jeanette of Kent duology)
Elizabeth Chadwick’s website describes her as standing ‘at the pinnacle of historical fiction’ and, judging from her latest novel, it is hard to dispute that claim.
The Royal Rebel follows the early life of Joan of Kent, cousin to King Edward III, and her clandestine marriage to Thomas Holland. The couple keep their relationship secret, worried about the consequences if it is revealed, and, while Thomas is overseas, Joan is manipulated into a second bigamous and loveless marriage. The novel follows the couple’s fight to be together, including their conflicts and alliances with powerful court figures and their final appeal to the papal court in Avignon.
The story is told with clarity and narrative drive. The bare historical details are fleshed out with believable characters and motivations, making sense of what we know of Joan’s life and filling in the gaps. The details of the central romance are developed against the backdrop of the early days of the Hundred Years’ War, and the meticulously researched historical facts never feel intrusive or hinder the progress of the story. We are shown the realities of courtly life, with its extravagant displays of wealth and status, contrasted with unflinching descriptions of violent battles. We also find ourselves caught up in the fear of infection as the Black Death sweeps its way across Europe.
If I have one criticism, it is that the writing seems more comfortably settled on domestic aspects of the story, such as the clothing and food, than on the grim reality of medieval warfare. However, this is not to decry the beautiful writing, the superb control of narrative and the careful creation of each character. Well known historical figures – such as Edward III and the Black Prince – are skilfully brought to life, and the story is totally gripping to the very end. Joan’s story will be concluded in a much-anticipated sequel.
