Tea at Trianon: The Chieftain

John Wilson Croker on Marie-Antoinette

"We have followed the history of Marie Antoinette with the greatest diligence and scrupulosity. We have lived in those times. We have talked with some of her friends and some of her enemies; we have read, certainly not all, but hundreds of the libels written against her; and we have, in short, examined her life with– if we may be allowed to say so of ourselves– something of the accuracy of contemporaries, the diligence of inquirers, and the impartiality of historians, all combined; and we feel it our duty to declare, in as a solemn a manner as literature admits of, our well-matured opinion that every reproach against the morals of the queen was a gross calumny– that she was, as we have said, one of the purest of human beings."

~from History of the Guillotine by John Wilson Croker, 1844

Edmund Burke on Marie-Antoinette

"It is now sixteen or seventeen years since I saw the queen of France, then dauphiness, at Versailles; and surely there never lighted on this orb, which she hardly seemed to touch, a more delightful vision. I saw her just above the horizon, decorating and cheering the elevated sphere she had just begun to move in, glittering like a morning star full of life and splendor and joy. Oh, what a revolution....Little did I dream that I should have lived to see such disasters fall upon her, in a nation of gallant men, in a nation of men of honor and of cavaliers! I thought ten thousand swords must have leaped from their scabbards, to avenge even a look which threatened her with insult. But the age of chivalry is gone; that of sophisters, economists, and calculators has succeeded...."

~Edmund Burke, October 1790

Monday, May 6, 2013

The Chieftain

The Chieftain is a hearty historical romance with the same air of adventure, mystery and passion which characterizes the other three books of the Return of the Highlanders series. Set in the Scottish Highlands in the early 16^th century, young Connor, the chieftain of the MacDonald clan, struggles to be a good leader to his people by practicing justice and self-denial. He has resolved to be celibate until he marries, and is determined to make an advantageous alliance which will strengthen his clan. Connor finds himself fighting against his growing attraction for Ilysa, the young widow who manages his household. Ilysa’s meek manner and plain attire disguise a fiery spirit which knows no fear when it comes to protecting those in her care. Her love for Connor gives her the courage to take whatever risks are necessary to guard him from his enemies and from his own brashness. In spite of the steamy love scenes, this novel is almost innocent in the old-fashioned quality of the love story. The action and intrigue make it a page-turner. Be prepared to be up all night once you start reading.

(This review originally appeared in the May 2013 edition of the Historical Novels Review.)

(*NOTE: This book was sent to me by the Historical Novel Society in exchange for my honest opinion.) Share