Nature's takin' over my one-track mindBelieve it or not, you're in my heart all the timeAll the girls are sayin' that you'll end up a foolFor the time being, baby, live by my rules The Lion of Justice focuses on three of William the Conqueror's sons: William Rufus (William II), Robert (duke of Normandy), and Henry (Henry I). It tells the story of William II's brief reign, his mysterious death in the forest, and Henry I's reign. In part the story is told through his queen. We meet the future-queen as a young woman named Edith. She is royal: the daughter of the king and queen of Scotland. She is also among the last of the Saxon royal dynasty. The novel opens with Edith and her sister, Mary, going to a convent for safekeeping. They have an aunt there who is convinced that Edith should take vows and become a nun. Edith finds the idea repugnant. Equally repugnant to her is marrying an old man of the William II's choosing. There are two close calls before she is married to King Henry. Readers definitely know more of Henry than she does! One other thing that you should know: he makes her change her name to Matilda; Matilda was his mother's name.There is a good reason why I quoted Lou Christie's Lightin' Strikes at the start of this review. Henry I is depicted as arrogant and lusty and selfish. He's repugnant. And he's able to fool Matilda for several years at least. She actually believes all his lines. She actually trusts him. He seems a bit surprised that there is any woman so gullible and naive to buy what he's saying. He almost seems relieved when she confronts him to see if it is the truth. In my opinion, the back of the book LIED. Its description: A DAZZLING PORTRAIT OF A MAN FOR WHOM COUNTLESS MISTRESSES WEREN'T ENOUGH--AND ONE GIRL WAS EVERYTHING. Henry married Matilda because she was Saxon royalty. It was a politically advantageous match for the kingdom's good. He didn't dislike her. But she was never his everything. I get the impression that women were completely interchangeable to him. One being very much like another. Did I like it? It wasn't so much a matter of liking or not liking. I found it quite readable. I often found Henry infuriating, and I suppose I thought a lot of conversations to Matilda, not that she could hear me. I am glad I read on in the series!
Although I don’t feel this second instalment in the Norman series is in the same league as the first, I do still rate it highly. I think there’re too many elements in “The Lion of Justice”, which prevents this reader at least from being absorbed by, say, two or three key themes. Perhaps the author would’ve fared better to have focused on William II (aka Rufus) and his term as England’s monarch, rather than covering so wide a scope, as certain plotlines feel rushed or underdeveloped.One storyline in particular – I won’t say which for fear of spoiling anything for people considering reading this novel – felt anticlimactic. For those who have read it, I’ll just state that I’m referring to Nesta, her cousin, and Henry’s later involvement. A four-book set rather than three would maybe have served better. Either that or this novel should’ve been extended by 100 pages or so. It’s also hard to get to know the main characters with such a lot of co-stars involved.In short, I consider this a good read that has not realised its full potential.
What do You think about The Lion Of Justice (1977)?
2.5 stars. http://www.burtonbookreview.com/2013/...This took me almost 2 weeks to read. It was a fairly short book, and should have been easy to read because the tone of the writing was very middle grade or young adult in nature. Because of this style of writing I was bored out of my mind and had no desire to pick up this book which was a chore.I am very interested in these characters however & I would love a book on this era if anyone could recommend one.Group read starts July 28:http://www.goodreads.com/topic/group_...#retroreadalong
—Marie
Second in the trilogy of the Norman conquerors and their reign over England, we now see William the Conqueror’s youngest son Henry’s rise to power, along with the fall of his older brothers Robert and Rufus. King Henry I is a strict but just ruler, and he brings with him to the thrown his new wife, Princess Edith of Scotland, renamed to Matilda. This English-born Norman and his Saxon wife quickly win the love of their people. Queen Matilda is clever in the ways of state and does much to further
—Tania
