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The King's Concubine: A Novel of Alice Perrers - Anne O'Brien
The King's Concubine: A Novel of Alice Perrers
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3.22 45
A child born in the plague year of 1348, abandoned and raised within the oppressive walls of a convent, Alice Perrers refused to take the veil, convinced that a greater destiny awaited her. Ambitious and quick witted, she rose above her obscure beginnings to become the infamous mistress of Edward... show more
A child born in the plague year of 1348, abandoned and raised within the oppressive walls of a convent, Alice Perrers refused to take the veil, convinced that a greater destiny awaited her. Ambitious and quick witted, she rose above her obscure beginnings to become the infamous mistress of Edward III. But always, essentially, she was alone... Early in Alice’s life, a chance meeting with royalty changes everything: Kindly Queen Philippa, deeply in love with her husband but gravely ill, chooses Alice as a lady-in-waiting. Under the queen’s watchful eye, Alice dares to speak her mind. She demands to be taken seriously. She even flirts with the dynamic, much older king. But she is torn when her vibrant spirit captures his interest...and leads her to a betrayal she never intended. In Edward’s private chambers, Alice discovers the pleasures and paradoxes of her position. She is the queen’s confidante and the king’s lover, yet she can rely only on herself. It is a divided role she was destined to play, and she vows to play it until the bitter end. Even as she is swept up in Edward’s lavish and magnificent court, amassing wealth and influence for herself, becoming an enemy of his power-hungry son John of Gaunt, and a sparring partner to resourceful diplomat William de Windsor, she anticipates the day when the political winds will turn against her. For when her detractors voice their hatred,and accusations of treason swirl around her,threatening to destroy everything she has achieved, who will stand by Alice then? Includes a readers guide
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Format: paperback
ISBN: 9780451236807 (0451236807)
ASIN: 0451236807
Publisher: NAL Trade
Pages no: 464
Edition language: English
Bookstores:
Community Reviews
Sorry kids, no feet.
Sorry kids, no feet. rated it
2.0 The King's Concubine: A Novel of Alice Perrers
I found Alice Perrers (or Alice de Windsor, as we should really call her), to be an uninspiring heroine. She was greedy and self-serving. Maybe she wasn't really like that but Ms. O'Brien would have you believe she was. She was constantly stealing (calling a spade a spade) and justifying her actions...
Nocturnal Book Reviews
Nocturnal Book Reviews rated it
4.0 The King's Concubine: A Novel of Alice Perrers
As a novel, the story of a rise of Alice Perrers might seem a bit dry, but as a historical account of a magnificent woman who achieved so much way ahead of her time? It's glorious!I loved Alice Perrers because no matter what she faced she kept her integrity. I'm actually really fascinated with that ...
Bookish Ames
Bookish Ames rated it
3.5 out of 5.
Reading a Thousand Lives
Reading a Thousand Lives rated it
4.0 The King's Concubine: A Novel of Alice Perrers
The first 100 pages or so were agonizingly slow. I had little to no interest in Alice's history before Philippa and Edward III. But it was there nonetheless, and on the look back it seems in place. But it made for a terrible beginning that didn't suck me in. Had it not been a net galley arc, I would...
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