Customer Reviews

Duchess: A Novel of Sarah Churchill

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

It's always good to see a period of history that tends to get skipped over -- in this case, the period of Restoration England and the last of the Stuart kings and queens -- get a good treatment. Susan Holloway Scott's Duchess: A Novel of Sarah Churchill takes an intimate, and at times, shocking look at how a nation managed to firmly shut the door on the idea of an absolute monarch, and so, created a stable and prosperous realm.

Told through the eyes of Sarah Jennings, a young rather impoverished child of twelve, we see the rather tangled relationships between the Stuarts. Arriving to the Royal Court as a maid of honour to the Duchess of York, Sarah finds it to be a blessed relief from her shrewish, hateful mother, and a way to climb the social ladder. That goal becomes much easier when she meets the duke's younger daughter, Princess Anne, who will become Sarah's closest friend.

Anne isn't what one would think of as a traditional princess. She's rather plain and round, with squinting, watering eyes, and morbidly shy when we first see her. And with a family that either despises her, or ignores her, Anne clings to Sarah; at first this is just two lonely children finding a common friendship, but soon, Sarah discovers that Anne can be manipulated, and her intense need for love and acceptance used. While Anne eventually finds herself married to a Danish prince of incredible vapidity, Sarah finds herself in an ambitious match with an officer, John Churchill, a man who is both politically and militarily wise.

While Sarah is able to find love with both Anne and John, she also finds herself immersed in court politics, especially when King Charles dies without a legitimate heir, and his brother, James, the Duke of York, becomes King James II. Unfortunately for most of England, he's a proud, vengeful man, who is determined to bring England back to Catholicism, and doesn't mind burning, hanging and torturing his subjects to see that they do so. Eventually, Sarah and John must decide between sworn loyalty to the king, or to keep England free of Catholicism.

It's an intriguing blend of history, women's roles, personal life and a grand love affair between Sarah and John. Scott's research is firmly solid, and while some readers may find many of the incidents too fanciful, they really did happen. Anne and Sarah would write and term each other as 'Mrs. Morley' and 'Mrs. Freeman,' moving beyond the distance that royalty deemed was necessary, Sarah did spirit Anne away as the 'Glorious Revolution' started, and there were indeed rumors of a lesbian relationship between the two women.

Too, the author talks about the day to day living of aristocratic women. Besides providing social entertainment and style, there was the burden of bearing children; while birth control was nearly nonexistant, it was also quite likely that a mother and her child could die during the process, or a beloved infant die within days or months of birth. A sorrowful note is struck with both Anne and Sarah losing several children -- Anne would manage more than eighteen pregnancies, but only one son would survive infancy, and would die at the young age of eleven.

A great deal of the book is given up to the political dealings of the time, from the fall of James II, to his elder daughter Mary, and her husband, William of Orange, becoming monarchs of Great Britain, and Anne's eventual succession as Queen. Paralleling this is John and Sarah's marriage, children, and the War of the Spanish Sucession that would embroil them both in political mire, and banishment from the court.

But it is mostly Sarah's story, as a determined young woman who manages to make a very bold mark on history. She was the ancestress of the Dukes of Marlborough, and the builder of Blenheim Palace, a grand monstrosity of a house in England that is a showpiece of Baroque architecture and style. Blenheim is still occupied by the current Dukes and among her descendants can be counted a certain Lady Diana Spencer and Sir Winston Churchill.

The novel is good, told in a first person narrative style, and as a historical adventure, does very well. The story is kept moving at a good clip, and rarely stalls out over historical or personal details. It is also as much Anne's story as it is Sarah's, and both women are well thought out, with a depth given to their motivations and personalities.

If this novel catches your interest, other books about Queen Anne and the rather sticky situation of the Stuarts can be found in Maureen Waller's Ungrateful Daughters: The Stuart Princesses who Stole their Father's Crown and The Sickly Stuarts which tries to discover why the Stuart dynasty was unable to flourish and bring healthy occupants to the throne.

In the paperback edition of this book, there is an Epilogue by the author, a reader's guide and an excerpt from the author's next book, The Royal Harlot, about Barbara Villiers and Charles II, due out in 2007.

Recommended.

By 1673, Sarah Jennings has no prospects, no hopes and no future as the family of the thirteen year old has been left impoverished like many other commoners by the Civil War. However, an opportunity occurs when Sarah surprisingly is chosen to be a maid of honor at the court of Charles II. She leaps at the chance because she has an ambition to attain entry into the highest levels of Restoration society. She quickly becomes a favorite of the lonely Princess Anne with her honesty and ethics in a court filled with depravity amorality and hedonistic decadence. She soon meets her male equivalent John Churchill who matches her in ambition, ethics and chutzpah. They become an entry and quickly rise in power until they are titled the Duke and Duchess of Marlborough. However, climbing the ladder seems easier than maintaining their lofty status as jealousy and backstabbing are the norm. Finally when the Stuarts are dethroned in 1788, will they survive the bloodless Glorious Revolution?

This is an intriguing biographical fiction of ancestors of Winston Churchill though the emphasis is more on Sarah (duh - the title). Sarah is a fascinating protagonist as she swims in a sea of debauched sharks yet in spite of her aspiration manages to remain a principled honest person unafraid to speak the truth to anyone even the Royals. Her Duke is her male equivalent in candor and ambition as they make personal choices that provide for a terrific period piece that historical fiction readers will appreciate.

Harriet Klausner

4.5 stars

This novel is a fabulous page-turning romp through much of the the Stuart reigns from 1660 through 1720. The first half of the book is particularly delicious. The story centers on the lives of Sarah Jennings (who becomes Sarah Churchill), John Churchill and Princess/Queen Anne. The book is written as if Sarah were telling her life story (which indeed she did via a book she published at the end of her life). Sarah documents the lonliness and desparation which plauged Princess Anne - and quickly morphed into an obsessive friendship and love that both constrained Sarah and provided a fertile ground for Sarah & John's infamous ambitiousness. True to the legacy of the Stuart courts, the novel is peppered with tantalizing sex and intrigue which clearly and accurately mixes the personal and political for the courtiers of the time.

Sarah Churchill was a woman well beyond her times: shrewd, intelligent, outspoken, and charming when she needed to be. She and her husband, the military hero General John Churchill, survived and prospered for half a century in the murky, complicated royal courts of the Stuart kings and queens. By comparison the numerous ladies who crossed swords with Henry VIII were rank amateurs compared to Sarah's gift for intrigue.

Scott's book is rich in both research and character. History moves at a brisk, page-turning pace, and I learned much that I didn't know. A very satisfying reading experience!

As for the other commenter here who objects to the relationship between Sarah and Queen Anne: this is not fiction, but historical fact. The English court was a sophisticated place where pretty much "anything went." Any reader familiar with Sir Winston Churchill's landmark biography of his noble ancestors knows that he believed the two women were lovers, and he is frank about it. Given the family papers available to him, if he said it was so, then it must have been.

I can't wait to see what this talented author does next with Lady Barbara Castlemaine. Can Samuel Pepys be far behind?

There are a lot of factors involved in how much I enjoy a book. Often my expectations play a big part in how I feel when I'm done reading. The subject matter of course plays a part and while the writing can be enjoyable and well researched if the protagonist is someone I don't care for that also influences my enjoyment, which is what happened for me with this story.

Susan Holloway Scott portrays Sarah Churchill as a bright, capable and strong young woman who manages to triumph in the face of repeated uncertainty. Holloway covers a period of complicated English history during the period from 1673, when Sarah was thirteen years old, until 1714 when she is fifty four.

Sarah Churchill (nee Jennings) is brought to court when she is thirteen and almost from the moment she arrives she is the favorite of Princess Anne who is five years her junior. Much of Sarah's life depends upon her continued favor by the princess and Holloway shows the reader the dangerous path that type of life offers. There were hardships and hard feelings and times when all favor seemed lost.

The story is compelling, the politics are interesting and writing is good but I didn't care for Sarah Churchill or the other characters depicted. The cast of historical figures is rather limited, the author focuses her attention on John and Sarah Churchill and Princess Anne. None of whom I cared for very much and I attribute my feelings for this book to that.

I thought Holloway did a nice job of teaching the reader about the many successions
and uprisings during this period of English history. If you like your historical fiction to focus more on the history than the historical figures themselves you might enjoy this story.

If you like historical fiction, you'll enjoy The Duchess. It has all the facets that make his genre exciting: (1) a great plot based upon actual events and people; (2) strong multi-dimensional characters; (3) just enough detail of the place and times of the events to keep it interesting for those who know nothing about the subject matter to those who know a lot; (4) the ups and downs of those seeking to increase their stations within the English court; and (5) just the right amount of court drama, deception, plots, planning and twists.

Though a few parts were slightly long-winded, overall the book was very well written and I would most likely read other works by this author. I recommend it for those interested in historical fiction or in the time period a/o characters in particular.

"Duchess" is set in a point in history that I know really nothing about, but I've read a lot of historical fiction centered on the Jacobite revolution (specifically the "Outlander" series) and always wanted to know how it was the Stuarts were removed from the English throne. This book tells that story from the point of view of one who had much to do with it, which is amazing considering that the narrator is a woman in a time when all political power belonged to men. But then, Sara Churchill was never an ordinary woman of her time.

Sara Churchill is I think one of the most interesting historical figures I ever read about, barring Queen Elizabeth I of course of course, but on the same lines. Both were devoted to politics when women were not allowed to be involved in them. Sara grew up as poor gentry, and went to court as a maid of honor for the duchess of York, at 13 only to really become the friend of the duchess' step-daughter, Princess Anne. At this point Anne is described as somewhat as somewhat of an advanced child and she seemed rather smart to me, which contrasted heavily with future characterizations.

Anyway, Sara grows up at court, marries her love, John Churchill, who is brilliant though poor and eventually both attain their place in history not only as hopeless lovebirds but by questioning the place of an obviously catholic monarch (King James) in a protestant country. When that Monarch begins to take steps towards religious oppression they start their campaign-to take that monarch off the throne and replace him with his daughter, and in time, her sister, and in time, an unrelated protestant monarch. Now I know what happened to the Stuarts.

This is a very good book, though a bit dry at times with the endless intrigue and Anne's character was uneven. I do always like 3rd person over 1st, but here I think Sara's voice had to come out in 1st. I loved Sara and was amazed by her wit and brains, and the public actions she took to use them in a time when women were not encouraged to do so. I was appalled by Anne's treatment of her and John in later years, and felt there was no reason for it (but that's probably because I feel there is no holy and special respect and reverence accorded to a monarch) but spite and bitterness. She was just disgusting in her treatment of her best friend, all because she told her to be quite and was rude some times! That sounds like a normal friendship to me!I was also stunned by the number of unsuccessful pregnancies and dead children Anne had (totalling 16.)

Four stars.

This is my third book by Ms. Scott, and she is fast becoming a favorite author of mine. Before starting this I read Sarah Churchill's Wikipedia page, just to get an idea of who I was getting ready to read about. Her page makes her sound like a greedy social climber, and I thought for sure she'd be a character I'd despise. However, after reading this book, I'm not sure who's more at fault for Sarah and John's fall from grace; Sarah or Anne.

Sarah and the future Queen Anne become friends at a very young age when Sarah comes to work for Anne's step-mother Mary Beatrice (wife of James II). Their friendship is VERY tight, and lasts through many changes in English history, yet, when Anne finally becomes Queen, she no longer relies solely on the advice of Sarah, which drives Sarah crazy.

Now, while I feel Sarah did over-step her boundaries on quite a few occasions, Anne set herself up for it. She spent 20 years playing the needy doormat of a friend who relies on Sarah for EVERYTHING. Then, when she becomes Queen and has everyone vying for her attention, Sarah's almost nagging voice becomes most unwelcome, and the Queen is forced to cut ties with her. However, the way she treats Sarah and John in her final years is just awful. While they may have deserved some of the treatment, much of it was done out of spite.

Overall, I was once again very pleased with another Susan Holloway Scott novel, and really enjoyed learning more about this extremely influential couple of the Glorious Revolution. Whether you agree with her motives or not, Sarah Churchill was certainly a force to be reckoned with, which, for a woman living in this time period (especially one who started out practically poor), was quite an accomplishment.

I know very little about history, so I really have nothing to say about whether this book is historically accurate or not. For me, that's beside the point. Bad reader, I know, particularly when it's a fictionalized biography of an actual historical figure, but I'm trying to be honest here.

So when I started reading this, I knew nothing about Sarah Churchill, which also means I had no preconceived ideas about her. It follows her life from the time she arrives in court as a young girl attending Princess Anne.

She quickly becomes very adept at court life--politics and intrigue and knowing who to cultivate and who to snub, and most importantly, she avoids becoming a casualty of court life--a mistress of the king or some other powerful man.

She falls in love with John Churchill, who's very much like her with a similar non-wealthy background and very politically astute. She holds out for marriage, while he's determined to marry for wealth and have Sarah as a mistress.

The book tells of her fluctuating political fortunes, tied to those of Princess Anne, and I found it just fascinating, particularly because it doesn't just give a list of events, but the thoughts and emotions motivating them. It also paints a very vivid picture of court life at the time.

So I've been entertained, and learned a little about British history in the process. And if historical scholars have different interpretations of the personalities and events in the book, I'm sorry, but I just can't bring myself to get too worried about it.

Her family's wealth squandered by war in the mid-seventeenth century, Sarah Jennings means to take charge of her own destiny, determined to better herself with an important marriage. England is mired in the lax morality of Charles II's Restoration, but Sarah refuses to be seduced by the debauchery of the court when invited to join the royal household of James Stuart, the Duke of York, heir to the throne and father of Princesses Ann and Mary. In the Duke's household, Sarah is made lady-in-waiting to Princess Ann, a petulant and homely child. Both the Duke's daughters have been raised in the Anglican Church in spite of their Catholic father's protestations, groomed for the eventual succession of the throne.

The unattractive Princess Ann clings to Sarah, who has immediate sympathy for the girl's plight and offers her sincere friendship; as Ann matures, their relationship is cemented by countless acts of kindness by Sarah for the less fortunate princess. Soon noticed at court, the beautiful Sarah is even approached by the lecherous duke, but consistently refuses to submit to gentlemen looking for easy dalliances. Much to her chagrin, Sarah falls helplessly in love with John Churchill, a soldier of much merit but little fortune. Although John pursues her ardently, Sarah holds out for matrimony, bringing Churchill to his knees in the lifelong love affair that will determine their fate in the royal court.

Protestant-Catholic rivalry is the cause of constant civil unrest and war, King Louis of France undermining Charles and bargaining with the future king, James Stuart, a fervent Catholic. Concerned with the direction of the country should James Stuart take the throne, John and Sarah determine to remain loyal to the duke's household, later switching their total allegiance to Ann's cause. The Protestant Churchill remains above reproach in James' service, his allegiance unassailable. Meanwhile, Sarah is bound for life to her charge, the princess possessively demanding her constant affection. When Charles dies, James Stuart cuts a bloody swath of revenge through his enemies.

A dear friend to an increasingly demanding princess, Sarah gives more than required, often ignoring her children in her efforts to ensure their future. Given the political climate, the Churchill's fortunes wax and wane, at the pinnacle of success one moment, stripped of all honors the next, unwavering in support of Ann until she finally ascends the throne as queen. Sarah's commitment is a great gamble; historically she is notably successful, but the price of ambition is an adversarial relationship with her children, frequent absences robbing her of the deep love they have for their father. Regardless, Sarah triumphs, the beneficiary of an extraordinary love affair with the equally impressive John Churchill. Luan Gaines/2006.