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10:01 am
Okay. So imagine me looking at some historical fiction books on Amazon and coming across ‘Daughter of York’ by Anne Easter Smith. Reading the blurb, I discover that it’s about Margaret of York – sister of Edward IV and Richard. Then something happens what I wasn’t expecting: Margaret of York had an affair with Anthony Woodville. With all the respect to Smith (this is NOT a personal attack on her, so please forgive me if it sounds like one) as a writer – I just couldn’t get it. As far as I know, this is just absurd. A simple lover of history I am, but I don’t think there is ANY evidence for this. Smith explained at the end that it was ‘possible’ because Anthony was the queen’s brother and so spend a lot of time at court and they ‘shared the same love of books’ – well I am sorry, but if you put it this way almost EVERYONE could have had an affair with Anthony Woodville, if they were at court and loved books! I know that every author of historical fiction has a certain licence of freedom, but this just goes beyond that. It makes it no longer ‘historical’ fiction, but just fantasy. Again, this is not a personal attack on Smith – but I couldn’t get past that. What do you guys think about this? Interested in your opinions. BIEKM
2:50 pm
February 24, 2010
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Hi Biekm.
I read that book years ago. Am I remembering correctly? Didn’t Smith claim in the book that Charles the Bold was somewhat of a pompous jerk and rather cruel? I know after I read it, I went straight to the history books to find out if what she was writing had anything to do with the truth. It really didn’t. Anthony Woodville is such an enigmatic character who comes to such a bad end. A hero who was well-loved. If you throw history out the window, and look at it as Smith did, anything is possible. There is a demand for hero/court love stories. There have been worse books by other authors. I have trouble reading historical fiction from certain periods. I’m spoiled by the facts. I stay away from many fiction books dealing with the War of the Roses and the Tudor period.
Fiction writers love to make up love affairs between courtiers and ladies of the court. Affairs seem to sell a lot of books whether they took place or not.
8:35 am
Hi Sharon! I didn’t read the book yet, I just read the blurb and the Author’s Note – any further than that I couldn’t go. I just couldn’t get over it – like you said: I was spoiled by the facts. Normally I try not to think too much about it when I’m reading historical fiction – like an off-button or something like that – but this time I found the fundamental storyline so messed up, that it would make everything else unbelievable. But maybe it’s a good thing to do – keeping a celibate on historical fiction of the tudors and stuff. O how they torture us, those naughty authors! 🙂
2:55 pm
January 3, 2012
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Well we like to keep you on your toes Biekm. LOL
Semper Fidelis, quod sum quod
6:25 pm
February 24, 2010
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Biekm said
Hi Sharon! I didn’t read the book yet, I just read the blurb and the Author’s Note – any further than that I couldn’t go. I just couldn’t get over it – like you said: I was spoiled by the facts. Normally I try not to think too much about it when I’m reading historical fiction – like an off-button or something like that – but this time I found the fundamental storyline so messed up, that it would make everything else unbelievable. But maybe it’s a good thing to do – keeping a celibate on historical fiction of the tudors and stuff. O how they torture us, those naughty authors! 🙂
Staying away from fiction that covers certain periods works for me. Saves me a lot of grief, and anger.
I think I am missing my ‘off-button’ (I like that) when it comes to fiction in some period books. Not all, just some. I am an avid reader, but I hate being disappointed by authors who change history.
