Customer Reviews

The Scarlet Lion

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William Marshal steps out of the pages of history and, larger than life, provides us with an insight into the times in which he lived. This novel opens in 1197 and depicts the turbulent times around the reigns of King Richard I and King John.

While following the life of William and his wife Isabelle, we are treated to a finely depicted view of the politics, intrigue and events of medieval England and Ireland. The novel is multi-faceted: it enables us to relate to William and Isabelle as two human beings who needed to balance their own needs and those of their family with the code of honour and political constraints of the day. At the same time, the known historical facts are woven into the story in a way that breathes life into history and will have many readers wanting to know more about the actual events depicted.

And while those readers are learning more about the history, I have been provided with another hero worthy of my admiration.

Brava, Ms Chadwick! Few authors have ever made medieval history as interesting to me as you have.

Highly recommended.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

Unable to wait for the American release, I had to pick up Elizabeth Chadwick's newest novel, The Scarlet Lion, from Amazon.uk as soon as it was available. And I am so glad I did! This is one author who continues to give us quality historical fiction that will leave you breathless and eagerly awaiting her next venture.

Elizabeth Chadwick has given us a gift---the sequel to her outstanding novel, The Greatest Knight. The Scarlet Lion picks up the life of William Marshal, Earl of Pembroke and eventual Regent of England in the early 1200s. To say that this man was more than a mere knight would be an understatement of the first order, and would be a disservice to the writing skills Ms. Chadwick displays so well.

Where should I begin in describing this magnificent novel? Maybe I will start with William's accomplishments, all of which were almost unheard of for someone who had to make his own way in life. Or perhaps I should begin with the cast of characters who populate this tale, among them Richard the Lion Heart, King John of Magna Carta fame, and the young Henry III who was placed in the care of Marshal upon the death of his father. But starting with those would take away the heart of the novel: the uncommon relationship between William and his wife, Isabelle. William, in a time when women were basically chattel, cherished his wife and listened to her counsel. Ms. Chadwick has taken all of these historical facts and woven them into one grand tapestry that brings Marshal to life and inserts him into your heart, mind, and soul. Her research is impeccable, and her gift of phrase will make you want to slow down while reading so as to savor every word.

To those who are lovers of good fiction, this is one of the best and truly deserving of a widespread audience. To those who are lovers of historical fiction, I can say with complete assurance that this will be a book you will treasure forever. Ms. Chadwick's skill in recreating the past pulls you into the story immediately, and won't let you go once you close the book. Highly, highly recommended.

Historical fiction just doesn't get any better than this. This is a wonderful tale of one of the most honorable men to grace this earth, William Marshal and his true partner in all things, his wife Isabelle. The first novel, Greatest Knight, covered more of William Marshal's early life as a knight and courtier. This novel covers his life with Isabel and the dangers and terrors of living in the court of the King John, and then as regent for the young Henry III. I have to admit shedding more than a few tears at the last chapter, the end of William's life.

I have read all of this author's works that I can get my hands on and I am amazed at how consistly she is improving (not that the earlier works were poorly written at all). As always with Chadwick's books, the way she brings the medieval period to life in such a graceful and effortless way, be it the sights, sounds, smells, food, clothes and battles is just awesome. As quoted on some of her book jackets, the next best thing to time travel. Five stars.

English history is my personal esoteric interest, especially the period of the first Plantagenet monarchs: Henry II, Richard I (the Lionheart), John, and Henry III. Orbiting each of the four at one time or another was England's incomparable poster boy of feudal loyalty, William Marshal, who became 1st Earl of Pembroke. In addition to serving the monarchs mentioned, Marshal also pledged vassalage to Henry II's queen, Eleanor of Aquitaine, and the Young King Henry, the eldest son of Henry II and Eleanor acknowledged and crowned as the heir and future king while his father was still in his prime and ruling. Of course, William pledged his loyal service to only one at a time as honorable circumstance or invitation called upon him to do so, and that occasionally made it a dodgy walk along the precipice considering the notable dysfunctionality of Henry II's family.

The SCARLET LION is Elizabeth Chadwick's sequel to The Greatest Knight. The book pair is a supremely engaging work of historical fiction about medieval England for any casual or serious student of the time and the 1st Earl of Pembroke.

William was born in 1146 and died at age 73. The forty-three chapters plus Epilogue of THE GREATEST KNIGHT span the period from the summer of 1167, when Marshal was a newly minted young knight in the household of Sir Guillaume de Tancarville, Chamberlain of Normandy and a distant kinsman, to May 1194, when William, accompanied by his heiress wife, Isabelle de Clare, and their two sons and daughter, embark by ship for Normandy with Marshal's lord at the time, King Richard.

The forty-six chapters plus Epilogue of THE SCARLET LION span the period from the summer of 1197, near the end of the Lionheart's reign, to Marshal's death in the spring of 1219.

Each chapter advances the two-volume plot by several months to three years depending on the events of importance in William's life. THE GREATEST KNIGHT comprises his time in Queen Eleanor's retinue, his years in the Young King's household, his touneying days, the Young King's revolt against his father, the Young King's death, his time in Henry II's retinue, Henry's death during the revolt by Richard and John, his marriage to Isabelle, his appointment as a Royal Justiciar by King Richard, John's revolt against Richard during the latter's German imprisonment, Richard's ransom, and Richard's return to England. THE SCARLET LION encompasses the birth of the rest of Marshal's ten children, the death's of Richard and Queen Mother Eleanor, the time William and Isabelle spent in Ireland administering the latter's inherited lands, Marshal's uneasy relationship with King John, Magna Carta and the Baron's Revolt, John's death, William's role as Regent for the boy-king Henry III, and the invasion of England by, and the English defeat of, the French Crown Prince Louis.

The only (minor) criticism I can level is that nothing is written about the terms of the Magna Carta, a traditional and venerable pillar to Anglo-American democracy; an educational opportunity was thus lost.

THE GREATEST KNIGHT and THE SCARLET LION are based on the biography of Marshal's life, the HISTOIRE DE GUILLAUME LE MARECHAL, commissioned by his family soon after his death. Elizabeth Chadwick embellishes those parts of William's life not covered by the HISTOIRE, but in a manner she trusts is consistent with the man's personality and achievements. The two books should perhaps be read as companion pieces to a fine non-fiction narrative, William Marshal: The Flower of Chivalry by Georges Duby, also based on the HISTOIRE.

Chadwick's Marshal duo not only serves as a thoroughly engaging vehicle of reading entertainment, but also as a lesson in the disadvantages of governance by feudalism, which was first and foremost a vertical network of social, military, and legal obligations between members of the nobility on several levels, from lowest knight to King, sometimes even crossing national boundaries. This often resulted in a perilous situation that called for careful stepping. As the reader will see, Marshal managed to survive in the lions' den, and indeed prospered, with his honor intact to become England's preeminent example of integrity and chivalry.

Marshal is buried in London's Temple Church. I regret that I never knew enough to pay my respects at his tomb on any of my many visits to the city. In our age of blemished or non-existent heroes, honor is due.

The Scarlet Lion is the sequel to Chadwick's The Greatest Knight, so if you haven't read that incredible novel yet, order that one first. While The Greatest Knight is about the first part of William Marshall's incredible life, The Scarlet Lion covers the second half, including his marriage and deft political maneuvering during the time of King John.

I thought this sequel was even superior to the first novel, if that's possible. Chadwick is simply masterful at bringing medieval England to life. Her characters are fully developed and her plot is relevant and perfectly-paced. There's a reason this author has been called the Queen of Historical Fiction...if you haven't read her novels yet and you are a fan of the genre, don't miss out.

What a nice historical novel! This is the story of William Marshal, The Earl of Pembroke in his full maturity. An earlier novel looks at his life before and this culminates the two volume set.

The first time we see him, he is a fierce warrior, leading his men up a ladder as part of a siege. He serves King Richard--and serves him well. This rich novel traces the life of William and his wife, Isabelle, from his maturity until the end of their days together. The key characters are developed nicely. I had a sense that I "knew" some of those characters. The key figures, too, are not just cardboard individuals. Life is given to them in the author's words. William and Isabelle and their children who play important roles in the book are well formulated. So, too, are other players in the dramas--including King John.

In the process, we see the burgeoning of their line (Isabelle, to be it mildly is quite fertile). The challenges facing them, including King John's machinations, keep this novel moving forward. For instance, John, to keep William under some degree of control, essentially makes his two eldest sons hostage. This adds poignancy. It also creates tensions between William and Isabelle, who prefers that he take action against John.

Do you like historical fiction? You'll probably enjoy this then. Quite a fine read!

I wanted to like this book after reading the glowing reviews, but I felt like one of Chadwick's characters wanting to get off the ship after a long ride at sea. The historical events and the complex plot could have been a terrific base for building the characters and interaction. Not so. Instead, the characters and dialogue were often predictable with minimal intrigue. More attention to the relationships and their tempo would have made this an unforgettable read.

Other reviewers have said what needs to be said about the quality of the story, the historical accuracy of the life-style and events of the times, and the enjoyable writing style of Elizabeth Chadwick. I'm writing my own review just to put my vote in. William Marshall is truly a hero for the ages, a very human and admirable person, brought to life by an adept author in this wonderful novel. If you are interested enough in buying this book to be reading this review, STOP READING THIS REVIEW AND BUY THE BOOK! You won't regret it. .... Do read The Greatest Knight, the prequel, first, though.

(... I'm seventy years old, but here I am, head over heels in love with a guy who died 719 years ago! Good grief!)

The year is 1197: feudalism rules, the Magna Carta is yet to be drafted, and the sovereignty of England, Wales, Ireland, Normandy, and much of modern-day France is constantly shifting. William Marshal has proved himself a worthy opponent on the battlefield, a gallant knight at court, an admirable overlord to his vassals, and a loving husband and father to his family. He shares a relationship with his wife unusual for the time period, one of mutual love and respect. He is a man of honor in every aspect of his life and has graciously reaped the benefits that are his due, as befits a man of such high standing. But with great fame and fortune often comes discord from those who covet it...

The central conflict within The Scarlet Lion is that which exists between King John (yes, that King John!) and the book's protagonist William Marshal. John is bitter and resentful of William's renown as a man of nobility and chivalry. John's mother, Eleanor of Aquitaine, had revered and respected William, idealizing him as the epitome of knightly honor. John does not appreciate William's having been propped up on such a pedestal both by his mother and brother Richard II, and on various occasions feels the need to knock William back down to size, blows which William takes in stride and with gentlemanly reserve (at least outwardly so). William is the perfect courtier but tactfully refuses to cede to John the satisfaction of a reaction to John's passive aggressive overtures, though Schadenfreude seems to be John's modus operandi.

But when John decides to take William and Isabelle's two eldest sons captive as proof of William's good will while he is abroad in Ireland, he strikes a chord with the Marshals that hits the family to its core. Isabelle and William's marriage suffers as a result, although the pair cannot bear the idea that John's venom has managed to seep through and rankle such a wound to their family's very foundation. Their decision to send their sons to court will haunt them while they are in Ireland: after all, John did not hesitate to kill off his own kin; what would hold him back from inflicting such a fate on the sons of a great family already out of favor at the court?

The family lands in Ireland are a part of Isabelle's dowry and must be protected for the sake of their children's rightful inheritance. Though handing over his sons to John's care as virtual hostages is a precondition for their trip to Ireland, the boys are well cared for while under John's tutelage, and they take the opportunity to learn the ways of the court. Things get very interesting as John's hatred for the Marshals festers, even as deep down John knows that William is the only man fit to look after his young son Henry as regent when the time comes for John to meet his maker.

Elizabeth Chadwick masterfully strikes the balance of blending historic fact with modern storytelling. Accurate period detail, sweeping scenery descriptions, and deeply developed characters come full circle to portray a tale that is historic to its roots, all the while reading like a fresh work of fiction and never like a history textbook. Everything I love about historical fiction can be found within The Scarlet Lion's pages.

Elizabeth Chadwick writes a lot of historical fiction and I think her work keeps getting stronger. I read both her books on William Marshall, a medieval character who deserves a lot more recognition than he gets. He was a remarkable man as both a knight and a political figure and his story is a fascinating read.

What Elizabeth Chadwick does better than many historical fiction writers is to let the reader understand what motivates a character. She also brings an exciting realism to the romantic relationships with authentic sounding dialogue between her characters and vividly portrayed bedroom scenes. Some of the dialogue is actually quite funny as her characters are often witty and seldom stilted.

In her most recent novels, including this one, she has been using Akashic consultant Alison King, which has brought an an even greater level of realism to her novels. For anyone not knowing what this is, Elizabeth explains it on her website: [...]

I'll definitely be reading her book on William Marshall's father!