Lady of the English by Elizabeth Chadwick

'The old king is dead and the rats are scurrying everywhere' Matilda and Adeliza are close in age, and become good friends, but that relationship is sorely tried after the death of the old king when Stephen of Blois is conveniently poised and ready to steal Matilda's crown. The second woman in the book is Adeliza of Louvain, king Henry's second wife, who is apparently unable to conceive the much-needed male heir. Much to Matilda's displeasure, he picks the very young Geoffrey la Bel, Count of Anjou, but duty and honor always come first and they do well enough with each other despite a very rocky start. Old king Henry may have plenty of bastards, but Matilda is his only legitimate heir and Henry wants her married well and to someone who can sire sons. Matilda, married off at a young age is summoned home from Germany after the death of her husband the Emperor. This book is the story of two women, one an Empress and one who was Queen of England and begins in 1125.

Highly recommended.'A woman may be the power behind a man, but she is not allowed to take power for herself.' I learned about two really fantastic women I didn't know much about. Lady of the English was another great bout of storytelling. His story wasn't a very happy one, and he deserved better. He wasn't much of a fighter, and preferred to use the written word, but was a staunch supporter of Matilda. And other than Matilda and Adeliza, I also loved Brian Fitzcount.

There were a few small battles, but not much action.

Even though she was once Queen, she had no say in anything. Extremely loyal, Adeliza was also hindered by her gender. Her devotion to family was strong, and Matilda was her family, too. I loved that even though she loved her husband, her support for Matilda never wavered. She then shifted her focus to her son Henry, building up support for him to be the next King.Īdeliza was a different woman, but no less strong. She was frustrated, yet intelligent, and knew that the crown for herself was lost. Whatever she did, she was damned, and it led her to think damn them all too. They saw her as a member of the weaker sex, too soft to rule yet when she showed a hard face and acted in a stern manner, they muttered that she was going against nature. I felt her annoyance over the double standard women had to face. Matilda was a fierce woman who was way ahead of her time. Adeliza, now remarried to William d'Albini, supports her stepdaughter's fight even while her husband is devoted to Stephen. Matilda is driven to secure the crown for herself and her heirs, and spends years fighting her cousin Stephen after her father's death. Both different women, but both strong women. Lady of the English revolves around the lives of Empress Matilda, daughter of Henry I and her stepmother Adeliza of Louvain. Another great medieval read from Elizabeth Chadwick.

Lady of the English by Elizabeth Chadwick