Customer Reviews

My Lord John: A tale of intrigue, honor and the rise of a king

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

 

 

Despite my love of Georgette Heyer, I don't have much experience with either her mysteries or her historical fiction. I had no idea what I was missing.

I am not an expert in this historical period. Not by any means. It is not one of my favorites and I've not done much research about it. From what I know about this time period, which is admittedly not very much, the historical characters were portrayed very accurately. They really come alive through Heyer's prose and attention to historical accuracy. I loved all of the character in the book and really got into their stories. Heyer gave all of the the main characters sufficient time in the spotlight which I find to be a really amazing asset to the book especially considering the complexity of the story and the amount of characters in the book . Heyer also perfectly captured the language, customs and feel of the period.

If I thought that Heyer's attention to historical accuracy was intense in her regency romances, it is nothing compared to the historical complexity and detail that I found in My Lord John. This book was so rich in history that I sometimes completely forgot that I was reading a Heyer novel. Given that this was Heyer's favorite historical period, this level of detail is to be expected. I did find that sometimes the story became too complex and I became a little lost and disinterested in the story and, perhaps, Heyer sacrificed plot for detail. I did recover but this period of disinterest did take a little away from my interest in the novel. I, however, can't fault Heyer for her attention to historical fact because as a historian, I love detail and accuracy in my historical fiction .

It is to be noted that Heyer died before My Lord John was finished, so, you will be left without conclusions. It is definitely worth checking out because this might be one of the most richly detailed and interesting historical fictions I have read.

I'm not even finished yet and already I know it's going to be a favorite. Georgette Heyer had to be one of the all-time greats for historical fiction. Her research was perfect. She captured the language, the customs, the *feel* of the period so well, it's almost like you were right there living it with her characters.

This is the story of John, Duke of Bedford, younger brother to King Henry V and takes the boys (all 4 of them) from 1393, when John is just 4 years old to 1413 when their father, Henry IV, dies.

I just wish she'd been able to finish the trilogy she had planned. What a grand work that would have been.

I am a devoted fan of Georgette Heyer but this book was so ponderous and boring that I gave up a third of the way in. It was a giant, painful yawn.

Another of Georgette Heyer's medieval novels, "My Lord John" focuses on the life of John, Duke of Bedford, one of Henry V's younger brothers. This is historical fiction and is a very in depth look at the politics of Henry IV's time. Despite a rather slow start (and spontaneous sections that are rather boring), things do pick up somewhat and I found myself rather interested in the story that Ms. Heyer tells. It was originally supposed to be the entire life story of the Duke of Bedford but she was unable to finish. The story begins in 1393 when John is about 4 and ends in 1413 with the death of his father, Henry IV. Between those years the country is thrown into turmoil with the problems connected to Richard II's reign and Henry Bolingbroke's eventual claim of the English crown. Once Henry is king, he sends John to the north of England as Lord Warden of the North and this is where John's real growing up and maturing happens. Throughout the novel we see John's interactions not only with his father but with his brothers, most especially Henry of Monmouth, the future Henry V.

I have to confess that it was quite slow to get into and extremely confusing with the many different (and usually unfamiliar) names some of the characters go by (there are about four ways that people address John of Gaunt). Eventually I was able to get them somewhat straight in my head and it wasn't nearly as confusing. The language and dialogue can be a bit tough to follow in places but the author was trying to stay true to the time and I don't feel any of it was in any way "over the top." If you are looking for a love story of some sort this is not the novel for you. If you are looking for a novel with a lot of action and war and bloodshed, this is not the novel for you either. There really is not that much action at all, though you do get detailed descriptions of events happening elsewhere (but considering the fact that the story is basically told from the perspective of a small child and then a young man on the fringes of events, that's probably to be expected) and it can get a bit boring at times. However, the descriptions of places, customs, laws, daily life, and politics are extremely detailed and obviously well researched. Her attention to detail is really phenomenal. Ms. Heyer is able to paint a fantastic and accurate picture of life in late 14th and early 15th century England for her readers. Watching John grow up and mature, learning to maneuver his way through politics, was fascinating and it was easy to see why his older brother came to rely on him so heavily. All the characters get some time "in the spotlight" so to speak but the story is essentially John's. There are many characters in this novel but family trees and a list of characters and their various nom de plumes are included to help the reader attempt to sort through them all. There is also a handy glossary at the back to help with those unfamiliar medieval terms.

It was interesting to me to see those involved in the beginnings of the Wars of the Roses. I really would've loved to see how and where Heyer would have ended the story; it ends mid-sentence. It is sad that she died before having the chance to finish this proposed trilogy of her favorite era in British history. I also learned a great deal about the time period and I always enjoy that. All that being said, overall the novel is pretty dull and dry with hardly any action, no type of love story, and heaps of historical information. Even though I was interested in the story and enjoyed the meticulously researched details of life and people, I wouldn't recommend this to the causal reader or to someone unfamiliar with the time period. There is simply too much information thrown out there and it would be very easy to get frustrated and bogged down. If you don't mind a rather dry read if there is a lot of good historical information, this book is certainly for you!

This is the third Historical novel by Georgette Heyer I have read. As with the other sixteen novels of hers I have read I found it quite enjoyable. There is an interesting Preface written by her husband and since she was not able to finish the book before her death there is a section entitled Historical Note which "wraps" the story up. Also included is a Glossary giving the definition of various words/terms used which is helpful.

I have read and enjoyed a number of Georgette Heyer's novels set in the Regency period and two of her mysteries, and as delightful as I have found them, I can appreciate what a loss it is that they interrupted her completion of her planned trilogy of the Middle Ages.

"My Lord John" is a kinder, gentler treatment of Henry IV and his four sons than "The Lion in Winter." As portrayed by Ms. Heyer, Henry appreciated the strengths of each of his sons and attempted to place them in positions with wise advisors that would enable them to develop their talents for their own satisfaction and for the benefit of England.

The book is as complex as a medieval tapestry, and contains an introduction by her husband, a three and a half page list of characters, a geneological chart, a glossay of medieval English words used in the book, and a historial note that briefly describes the fate of the four brothers--particularly her central character, John, Duke of Bedford. Yet it has the page-turning quality of her lighter Regency romances, and must have been a labor of love.

Covers the life of John, Duke of Bedford, younger brother and close and friend and ally to Henry V, this novel covers the saga a of Henry IV's children and the life of John from aged four to twenty. The saga was meant to cover Lord John's entire life, but was cut short by the author's passing

Full of vivid dialogue and action and penetrating insight, this is a comfortable and pleasant read for a rainy weekend, and captures the sights, sounds and smells, of 14th century England.

I'm only half-way through; I keep stopping so that I won't finish the book,, because I know that when I do there will be no G. Heyer book left that I have not read. Heyer wrote about 75% of it, and it was finished on her behalf (& on behalf of her estate) posthumously. Thus far it is a beautifully written historical novel (or novelistic history) focusing on the House of Lancaster and the period spanned by the life of John (3rd son of Henry of Bolingbroke, later King Henry IV). Those interested in the Duke of Lancaster (John of Gaunt) will find early "cameo" appearances here of both himself and his mistress & 3rd wife, Katherine Swynford, and will discover well researched tidbits of information about the impact of Henry IV's second wife on his financial health. The book is much more a fine and well-researched history - and one that attempts so much accuracy as reasonable for modern readers even in dialogue - than it is a romance. If you're not a history buff, it takes a little doing to keep the charachters sorted at first, due to a apparent (apalling) tendency of important families of the time to name half their children "John," "Edmund," or "Henry" (I'm delighted when I find a "Roger," or even a "Philip"). All said, I'm enjoying the book, it's a good, solid read,and I'm glad I bought it. Heyer clearly immersed herself in England's late 12th-early-13th century, and she is a wonderful writer.

Let me start by saying that I hate Regency romances so the few Georgette Heyer books I picked up were soon put down. I picked up this book because of the subject, that period of history being a favorite of mine. I was hoping that this was not a Regency romance put in a different period. I was very pleasantly surprised. This book rivals many historical fiction books. The research was impeccable. Although Ms Heyer did not have time to finish this book, it ends in a comfortable place and other than wanting it to go on longer, the end is not awkward.

Now, I have to ask. Why in the world did the publisher depict a Tudor scene on the front of the book? I can't believe it is just stupidity and yet I can't think of any other reason.

Several reviewers noted that this is an unfinished book, due to the author's, Georgette Heyer's, death.

I can mention to those who want to know more about the Duke of Bedford that an excellent writer of accurate historical fiction, Margaret Frazer, wrote about him and his family in one of her series books about the travelling player (actor) Joliffe. This is, in my opinion, a great series. The book is: "A Play of Treachery" which begins not long after the Duke's death. Though Bedford is not in the book, much about him in his latter years is presented.

It gives the reader a good idea of what type of man he was---one who wanted peace which was not too common at that time among the nobility of England and Normandy--- and is in this Frazer book, much of the plot concerns the Duke's very young widow, Jacquetta.

Joliffe, the player, is in Normandy to unravel some questions pertaining to the possible treachery of some of (authentic) characters.

Frazer writes good mysteries, very accurate and with afterwards which explain any inaccurate points, due to the mystery element, as well as mentioning her sources for the reader who wants to know more about that time.

Joliffe is a fictional character, but Jacquetta is not and she is a fascinating character.

At the end, in the last part of the "afterward" Frazer tells the reader the "after story" of Jacquetta which is a true "twist"!!

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Margaret Frazer also has a series, set in the same time period, about the nun, Dame Frevisse, and Joliffe is occasionally in and out of those books. Both series are excellent, in my opinion, for those who like their historical fiction truthful.

By the way, these books do need to be read in order, google Margaret Frazer for that information.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lastly, I own the Heyer book "My Lord John" but have not yet read it. I do have all her Regency books and they are among my favorites. I have not read her histories and what were at the time she wrote them, her "modern mysteries" (set mostly in the 1920's I believe.)

I also have all the Margaret Frazer books and recommend them very highly to all who like accurate and interesting historical fiction/mysteries.