30. The Star of Lancaster - Jean Plaidy

There was just so much going on in this book that I thought I would post someone else's review...


( ) = my corrections


Harry, then Henry. A powerful force.
August 10, 2008
By mayflower "mo" (BFE North, Ca. United States)



Once again, Jean Plaidy captures a magnificent world of cruelty and strife in such a way that the reader quickly surrenders. Here she does it with The Star of Lancaster, the story of Henry IV and his conquering son, Harry of Monmouth, AKA Henry V.



The story begins with Henry IV's story. With the help of his ambitious father John of Gaunt, Henry meets and falls in love with Mary de Bohun. They marry when she is just eleven and she soon bears him a still-born child. From then on, she struggles with every child she bears- (seven) in all-and dies early in her life. Harry, the eldest son of Henry and Mary, is a head strong child, never knowing any fear, which develops into a pattern throughout his life.



Meanwhile, (Henry of Lancaster), after his exile in France, deposes Richard II of his crown and placed it upon his own head-with the vote of the people. The rest of his life he bears the burden of Richard's 'mysterious' death on his shoulders, believing that it is the reason why he is plagued with a disfiguring disease, (from which he dies). Upon his death, Harry of Monmouth becomes the new King of England-Henry V. Henry V spends the rest of his life fighting for his right to the French crown-his through his great grandfather, Edward III. He marries the French King's youngest daughter Katherine of Valois, and with this marriage has been named Regent of France in the event of the present King's death. He has accomplished his goals...almost. Katherine bears him a son, Henry VI. But Henry V is suspicious, believing in a prophesy which predicts a disastrous rule through his son. But there is nothing Henry can do to stop it as he soon dies, leaving England in the charge of his nine month old son. The Star of Lancaster is a beautifully written novel that continues the magnificent rule of the Plantagenets and leaves the reader looking forward to the next.



Now it's my turn - I disagree with this writers opinion quite a bit. I thought the story jumped around A LOT and was filled with unimportant information when it skipped out on a lot of vital information. The story starts from Mary de Bohun's point of view, skips to Henry of Lancaster's, then to Richard II's, then back to Henry of Lancasters, then Joanna (Henry's second wife), then to Harry of Monmouth (aka Henry V). It was getting pretty ridiculous with all the jumping around.



I was rather disappointed with this book. I was really excited to read it because I had just finished Katherine and fell in love with John of Gaunt's family. Finding a book by Jean Plaidy (one of my favorite authors) about John's son was so exciting for me. It started out really good with Mary and Henry courtship and love story, but after she died it definitely lost pace. What a disappointment! I slowly trudged through this book, though, in case there was something better towards the end... but there wasn't. I am still fascinated by John of Gaunt's family and maybe will find a better book about them in the future.



Rating: 2.5/5