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To Defy a King (William Marshal)
 
 
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To Defy a King (William Marshal) [Kindle Edition]

Elizabeth Chadwick (Author)
4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (43 customer reviews) |
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Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2011

Privileged daughter of William Marshal, Mahelt marries Hugh Bigod, heir to the earldom of Norfolk. But when King John sets out to subdue the Bigods, Mahelt faces the worst alone, knowing neither she, nor her marriage, are likely to survive. A story of emotional power set against the road to Magna Carta and the fight to bring a tyrant king to heel, To Defy a King is Elizabeth Chadwick at her best.

“I rank Elizabeth Chadwick with such historical novelist stars as Dorothy Dunnett and Anya Seton.”
—Sharon Kay Penman, NYT bestselling author of Devil’s Brood


“The best writer of historical fiction.”
—Historical Novels Review

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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A majestic High Middle Ages series continues in Chadwick's latest (after For the King's Favor) as Mahelt "Matty" Marshal, the daughter of legendary British knight William Marshal, becomes a bride at 14. Though the marriage, to Hugh Bigod, future earl of Norfolk, is arranged, Matty is open to it and embraces the passion that eventually comes. She bears Bigod four children and enjoys a peaceful life until tyrannical King John takes her paternal family hostage, first her brother Will, heir to the earldom of Pembroke, then her brother Richard, and finally her father, who has openly opposed the king's greed and land-grabbing. Matty's determination to save her father and brothers while also standing by her husband and keeping her new family safe creates both conflict and, ultimately, joyous rewards in a well-told saga filled with just the right amount of exacting period detail. Both longtime fans and readers new to Chadwick's series will be thrilled. (Mar.)
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Chadwick (For the King�s Favor, 2010) again captures the inherent complexity of medieval alliances and rivalries in this irresistibly readable historical romance featuring a willful and wily heroine ensnared in a particularly thorny political hornet�s nest. Married at an indecently young age, Mahelt Matty Marshal, beloved daughter of William Marshal, Earl of Pembroke, eventually permits herself to fall in love with her husband, Hugh Bigod, heir to the earldom of Pembroke, as she adapts to life in a new household. Unfortunately, during the reign of the infamous king John, trouble inevitably looms on the horizon. When Matty�s father falls out of favor with the king, and her brothers are taken hostage, her loyalties are painfully divided between her birth family and her marriage family. As her resolve and her allegiances are tested by cruel circumstances, she must decide who and what she is willing to risk in defiance of the king. Chadwick�s characters step directly off the pages of history into this fresh fictional reimagining of a perilous time and place. --Margaret Flanagan
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Product Details

  • File Size: 1049 KB
  • Print Length: 526 pages
  • Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1402250894
  • Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark (March 1, 2011)
  • Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
  • Language: English
  • ASIN: B004MME70G
  • Text-to-Speech: Enabled
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,095 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
77 of 80 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
To Defy a King is the story of Mahelt, the eldest and most beloved daughter of my favorite hunk in history, William Marshal. Preparing an extended trip to get their lands in Ireland under control, Mahelt's parents are anxious to see her married before they leave and to that end she is betrothed to Hugh Bigod, the son of Roger Bigod the powerful Earl of Norfolk. While still too young for the marriage bed, Mahelt and Hugh are married and she joins the Bigods at Framlingham Castle, although the very-independent-minded Mahelt and set-in-his-ways Roger don't always see eye to eye.

When Mahelt reaches her fifteenth birthday she and Hugh are able to consummate their marriage and begin building a family together, but their happiness is ultimately threatened by the escalating tensions between King John and his barons. Hugh also has a lot of tension of his own to deal with from his half-brother William Longespée, who is quite full of himself and his relationship to the King (he is John's half-brother through his mother Ida see more about that in The Time Of Singing);

"...although for Longespée attendance on John was a validation of his royal blood and an opportunity to pose in fine clothes."

The conflicts finally lead to open revolt against the King and Mahelt finds herself torn between loyalty to the Bigods who want to oust John and her father who swore fealty to John and is honor bound to keep it. And what of her beloved brothers who have been held hostage for years by John to ensure her father's loyalty?

"Do not talk to me of God. I have been supping with the Devil...I thought I had a long enough spoon, but I was wrong."

Can Hugh keep his wife and children safe from John's clutches? Can Framlingham Castle withstand the King's army? Sorry, but that's all I'm going to tell you - read it for yourself. While the first half of the book might not be fast paced enough for some readers, I really enjoyed it and had a hard time putting it down. I loved watching the budding relationship between Hugh and Mahelt grow into a strong, loving marriage, as well as Hugh's somewhat stormy relationship with his half-brother William Longespée. As for Hugh? I'm in love again....

One of Chadwick's greatest strengths is the way she effortlessly brings the medieval period and mindset to life - from the food, clothing, sights, sounds etc. and this latest one is no disappointment. A big thumbs up on the author's notes at the end as well, I for one appreciate knowing what was real, what was surmised for the sake of the story as well as how ongoing research has affected what she's written in her previous books on the Marshal and Bigod families. 5/5 stars and a must for Chadwick fans.

********

FTC, yes yes I admit it, I got an advance copy. Shoot me. I would have preordered it and just had to wait longer to read it.
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36 of 36 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Mahelt Marshal is the eldest daughter of William Marshal, one of the most respected and influential knights in England. During King John's turbulent reign, William Marshal is suspected of treachery and with two sons being held hostage he seeks to make an advantageous marriage for his daughter. A marriage to Hugh Bigod, the son of Roger Bigod, Earl of Norfolk is arranged, and Mahelt moves to Framlingham to live with her new family.

This is Mahelt's story during the period from January 1204 to September 1217. It is the story of a proud Marshal daughter growing into a young woman and realising that a Bigod wife is sometimes required to have different allegiances than a Marshal daughter. In the meantime, the reign of King John is creating political and religious upheaval, and both the Marshals and the Bigods are in danger. Mahelt and Hugh's marriage is also under threat as allegiances and loyalties are challenged.

I enjoyed this novel. Ms Chadwick brings medieval England to life by deftly recreating the physical world and the mindsets of the period. This makes it easier for the 21st century reader to appreciate why the 13th characters behave the way they do.

While this novel can be read as a standalone, I'd recommend reading Ms Chadwick's other novels about the Marshal (The Greatest Knight; The Scarlet Lion; A Place Beyond Courage) and Bigod (The Time of Singing) families first.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith
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20 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Excellent Read! July 13, 2010
Format:Hardcover
I must admit to being a huge Elizabeth Chadwick fan - which is why I ordered this prior to it's release in the States. Check out the Book Depository for tittles that you simply can't wait to read. They have excellent service, great selection and FREE shipping no less!

I loved this book and read it while I was recuperating. It was the perfect book for getting lost in another time and place! It recounts the life of Mahelt Marshall - eldest daughter of greatest knight of all William Marshall. The action takes place during the reign of King John - when, it seems everyone, even those most loyal to the crown as William Marshall was, are suspected of treason for one reason or another. Quite honestly this book made me want to read more about King John because he comes across as a neurotic, paranoid kind of man who thinks that all of his subjects are out to over through him (hummmm - maybe they were - that might make sense come to think of it!). He holds two of William Marshal's sons captives as surety for William's allegiance. I got bad vibes about this King just from reading the book.

With his sons held captive William Marshall arranges an advantageous marriage for his beloved daughter Mahelt to Hugh Bigod, son of the Earl of Norfolk Roger Bigod. This book is the story of Mahelt's marriage, and, in a way, of her "coming of age" when women were thought of as little more than breeding machines. The book covers the years 1204 to 1217. The books skillfully tells the tale of the Mahelt's family allegiance to her father came into conflict to her marriage family's ambitions at times. He marriage to Hugh is tested as as the vicissitudes and tyranny of John's reign causes both as well as religious upheaval within the country. Keeping one's footing in the good graces of the Court becomes a slippery slope as all of the main characters attempt to hang on to to what they have and stay alive in the process.

There is something about Elizabeth Chadwick's work that reels me in and hold onto my consciousness as I read her books. I am transported to another time - when the place of women was so much different than it is today. Ms. Chadwick's book's, I believe, really do make the 13th century come alive in a way that some other books of the same period fail to do. I believe that this book is stong enough to be read without having read Md. Chadwick's earlier books but it is also true that if you have already read "The Greatest Knight", "The Scarlet Lion" or the "Time of Singing" you might have a better grasp of the historical background as a whole. One thing I think I can assure you of is that if you love historical fiction and begin with this book - you will be looking for each and every other book that Ms. Chadwick has written before you close this book on the last page! Fabulous book
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A book for EVERY woman!!!
Mahelt Marshal is the apple of her father, William Marshal's, eye. She is the firsdt bor daughter and the only daughter and sister for quite some time in the Marshal household. Read more
Published 3 days ago by a_jonak
Another amazing spirited emotional read from Elizabeth Chadwick
Another amazing spirited emotional read from Elizabeth Chadwick. This is a great follow up to The Scarlet Lion. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Rio
Truly Magnificent
Once again, Elizabeth Chadwick has pulled me into the thirteenth century, engulfing me with the sights, sounds, and events of the tumultuous period when John was King and the... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Tamela Mccann
Decent read.
I have to admit, this book had two strikes against it from the beginning. First, I am not a big fan of the era. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Peydirt18
To defy a King by William Marshall
It is obvious the author did a detailed research in order to write this book which I found easy to read,and very interesting regarding the customs of those days. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Joan C. Mohler
To Defy a King
To Defy a King is an engaging historical
novel. It is very well researched and it drew
me in to the historical time frame. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Alison
A family on the wrong side of the Kings Court
Good Book about Middle Ages England, I am fond of Historical Pieces. The characters are well thought out and easy to like and the action is easy to imagine.
Published 2 months ago by Kasey
Well written historical novel!
Great story, brings a chapter of history to life. Well written and captivating, and makes me want to read the rest in the series.
Published 2 months ago by Duncan
Read this Book!
It should by now, to all who know good historical fiction, go without saying that Elizabeth Chadwick's impeccable research combined with Akashic record and phenomonal character... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Cynthia McArthur
What a Book!
I really enjoyed reading this book. The author did a fabulous job. I was crying, laughing and holding my breath in hopes that it would all work out. Read more
Published 3 months ago by C. Wright
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More About the Author

› Visit Amazon's Elizabeth Chadwick Page
Elizabeth Chadwick
Elizabeth Chadwick is a best selling, award winning author of historical fiction. A born storyteller, her first novel The Wild Hunt won a Betty Trask Award in 1990. She has been four times shortlisted for the RNA Award in the UK for the best mainstream romantic novel. Her book The Scarlet Lion was selected as one of the top ten works of historical fiction of the decade by Richard Lee, founder of The Historical Novel Society.

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