Customer Reviews

Treason

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This historical is about the War of the Roses as seen through fictional character Martin Robsart. His family is killed and he flees to his "cousins" Edward, Duke of York and his brother who eventually becomes King Richard III . Martin and Richard have known each other as children and their friendship picks up where it left off and they become the best of friends. They grow up and face nearly every life adventure together. Martin's viewpoint during the novel is witty, insightful and at times humorous. He follows Richard through nearly every aspect of his life including his ascent to the throne of England. Theirs was not an easy life even though Martin is privy to the royal lifestyle.

The author also discusses what could probably, if not possibly, have happened to the Princes in the Tower. Her theory on this makes a great deal of sense that I found very believable. This was an incredible page turner and I was up late many nights, into the wee hours of the morning, devouring every page. The descriptions of everyday common things as well as the emotions before and after battle & war are very convincing and make you feel as though you are there experiencing everything the characters do! I was sad to see it end and hope there are more historical novels forthcoming from this author! Bravo Meredith!

Meredith Whitford has taken the familiar story of King Richard III of England and given us a fantastic take on his life. Seen through the eyes of his closest childhood friend, Martin, Richard comes to life as a flesh and blood young man whose main aim in life is to be a good person who follows his moral standards. We see Richard from about the time of the loss of his father, through the rise of his elder brother Edward IV, and finally as a reluctant king who must make the decision to replace his bastard nephew as King of England. Whitford's research gives us the rich details that pull you into the lives of all the characters and makes you see beyond the myths and legends that have arisen over this oft-misunderstood monarch. Always sympathetic to Richard, this telling of his life and times will stay with you long after you close the cover. Highly, highly recommended for readers of quality historical fiction. This one's a keeper.

This novel about the Yorkist kings Edward IV and Richard III effectively combines known fact and plausible fiction. The characters and their times come to life through the eyes of the fictional Martin Robsart.

Beatifully written, but never sentimental, this novel provides action, romance and insight into the dynastic struggles and bloody politics of England during the second half of the 15th century.

Highly recommended to all who enjoy well written historical fiction and especially to those interested in the man who became Richard III.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

If you are a Ricardian, there is no such thing as too many novels about Richard III and the mystery of the Princes in the Tower. I am aware that some readers don't think like that, so let me quickly add that Treason is something new. As a long time Ricardian, from my `50's childhood when I read Josephine Tey's Daughter of Time and became intoxicated by the drug of history, I've read a great many novels, some perfectly awful, about the endlessly mysterious (Devil or Angel?) Richard III.

Here the familiar story of the House of York is told by a fictional friend and age mate of the future King Richard-Martin Robsart. As the book opens, Martin's Yorkist family is destroyed during the northern campaign that culminates in the snowy horror of the Battle of Wakefield. Our narrator, Martin, a strong child succored by royal kin, survives, recovers, and participates in the sunrise triumph of Edward the Fourth. This Yorkist King, under whose rule Martin will grow to an exuberant manhood, never fulfills his promise as a ruler. Edward's failure to plan and his early death sets in train the ruin of the House of York. Martin, and all his kith and kin, must leave England in order to escape the vengeance of the first Tudor King. Happily, however, Martin survives the Battle of Bosworth and can help us unravel the mystery of the disappearance of King Richard's nephews.

Treason is an articulate, fast paced novel that swiftly engages the reader. The distant medieval world--heraldry, passion, and blood feud--springs to life. If you love stories about the last Plantagenets--and even if you don't--Treason is definitely worth your time, a deft new take on popular story.

Much as I love history, and English history at that, I admit to shying away from the War of the Roses. But I was lucky enough to have an advance reading of TREASON before it went to print and was hooked from then on.

Meredith Whitford and her main character, Martin Robsart, (cousin to the much misunderstood Richard III) take me on a fiery journey of love, loyalty, family honour, courage, betrayal, murder and treason - and I land squarely in the king's camp as a true believer.

The story of Richard and his short but bloody reign is easy reading, brought alive by only two fictional characters surrounded by a host of historic characters, some well known, some not so. Martin narrates his story, combining love and empathy with humour, and brings to life his hero and the troubling times in which he lived.

Congratulations, Meredith, on a cracking good read, a page turner and a history lesson to boot. Richard would be pleased.

I am among those who believe the Tudors framed Richard III and created a monster where in life there was none. So is Meredith Whitford, and she has written a marvelous, beautiful historical novel about his life told through the voice of his (fictional) best friend Martin. Whitford follows Martin and Richard from their 8th year through their exciting and tumultuous lives, and offers fresh and plausible possibilities about what may have happened to "the Princes in the Tower." Whitford has an uncanny ability to write multi-dimensional, extremely human characters complete with flaws, internal strife and heart breaking honesty and love. Her writing will draw you in. "Treason" is full of well researched detail about the reigns of Edward IV and Richard III, and has charming fictional characters with their own rich stories to round out the novel. Sharon Kay Penman (The Sunne in Splendour) has finally met her match! This is one I will re-read time and again, just as I do The Sunne in Splendour.

I find the War of the Roses period very interesting, and have been reading every novel I can find lately on this period, I am so happy I finally read this one!
This novel was narrated by the fictional cousin of Richard, Martin, whom is recollecting his memories of the period, he was the same age as Richard, so the novel begins with Edward IV's ascention thru the end of Richard's reign.
This was a very enjoyable read, author really did an excellant job portraying the complex family relationships, especially between the three brothers (George, Richard, and Edward), and the conflicts that arose from Edward's marriage to Elizabeth Woodeville. She also did an excellant job portraying Richard's character and motivations thru the eyes of his fictional best friend. As other reviewers have stated, this novel was humorous, and emotional at times.
One of the things I love about reading these historical novels, is to see how different authors fill in the 'gaps' of history that is unknown, what their opinion was on what really happened, or what the motivations were. It may be a personal preference, but I enjoy the novels that stay true to known fact, and fill in the gaps with events/reasonings that are plausible. I feel the author did an excellant job here, mostly in portraying the emotions of the brothers and how that effected their actions.
Only a few things I did not enjoy, (I suppose since I want my fiction to be realistic) Why must every author portray Richard under a halo? The story of Edward's pre-marriage contract dis-qualifying his sons from reigning..little hard to believe this just 'happened' to come out as Richard was planning to accept his role as Lord Protector, and he 'reluctantly' decided to announce this and accept the crown himself. Obviously, this is the 'loophole' for Richard to take over instead of allowing the Woodvilles to take power and no doubt assasinate him and plunge England back into civil war. Seems most all novelists portray this event in this fashion, why not portray it as it probably happened? It doesn't make Richard a monster, obviously he did this to save his own neck and perhaps he felt he could rule better, which it appears he did. I feel it is a bit of an insult to the reader, that this event has to be portrayed in such a manner that Richard appears totally innocent, as that is the only way to keep the reader 'rooting' for the main character.

I would also love to think her take on the princes could be possible, except for the fact that the remains of two boys were found buried in the tower during the reign of Charles II..from the time she takes the princes out of the tower, she has lost me cause I feel pretty certain they never did leave that tower. however this novel (and Daughter of Time) does make you scratch your head and wonder what role Henry Tudor had in their fate. Could they have still been there alive, for the two years of Richard's reign?? Henry definately had more cause to need them dead since he reversed the taint of bastardy in order to marry their sister...

Two small complaints aside, this novel was an excellant story of both Richard and Edward IV and still definately worth 5 stars (wouldve rated higher if I could)..funny how Edward IV left quite the mess for his little brother to clean up, Richard does his best, and look at the reputation he has been left with!
Henry Tudor may have been the monster and history doesn't hardly remember him either!

The book details the life of Edward IV and Richard III as told from the point of view of their fictional cousin, Martin Robsart, who joins Richard's family after his family is killed during conflicts between the Lancasters and The Yorks. While I don't normally care for stories told in the first person, it worked in this book as it placed the reader intimately in Richard's life, starting at age eight until the final decisive battle at Bosworth Field. I thoroughly enjoyed Martin's dry wit and his take on some of the people in Richard's life were quite funny at times -- especially those Woodvilles!

This was a very entertaining and fast paced read and contains a lot of rich period details, and the battle scenes were kept to a minimum, which was a refreshing change for this reader. My only quibbles are that the dialogue seems a bit too modern at times (the use of the "f" word really jarred me -- was it really used and in such plentiful quantities back then?), and the author's theory on the disappearance of the princes in the tower seemed quite plausible until I recalled that their remains were found buried in the Tower some years ago, so that pretty much blew her theory out the window.

All in all a very good read, and although it's not quite up to the perfection of Sharon Kay Penman's Sunne in Splendour, it's still a pretty darn good book and a must for anyone interested in knowing more about this much maligned monarch, or for those Ricardians already out there. I'm going to knock off half a star due to the minor discrepancies noted above and give this one a solid 4.5 stars.

As a side note, for those Ricardians out there check out Brian Wainwright's hysterical send up of this period, The Adventures Of Alianore Audley. Mel Brooks couldn't have done better!

I ate this book up as soon as I got it. Putting the book down was hard to do. It is rare that I read such a good book and then think about what it would be like on screen. This is a prime candidate for a book turned movie.

What a fabulous "first time" novel by Meredith Whitford! The battle scenes were written like nothing I have ever read and the characters were perfect. The storyline flowed beautifully. This story was absolutely enthralling and captivating! I truly hope that Ms. Whitford decides to continue writing as she has a great talent.