The Red Queen

By one of my favorite authors, The Red Queen details the story of Margaret Beaufort, heir to the Lancastrian house at the time of the Wars of the Roses, York vs. Lancaster, for the British throne in the 1480's. From the birth of her son, Henry Tudor, to the battle at Bosworth Field in 1485, Margaret fights for her house and her son to rule England. Was she responsible for the death of the York princes in the Tower of London? Did she marry Lord Stanley only to gain position for the long battle to the throne? Did she love Jasper Tudor, younger brother of her husband Edmund? Like her ancestor Katherine Swynford, her life was full of intrigue, romance, defeats and victories. While this book is a novel, recurring themes of historical fiction ring true for Margaret Beaufort. If you like this book, read The White Queen by the same author, or the first (and some say greatest) book of historical fiction/romance, Katherine by Anya Seton.

The Age of Innocence

Set in New York upper society in the 1870's, The Age of Innocence spotlights Newland Archer, a young "man of means" bound to cultural duty and restraint. Engaged to cousin May, he cannot put down his unbounded feelings for Countess Ellen Olenska, his wife's cousin in an abusive marriage to a European lesser noble. "His whole future seemed suddenly to be unrolled before him; and passing down its endless emptiness he saw the dwindling figure of a man to whom nothing was ever to happen." This passage describes the role of a man in society of the time: emotionless, cool, restrained, robotic. Archer predictably chooses the life he was born to lead. But the last chapter describes his eldest son's opposite character born of rebellion to the society life, and Archer's last encounter with the path not chosen. Wharton's language and style eloquently describe the time, which pervades even the word choices she makes. Would we have chosen differently, given the circumstances?

Notwithstanding

Notwithstanding is a collection of short, but related humorous articles about the eponymous hamlet in England. You might consider it the "Lake Wobegon" of country England. I enjoyed reading this one on my recent trip to England, where the vestiges of small-town country English life appeared only if one looks very closely. There are no more men wearing bowler hats commuting into the City, but there may very well be nuns disregarding the speed limit, 42-year-old men living with their mothers, and cats chasing marauding moles. This book is a delightful summer read!

The Time Traveller's Guide to Medieval England

If you read a lot of English history, play medieval RPGs, or enjoy learning about other times and cultures, this is an interesting take on the days of knights and chivalry. Written like a travel guide, this book gives the background to medieval practices and beliefs. The culture of knights is explained thoroughly, as well as the roles and relationships between medieval women and men. The various castes of English society are explained, and the motivations of each toward religious practice, crime and their "betters". A fascinating read! I enjoyed reading this book during my recent trip to London, where the history came alive by seeing the places where it happened.

Persuasion

Haven't read Jane Austen in a while, and felt like tackling Persuasion, which I have never read. Jane spins an intricate tale as usual, setting the story in familiar territories of Kellynch manor, nearby Uppercross, Lyme and Bath. The Elliot family, led by Baronet Walter Elliot, takes little notice in daughter Anne since her mother died. Having been persuaded to break an engagement by her friend Lady Russell to Wentworth, since he has little prospects and no titles, Anne lives life waiting for something to happen. Eight years later, on the verge of another proposal from her heir-apparent cousin, William Elliot, and perhaps another from family friend Captain Benwick, now-Captain Frederick Wentworth returns, a rich and respected navy veteran. Who will persuade Anne now?

The Women

The Women is a rather depressing novel of the three women Frank Lloyd Wright made his mistresses over the course of several decades after ending his marriage to wife Kitty. Told from the perspective of one of his draftsman students Sato Tadashi, the book hurtles through the lurid details of Wright's various ill-fated love affairs, but in reverse historical order. We first encounter Olgivanna, then Miriam, then Mamah, the most famous of the group and the subject of the other popular book, Loving Frank. While the other book makes you like and pity Mamah, this book leads you to revile all three women and indeed, Wright himself. I liked Loving Frank much better than this book, even though it probably romanticized an ugly situation concerning a man who started a love affair with his client's wife before officially finishing his marriage. While some allowances have to be made for a time when most men were not engaged fathers or necessarily expected to be faithful husbands, The Women portrays Wright as a near-depraved egomaniacal spendthrift who happened to design nice houses. I can't believe that accurately portrays Wright's personal or professional lives, although perhaps that's why it's a novel.

Stealing Athena

Stealing Athena traces the parallel stories of Mary, Lady Elgin, wife of Thomas Bruce, Lord Elgin of the famous Elgin marbles, and Aspasia, courtesan of Pericles, general and statesman of the ancient Greek era of the building of the Parthenon. Mary and Aspasia are two women who devote themselves to the fulfillment of their mates' aspirations for fame and glory, despite the trials they have to endure. The Elgin marbles were collected during the reign of George III. The beautiful carvings and friezes from the Parthenon risked ruin by conquering Ottoman armies. The Elgins, posted in Turkey on an ambassadorship, risk all to collect the priceless marble carvings under Napoleon's very nose, to cart them back to England to enrich the fine art of the country. Not all agree that the marbles are worth collecting, or even that they are the original works. But Thomas holds fast to his dream, despite losing virtually everything in the process. The Elgin marbles are viewable today in a dusty corner of the British museum, but the story behind them is far from dusty. While this is a novel, the historical setting and much of the action is true. The story of Pericles and Aspasia is fainter in recorded history, but the parallel tale of the mind behind the building of the Parthenon and his improbable lover lends focus to both stories of women experiencing love, loss, jealousy, suspicion and manipulation for their partners' greater glory.