Customer Reviews

In the Shadow of Lady Jane (Richard Stocker)

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

 

 

Let me first say, I enjoyed this book. Improbable as it was, I felt that Lady Jane Grey had a consistently pure voice in this novel. However, the ages of everyone else were a bit skewed- the hero, Richard Stocker is too good to be true, but a good narrator. As the story opens, he is sixteen. I suppose for the story to work he has to be impossibly young. It is pleasant to think that Lady Jane was idolized by a contemporary male. Historical fiction of this period may usually be narrated by a female and it is nice to have a male point of view.

The story is a bit of a stretch, but I was able to suspend judgement and devour it. Stocker is appealing, and one can forgive him his self-promotion given the fact of a thoroughly quick rise in status in Tudor England. I guardedly recommend this book.

This is the sage of Lady Jane Grey, told by a household servant of the Grey family who falls victim to the charms of various members of the Grey family -- Henry Grey, ultimately the Duke of Suffolk, comes to treat him almost as a son, Lady Jane Grey introduces him to learning and Protestant theology, while the young Katherine Grey bewitches him romantically. (Those who are alarmed at the 16 year old hero falling for a girl of 11 or 12 should note that in the 15th and 16th centuries, girls were routinely married off at puberty. Henry VII, father of Henry VIII, was born when his mother was only 13. Shocking by our standards, perhaps, but...)

While this novel is a solid effort at telling what has become a well-known story through different eyes -- those of an outsider, someone not born into the royal family or into the role of a courtier -- the author fares far better in his second outing, Daughters of the Doge. (It can be ordered via Amazon.co.uk.) In that book, Richard Stocker quits England, but not the machinations of the Tudor court, and finds himself in the Venice of the Renaissance, entangled (variously) with a daughter of a noble family placed in a convent against her will, a courtesan and the bookkeeper of a famous painter -- a young Muslim girl. Will he return to England? Pursue medical studies in Padua? Or settle in Venice? This is by far the stronger and more original book, and I would give in a solid four stars (if I could!)

I had high hopes for this novel, based on the subject matter as well as the glowing reviews. Unfortunately though, it is lacking in a number of important respects. "Shadow of Lady Jane" is not a bad novel - I've read far worse - but it is by no means a great one.

The story is told from the perspective of Richard Stocker, the fictional Second Master of Horse to the Grey family. Richard, despite his youth, seems to be the ultimate alpha male hero: he rescues the Grey sisters from a flooding river, and later, defends their honour single-handedly against the nasty Dudley brothers; he manages to save a family from a fire; he even assists Edward VI to avert a riding mishap, leading to a friendly chat, and subsequently, becoming close to some of the King's companions. Richard is handsome and intelligent - capable of captivating young Catherine Grey, engaging in learned discourse on the New Faith with Lady Jane and her tutor John Aylmer, becoming at times even a confidant of their parents. I am not an expert on the social hierarchy among servants of noble households, but this seemed to me a bit of a stretch, if not rather preposterous. I also half expected to find that he could leap tall buildings with a single bound, and that he alone stood against the vampires, demons and forces of darkness (okay, I'm being facetious, but you get the idea). In short, Richard is almost implausibly gifted in all respects, and doesn't he know it - except in his first person narration, which is rather bland and colourless. As such, I could not warm to him, and his convenient insinuation of himself into the action just in time to witness the major historical events was quite irritating. It struck me as a bit of a wish-fulfilment exercise.

Other issues I had with the novel included: overwriting, redundant dialogue, stilted description and telling rather than showing, partly due to the limitations of the first person narrative voice when using the POV of an imaginary character. The book might have succeeded more had it been told in the third person omniscient, from varying points of view.

My major problem, however, was this - and this may well be my modern-day sensibilities creeping in, but I have to call it as I see it - I was seriously squicked by sixteen-year-old Richard's infatuation with eleven-year-old Catherine Grey, which even more disturbingly, is reciprocated. In the early part of the book, they actually engage in some (mild, thankfully) physical intimacy, with Catherine an enthusiastic participant, eager to persist with their incipient affair until her common sense reasserts itself, and she decides that it's really not a good idea if she wants to make a decent marriage. That does not stop them contemplating being lovers in the future, and being extremely familiar with each other, despite the difference in rank: at one point Catherine asks Richard, "Am I not woman enough for you?" Just wrong on so many levels! Intellectual precocity in children of this age, living in this era, I can buy - sexual precocity is another thing altogether. I am well aware that children in Tudor times grew up fast: they were treated and expected to behave as miniature adults, and noble children were frequently married off once they hit puberty; also such youthful dalliances were not unheard of (eg: Catherine Howard and Henry Manox, then Francis Dereham) although I believe they'd have been rare. Nonetheless, I really don't want to read about pre-teen kids even THINKING about getting it on, regardless of when the novel is set, unless it is absolutely necessary to the storyline. This wasn't the case here - I could not see why Richard had to be sexually attracted to Catherine and she to him; the story would not have suffered one bit had he been portrayed as more of an older brother figure. I found it so creepy that I almost put the book aside unfinished.

Nonetheless, I have persevered with it. Happily, Lady Jane emerges as a well-rounded character, and the most vivid and interesting of the lot, and her unlikely friendship with Richard is touching (if stretching credulity). This novel is generally faithful to the history, and the writer does well in setting the scene, and bringing much of the period to life. For a first novel, it's okay. Unfortunately the choice of protagonist lets it down. I'd suggest borrowing this from the library, and then if you love it, buying it. However, Alison Weir's "Innocent Traitor" is a much more interesting and emotionally engaging fictional retelling of Lady Jane Grey's story.

Motivated by infatuation, Richard Stocker, 17, cannot help but be impressed by Lord Henry Grey's daughters, whom he meets when the family visits Shute House in Devon. To the impressionable Richard, Catherine is by far the most attractive, although Jane Grey, shy and soft-spoken, will become a close friend in the near future. Mary, only six, is a dwarf with observant eyes and a sharp wit. While escorting the three Grey sisters to the ocean, Richard and Catherine begin a flirtation, an attraction that remains strong over the following turbulent years, and it does not hurt his prospects when Richard gallantly rescues the sisters from drowning when a sudden storm strikes on their return from the seaside. Richard realizes he must banish any idea of marriage to Catherine, for such a union is impossible; these girls bear Tudor blood, valuable commodities to their family ambitions. Richard travels with the Grey's to Bradgate where he is made Second Master of the Horse. Welcoming him into their household, the Grey's are cognizant of the potential advantages of using such a well-spoken and chivalrous young man in advancing their political pursuits.

The bond between Catherine and Richard is forged from their first meeting, unbroken until her marriage, but Richard also enjoys a rewarding friendship with the educated and religiously devoted Lady Jane, as well as with little Mary. Indeed, Stocker is extremely useful at the court of Edward VI, friends with one of the king's attendants who keeps Richard appraised of the king's failing health. As ever with the Tudors, succession is a paramount concern, the Duke of Suffolk scheming with the Duke of Northumberland, to instigate a nefarious plot for the throne that will set England abuzz with speculation, even outrage. Richard is in a unique position to witness the unfolding of a turbulent time in English history, as close as any non-royal might be to the political machinations that surround Edward's throne and the devious plans of Henry and Frances Grey, forcing their studious daughter to their will, regardless of the dangers of their actions.

Jane's fate is indeed tragic: accepting the crown, however briefly, marks this young pawn an eventual victim of the executioner: "The crown is not mine by right, and pleaseth me not!" In a small act of rebellion, Queen Jane refuses to share the crown with her abusive husband, Guilford Dudley, Northumberland's son, clinging to this one moment of defiance and an immutable, if deadly embrace of her Reformation beliefs. Richard becomes a man during the years he supports the Grey cause, with the natural appetites of a man. But particularly jarring is the issue of the ages of the girls. When first they meet, Catherine is only eleven, Jane fourteen and Mary six, Mary's conversations belying her extreme youth and worldly inexperience. Although royal women marry quite early, there is something unsettling about the ages of these girls vis a vis Richard's attraction to Catherine. Between their political astuteness and their youth, this element continues to unbalance the novel, inappropriate at best. As well, this is a factually precise but passionless retelling of a tragic story. But perhaps Jane is only a footnote to history; this is Mary Tudor's time, after all, young Jane but grist for the political mill and her family's treacherous machinations. Luan Gaines/ 2008.

Things I liked: I liked the writing style, it flowed very smoothly from page to page and chapter to chapter. I like that the narrative came from a man and not Lady Jane or one of her female attendants or relatives. It was a fresh take. I liked Richard, he was a bit too good to be true, however it is a work of fiction and he is a fictional character, so it worked well for me.

Things I did not like: I did not like the historical inaccuracies. Yes this is a work of fiction and yes there are fictional characters. But I had problems staying with the story every time Charles Brandon was referred to as Henry, which happened about half the time. Some of the ages of the individuals were not correct during certain events however I could get past that without too much frustration. Another thing I had trouble with was the "ick" factor of a young man, almost 17 years old, becoming intimate with an 11 year old girl. I simply skipped the "love" scenes between Richard and Catherine. I think it was asking too much of the reader to suspend belief that an 11 year old, even during the 1500's would consider herself a "woman" and initiate intamacy with a much older man. Ick again.

Overall, I did enjoy the book and was disappointed to be pulled from the story by the things I mentioned above.

I loved this story. It was beautifully written. The love between Jane, Catherine and Richard was so touching and sad. I trully hope that history was closer to this than others I have read, as the common theme is these girls did not have very good lives and Richard seams to have been someone who loved them for them.
Beautiful Story worth reading again and again.

I was disapointed it was not available on Kindle but still enjoyed the book. Her life was a sad story but it was a little
unbelievable in spots. The hero was a little too much but still a enjoyable read.