Wow, That's a Lot of History.This is the first Jean Plaidy novel I've read. I recently read Hilda Lewis' 'Harlot Queen' which offers greater detail of the reign of Edward II and Edward III's succession to the throne. 'The Vow on the Heron' briefly touches on the succession of Edward III and how Queen Isabella and her lover Roger de Mortimer ruled England while Edward was young. It broadly covers the reign of Edward III his marriage to Philippa of Hainault, their twelve children and their childrens' subsequent marriages and deaths as well as Edward's deterioration in old age and his relationship with Alice Perrers.While Plaidy covers a lot of history in this novel and I'm glad I read it, it left me wanting to learn what happened after Edward III passed away, I also found it to be a bit dry for my tastes. There were interesting relationships between some the historical figures but, with the exception of Edward III and Queen Philippa, I didn't find the characterizations of these people very well drawn.I think those of you who like your historical fiction heavy on the historical and light on the fiction would enjoy this. If you are like me and you like a little more emotion in your fiction you might like "Harlot Queen' by Hilda Lewis.
In The Vow on the Heron, queen of historical fiction Jean Plaidy has delivered another thoroughly enjoyable novel in her Plantagenet series, this one detailing the long and eventful reign of Edward III. Focussing equally on family matters such as the king's strong and abiding love for his Queen Philippa, the lives and loves of their children, and finally towards the end of his life his infatuation with his notorious mistress Alice Perrers, as well as on political and administrative issues like the events leadng up to the beginning of the Hundred Years' War with France, this was a well-rounded story and one of my favourite books in the series so far.
