The Marriage of Meggotta

"The Marriage of Meggotta" is a novelization of the true story of Meggotta de Burgh and Richard de Clare, who were married as children in 1232 in order to protect their interests from the political upheaval caused by King Henry III's accusations against Meggotta's father Hubert de Burgh, Earl of Kent. Meggotta was the daughter of Hubert and his wife Margaret, sister of King Alexander II of Scotland. Richard was the heir to the Earldoms of Hertford and Gloucester, which would make him a powerful man when he came of age. In the meanwhile, he was given to Hubert to be raised as Meggotta's foster brother and future husband. The ambitions of a fickle and immature King, manipulated by his treasurer Peter des Rivaulx, plunge England into war and exact a terrible cost on the young couple. Edith Parteger could not know what Meggotta and Richard said or felt for one another, though it seems they did intend to honor their marriage vows well into their teens. She uses the situation of these two young people, buffeted by forces beyond their control, to present the human side of the complex political events that led to war between King Henry and Richard, Earl Marshal and Earl of Pembroke (young Richard's uncle), a situation instigated by the King's dubious accusations of treason and ill treatment of the Earl of Kent. Also playing out in the background is the romance between the King's sister Eleanor and Simon de Montfort, Earl of Leicester, another love match that is threatened by political realities. As Eleanor explains, "marriages are about lands and alliances and status". To stand in the way of family ambitions is to court disaster, at least among the nobility. But people do fall in love, as is natural, and that is inconvenient, most of all for the lovers. Edith Parteger's great success in "The Marriage of Meggotta" is her ability to portray the emotional lives of both young and old characters. Hubert's emotional defeat as an old man is affecting, as is Richard's passion and frustration as a young man. It's curious that for all we admire brave and beautiful Meggotta and her formidable mother Margaret, it is the men whom Parteger understands best and whom she gives the greatest depth. The men had the power, and, perhaps, as the author was a woman, they fascinated her most. "The Marriage of Meggotta" is a touching and perceptive look back at 13th century England.

A workmanlike effort by the author of the Brother Cadfael mysteries. This book is a well written account of the doomed love between two very young people. I had to remind myself that marriage at the age of 13 in the 1200's was a commonplace. When life expectancy was so much shorter than in our modern day, matrimony and procreation happened much earlier in life. I confess I inwardly objected "no kid that age could have emotions that profound" from time to time, but I was able to overcome that objection due to the power of the narrative. At first I had to continually refer to the introductory list of characters, as there seemed to be more people involved than your typical Russian novel, but I quickly learned who was who. With so many Richards and Margarets, it took me some time to straighten them all out. The story picks up speed about half way through and has a very satisfying conclusion which brings the reader full circle. Despite the ultimate tragedy of the young couple's romance, their loss is balanced by the love of others which survives. There was comfort in the strength of an enduring old love and the inception of a new love which made the sadness of the hero and heroine bearable. I thought the depiction of the mercurial Henry III was excellent. Simon de Montford is only briefly introduced, but his fascinating story may be read in Sharon Kay Penman's "Falls the Shadow" which is also highly recommended.

I just finished reading this book, which I found very entertaining, well-written, and thoroughly researched, with characters that stay with you after the book is returned to the shelf. The aftermath is sad, the more becuase it is true, but the love shared by Richard and Meggotta is one of a kind. I highly recommend it!

I picked this book by accident in the library, and found myself unexpectedly and whole-heartedly enthralled by it. Set in the time of Henry III, it describes a true Romeo and Juliet story of Margaret (Megotta) who falls in love with her father's ward Richard. They plan to marry, but when the king's displeasure is turned toward the family, they are forbidden to do so, for Richard is a politically-important pawn of great wealth. Richard and Margaret defy the king and marry, but how long can they keep it a secret, and what can they hope for?One of the things that makes the story so emotional and moving to read is that it is a true story. Richard, Megotta and all the others really lived. They are not just shadowy imaginings of an author. They are both very young, not even teenagers, when their love affair takes place, and Ms Pargeter treats this topic with sensitivity. After all, this is consistent with a society where girls often became mothers at twelve. The story IS touching, deeply romantic and tragic, but never maudlin or mawkish. The youthful love story of Richard and Megotta is contrasted with the adult story of Simon de Montfort and the king's sister (excellently portrayed in Sharon Kay Penman's "Falls the Shadow") There's more to it then love, however. Ms Pargeter describes the chilling atmosphere at the court of Henry III and the ruthless power-play behind the scenes. It is a place which will make an average modern dictatorship appear benign by contrast. As in her "Bloody field by Shrewsbury" and the Gwynedd brothers quartet, Ms Pargeter created a spell-binding book.I really recommend it, but advise the readers to have the kleenexes handy. I was not able to stay dry-eyed by the end.