In 1483, young John Collan is living a quiet peasant life in a small home with his father when a wealthy noble shows up and whisks him away, promising a new name along with a life of learning and nobility. Because according to that noble, John is actually Edward, Earl of Warwick, the long-hidden son of the late king, and as the last remaining York, the rightful heir to the throne. As John (or Lambert or Simnel or Edward, depending on who's talking to him when) is transferred from one safe place to another, he learns more about the dangerous uncles and Tudors who want to keep him off the throne. However, John's never really sure if he's actually who they claim he is, and has no idea how to clarify the muddled thoughts in his brain.
Based on an actual little-known figure from the transition period between the York and Tudor eras, this book manages to give readers a realistic and often humorous look at a boy caught in the middle of a dynastic fight, never sure who to believe or ally with (though usually the people interested in keeping him alive is a good bet). Harkin creates a world where the reader is never sure if John/Lambert/Simnel/Edward is actually heir to the throne (even when he's temporarily crowned king), and she does it in excellent fashion. My only gripe with this book is that it doesn't have a historical note at the end, which I would've loved to read. Though given the fact that it's based on a tiny historical note, I guess that makes sense. An excellent book for fans of Hilary Mantel, Allison Epstein, and British monarchy.
No comments:
Post a Comment