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The People Queen 9780007311217 Books

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The People Queen 9780007311217 Books

Alice Perrers. . . Who was she? Ugly or pretty? Grasping and without conscience or considerate of others? A mistress of royalty who only used her status for self advancement? Or. . . .? There is not so much know about her life, making it difficult to speak in much detail about her. Oddly, in this novel, she works at counterpoint with John of Gaunt's mistress (and later wife), Katherine Swynford--about whom rather little is known. In this novel, Swynford is portrayed as rather nasty (I have read other books where she is portrayed much more positively).

Perrers was born in difficult circumstances and raised by a hard nosed woman who did most anything needed to get ahead. By good fortune, Alice ended up as Henry III's mistress. From this position, she exerted considerable influence and gained many estates and much money.

This book looks at the jealousies directed against her, how her own behavior fanned opposition to her, how she fell from the heights, and how she began an ascent once more.

During the course of this novel, we meet historical figures such as Geoffrey Chaucer (Was Alice the Wife of Bath in "The Canterbury Tails"? That is a suggestion in this work.), John of Gaunt, Richard II, and so on.

How accurate is this work? I cannot say. There is so little on the historical record. Nonetheless, it is a fine piece of historical fiction.


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The People Queen 9780007311217 Books Reviews

Alice Perrers, the `Queen' of this title is mistress to the ageing English King Edward III. In this novel, she is portrayed as being one of the people - a peasant - who has risen to great heights and made many enemies along the way. After a prologue set during the Black Death, the novel proper opens, with Alice at the height of her powers - fully atop the Wheel of Fortune. Where to from here?

Alice is beginning to realise that she needs to secure her future Edward III has been an indulgent protector and benefactor but he cannot live much longer. And there are signs that both Parliament and the City of London have enough power to insist on a greater role in running England in future. The war with France has been costly and increasingly more difficult to fund. The King's heir is dying, and his successor is a boy.

As Alice amasses property for her future, she keeps a keen eye on the power struggle between Edward III's sons the dying Edward the Black Prince (his heir) and his brother John of Gaunt. She is also a patron of Geoffrey Chaucer, then Comptroller of export tax on wool, sheepskins and leather in the Port of London, and shares aspects of a past with Wat Tyler (who will later be leader of the Peasants' Revolt).

`Alice Perrers is not invited to the King's funeral.'

Without the King to protect her, Alice's life takes some interesting turns. She moves from the Court to a safe manor house, to a place of safety or so she hopes. But Fortune's wheel has not yet finished turning Alice, her family and friends have yet to endure the Peasants' Revolt.

`The day and the night that follow are the time of the Beast.'

`The People's Queen' covers seven years of Alice's life from 1374 to 1381 (the year of the Peasants' Revolt) and is mainly told in present tense. It took me a while to become caught up in the story, but once I was I couldn't put it down. Present tense, with dashes of authorial narration kept this story moving. I am intrigued by Alice Perrers and am in the process of reading three novels about her. Each is very different and while I'm not yet sure which Alice I prefer best, I found this depiction engrossing. I especially enjoyed the depiction of Geoffrey Chaucer.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Book was falling apart. This is the first time this has happened. What else can I say? I was nit happy.
Really enjoyed reading this book and it made me go back and read other books by Bennett. Nice integration of the story line with Geoffrey Chaucer and a nice introduction to the Canterbury Tales and that period. Characters are well drawn and interesting and the storyline is tight.
This is the third book by this author that I have read. Though it was difficult to find the book -since it is not available in the US it was a challenge to get a hold of but well worth it. It was interesting to look at history from the perspective of Alice Ferrers and Geoffrey Chaucer.
I had read "The Queen's Lover" by the same author earlier and although I prefer buying my books on now I decided to buy this in paperback because that was the only option (there may have been an audiobook). I'm so glad I did. Most books about Alice Perrers portray her very negatively. (The other book I've read was The King's Concubine... by Anne O'Brien.) Was this because she was a woman taking power and land in a man's world? I think so yes. Much has been said about women in history taking power and riches for their own. She-wolves, selfish, hungry for power and influence. Say this about a man and he is a confident leader, taking what is his, and a Kingmaker.

I was happy to read this historical fiction account of her life and what she may or may not have been thinking. She loved a king when others would have set him aside. Alice knew she wouldn't be in high favor forever and tried to provide for herself. Isn't that what anyone would do? The People's Queen is a great account of a woman with wit, smarts, and finesse get what she wanted by working for it and ending up losing most of it because she was the scapegoat for everyone whose power was still intact after the king's death.
Alice Perrers. . . Who was she? Ugly or pretty? Grasping and without conscience or considerate of others? A mistress of royalty who only used her status for self advancement? Or. . . .? There is not so much know about her life, making it difficult to speak in much detail about her. Oddly, in this novel, she works at counterpoint with John of Gaunt's mistress (and later wife), Katherine Swynford--about whom rather little is known. In this novel, Swynford is portrayed as rather nasty (I have read other books where she is portrayed much more positively).

Perrers was born in difficult circumstances and raised by a hard nosed woman who did most anything needed to get ahead. By good fortune, Alice ended up as Henry III's mistress. From this position, she exerted considerable influence and gained many estates and much money.

This book looks at the jealousies directed against her, how her own behavior fanned opposition to her, how she fell from the heights, and how she began an ascent once more.

During the course of this novel, we meet historical figures such as Geoffrey Chaucer (Was Alice the Wife of Bath in "The Canterbury Tails"? That is a suggestion in this work.), John of Gaunt, Richard II, and so on.

How accurate is this work? I cannot say. There is so little on the historical record. Nonetheless, it is a fine piece of historical fiction.