Eleanor De Clare, daughter of an earl, and niece of the king, marries Hugh le Despenser, a knight with whom she is passionately in love. Hugh, too, loves Eleanor, as much as she loves him but his ambition to rise above his station drives him to seek money, lands and recognition beyond all else. As he achieves goal after goal, his family grows. However, those around him begin to dislike his efforts indeed as time passes they hate him and what he does which is whatever he must to increase his holdings. Hugh's actions even alientate Eleanor from her two sisters. Blinded by love, Eleanor does not understand what is happening but devotes herself first to service to the queen and later to her growing family.
There comes a time when Hugh goes beyond what people will accept. Eleanor finds herself imprisoned in the tower, not once but twice. Hugh is hated beyond all others and finally is killed for his actions, branded as a traitor. Even his father has been beheaded for his support of Hugh. Life looks dismal for Eleanor as her beloved uncle, King Edward, is murdered in captivity. This is indeed a chaotic time for England. The le Dispenser name carries the traitor label affecting her children as they grow. The queen becomes as obsessed with achieving wealth as Hugh was. It was she who spearheads the revolt against Edward and Hugh. As the people recognize a new evil - the queen and her lover, times must change. This is a bloody and tumultuous period in which it was difficult to live as any person of influence. Many lost their lives be they supporters of the le Dispensers, King Edward, or the vicious queen.
This is my second read of the novel and I enjoyed it even more than in 2017. Perhaps I remembered enough to gather more details. It's a great book and I highly recommend it.
There comes a time when Hugh goes beyond what people will accept. Eleanor finds herself imprisoned in the tower, not once but twice. Hugh is hated beyond all others and finally is killed for his actions, branded as a traitor. Even his father has been beheaded for his support of Hugh. Life looks dismal for Eleanor as her beloved uncle, King Edward, is murdered in captivity. This is indeed a chaotic time for England. The le Dispenser name carries the traitor label affecting her children as they grow. The queen becomes as obsessed with achieving wealth as Hugh was. It was she who spearheads the revolt against Edward and Hugh. As the people recognize a new evil - the queen and her lover, times must change. This is a bloody and tumultuous period in which it was difficult to live as any person of influence. Many lost their lives be they supporters of the le Dispensers, King Edward, or the vicious queen.
This is my second read of the novel and I enjoyed it even more than in 2017. Perhaps I remembered enough to gather more details. It's a great book and I highly recommend it.
