Customer Reviews

The Dragon and the Jewel

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

This is the second book to the Plantagenet Trilogy. The first is FALCON AND THE FLOWER and the third is THE MARRIAGE PRIZE. This story is about Princess Eleanor Plantagenet, the King's "Precious Jewel". After King John died, his children King Henry III, Richard of Cornwall and Princess Eleanor were left alone to basically run England. Their mother Queen Isabella married another and moved on. This is the great love story of Princess Eleanor Plantagenet and the famous warlord Simon de Montfort, the Earl of Leicester. This true story of these two passionate people is told with such flair and sensuality that only Virginia Henley could tell. True the story is compressed to about three years, when in reality is was more like thirty. But she pulls it off with no problem. The sequel, and last book to this trilogy begins in the year 1253, this book ends in 1240. That is the reason for the dropping off at the end. The story continues into the next book, for all those complaining about the sudden abrupt ending. The characters from the first book make many appearances in this one, namely their son Sir Rickard de Burgh. He is appointed the Princess's gaurd. In the beginning of the story their is about 190 pages of story between Eleanor and her first husband, the Earl of Pembroke, William Marshal. He was much older than her and when she became a widow at the age of 17, she took a vow of chastity of perpetual widowhood. Simon first saw her and fall in love. He had to have her at any cost. The passionate love these two shared and the enemies and treachery they endured, is awe inspiring. Simon is breathtaking, a great warlord of his time, and Eleanor is beautiful and strong willed. She is a woman ahead of her time. This story will make you smile and feel like you are there with Simon and Eleanor. Henley has an uncanny knack of bringing the reader into her world. I could almost hear the swords clanking and the King shouting. This is an excellent read, don't miss it. I have read this many times, and still find myself enthralled everytime. Virginia Henley is an extrememly talented writer, she brings these people to life and shows you the sacrifices they made for their beloved country, when civil war was knocking at England's door. Simon was a great warlord and leader, I think you will enjoy this great 13th century love story in all it's glory. It's a keeper.

Virginia Henley brings 13th century England to life with this historical novel about Princess Eleanor Plantagenet, daughter of King John and sister to King Henry III, and her warrior hero husband Simon de Montfort.

Married at age 10 and widowed by age 16, Eleanor swore a vow of chastity to the Church. She didn't figure on someone like Simon de Montfort, a disinherited aristocratic Frenchman who become an English earl, entering her life. Swept away by their passionate love for each other they risked the wrath of King and Church to wed.

Ms. Henley, an award-winning author, tells a tale filled with conflict, treachery, betrayal, pageantry and true love with such skill that the reader truly gets a picture of life in medieval England and a look into one of history's most intense romances. A great read that is hard to put down.
JANA

I received this book as a gift from a college roommate and I have read it over and over. It is one of my all-time favorites. And since I read this first Henley book, I have built a collection of about 11 of her novels. Simon de Montfort is my dream hero, and the most romantic leading man ever. He sees what he wants and he takes it!
My only warning is this, if you love Simon and Eleanor, DON'T read THE MARRIAGE PRIZE. They are here as an older couple and it is heartbreaking. I also highly recommend DREAM LOVER by V. Henley. There is a little bit of violence but if you love Simon de Montfort, you will also love Sean O'toole.
Nobody writes romances as well as Virginia Henley.

I liked the book well enough (even though I agree with a previous critic that Henley gives us all the reasons for feminism), but the reviews here that hailed the book as a store of historical facts raised my eyebrows. I happen to know a few things of the period, and glaring mistakes just jumped out of the text at me.

Those who consider the book educational might like to ponder this:

1) One has to be both very cynical and uninformed to refer to Simon de Montfort the Elder's exploits in the south of France as "brutal but effective." The man was guilty of some of the worst war crimes in medieval history, for starters, but efficient he was not. He left the place in a state of a vicious civil war, which he was effectively losing by the time he died.

However, his death was a momentous event for France and England, which had its own interests in the region -- so I find it laughable that the two royal princes would need 13 years and Simon the Younger to tell them the news.

2) Language is another thing. First, Eleanor was sure to know French -- it was the language the court spoke exclusively -- but it is highly doubtful that she, and Simon, spoke any English. English did not become the court language until Edward III, a good century after.

The cursing contest was nice... except that the curses should have been the other way around. Unlike us, medieval people were far more offended by any curse implying God than any physical profanity. So the little aristo girl was in fact much more coarse in her swearing than the "saucy wench".

There are lots of small lapses, factual-wise, but the first of the ones I listed really stung me, while the second was very indicative of Henley's general failing -- the tend to over-modernize the reactions and behavior of her characters. So if you think of nothing but romance, this is good; if you want history, I suggest -- no, not a grain, a full pound of salt.

When you read historical romance, you know what you're going to get. It's obvious Virginia Henley has a great time writing her books, but she can and does take enormous liberties with history, namely compression. The events described in this book took place over a thirty-year period--she compresses it into maybe three (God forbid her heroine should approach thirty!). If you want to read a much better novel about Simon de Montfort and Eleanor Plantagenet, I strongly recommend Sharon Kay Penman's "Falls The Shadow." Okay, maybe the sex isn't as interesting, but Penman isn't afraid to let her characters grow old.

The story of the child bride blooming into the beautiful and intelligent wife of William was interesting, but her transformation into the willful, jealous and shallow Countess of Leicester is near painful. Some of her antics are reminiscent of a bad "I Love Lucy" episode. Other characters are very one dimensional and uninteresting.

Wow, Virginia Henley sure seems intent on exploring a woman's fantasy with huge men and their proportionately gargantuan phallus in THE DRAGON AND THE JEWEL. Over half the novel seemed focused on Simon de Montfort's herculean physique; who knows, probably out of necessity since he towers over other men. I thought the love scenes featuring Simon's extraordinary size detracted from the passion and love (or overwhelmed it, depending on how you look at it!). The size factor and Henley's infatuation with her hero's huge size easily overshadowed the words of tenderness Simon bestows Eleanor after their first time (and many times thereafter).



As far as historical backdrops, plotting and settings go, I found Chadwick's LORDS OF THE WHITE CASTLE (***) superior, as far as tempestuous interactions go, I enjoyed Shannon Drake's COME THE MORNING (***) better, and as far as uninhibited passions go, Elizabeth Hoyt's ordinary-of-appearance characters in THE LEOPARD PRINCE (****) shared a heated passion and love far beyond that of our beautiful couple in Henley's THE DRAGON AND THE JEWEL. Finally as far as sensuality with beautiful characters go, Sylvia Day's ASK FOR IT (**) was better.



I thought the love between our Eleanor & Simon was fairly one-sided for the most part, both in the deeds of love and in words of love. Along with possessing an unmatched warrior's strength and ability, a cunning and observant mind, gargantuan proportions in size, a servicing lovemaking flair for his heroine, and a predilection to justice, Simon de Montfort also serenades our heroine with poetic words of tenderness (throughout). Yup, he's also a regular poet. Eleanor's scathing words (repeatedly) quickly got old while Simon is showering her with tender words and focusing on giving Eleanor pleasure in all the lovemaking. Simon is very gentle and tender with her, while Eleanor scratches, claws and bites Simon everywhere. In every way, the giving was all one-sided: Simon giving everything he is to Eleanor. I really didn't think Eleanor really deserved Simon, but hey, it's Virginia Henley's story and Henley's characters. Eclipsing everything are these insistent and persistent references to Simon's enormous size! Also got old quickly, seemingly draining the resulting "love" and "romance." You immediately see the book for what it is: Virginia Henley's "passion" for ginormous-cock worship. ;> Shannon Drake's heroine in COME THE MORNING also seethed and lambasted her hero, but that was handled in a fun manner and turned into an all-consuming love on both of their parts.



Eleanor is one annoying, airhead of a heroine. I like a defiant, willful, badgering girl just as much as the next guy, but too many times, I wanted to slap her so she'd shut up, please don't talk ha! When she isn't railing against the hero for being a brute, oaf and a devil, she's enamored with jewels and costly gowns. She exacerbates poor Simon's debt 100-fold with lavish jewels, gowns and gifts. When Eleanor buys a costly gift for her brother King Henry's newborn prince, she pays little heed to Simon's enormous debt (only equaled by his gargantuan size!). Later, when Simon pleas with Eleanor about all her lavish tastes and to take it easy, she ignores him and fights with him instead. She fails to recognize any plots in her first husband's death, and she defends her capricious and feckless brother King Henry like an insipid dolt. She was endearing when she proved herself worthy of her first husband (though she enjoyed every liberty and freedom with her kind, first husband). Then with Simon, she's horrible. Though she was affectionate and caring with her late first husband William Marshal, she's not an affectionate person at heart, and she rails and rants at Simon constantly. When she's pregnant a second time, instead of being happy at the prospect of a second child, she's furious with Simon thinking he sidelined her to bed.



In fact, the love, trust and worship is so one-sided that when Eleanor overhears of a plot to trap and kill Simon, she again fails to return Simon's love, trust and loyalty. She's more concerned about the prospect of Simon's ambition for the English crown than about any danger to Simon. At one point in the novel, Eleanor accuses her sister (Holy Roman Empire's Empress) and sister-in-law (Richard's wife) of being materialistic. Ha, I love it! That's rich, considering her lavish tastes digging her husband deeper in debt. Then, when they gossip about Simon's first wife, again she doubts her husband. Despite Simon's constant worship of Eleanor, she never truly trusts him.



Then, in the Middle East, she ventures to a Sultan's palace, hoping to negotiate in earnest for Simon's captive brother. Whether in public matters of state or in private, Eleanor always gets her way with Simon despite Simon constantly telling her to learn her woman's place. So gaily, Eleanor assumes all men from the time period will honor and worship her esteemed status as Princess of England on a pedestal like her husband Simon does. Similar to most men during the time period, when the Sultan doesn't feel the same way as Simon, she's shocked. Well, duh! Her plight to free Simon's brother quickly turns ugly.



Eleanor may be passionate, but she's definitely not affectionate or understanding or smart.



The Story (briefly).



Ever since she was a small girl, Princess Eleanor Plantagenet, dreams of marrying her hero the marshal of England, William Marshal. Eleanor is willful and usually has the many men in her life wrapped around her finger and finally her brother the feckless King Henry arranges a marriage to 40+ year-old William Marshal to Eleanor when she's 9 years old. William is a kind and strong character, and Eleanor resolves to please him by subduing her will and passion and become the wife William wants. William honorably abstains from a sexual union with Eleanor until she's 16 and mature enough. Both Eleanor and William grow to love each fondly during the year before she turns 16, since Eleanor has grown into a beautiful woman and William lusts for her now.



I liked reading about a heroine's first love. Unlike Chadwick's LORDS OF THE WHITE CASTLE though, it was too idealistic and there's an instant attraction and love between Eleanor & William despite the vast age difference. LORDS OF THE WHITE CASTLE described the heroine's growing fondness and love for her old, first husband over time, which seemed more appropriate.



After a poisoning plot kills her husband William, Eleanor mourns and vows to remain chaste in widowhood before the Church. Enter Simon de Montfort close to 200 pages later, the "greatest warrior" of the time, a behemoth in proportions, honorable, shrewd, and a man who adopts and loves England as his own country. Simon of course pursues Eleanor relentlessly after their first meeting and finally Eleanor relents.



From the moment Simon enters the story, the book is more about Simon's enormous size than anything else, and the poisoning plot was dropped too conveniently later on. The "epic" feeling of the early pages quickly dissipates, and the love between Eleanor & Simon seemed a one-way street throughout with Simon giving all to Eleanor.



The prose is below-average, the plotting just average, the settings fairly nonexistent, the characterizations too childish (Eleanor) or too perfect (Simon), and the romance/love mostly dry.



I'm not giving up on Virginia Henley though, there's potential and I'm curious to see her more recent writing.

I have read this book numerous times and it is still one of my favorite. The story of Simon and Eleanor is one of the greatest love stories of all time. The only fault I have is with the third book in the series. If u love this book as much as I do DON'T read the third book u will cry. I know history tells of the demise of Simon but if u are a romance buff like me don't read the Marriage Prize. Instead read this book and laugh, cry and love and remember this character was for real.

I've been an avid Sci-fi/Fantasy reader for a long time. I'm one of those people who usually wouldn't go near the Romance aisle of the bookstore, but this book was on a countertop display. I made an impulse purchase, and now regret the waste of my (money). I found that despite her attempt at a strong, roguish leading man, the author ended up with the embodiment of why we needed the feminist movement. I found his behavior disgusting. I also disliked Eleanor intensely. Yes, I realize that she was royalty and spoiled etc., but after about 50 pages filled with whining and pouting, I just had to go talk with someone mildly interesting so I didn't go nuts. If this is a romance book, then apparently it isn't the genre for me.

Sometimes you meet two characters in a book that do not seem to be in love--despite the author's attempts. Rather, they seem to be two characters who NEED COUNSELING! The characters in this book are it. The "heroine" was whiny, obnoxious, paranoid and rude. But, the Hero was great most of the time. If you want to read a good book, read Henley's "A Year And A Day." I loved that book! I regret that I have not found another Henley novel like it.