The Heart of the Lion

Everyone knows of Richard I. Richard the Lion Hearted. Richard of Robin Hood fame. Richard I was a very good King of England. Long live King Richard! But was Richard really that good of a king to the people of England? This book shows that he really wasn't. When it came down to it Richard spent nearly his whole reign as King of England, Duke of Normandy and Duke of Aquitaine, among other titles, away from these lands and fighting in the Third Crusade. A "noble" cause, but one that ultimately cost him in so many ways. He promises to go on this crusade with the King of France, Phillip II, his closest friend in the world. So close that many thought there may be something else to their friendship. They go and along the way encounter many problems. Richard must rescue his sister Joanna from the tyrant and usurper, Tancred. He must, very unwillingly, wed Berengaria, the princess of Navarre who fell in love with him years ago. He liberates the island of Cyprus from Isaac Comnenus, and then he finally makes it to Acre. There he finds it's not so easy to take. Saladin is a very formidible foe. He learns to respect him, as Saladin does him. To the point that Saladin himself coems to nurse him back to health. But he committs some very misguided deeds while there that haunt him for the rest of his life. Overall the Third Crusade, or at least Richard's sole aim, is a complete failure. He tries to return to England only to end up a prisoner in no one knows where. All along in England John is stirring up trouble. Yes, Prince John of Robin Hood fame is just as evil and merciless as we know him to be. He wants to be king and is praying everday for Richard's death in the Holy Land, or, failing that, his death wherever he is being held. His hopes fail when Richard returns and begins to bring order back to his land. Richard finds that his one time friend, Phillip of France is now his true enemy. But this state of affairs is not to last. Richard dies in a way no one was ready for. Prince John is now the nearest heir to the throne. Berengaria is a Dowager Queen with no heir. England is in trouble. Dark times are ahead for England.

I'm a huge Jean Plaidy fan, a fairly new one I must confess, having discovered her wonderful work just this year. But I have found in her novels a world I longed to know more about and have been satisfied beyond measure. In The Heart of the Lion, Jean Plaidy paints an extraordinary picture of the fierce leader, Richard I. Richard was his mother's favorite son- Eleanor of Aquitaine. He loved music and poetry, just as she did. He was very skilled in the art of chivalry and a hero in a time when Christians were persecuted in the Holy Land. He had a incredible appetite for war and would stop at nothing to declare victory. Plaidy delves into the aspect of Richard's homosexuality quite a bit. I think she stresses this because of his neglect of his poor forgotten wife, Berengaria. If he had come to her more often, instead of making one excuse after another why the two of them should not be together, be it because he feared for Berengaria's safety while traveling the seas or her safety while he went into battle, etc., he may have had heirs; heirs who may have ruled England far greater than Richard's 'monster' of a brother John. But, it was what it was... Overall, I enjoyed this third novel in the Plantagenet saga much better than the second. I truly enjoyed Richard's adventures into the Holy Land and found myself loving and hating Richard throughout. He was a strong warrior, but not so good with the ladies. The book reads very fast and I had a hard time putting it down. It was very visual, just as Plaidy's other novels. A very good book, from beginning to tragic end...as usual.

This book is the 3rd book in the Plantagenet Saga. It comes right after the Revolt of the Eaglets. The Heart of the Lion starts right off where the pervious book ended. Henry II has just died. Since Young Henry is dead, Richard is king. Richard has a grand coronation. There is a little confusion about Jews, but the people still love him. Richard is a brave King. The people love him. He's their Lion-Hearted king. With his tall figure, and fair looks, he is handsome as well. He's the favourite son of Queen Eleanor, and she is pleased. Richard loved battles. He lives for it. So, when he is King, he uses the peoples' tax money to finance a crusade. He has vowed to take one anyways. With his good friend the King Of France, they go to the Holy Land. But first, Queen Eleanor goes to Navarra and takes Berengaria to Sicily, where they will meet Richard. Richard goes and rescues his sister, Joanna, who has been kept prisoner. Since her husband died, there is a dispute on who's kingdom it is. Richard helps a bastard son sit on the thrown. They also decide to marry his daughter to Richard's heir, Arthur. Richard asks to break his contract with the Princess Alais. He does not want to have his father's leftovers. King Philip does not want to insult his sister. Eventually, Philip breaks off the betrothal. Richard wants to marry Berengaria. But, it is during Lent, so he has to wait. Yet, when Lent ends, he still doesn't marry her. Berengaria is very upset because she loves Richard. Eventually he does marry her and makes Berengaria very happy. They reach the Holy Land and the Christian armies are winning many battles. They love their leader and always do better when he is there. The Saracens' leader, Saladin is also a remarkable person. He helps Richard when he is sick. Meanwhile, back in England trouble is brewing. Prince John has married a rich heiress that he is repulsed by. He knows that if Richard dies he could become king. But Geoffrey was born before him and his son, Arthur may have a better claim to the thrown than him. But he is the grandson of Henry II, while John is his son. John causes trouble in England and tries to get the thrown of England. Eleanor sees the trouble and pleads with Richard to come back. Richard neglects Berengaria. She loves him, but he doesn't seem to love her. He's always at battle and prefers the company of men to her. Joanna tries to comfort her, but Berengaria knows the truth. And there is still no heir! She fears that she is barren. Richard doesn't seem to care if there's an heir though. He does have Arthur. Richard knows that England would be in chaos if John were king. Arthur is the best heir. The war is going well, but then Richard gets captured. Will he get out and win Jerusalem for Christianity? Will Berengaria's broken heart be mended? This is the story of one of England's favourite kings. The king who was said to have the heart of a lion.