Book Review: The Last Blast of the Trumpet (Book 3 of the Knox Trilogy) by Marie Macpherson

 

The Last Blast of the Trumpet

(Book 3 of the Knox Trilogy) 

By Marie Macpherson

Publisher: Penmore Press

Series: The Knox Trilogy

Print Length: 409 Pages

Genre: Historical Fiction / Biographical Fiction

Conflict, Chaos and Corruption in Reformation Scotland. 

He wants to reform Scotland, but his enemies will stop at nothing to prevent him. 

Scotland 1559: Fiery reformer John Knox returns to a Scotland on the brink of civil war. Victorious, he feels confident of his place leading the reform until the charismatic young widow, Mary Queen of Scots returns to claim her throne. She challenges his position and initiates a ferocious battle of wills as they strive to win the hearts and minds of the Scots. But the treachery and jealousy that surrounds them both as they make critical choices in their public and private lives has dangerous consequences that neither of them can imagine.

In this final instalment of the trilogy of the fiery reformer John Knox, Macpherson tells the story of a man and a queen at one of the most critical phases of Scottish history.

‘Now’s the time to break from the fetters of Rome, brother. Scotland is on the brink of civil strife. We’re in dire need of a skipper to take the helm…’

Joshua may have only needed a trumpet to bring down the walls of Jericho, but Scotland was no Jericho and John Knox was no Joshua. Knox does have the one thing that Joshua did not though, he has a pulpit. It is here, in the church, before his congregation that Knox will draw the battle lines. He will fire up his congregation until the very demons of Hell will fear to stand against them, to stand against him. Nothing will stop his dream from coming to fruition, and no one will get in his way—not even a young and charismatic queen. 

With the tragic death of Francis II, Mary, the former Queen of France, has no choice but to return home. But the kingdom of her birth is a land in crisis. Mary must be careful, for her throne is surrounded by vultures desperate to profit from her ruination, and there are many who would rejoice if she were to fall from grace. None more so than Knox. Mary does not fear Knox, but she does fear the power of his ideas. Scotland needed stability now more than ever, and therefore she is willing to listen to Knox and to find a mutual agreement in which everyone gets a little of what they want.

Knox, however, will not bow down to a papist queen. There is no other way but his way, and it would be wise of Mary to remember that…

The Last Blast of the Trumpet (John Knox Trilogy Book 3) by Marie Macpherson is a Historical Fiction masterpiece.

Macpherson’s careful use of foreshadowing builds suspense throughout this novel, which imbues it with an atmosphere that can only be described as hauntingly beautiful. As Macpherson asks those who are long dead to breathe again, to experience the grandeur and the horrors once again, one cannot help but feel compassion for their plight. To be stabbed 57 times, or to be faced with a corrupted form of justice, and to be condemned for nothing more than the greed and vanity of the prosecutor gives the reader pause to think about how vastly different this time was to our own. This was a violent time in Scottish history, and this novel reflects this volatile age.

Knox is known as the founding father of Protestant Reformation in Scotland, but his story may not be quite what you expect it to be. While Knox waited for the death of the old regime in Scotland, he knowingly perpetuated this seemingly never-ending circle of violence. His God came with a sword. Macpherson has captured his fiery oratory as well as his determination to destroy anything that differed from his beliefs. In this story, as he did in life, Knox deplores the papist rules and teachings. He does nothing to hide his disgust at the grandeur of the Catholic Church. Neither does he have any sympathy for those who refuse to embrace his religion. His inability to compromise is greatly telling of how he saw the world. Anyone who dared to challenge him, such as the Regent, Mary of Guise, and then later her daughter, Mary, Queen of Scots, was deserving of a terrible fate. They deserved to die, which made him an exceedingly unlikeable character. At times he is the antagonist in this tale. His thoughts, his beliefs, make it incredibly difficult for a reader to sympathise with him. He is so blinkered that while he is chasing this ideal religion and this violent God, he fails to see the poverty all around him and when he is confronted with it, he is extremely blasé about these poor starving people, his people, his congregation. One could say that he is an extraordinarily bad shepherd—he lets his flock starve while he chases his corrupted dream of what God was and how one should praise him. 

Macpherson has given her readers a realistic, very rounded, characterisation of Knox. When he is not in the pulpit, when he is not arguing theology with people whom he considered inferior because of their beliefs, he is very much a family man. He is a father who adores his children and his wife. I thought the domestic Knox was a much easier man to like than the religious fanatic who seemingly thrived on fire and brimstone. Macpherson shows her readers a gentler side to him, a compassionate side when surrounded by his family. I thought this two-sided Knox worked incredibly well and made him particularly real in the telling.

There are a lot of characters in this story, and there are several points of view, which I thought gives this book a remarkably balanced account of this time in Scottish history. This is not a one-sided account, for this novel encompasses both sides of the argument. The reader bears witness to the dangerous and exceedingly volatile court of Mary, Queen of Scots. Mary is a historical person who has always attracted my sympathies simply because of how terribly she was treated. In this novel, the young and newly widowed Mary is quite literally thrown to the wolves. Her inexperience and her desperate desire to appease the like of Knox, and her desperate attempt to seek a compromise makes her all the more admirable. Her story is told through the eyes of Isabelle Hepburn. Isabelle is a wonderful, brave heroine who witnesses the most terrible injustices and of course the devastating damage that men such as Knox were causing. I thought Isabelle’s depiction was fabulous. Through her eyes, we witness it all. 

The historical detailing of this story is staggering. The hours and hours that Macpherson has dedicated to research shines through in the thoroughly enthralling narrative. The historical backdrop of this story is magnificent, there was no doubt in my mind while I read this book as to which century I was in. When Historical Fiction is written like this, then there is no such thing as too much. Macpherson has brought 16th century Scotland back to life.

Although this is book 3 of a trilogy, it stands firmly on its own two feet. I have not read the previous two books, but at no time did I feel that I was adrift. The Last Blast of the Trumpet (John Knox Trilogy Book 3) by Marie Macpherson was a book that I could not wait to get back to. It is utterly enthralling from start to finish, and it is one that is certainly deserving of a place on your bookshelf.

I Highly Recommend.

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Marie Macpherson

Scottish writer Marie Macpherson grew up in Musselburgh on the site of the Battle of Pinkie and within sight of Fa’side Castle where tales and legends haunted her imagination. She left the Honest Toun to study Russian at Strathclyde University and spent a year in the former Soviet Union to research her PhD thesis on the 19th century Russian writer Mikhail Lermontov, said to be descended from the Scottish poet and seer, Thomas the Rhymer. Though travelled widely, teaching languages and literature from Madrid to Moscow, she has never lost her enthusiasm for the rich history and culture of her native Scotland.

Writing historical fiction combines her academic’s love of research with a passion for storytelling. Exploring the personal relationships and often hidden motivations of historical characters drives her curiosity.

The Knox Trilogy is a fictional biography of the fiery reformer, John Knox, set during the 16th century Scottish Reformation. Prizes and awards include the Martha Hamilton Prize for Creative Writing from Edinburgh University and Writer of the Year 2011 awarded by Tyne & Esk Writers. She is a member of the Historical Writers’ Association (HWA), the Historical Novel Society (HNS) and the Society of Authors (SoA).

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Book Review: All That Glitters by Linda Bennett Pennell

 

All That Glitters
By Linda Bennett Pennell

Sometimes we find our true purpose in the most unexpected places.

Becoming governess to a difficult child in a robber baron’s eerie mansion on the Georgia coast is not the life Sarah Anne had envisioned. The cultural clashes between her rural southern upbringing and that of the wealthy northern family send her reeling, but she is determined to be a success. She needs this job for all other doors have closed. Complicating her position are two young men of the family who vie for her attention, engendering emotions that she fights but cannot quell.

With patience and kindness, Sarah Anne breaks through the emotional wall with which her student has surrounded herself. But as her understanding of the family dynamic grows, Sarah Anne comes to realize there may be very good reasons for the child’s troubling behavior. Something is not right within Ripon House. Is the child mentally unbalanced as the father claims, or is the family dead set on protecting a sinister secret no matter the cost?

“Something was terribly wrong at this house…”

Sarah Ann Mercer knew that the moment she stepped through the door. The menacing atmosphere of Ripon House made it feel more like a medieval torture chamber than a loving family home. And then there was the child, Adelia, the little girl who Sarah Ann was meant to teach.

Sarah Ann had expected hostility, especially when Adelia had adored her former governess, but she had not foreseen such anger from a seven-year-old child. Mr Littlewood said the child is mentally unbalanced and that she should be sent to the asylum, but the more time Sarah Ann spends with Adelia, the less certain she is of Mr Littlewood’s assumptions and the more she realises that behind the façade of respectability, the Littlewood family are hiding a terrible secret. A secret which will have consequences for them all…

From the first day of a new job to the discovery of a harrowing truth. All that Glitters by Linda Bennett Pennell is the utterly enthralling story of one young woman who is willing to risk everything to protect the child she has come to love. 

The remote manor house, a complicated family history, secrets and an atmosphere of terror and suspense may cause the reader to think they have been thrown into a tautly gripping gothic novel, minus the restless spirit. It certainly has the same ominous feel to it as Jane Austen’s, Northanger Abbey and even Charlotte Brontë’s, Jane Eyre. The mounting tension, the cleverly crafted plot twists, and the sinister passages where we are allowed a glimpse into the antagonist’s mind, but without knowing who the antagonist is, really kept me turning those pages.

I simply adored the characterisation of Sarah Ann. Sarah Ann is a young woman who is determined to make her way in the world. She has dreams and hopes, but her circumstances and the era in which she lives in dictate her narrative. Sarah Ann was a character that I was instantly drawn towards. Her loving nature, her sharp wit and her quick intelligence made her the type of protagonist that a reader could get behind and root for. However, her innocence also meant that at times she finds herself questioning what she has seen, and often seeks confirmation for her own conclusions from her uncle and aunt, which I thought made her realistic in the telling. Sarah Ann is also a woman who is terribly conflicted. She cannot stand being employed by the Littlewoods, but she cannot abandon her charge for fear of what will happen to her. She also has to battle her own emotions when it comes to two members of the Littlewood family. Knowing that she would never be accepted as their equals does not banish the butterflies whenever the two of them are near her, nor does it stop her from dreaming about them. Sarah Ann is a character that I really came to care about. I thought her portrayal was sublime. 

Little Adelia stole my heart. She is this beautiful, frightened angel who so desperately wants to be loved. Her desire to be accepted by her parents despite their indifference was utterly heartrending to witness. Adelia is a little girl who just wants to be cuddled by her mother and praised by her father, but instead, she finds herself thrust into the shadows like an unwanted puppy, and told to stay firmly out of sight. It is not so much that children should be seen and not heard in the Littlewood house; it almost seems that it would be for the best if Adelia were not seen at all. One of the most heartbreaking scenes in this book occurred on Christmas morning, where the child’s excitement got the better of her, and she once again finds herself in the firing line of her father’s rage. Her father’s coldness and her mother’s apathy had me reaching for the tissues on several occasions. It is no surprise that Adelia attaches herself to anyone who gives her attention, and thus Sarah Ann becomes a substitute parent in Adelia’s young mind. The trauma that Adelia has to deal with would be enough to traumatise an adult, let alone a child, but she is a courageous, spirited, little girl who, with the right care and attention, would blossom. I thought Adelia’s depiction was absolutely fabulous, and her terrible plight drove this story forward.

Pennell’s exploration of the complicated social position of a governess is explored in great depth throughout this novel. As a governess, Sarah Ann lives between two worlds. She is not a member of the family, but neither is she one of the servants. Sarah Ann’s education, manners and etiquette are that of the aristocracy. However, she is not of the aristocracy, and she should never forget her place—she is but a paid member of staff. She may be able to match the Littlewoods' intellect, but she is not and never will be their equal. However, at times the lines become blurred, and Sarah Ann has to try to find a balance between her moral duties towards the child, the longing of her heart, and keeping her job. I thought Pennell captured the essence of what life was like for a governess in the late 19th Century.

Pennell also explores the lack of control that women had over their lives. The fact that Sarah Ann is also an orphan makes her beholding to the people who raised her, and although she loves them dearly, this is not the life she would have chosen for herself. Even more distressing, however, was the complete lack of protection for a very vulnerable child. The idea that if Mr Littlewood said his daughter was insane, she would therefore be deemed to be so, seems draconian and heartless. So while Sarah Ann can enjoy some limited rights, Adelia has none. I thought this gentle reminder about how very different the lives of women and children were over 100 years ago was very enlightening.

Pennell’s careful use of foreshadowing meant that I knew a storm of monumental destruction was heading towards Ripon House from the very beginning of this remarkable novel, and like Sarah Ann I tried, with the limited knowledge we are given about the antagonist, to figure out who the villain of this tale is. But as I finished this book, I realised that there was more than one antagonist in this tale, and Sarah Ann has to, at one point, stand up to them all. There is no knight in shining armour going to sweep down and save our brave heroine. She is on her own, at least, that is what it seems, but bravery begets bravery, and Sarah Ann finds allies in the most unlikely of places.

All that Glitters by Linda Bennett Pennell is an exceptional work of scholarship. From the historical backdrop to the emotional narrative, this is a book that will keep you reading long into the night. 

I Highly Recommend.

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Linda Bennett Pennell

After being named a finalist in the Writer's League of Texas 2009 Manuscript Contest, Linda Bennett Pennell set her heart on becoming a published author. She experienced the thrill of that dream coming true on July 10, 2013 when her debut novel, Al Capone at the Blanche Hotel, was released by Soul Mate Publishing. She is delighted that the novel has been well received by readers and reviewers alike. 

Linda would like to thank those who have read and reviewed Al Capone at the Blanche Hotel. Your wonderful support and generous praise have meant more than mere words can express. It is a great joy that her second and third novels, Confederado do Notre (2014, Soul Mate Publishing), Casablanca: Appointment at Dawn (2015, The Wild Rose Press), Miami Days, Havana Nights (2018, Soul Mate Publishing) have been warmly received, as well. Providing a good experience for readers is what makes all the hard work worthwhile.

Linda is active in writer's groups including the Writer's League of Texas, the Historical Novel Society, Author's Guild, International Thriller Writers, Romance Writers of America, and Northwest Houston RWA. 

When she is not busy tapping away on the keyboard on behalf of her latest work-in-progress, Linda enjoys spending time with family and friends, volunteering with various local non-profits and her church, singing with the Texas Master Chorale and church choir, and researching future projects. She resides in the Houston area with her husband and their German Shorthaired Pointer, a dog who is quite certain that he's a little boy.

 

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Publication Date: 5th August 2020

Publisher: Soul Mate Publishing

Page Length: 224 Pages

Genre: Historical Fiction / Historical Suspense

 

Book Review: Clement: Boy Knight of Normandy, Book 1 by Craig R Hipkins

 

Clement 

Boy Knight of Normandy, Book 1 

By Craig R Hipkins

Clement is no ordinary thirteen year old boy. He lives in a castle in 12th century Normandy. After helping Adalbert on his quest to find a long lost treasure, Clement and his friend Dagena return for another adventure. This time, Clement must overcome the evil ambitions of his wicked uncle, Sven the Terrible! Prepare yourself for some medieval action and excitement that you will not soon forget. This is the first book in a planned trilogy. 

Clement and Dagena first appeared in the novel Adalbert. 

“It is my uncle Pepin’s, the Benedictine friar of Evreux. He has come to tell me how I shall live my life, who I shall marry, who I shall pay homage too, and perhaps even to tell me how to lace my boots proper!”

Clement, the twelve-year-old Count of la Haye, is not quite ready to let his uncle Pepin have his way in everything. Young, he may be, but he still knows his own mind, and he knows who he is going to marry, and it certainly is not going to be Lady Alice de Mowbray. Unfortunately, the opportunity to argue his case is brutally snatched away from him, for he is about to be thrown into a terrible war, which no one saw coming—although many may have been able to predict it if they had but looked for the warning signs.

Torn between duty to his people, protecting his friends, and saving his own life, Clement must grow up and do so quickly. Alone, he and his friends do not stand a chance against his other uncle, Sven the Terrible. But who would follow a boy towards a battle where the odds of winning were two to one…?

A group of friends in peril and an enemy that would happily kill them all to get his hands upon what he wants—and all that happens in the opening chapters! Craig R Hipkins has penned a spellbinding adventure in his fabulous new book, Clement: Boy Knight of Normandy, Book 1.

The poetic writing and the crystalline prose make this book a perfect introduction for a young reader’s first romp into the world of Historical Fiction. The language that Hipkins uses is straightforward and concise, although he sometimes does throw in a few dost’s and thou’s, reminding the reader that this story is set in the past. There is also some fairly modern terminology used for the benefit of the reader. Although such terms would not have been in use during this period in history, they work well in the context of this book and, therefore, it is not something I am going to pull the author up on. I think such minor details can be readily forgiven because of the intended audience. This novel is also the perfect length for a child who has been introduced to chapter books but now wants something marginally longer to read. Hipkins has evidently wanted to pen a book that entertains, and Clement: Boy Knight of Normandy certainly does this.

This novel is centred around three children, Clement, Dagena and Olaf. At the start of this novel, the children enjoy training and learning how to use the weapons of war, but it is still very much a game to them. As the story progresses, they have to use the skills they learnt to stay alive. Their childhood is, therefore, cruelly interrupted by those who see Clement as an opponent who would be easy to overthrow. The fact that it is Clement’s own uncle who would see him dead makes it all the more sobering.

Clement is a protagonist that will undoubtedly appeal to children. He is brave, funny, and more importantly, he knows his own mind. He is also exceptionally loyal, which I think makes him incredibly appealing. Clement has a quiet intelligence and is always trying to find a solution to whatever dilemma they find themselves in. But at the same time, he can also be an extremely awkward twelve-year-old boy, who is desperately trying to hold it all together and give the impression that he is in control at all times. His constant reassurance to Dagena and his feigned confidence that everything will turn out alright in the end made for an extremely delightful read.

Dagena was one of my favourite characters in this book because she is just so stubborn and feisty. Dagena is a girl that will appeal to a younger audience. Although of low birth, Dagena knows how to look after herself and those around her. I thought Dagena was a wonderful protagonist, and she is also one that a young reader can get behind and root for. Likewise, Olaf was a character that I came to care about. His loyalty and his love for his friends made him genuinely likeable. Several adults in this story do help the children survive, but very often the children find themselves on their own as they face a truly terrible foe. Nevertheless, all three of them are extremely pragmatic about the situations they find themselves in, and they face each hurdle with determination and a seemingly unquenchable optimism.

The antagonist of this story is Sven the Terrible. Sven is determined to get what he wants and if he has to kill his nephew to achieve that aim, then he will. Despite the threat that Sven presents to Clement and his friends, the menace that such a character would usually envisage is not so apparent in the text. Yes, he is a bad man, and he is feared, but the detail of his atrocities are not dwelled upon. Hipkins is cautious when it comes to the language that he uses, because this book is meant to be enjoyed. This book is not a history lesson, nor is it one that glorifies death and destruction, although there might be an unexpected skeleton and a few mean men. This book is for children and Hipkins never loses sight of that and although there are a few violent scenes, this violence is contained to such an extent that there is nothing unsuitable or upsetting for Hipkins' intended audience. There is also a heavy dose of cheerfulness in this book that lets the reader know that everything is going to be okay, and everyone will survive to tell the tale. I thought Hipkins struck a delicate balance between the story he wanted to tell and the audience he wants to entertain.

Although this book is set in a historical world, it does not feel too foreign. The characters are relatable, as is the world that they live in.

Clement: Boy Knight of Normandy, Book 1 by Craig R Hipkins, will appeal to both boys and girls, and the non-stop action will assuredly keep them turning those pages. I thought it was a brilliant book from beginning to end. It is perfect either for children to read on their own, or to be enjoyed as a bedtime story.

I Highly Recommend.

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Craig R Hipkins

Craig R. Hipkins was born in Worcester, Massachusetts. He currently lives in North Carolina.

Craig published his first book, “Fireballs: A History of Meteors and other Atmospheric Phenomena” in 2009. Adalbert is his first novel. It is the sequel to the novel Astrolabe written by his late twin brother Jay S. Hipkins (1968-2018)

He is an avid long distance runner. He also enjoys astronomy and reading history in his spare time.

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Book Title: Clement 
Series: Boy Knight of Normandy, Book 1
Author: Craig R Hipkins
Publication Date: September 19th 2020
Publisher: Bowker
Page Length: 274 Pages
Genre: Children's Fiction / Historical Fiction
Review By: Mary Anne Yarde, The Coffee Pot Book Club

Book Review: His Majesty's Grand Conceit by Robert Barclay

 

His Majesty's Grand Conceit

By Robert Barclay

The story is told through firsthand accounts by the dramatis personae of all the machinations, plots, subterfuges, craft and wiles undertaken in bringing about His Royal Highness King George II's firework spectacle of April 27, 1749 to celebrate the Peace of Aix-la-Chapelle. This was the great firework extravaganza for which Handel wrote his 'Musick for the Royal Fireworks.' A wooden temple 410 feet in length was erected in the Green Park in London to act as the launching pad for several tons of rockets, mortars and fountains. French and Italian designers were employed, along with English artillerymen, and the resultant international friction almost led to disaster. The event was widely lampooned and criticized, and it was only through the relentless determination of John, 2nd Duke of Montagu that it was brought off at all. History records the event as a fiasco, but there are other sides to the story as told here. If it didn't happen exactly as reported here, it ought to have.

 

“These months since the king first sprung this thing upon me had been the busiest and most ill organised of my life.”

John, 2nd Duke of Montagu, may be a man of many talents, and one that prides himself on his diplomatic skills, but he had never envisaged the utter fiasco that was to come. As Master-General of Ordnance, the responsibility for the grand firework display to celebrate the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle lay very firmly upon his shoulders. 

However, the time frame for this spectacle that His Majesty King George II has insisted on staging is uncommonly short, and there is not the skill in England’s pleasant pastures to pull it off without help. To achieve the impossible, they would have to employ the skills of Giovanni Niccolò Servandoni, the famed Italian architect, and the equally talented pyrotechnician, Signor Gaetano Ruggieri. It goes without saying that Handle would supply the music—as long as he does not include any of those damned fiddles in his composition. But this was to be a strictly English affair with no outsiders’ influence. John, 2nd Duke of Montagu, must never forget that fact…

A rich symphony of colours accompanied by a resounding crash of drums and not forgetting the fanfare of trumpets that hurtled everything towards a dramatic crescendo that would either signify glory or failure, His Majesty’s Grand Conceit by Robert Barclay is the beguiling behind-the-scenes story of King George’s firework celebrations of 1749.

With a vast cast of characters, His Majesty’s Grand Conceit is a book that demands your attention. Initially, I did struggle with keeping up with all the different points of view, but there is a promise of brilliance at the beginning of this book, much like King George’s imaginations for this sensational event, which kept me turning those pages, and I am so glad I did. This novel illuminates not only the preparations and the delivery of this grand event, but it also shines a sparkling light upon the era itself—its splendour as well as its squaller. This is not just the story of the aristocracy, but it is also the story of those who worked so hard, at significant risk in dangerous conditions, to bring to fruition a king’s fancy. The depiction of what everyday life was like for the lower class was wonderfully portrayed. 

The hours of research that have gone into this book are immense. Barclay’s knowledge of not only this era and the characters that grace the pages but also the property of gunpowder and how fireworks were made in the 18th Century has to be admired. Barclay’s explanations of things that the reader needs to know are done with one eye on the accuracy of what he is explaining and the other on what makes for an entertaining read. I undoubtedly know a little more about what went into making fireworks during this era thanks to this book! 

Likewise, Barclay also has a clear understanding of the political climate of the time. While a nation watched a king’s fortune go up in smoke, the deprivation and the poverty of his subjects were mostly ignored. The king does have his moments when he is incredibly generous with his wealth, most notably when he witnesses a man who, due to an unfortunate set of circumstances, is grievously injured, but he does not think to call a halt to the proceedings. He is a man determined and a man disconnected from the subjects that he ruled.

Another extremely interesting aspect that Barclay portrayed was how the nobility, especially in the case of the Duke of Montagu, used their position to make money for themselves. Barclay suggests that corruption was widespread, and there was a lot of money to be made by fiddling the books. I thought that Barclay balanced the history with the story most admirably. This novel is certainly backed up by confident research.

There are some very fascinating characters in this book, each with a wonderful story and insight into the events of the months leading up to the spectacular show of wealth. But I am going to focus on a few of my favourite characters.

John, 2nd Duke of Montagu, is a man who is responsible for making the impossible, possible. He is entrusted with a job that initially he really wanted, but by the end of it, he probably wished he had never heard of! John is a shrewd man in this novel, who thinks very highly of himself. He is determined to profit for his troubles, and as the king’s purse is wide open, he is resolved to take advantage of that—although things do not always go the way he wants them to. But those who dare to hoodwink him are in for a nasty surprise, for Montagu has a flare for the theatrical, which means that no one ever knows precisely how he will wreak his revenge. The Duke of Montagu was a character that I enjoyed getting to know. He is, as we British would say, full of it, but in an exceedingly charming way. I thought his depiction was brilliant from start to finish. 

Another character who I enjoyed reading about was George Frideric Handel. Handel was commissioned to provide the music for this spectacular event. When a king's will and a composer’s ingenuity clash, then there is bound to be fireworks. As infuriated as Handel became with the king’s dogged determination to have things his way, the more amusing it became for the reader. I sympathised with Handel immensely. His sometimes bemused, but usually highly aggrieved reactions to the king’s demands and his inability to do anything but obey, made for some enthralling reading. 

An impossible task leads to a clash of personalities especially when an Italian and an adopted Frenchman is brought into the fold to give guidance! I simply adored Giovanni Niccolò Servandoni. As soon as he stepped out of the carriage, I knew he was going to be something of a handful for his English counterparts. His flamboyant personality and his utter indignation when the English dared to try to tell him what to do were especially compelling. I thought Giovanni brought an awful lot to this story.

If you are looking for your next explosive read that will entertain you from the opening sentence to the final full stop, then look no further. His Majesty’s Grand Conceit by Robert Barclay is a tautly gripping, incredibly impressive story that I found next to impossible to put down. There is no doubt in my mind, His Majesty’s Grand Conceit is a monumental work of scholarship, and it is a real treat for lovers of quality Historical Fiction.

I Highly Recommend

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 Robert Barclay

I'm the author of several books on the history, development and conservation of historic musical instruments. I am a maker of historic-model trumpets after 17th and 18th century originals, and I teach workshops in trumpet-making. After a long career of writing factual technical material, I decided it was time to start telling lies. Nevertheless, my fictional works all embody elements of truth because, I argue, the news these days is so unbelievable that "you couldn't invent this stuff!" In addition to writing, I enjoy driving around in my 1920 Morgan three-wheeler, which I restored from a heap of bits. Also, I'm not averse to picking up a paintbrush: waiting forever for a publisher to produce a cover for 'Jacob the Trumpeter', I got impatient and decided to paint the cover picture myself. I knew the character much better than any artist could anyway, and the result is not bad. I won't give up my day job, though.

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Book Title: His Majesty's Grand Conceit

Author: Robert Barclay 

Publication Date: September 25th 2020

Publisher: Loose Cannon Press

Genre: Historical Fiction 

Book Review: The Doubtful Diaries of Wicked Mistress Yale (The Yale Trilogy, Book 1) by David Ebsworth

 

The Doubtful Diaries of Wicked Mistress Yale 

(The Yale Trilogy, Book 1)

By David Ebsworth 

1721, and elderly Catherine Yale discovers that second husband Elihu’s will has left her no bequest except the slur of branding her a "wicked wife.”

True, her private journals are filled with intimacies: her inner thoughts about life in Old Madras, where the East India Company’s intrigues are as complex as any in the Mughal Emperor’s court; and the espionage she has undertaken, despite the danger into which it has thrust both herself and her children.

Perhaps it’s time for her to read them afresh, to go back before the days when Elihu first betrayed her, before she was betrayed by her enemies, and betrayed by the friends who should have stood at her side – before she determined to wreak her revenge on them all.

“You’ll find few around here, madam, with a bad word for Elihu Yale.”

But plenty for me, I suppose. A wicked wife? Is this what was in his mind? Was this what fed those deathbed words of his?

Catherine Yale had to admit that there was some truth in her husband’s statement, but the wickedness was not of her making. She had simply done what she had to do to survive, and she was not going to apologise for that. But to understand the end, one really needed to go back to the beginning. Back to a time before Elihu Yale…

With an elegant sweep of the quill, and an equally impressive narrative, David Ebsworth has composed a tale in which the historical backdrop has been meticulously researched, and the characters seem larger than life. The Doubtful Diaries of Wicked Mistress Yale (The Yale Trilogy, Book 1) is a novel that is not only immensely readable but incredibly successful too. This story is, above everything else, a compelling account of an extraordinary time.

Mistress Catherine Yale, the protagonist in this tale, is a woman caught up in a web of conspiracies and lies in a land where superstitions, famine, war and piracy ran hand in hand with whispered threats of regicide. Catherine is a character that is quick of wit and has a crystalline understanding of the world around her. She sees people for what they are, and she uses her judgement accordingly—although this leads her down a dangerous and murky path to a place that she cannot come back from.

Ebsworth starts this first book in his trilogy not at the beginning but at the end of Catherine’s story. Catherine suffers the dishonour of being branded as a wicked woman in her husband’s will, which leads her to contemplate her life and how she had fallen so far from her esteemed husband’s admirations. By telling Catherine’s story through the use of diary entries and letters, Ebsworth allows his readers to glimpse into the most intimate thoughts of his protagonist. There is always a slight risk when approaching a story in such a way for sometimes the delivery can feel disjointed, but I felt that Ebsworth pulled this style off admirably. The letters, which are mentioned and dictated in this novel, also help the reader to understand the political situation in England, but more importantly, they give an understanding of just how cut off these people were from London, from home. A brave new world this may well have been, but it was also an extremely isolated one. 

Catherine is a character who suffers tremendously throughout this novel—her loss, her grief, and her comprehension of the levels of corruption that is all around her made this book an enthralling read. Despite the setbacks, despite the loss, Catherine is determined to secure her future and that of her sons. Wealth, and the determination to require more of it, drives this story forward, but at the same time the sacrifices and the enemies that are made along the way demonstrate that wealth may well be able to cover over a multitude of sins, but the one thing it could not buy is happiness and, more importantly, peace of mind. Catherine does not live a life filled with joy, and several of the trials she faces are brought about by her own hand. Saying that, however, I could not help but sympathise with her. The loss of her husband and children, and then her subsequent marriage to a man who married her only to increase his position and personal fortune, made me somewhat sympathetic to her plight even though it was her idea. She is also plagued with bouts of mental illness. Unfortunately, her mental health is not easily understood, nor does her husband try to understand it. At times, Catherine’s diary portrays a woman who is trapped in a prison of her own making. And yet, she is silently screaming for someone, anyone, to help and comfort her. It is a deeply touching portrait.

As is so often the case with history there is more documented evidence of the men in this era, and therefore Ebsworth had slightly more to work with when it came to his depiction of Elihu Yale. Yale’s determination as well as his ambition sees him rise in station. He views his marriage to Catherine as a means to help his dreams come to fruition. I found it exceedingly hard to like Yale, simply because of the history behind the name, but I thought Ebsworth penned a fair portrayal. Yale is a man of commerce—if he sees an opportunity to make money, he will do it. However, this book does not give us a balanced account of his life because it is told through Catherine’s perspective.

The majority of Catherine’s diary entries are composed of conversations that have occurred around the dinner table and a few lavish garden parties. The rich, complicated and at some times shameful history of Fort St. George in the 18th Century is brought back to life in a story that is set in a time so profoundly different to our own. When slavery was a legal form of commerce any moral arguments at the abomination of such a cruel and heartless trade were easily excused by quoting the scriptures. This was an era so foreign to our own that at times the complete lack of compassion and the unfathomable excuses made for some harrowing reading. The flourishing slave trade in Madras and the attempts to curb the practice of English merchants kidnapping young children and selling them for profit seems almost counterproductive when the buying and selling of fellow humans continued to flourish legally. Add to that a muddled mix of religions, beliefs and practises reminds the reader that this novel encompasses the collision of eastern and western culture, with the western cultures believing that their idea of civilisation had to be adopted for the greater good—the irony of that statement is not lost on Catherine. I thought Ebsworth really captured the essences of what it must have been like to live in Fort St. George during this time and, although we only see things through Catherine’s perspective, her narrative does allow the reader to envisage the suffering that those less fortunate natives and other discriminated populations experienced under Company rule.

The Doubtful Diaries of Wicked Mistress Yale by David Ebsworth is astoundingly ambitious, but it is also one that is utterly triumphant in its delivery. With a vast cast of characters and a compelling protagonist, Ebsworth has given his readers a book that was next to impossible to put down. I am looking forward to reading Book 2 in what promises to be a mesmerising series.

I Highly Recommend.

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David Ebsworth

DAVID EBSWORTH is the pen name of writer Dave McCall, a former negotiator for Britain’s Transport & General Workers’ Union. He was born in Liverpool but has lived in Wrexham, North Wales, with his wife Ann since 1981.

Following his retirement, Dave began to write historical fiction in 2009 and has subsequently published six novels: political thrillers dealing with the 1745 Jacobite rebellion, the 1879 Anglo-Zulu War, the Battle of Waterloo, warlord rivalry in sixth century Britain, and the Spanish Civil War. His sixth book, Until the Curtain Falls returns to that same Spanish conflict, following the story of journalist Jack Telford, and is published in Spanish under the title Hasta Que Caiga el Telón. Jack Telford, as it happens, is also the main protagonist in a separate novella, The Lisbon Labyrinth.

Each of Dave’s novels has been critically acclaimed by the Historical Novel Society and been awarded the coveted BRAG Medallion for independent authors. 

This seventh novel, The Doubtful Diaries of Wicked Mistress Yale, is the first in a trilogy about the life of nabob philanthropist (and slave-trader) Elihu Yale, told through the eyes of his much-maligned and largely forgotten wife, Catherine.

Connect with David: Website • Twitter • Goodreads.

Book Title: The Doubtful Diaries of Wicked Mistress Yale

Series: The Yale Trilogy, Book 1

Author: David Ebsworth

Publication Date: April 8th 2019

Publisher: SilverWood Books

Page Length: 270 Pages

Genre: Historical Fiction

Review By: Mary Anne Yarde, The Coffee Pot Book Club.