Customer Reviews

The Fatal Crown

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4 star:		(1)
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It's entirely possible to love or hate Ellen Jones' "The Fatal Crown." This is historical fiction in the tradition of Margaret George's great novels like "The Memoirs of Cleopatra" and "The Autobiography Of Henry VIII". ...mostly it stays true to the facts of this horrible period in English history ...As with any historical novel, Jones makes up nearly all of the dialogue and she does do some wild speculation about the birth of the future Henry II. However, she is very careful to make sure her speculation coincides with facts that are unexplainable otherwise.

I am a fairly good student of Eleanor and Henry II and there is not much doubt that the very popular books on Eleanor pretty much enhance her life beyond what really occurred. This does not stop me from enjoying a good historical novel about either of them. In this case, the speculation about the Empress Maude and King Stephen is probably fantasy, but Jones does a credible job of making sure that all the wild events fit into the known historical facts. In fact, she is the only novelist I have yet read who came up with a plot that actually explained the bizarre swings of fortune that occurred during the long civil war between Maude and Stephen. She keeps a very positive narration on both sides (something that so many novelists just can't seem to pull off - most just *have* to demonize one party or the other). She has decent explanations for Maude's actions in London as well as Stephen's crazy releases of both Maude and the adolescent Henry as well as his final act of making Maude's son his heir instead of his own son Eustace.

When history is insane (and it certainly was during this period), I can find enjoyment in a crazy plot designed to explain the insanity. ...

I found this book extremely enjoyable and a quick read. The romance part I did not enjoy much but it was essential to the events in the book. It was well written which made the descriptions that much more interesting. And the time period was wonderful.

Very well written and fast paced. 500+ pages that just disappeared--I didn't want it to end. Wonderfully drawn characters that you come to know and care about. Action, adventure, history and some very good sex. Jones does play a bit fast and loose with the history--but after all it is ficiton and the book is so good that it really doesn't seem to matter. While suggesting that Henry II might actually not be a Plantagenant (did I spell that correctly?), might send some to screaming--Jones is not the first author (in fiction or non-fiction) to make reference to an attraction and admiration existing between royal rivals Maud and Stephen. Even the beloved Sharon Kay Penman makes some reference to this in "When Christ and His Saints Slept." Anyway, Jones does get most of the rest of the history right and I always find it enjoying to read anything about Stephen of Blois and Maud, especially books that paint Maud in a favorable light. It seems to me she was unfairly manipulated to the extreme throughout her life and then abused by the historians as well. As historical romance goes, this is one of the best I've read. I can't wait to read the sequel.

The idea that this book presents, that Maud, the Holy Roman Empress and erstwhile Queen of England, and her cousin Stephen of Blois, who usurped her throne, had a passionate affair that resulted in the birth of Henry II, is probably ludicrous - but it makes a great plot! In fact, if your only exposure to this time period is "Pillars of the Earth" by Follett, pick this book up. It is undeniably more "romantic," but offers clever explanations for some of the odd events of the civil war that ushered in the Plantagenet monarchy, arguably among the most colorful families to rule England.

I have read this book twice, and re-reading does not diminish its quality. If you find it, keep it - you won't be sorry!

It has been over a year since I read this book. The reason I pulled up Amazon today was to look for the promised sequel. As someone who enjoys both European history and romance novels, and who has passing familiarity with the real stories of the characters in this novel, it proved a deeply satisfying blend of fact and fiction. I will go so far as to say that this title started me reading Regency romances...of which I've now read about thirty. (Yes, I realize The Fatal Crown does not take place in the Regency period; rather, it is set in the century following William the Conquerer.)

Another reviewer implied that it is more of a "romance" than a literary novel. Does that make it lack prestige, in his opinion? If he's right - and I'm not sure that everyone would agree with him - labeling it a romance doesn't bother me one bit. Romances happen to own a huge share of the book market!

Ms. Jones, please hurry up with that sequel!

I have read that this book was historically inaccurate-it was still a good book. I read it when it came out in the early 90's. It's a good historical romance novel and I think you should read it

A badly written historical romance trying to disguise itself as an historical novel. Ellen James takes a defining moment in English history--the struggle between Maude of Germany and Stephen of Blois for the English throne--and turns it into a love story, even implying that Maude's son Henry was fathered by Stephen and not her husband Geoffrey of Anjou! Readers who know nothing of history may enjoy this, but for a much better overview of these events read Sharon Kay Penman's "When Christ and His Saints Slept."