A quite enjoyable historical novel (The Marsh King's Daughter - Elizabeth Chadwick)

Member Name: azana

Product:	The Marsh King's Daughter - Elizabeth Chadwick
Date:	14/05/09 (46 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: an easy read

Disadvantages: if you are looking for a history book, this isn't it

Elizabeth Chadwick is an established writer who has been writing historical fiction since 1989. This particular book is set in the Thirteenth century, and I suppose would best be described as a light romantic romp.

I bought this book as part of a 3 book Chadwick deal from www.bananas.co.uk - £3.50 for this and two other titles from the same author. It tells the story of a young girl, Miriel Weaver and her coming of age through being forced into a nunnery by her stepfather. She saves a young man show has been washed up on the shore after an incident involving the solidiers escorting King John's treasure and the tide. This is a real incident from history, though what happens to the treasure and its involvement with the young man, Nicholas, and our young heroine are the author's imaginings alone.

History by stealth this isn't, however the background, setting of the historical background do seem to be well researched and were quite convincing to me, though I can't claim to be an expert in medieval history. The dialogue is realistic, various words of Olde English being used by the various characters in a fairly natural way.

The story shows the difficulties of being a woman alone in these times as Miriel escapes the confines of the convent only to discover that marriage holds other confines too. She builds up a business and life for herself but is forever aware that she is always governed by men. The characters she meets on the way are well portrayed with Robert becoming a rather good anti-hero. Miriel moves through the worlds of the wool industry, the shipping industry and the more seedy side of medieval society as her story unfolds and all this makes for an interesting read. The novel shows how women faced the difficulties of being in medieval society and the real danger to life that childbirth represented. The author, to me, succeeded in making the world she painted seem very real to me despite it not being set in contemporary times, as a reader I was prepared to accept the world the author had painted.

From what I have said of the subject matter already you will probably have gathered that this is, most probably, more of a read that will appeal to women, though it is not a feminist novel as such.

I wanted Miriel to be able to improve her lot - that she couldn't without romantic involvement was a little annoying to the modern woman in me - but then I suppose this did reflect the times that this novel was set in, and it made for a few more steamy moments in the book which were not too cringe-making, and furthered the story in a satisfactory way.

I certainly enjoyed this book as a lighter read, and am looking forward to reading more by this author. If you enjoy reading books by Phillipa Gregory you probably will enjoy this book too.

Overall I would recommend this book, at the price I paid it was a bargain - it is currently also available at Amazon for £5.99.

Paperback: 416 pages
Publisher: Sphere; New edition edition (2 Nov 2006)
Language English
ISBN-10: 0751539406
ISBN-13: 978-0751539400

Summary: the tale of a young girl coming of age in medieval England