Helpful Score: 1
The Sister Queens by Sophie Perinot: The Daughters of the Count of Provence, Marguerite and Eleanor are raised to be women of consequence, ambitious women from ambitious parents. They marry Kings at the center of European power. But this is no fairy tale.
Marguerite the elder marries a golden King, Louis IX of France; she is the perfect consort for this man who unfortunately is dedicated to God, then France leaving little room for his beautiful passionate wife.
Eleanor also marries a king; Englands Henry III is twice her age, while not as glamorous as her sisters spouse, nor as respected by his barons. Henry gives Eleanor the adoration and affection that Marguerite craves in her own marriage. But can Eleanor overlook Henrys ineptness as king?
Ms. Perinot is a fine writer and I enjoyed this book, I knew some of the history of these women, having read a series of books written by Roberta Gellis I believe in the 80s, but the sisters were supporting characters. So when I read that this book was coming out, I have to say it is one of the books I was looking most forward to this year, and I was not disappointed. For a first time novelist this is what I believe Ms. Perinot has done right.
She has done her research, and fortunately the lives of Louis and Henry are well chronicled. One such chronicler is in fact an important character in the story. It is known that these two Queens were devoted to one another and were in constant contact with one another. She uses this in the story. Most of the chapters begin with a letter from one sister to the other. Then it settles into a first person narrative.
She beautifully conveys the love, and also the competitive nature of the sisters relationship.
I felt that Marguerite story received more focus, and as Ms. Perinot said recently in an interview, she identified with Marguerite more strongly; So this in understandable, and as she was on crusade with her husband, this became the focus in the last part of the book.
She also does not sugar coat these women, making them too good to be true. I would have like to see a bit more about Eleanor, and the struggles she had with the English barons over the favoritism to her Savoyard kin which Henry has often been accused of, and his weakness as a King. But that is my only complaint. For a first book I think that Ms. Perinot shows great promise, and I give The Sister Queens 4 stars.
(Nook edition.)
Marguerite the elder marries a golden King, Louis IX of France; she is the perfect consort for this man who unfortunately is dedicated to God, then France leaving little room for his beautiful passionate wife.
Eleanor also marries a king; Englands Henry III is twice her age, while not as glamorous as her sisters spouse, nor as respected by his barons. Henry gives Eleanor the adoration and affection that Marguerite craves in her own marriage. But can Eleanor overlook Henrys ineptness as king?
Ms. Perinot is a fine writer and I enjoyed this book, I knew some of the history of these women, having read a series of books written by Roberta Gellis I believe in the 80s, but the sisters were supporting characters. So when I read that this book was coming out, I have to say it is one of the books I was looking most forward to this year, and I was not disappointed. For a first time novelist this is what I believe Ms. Perinot has done right.
She has done her research, and fortunately the lives of Louis and Henry are well chronicled. One such chronicler is in fact an important character in the story. It is known that these two Queens were devoted to one another and were in constant contact with one another. She uses this in the story. Most of the chapters begin with a letter from one sister to the other. Then it settles into a first person narrative.
She beautifully conveys the love, and also the competitive nature of the sisters relationship.
I felt that Marguerite story received more focus, and as Ms. Perinot said recently in an interview, she identified with Marguerite more strongly; So this in understandable, and as she was on crusade with her husband, this became the focus in the last part of the book.
She also does not sugar coat these women, making them too good to be true. I would have like to see a bit more about Eleanor, and the struggles she had with the English barons over the favoritism to her Savoyard kin which Henry has often been accused of, and his weakness as a King. But that is my only complaint. For a first book I think that Ms. Perinot shows great promise, and I give The Sister Queens 4 stars.
(Nook edition.)
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