Learning about the English monarchy

I've recently become extremely interested in English history, particularly the history of the English monarchy. It's due to the strange coincidence of having read, within a short period of time, several novels which happen to feature real historical figures playing pivotal roles.

It started with "Pillars of the Earth," by Ken Follett, which takes place over a generation in the mid-1100s. Its focus is the building of a cathedral in a fictional town called Kingsbridge. Wonderful, wonderful book...I highly recommend it, even if you don't think you'd be interested in such a topic. It will suck you in, I guarantee it. The historical character in this book is Thomas Becket. Most recently, I've finished reading "The Queen's Fool," by Philippa Gregory, a novel which is a bit like a medieval tell-all revealing the private lives of Queens Mary I and Elizabeth I, shortly after the deaths of King Henry VIII and his child successor, Edward. Interesting book, though not nearly as well written as most of the others I've picked up.

My favourite character has been Henry II, whose portrayal in Ariana Franklin's "Mistress of the Art of Death" and its sequel, "The Serpent's Tale," was truly enjoyable. She painted him as a sardonic, witty, highly intelligent and canny, and very democratic kind of king who I really liked, and wanted to know more about. So I went in search of other works of historical fiction, as I had decided that reading that type of book was a great way to learn some history.

This has led me to pick up other novels: "The Other Boleyn Girl" by Phillipa Gregory and "When Christ and His Saints Slept" by Sharon Kay Penman. Again, the Gregory book is poorly written when compared to most others, but entertaining...and there's the recent movie of the same name to save you the trouble if you don't want to invest the time in reading (I haven't seen it yet). A lot of writer's liberty taken with Gregory's books, I'd guess. On the other hand, Penman's book is written as fiction, but it sticks so closely to historical fact that it sometimes reads like a history book...more a series of historical vignettes than a story. But she does it well and makes it interesting.

The main thing that vexes me (see? I'm starting to sound like I come from the middle ages!) about these books is that they all have so many damn characters and it's hard to keep them all straight! So I've taken to keeping my computer handy while I read or watch the movies I've (gasp) downloaded. Even so, I've learned that even Wikipedia cannot always be trusted, so I usually check two or three different sources at once when investigating any particular historical figure.

And speaking of movies, I can now recommend a few new ones. Firstly, check out "The Lion In Winter," with incredible performances by Peter O'Toole as Henry II and his banished and imprisoned wife Eleanor of Aquitaine (surely you've heard of HER!). The two roles could not have been cast more perfectly and the movie vibrates with the mix of love, hate and grudging admiration that constantly travels between the two as they battle over who will succeed Henry.

I also (gasp) downloaded the wonderful six-part PBS mini-series made in the 70s "Six Wives of Henry VIII" starring Keith Michell as Henry and a parade of incredible actresses as his ill-fated wives. My favourite was Katherine Parr, his last wife, who survived him. A mature, intelligent, feisty and fearless woman who did what she had to do to survive, while growing a real affection for the king, in spite of his grossness at the end. Michell was a tad ridiculous as the young Henry in the first episode, but by the second, he was looking more fit for the role and growing into the character as well, and really got under my skin after a while. I became so attached to the characters in this teleplay that I was crying at the end when Henry died.

I've also just started watching "Becket" with a younger Peter O'Toole as Henry II and Sir Richard Burton as Thomas Becket and Sir John Geilgud as Louis VII of France. With a stellar cast like that, is it any wonder this movie won 12 Academy awards (including Best Picture) and a host of other awards. I've only watched the first couple of minutes, and then I got this sudden urge to write this blog. It's now 11:14pm, and time to away to my bed, so perhaps I'll report on it in another post...or perhaps I won't.

Good night!