As the Three Kingdoms totter on the brink of anarchy, Henriette-Marie, queen of Charles I, strives to bring up their lively, growing family. In addition to her own health problems, she worries about the welfare of her mother the Dowager Queen of France, who sought refuge in London only to find herself under attack. As Henriette faces choices which may separate herself from her beloved husband and children, she seeks help from the Pope and the Irish Catholics. Meanwhile, Henriette's spy, Wat Montagu, informs her that there is a traitor within the royal household. Determined to save the throne, Henriette eventually decides to sell her jewels in order to raise an army. In spite of storms and near shipwreck as well as the attempts of her enemies to kill her, Henriette is able to return to her husband's side with an army, earning for herself the moniker of "Generalissima."
"With commendably strong accuracy of historical detail, Elena overlays a fictional interpretation of the most momentous events of Henrietta Maria’s life; the lead up to – and outbreak of - the civil wars (also known as Britain’s Wars of the Three Kingdoms). With evident passion for this much overlooked period, she tracks the queen and her family, taking readers behind palace doors to imagine how they might have reacted to the seismic events they faced." —from the Foreword by Mark Turnbull, author of The Private Life of Charles I
"In her latest novel on Queen Henrietta Maria as in her previous historical works, Elena Maria Vidal shows her great appreciation for the layers of whatever world she inhabits as an author. She immerses us in the material, intellectual, and spiritual culture that shapes the characters as they face the catastrophe of civil war and the tumult of religious division. King Charles and Queen Henrietta Maria, complex and often misunderstood monarchs, are intimately revealed here through their warm family life, which the author paints with vivid linguistic color. We also meet various other historical figures who make their mark upon the Isles, from Mary Ward to Oliver Cromwell, bound together by an aura of destiny already prophesied by Britain's Arthurian myths." —Avellina Balestri, author of All Ye That Pass By
“Generalissima is another beautiful historical novel (the second in The Henrietta of France Trilogy) by Elena Maria Vidal, which drew me into the story from the very beginning, continuing the narrative from Book One. The author’s superb research and solid, polished story-telling allow these historical characters to become living, breathing people. With the popularity of the ‘pulp fiction’ genre, I, for one, enjoy the rich settings, well-developed characters, and exquisite prose of this talented author. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys crisp writing and fascinating history.” —Ellen Gable, award-winning author of Where Angels Pass
“Elena Vidal does true justice to Queen Henrietta Maria, a beguiling Stuart heroine whose deep faith and love underpinned her bravery in a turbulent era. Alive with intrigue and studded with gems of detail, Generalissima captures the reader from the very outset.” —Justine Brown, author of The Private Life of James II
“From the first words of the Prologue, you're there with the Royal Family in the picture Gallery. Limned by a great historical novelist, each episode in this second volume of Vidal's ‘Henrietta of France Trilogy’ develops the characters and explores the challenges they face with vivid description and riveting action. Vidal depicts Queen Henrietta Maria's love and loyalty to her husband King Charles I and her family in the throes of the English Civil War sympathetically and realistically. Volume Three can't appear soon enough! —Stephanie A. Mann, blogger and author of Supremacy and Survival: How Catholics Endured the English Reformation
Kindle edition, HERE.
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