Shields of Pride [Import] [Paperback]

Elizabeth Chadwick (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Sphere / Penguin (2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0751540277
• ISBN-13: 978-0751540277
• Product Dimensions: 5 x 7.8 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #259,929 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Elizabeth Chadwick is a best selling, award winning author of historical fiction. A born storyteller, her first novel The Wild Hunt won a Betty Trask Award in 1990. She has been four times shortlisted for the RNA Award in the UK for the best mainstream romantic novel. Her book The Scarlet Lion was selected as one of the top ten works of historical fiction of the decade by Richard Lee, founder of The Historical Novel Society.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not the author's best, but still a good read, June 19, 2008

By 

Misfit (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

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This review is from: Shields of Pride (Paperback)

Although in my opinion Chadwick's second best is heads and tails above most of the rest. One of Chadwick's earlier books, this is the story of mercenary Joscelin de Gael, the illegitimate son of a promient knight and Linnet de Montsorrel. Linnet's abusive husband dies in an accident and Joscelin is given the care of Linnet's holdings and young son, and marries her. The story then focuses on the after affects of the abuse Linnet suffered at the hands of her now dead husband and father in law, along with the constant plotting of Joscelin's treacherous half brother (the heir) and step mother.

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. I see that it's been revised by the author and republished in the UK and Canada and finally listed at Amazon US.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Roberta Gellis Fans-- Check This One Out, February 6, 2003

By 

Sires "I enjoy mysteries, historical and proc... (Chesapeake, OH, United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Shields of Pride (Mass Market Paperback)

Inside the back cover of my copy of this book there is a picture of the author engaging in a historical re-enactment of a Viking encampment. This is probably one of the reasons that this book has such a great period feel. The details, from the ditch running down the center of the stables to the trouble getting a hauberk (essentially a metal pullover) off a wounded man, all contribute to the feeling of reality.

Joscelin was the ... son of a great warrior. His mother died during his childhood and took his father's heart with her to the grave. Because his father has legitimate heirs, Joscelin had few prospects. He had run away from home to fight as a mercenary at the age of 15. Seven years later he had returned as the captain of his own troupe. Since then he had taken service where it was available and when it wasn't available he had rode the tourney circuit. Now he has returned home briefly before beginning employment with the Justiciar of England, who ruled while King Henry II was in France.

On his way home he encountered Linnet and her husband. Married at 13 to a brutal Lord, Linnet had one son she cherished and tried to protect from her husband's brutality. She suspects her husband is plotting treason. She knows that her husband is destroying her son's inheritance in futherance of his plans.

While the political background is important, the real driving force in this case is the dynamics set in force by Joscelin's father decades before.

This book definitely goes on the short shelf of books that manages to successfully combine a romantic sensibility and some semblance of real history.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Passion and Bloodshed in 12th Century England, January 17, 2007

By 

J. Chippindale (England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Shields of Pride (Mass Market Paperback)

Much of Elizabeth Chadwick's research is carried out as a member of Regia Anglorum, this is an early medieval re-enactment society. This is her first novel. It would be fair to say that it is a historical romance, but I feel that it will be equally enjoyable by both men and women.

The year of our Lord 1173 and King Henry's latest attempts to crush his rebellious sons ignite bloody skirmishes throughout the land. Henry is becoming more and more frustrated and at every turn he is opposed by some of the most powerful men in the land.

But for one man Josceline de Gael, a mercenary, it is a time of triumph. Josceline is the son of Henry's most trusted ally. A veritable ogre on the battlefield, de Gael is conquered by a woman, the lovely Linnet de Montsorrel. However their feelings for one another will be tested to the limit as the torments of jealousy, suspicion and pride and most importantly of all, an enemy from beyond the grave threaten to tear them apart.

Since writing this book, Elizabeth Chadwick has become a successful and much read author. Her writing style has dare I say it become much earthier and are all the better for it. Women still make up a large part of her writings and why not, they are just as interesting, if not more so than the men.