The Lion of Justice (The Norman Series: Volume 2)

This is the second book in Jean Plaidy's Norman Trilogy. This book picks up where the other one left off. William the Conqueror is dead and his son William Rufus is king of England and his son Robert Curthose is Duke of Normandy. His youngest son, Henry, is left with only 5,000 marks of silver and the promise that he would have more than both of his brothers. The first bit of the book goes over the reign of William Rufus. A man with a few of the same talents as his father, but lacking in judgement where it counted for the people. He was hated, but feared. There were the rumors that he was homosexual, and Plaidy uses them in her novel, but only in passing. The first bit also tells about Edith, the future Matilda and Henry's Queen, and her life under her stern, and almost evil, Aunt Christina, a woman who believes that anyone who chooses the married life is a dire sinner in need of saving. Edith doesn't want to become a nun and does her best to hold out against her aunt. She is eventually saved by Henry. She builds up a romantic dream of him which is later shattered by the realization that he has no idea how to be faithful. The second half of the book concerns itself with Henry's reign as king of England, his conquest of Normandy and his rule of both. Plaidy identifies the reason that he is called The Lion of Justice and why England was a better place under him, than his brother William Rufus. This book is really good if you want an introduction into Henry I's life. I did feel that much was left out about what good he had done for England in favor of some things that had already been hashed out. This book does however set up for the next book by starting the relationship of his nephew Stephen of Blois and his headstrong daughter, the Empress Matilda.

Here is yet another Jean Plaidy novel that didn't disappoint. Henry I. Fourth son of William the Conqueror, a man who at the death of his father was only left 5,000 pounds of silver while his other brothers given a Dukedom and the position of King. But Henry, at the event of his brother Rufus's death-King of England-would become a great ruler of England and Normandy. He married Edith of Scotland, a woman who was raised in an abbey by her cruel aunt from the time of her mother's death (Saint Margaret) when Edith was sixteen until Henry rescued her just after he claimed the throne. Edith's name was changed to Matilda to please the people and she was just as saintly as her mother for the rest of her life- washing and kissing the feet of the poor during Lent. But poor Matilda was always disappointed by her philandering husband, who was known to have had the most children out of wedlock, some 20-25. Henry I was a just ruler and earned the name The Lion of Justice. He enjoyed the hunt as much as he enjoyed women. He wasn't afraid to inflict harsh punishment to those who denied him and yet he had a softness to him. He was feared, but he was also admired. I enjoyed this book, the second in the Norman trilogy, almost as much as the first- The Bastard King. Jean Plaidy brings me into a world I have craved to understand. And at the end, I can't wait for what lies ahead. A great read, as usual!

This is the author's second book in The Norman Trilogy. It is an intriguing and well written work of historical fiction and a wonderful follow-up to the first book in the trilogy, "The Bastard King". In this second book, the author continues the story of the legacy of William the Conqueror, known as the bastard king. His son, William Rufus, followed him as King of England and his other son, Robert, as Duke of Normandy. The youngest son, Henry, in keeping with the fate of most youngest sons, was left landless and all but penniless. A handsome and shrewd individual with a lawyerlike mind, the Normans called him "Henri Beauclerc". When William Rufus found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time, his reign was effectively ended. A twist of fate, however, found Henry in the right place at the right time. Having always coveted the throne of England, Henry lost no time in asserting his claim before his older brother, Robert, the Duke of Normandy, could assert his own, more rightful, claim. Thus, began the reign of Henry I of England. Henry married Princess Edith of Scotland whom he renamed Matilda, so that the Normans might forget her Saxon origins. When his brother, Robert, finally asserted his claim to the throne of England, Henry defeated him and took over the Duchy of Normandy. King Henry and Queen Matilda would go on to have two children, William and Matilda, who would bring much joy and much sadness. The author, also known to millions of devoted readers as Victoria Holt, masterfully tells the story of Henry, the man who would be king. She recounts his life and loves, painting a portrait of a lusty, ambitious, and ruthless man who would brook no opposition. He would leave England a better place for his reign. It is a spellbinding tale, woven with sufficient historical detail so as to make it enjoyable for all those who love historical fiction.

Jean Plaidy continues her Norman Trilogy with The Lion of Justice. The title would lead you to believe that the book is solely about Henry I, but the beginning of the book is mostly about William the Conqueror's other (surviving) sons Robert of Normandy and William Ruffus. The book also gives some background information as to the situation in Scotland and the Saxon Athelings who had claim to the throne of England prior to the Norman Conquest in 1066. The book takes off seamlessly from the first in the trilogy (The Bastard King) which makes the author's comparissons and references back to William the Conqueror a welcome yet not over-done part of the story. The best part of the book, however, does deal with the Henry I and his taking of the crown of England following the death of his brother. I was a bit disappointed that the death of Rufus was not further explored. It was obviously shrouded in mystery and probably was a murder, but that story falls away and is really not mentioned in any great detail again. There is a good accounting of Henry's wife, Matilda (formerly called Edith) and you become very familiar with the King's daughter (the Empress Matilda) and his nephew (Stephen). I hate to say that Henry I was simply not as interesting as William the Conqueror, but that's really how I saw the story. This seems more of a segway into the final book and less of a stand-alone thrilling tale like the Bastard King. The writing is outstanding and the details are vivid. The characters are reasonably well-developed an interesting but just not as exciting as the cast centered around 1066. That is the only reason this book gets only 4 stars from me - the topic just lacks something in comparisson to the first book.

This is the author's second book in The Norman Trilogy. It is an intriguing and well written work of historical fiction and a wonderful follow-up to the first book in the trilogy, "The Bastard King".In this second book, the author continues the story of the legacy of William the Conqueror, known as the bastard king. His son, William Rufus, followed him as King of England and his other son, Robert, as Duke of Normandy. The youngest son, Henry, in keeping with the fate of most youngest sons, was left landless and all but penniless. A handsome and shrewd individual with a lawyerlike mind, the Normans called him "Henri Beauclerc". When William Rufus found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time, his reign was effectively ended. A twist of fate, however, found Henry in the right place at the right time. Having always coveted the throne of England, Henry lost no time in asserting his claim before his older brother, Robert, the Duke of Normandy, could assert his own, more rightful, claim. Thus, began the reign of Henry I of England.Henry married Princess Edith of Scotland whom he renamed Matilda, so that the Normans might forget her Saxon origins. When his brother, Robert, finally asserted his claim to the throne of England, Henry defeated him and took over the Duchy of Normandy. King Henry and Queen Matilda would go on to have two children, William and Matilda, who would bring much joy and much sadness. The author, also known to millions of devoted readers as Victoria Holt, masterfully tells the story of Henry, the man who would be king. She recounts his life and loves, painting a portrait of a lusty, ambitious, and ruthless man who would brook no opposition. He would leave England a better place for his reign. It is a spellbinding tale, woven with sufficient historical detail so as to make it enjoyable for all those who love historical fiction.