Book Review for: the Royal Sisters
Written by Jean Plaidy
Broadway Books
ISBN: 978-0-307-719-52-2
Avail: print and ebook
3.5 Stars
Plaidy pens an intimate look at Mary and Anne Stuart, the sisters who both reigned as Queens of England. Mary and Anne have both been raised Protestant, whereas their father is Catholic to the bone. When England citizens choose the sisters over the father, they choose a course that the nation will follow to the present.
The novel opens with Charles II on the throne, his brother, James, is his heir. Charles is crafty. To that end, he has ensured his nieces have been raised in the Anglican faith. Mary is married and living in Holland with her husband, William. Eighteen-year-old Anne entertains a secret liaison with John Sheffield, Earl Mulgrave. When Charles discovers what Anne's been up to, he goes about finding her a husband and settles is George of Sweden. Anne is happy enough in her marriage and she tries to secure an heir.
Charles dies and James comes to the throne, but the British people are apprehensive due to his open practice of Catholism. When his wife becomes pregnant and gives birth to the Prince of Wales, the British find any excuse to send him packing. The Glorious Revolution occurs. James flees England and his daughter, Mary, along with her husband, ascends to the throne.
Mary is gracious! and an apt Queen Regina, but she is sadden over her loveless marriage. That's not her only problem. Mary is unable to draw close to Anne due to Sarah Churchill's interference and Anne refuses to forsake Sarah's friendship. With Mary, childless, she realizes the heir to the throne after Anne is Anne's young son, William, but can the sisters find peace between them so as to secure the Anglican/Protestant succession for future generations?
Plaidy's love for the British documentary shines in "the Royal Sisters." She's done her research and it shows. What makes Mary and Anne's story so poignant is how their strengths and weaknesses-Plaidy features painting them as deliciously human. Anne's strengths are her love for her son and loyalty. Mary shares these strengths. Yet both Mary and Anne suffer in their hearts for the wrong done their father they've.
What does exceptionally well is Plaidy blend fiction and fact to tell the story. She has an incredible knack of slipping in little known facts into the story as well, which makes her historicals stand out. Where is her writing style in Plaidy lags, often slipping into a "telling" style narrative, as opposed to showing the story. This style requires a bit more patience from the reader, but if you're a fan of the Plaidy's ability to weave fact and fiction, it doesn't hinder your ability to embrace the story.
Overall, "the Royal Sisters" tells a story of love, greed, loyalty, and betrayal that will leave you wanting to find out more about the Stuarts.
Reviewed by: s. Burkhart
StephB is an author who likes to read many books and a variety of different genres. StephB is an author at http://www.Writing.Com/which is a site for Creative Writing.
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