The Adventures of Alianore Audley

I envision Brian Wainwright as a complete history geek who had a blast writing this brilliant book to entertain other complete history geeks. He has done a marvelous job! Brush up on your English Monarchy history from the Wars of the Roses and the Tudors, and keep today's political themes in mind as well, and then dive in to this hilarious "mockumentary" style book. Alianore Audley is a smart & sassy 15th century wench who is distant kin to the Plantagenets. Her bumbling idiot older brothers do little to look to her welfare, so she relies on her own wiles and is rewarded when they are noticed by King Edward IV. After turning down his first award proposal, she accepts his offer to spy for his government and soon finds herself at the helm of a Middle-aged CIA. She encounters danger, trumps evil, finds love, reluctantly (cough, cough) has sex, and all the while manages to keep her files on various court figures and plotters in meticulous order. Wainwright's spoof-tale is full of constant sarcasm and history-laden zingers (ie: "You ain't just whistling Greensleeves!"). Alianore's adventures are wonderfully entertaining - the comparison to Mel Brooks by another reviewer is right on target! Alianore is hysterical - this book is great fun and highly recommended, even if you aren't a total history geek. Her sarcasm and the comparisons to more modern politics are obvious to all!

What a hysterical send up of historical fiction. Mel Brooks couldn't have done better. I was laughing through every page, the author's toungue must have been firmly planted in his cheek the entire time. Hard to believe this is the same person who wrote the ever so serious (and brilliant!) Within The Fetterlock. However, I would recommend that you have a passing knowledge of the Wars of the Roses, Edward the IV and Richard the III. Otherwise, you'll miss most of the jokes. Highly recommended and a breath of fresh air from so many serious works of fiction.

A well-mixed blend of raucous wit and intelligent writing,'The Adventures of Alianore Audley' is a laugh out loud, clutch your gut, yarn set in 15th century England. While chronicling her life, Alianore Audley, a fast-thinking, smart-mouthed, medieval dame, sets down her hilarious escapades working as a spy for Kings Edward IV, and Richard III. Her 'medieval-feminist' mind set and sarcastic tongue snare her in numerous misadventures, which keeps the narrative flowing and the pages turning. I throughly enjoyed this quick read, which at times, left me breathless from laughter. Kudos to a brilliant author!

This book was absolutely delightful. Not only did I laugh out loud at almost every page, I was thoroughly impressed at how well-researched it was. The author skillfully wove in facts about the Wars of the Roses and personages of that era, while at the same time using modern expressions and humor to good effect. I cannot recommend this highly enough.

This story contains the witty and hilarious observations of one Alianore Audley. She is a lady and sarcastic spy for her cousin King Edward IV in 15th century England. Her sense of humor (in and of nearly everything) concerning her contemporaries, "plebes," (commoners) and royalty is deliously wicked and extremely entertaining. However, in no way does this detract from the author's obvious knowledge of the period. In fact, it just adds more to its flavor! Alianore starts out as King Edward IV's "covert coquette" and eventually becomes his brother Richard's spy as well. You just have to read it to truly appreciate it! The only complaint I have is it was much too short, (a paltry) 206 [ages but well worth the short time it took to read it! I can't wait for Brian Wainwright's next "medieval" novel! It's writing at its very best and deserves more than five stars!