Play Audiobook Sample
Lady of the English Audiobook
Play Audiobook Sample
(4.00) - 1,388 listener ratings
Quick Stats About this Audiobook
Total Audiobook Chapters:
Longest Chapter Length:
Shortest Chapter Length:
Average Chapter Length:
Audiobooks by this Author:
Publisher Description
From New York Times bestselling author Elizabeth Chadwick comes a gripping, never-before-told, medieval battle of the sexes that sheds light on one of medieval royalty’s most fascinating women―Queen Matilda.
1135, England: Matilda, daughter of Henry I, knows that there are those who will not accept her as England’s queen when her father dies. But the men who support her rival, and cousin, Stephen do not know the iron will that drives her. She will win her inheritance against all odds, and despite all men.
Adeliza, Henry’s widowed queen and Matilda’s stepmother, is now married to a warrior who is fighting to keep Matilda off the throne. But Adeliza knows that Britain’s crown belongs to a woman this time.
Both women will stand and fight for what they know is right for England’s royalty. But for Matilda, pride comes before a fall. And for Adeliza, even the deepest love is no proof against fate.
Written with great historical accuracy, Lady of the English is a captivating novel of Medieval England. Fans of Philippa Gregory, Susanna Kearsley, Hilary Mantel, and Diana Gabaldon will be spellbound by this vividly detailed look into medieval history.
“Everyone who has raved about Elizabeth Chadwick as an author of historical novels is right."—Devourer of Books
Download and start listening now!
"I started and stopped this several times, only getting a few pages in, because I wanted the perfect weekend to devote my full attention to it. It was worth the wait. This is the kind of writing I strive for - natural without laziness, intelligent without snobbishness, detailed without overcrowding. Absolutely gorgeous. Matilda was sort of a Scarlett O'Hara figure (except likeable), ruled by her head, where Adeliza who was like Melanie, ruled by her heart (except things worked out a lot better for Adeliza than poor Melly). I adored Will and Brian (especially Will), and I hated Geoffrey on a very personal level. All the characters lived and breathed in the words, as did the world they existed in. This is historical fiction at its best."
— Heather (5 out of 5 stars)
Lady of the English Listener Reviews
-
" I love any book about Matilda, and this one was good but also frustrating. I liked the writing, I liked some of Matilda's inner monologues, and I liked some of the descriptions and many of the secondary characters. However, it seemed like people and relationships were sometimes characterized well and sometimes badly. Sometimes it was a sliding scale. For example, Matilda and Geoffrey's relationship, arguably the most important of the book, is very well drawn in the early stages but hardly described at all in later stages. Stephen, the great adversary, merits some bare descriptions in the beginning before becoming almost a nonentity. The same is often true of events. Matilda's return from Germany to England at the onset is very well written, but her final disappointing retreat from England to France feels detached (when it should be very emotional). I really loved the incorporation of Adeliza's story, because I've never seen her mentioned in the fiction I've read about Matilda. (Again, on the other hand, she was not quite as prominent as the taglines and press would have you believe.) I guess the overall verdict is that this is decent historical fiction, neither bad nor great, and it varies a lot between its covers. "
— Kristin, 1/23/2014 -
" Raced thru it! Chadwick has such a way of grounding the reader in the time-- "
— Cori, 1/2/2014 -
" A truly enjoyable read and a good attempt to try and understand Matilda's character. "
— Lezley, 12/30/2013 -
" I HAVE OFTEN WONDERED ABOUT MATILDA, THE MOTHER OF HENRY II, WHO FOUGHT SO LONG AND HARD FOR HENRY'S RIGHT TO THE THRONE AFTER HER UNCLE STEPHEN STOLE THE THRONE FROM HER AS A RESULT OF HENRY I'S DEATH LEAVING AN UNCERTAINTY ABOUT HIS CHOICE TO SUCCEED HIM. HISTORY HAS NOT BEEN KIND TO MATILDA, PROBABLY BECAUSE SHE WAS A STRONG WOMAN, AND MOST HISTORY OF THE PERIOD HAS BEEN WRITTEN BY MEN. CHADWICK HAS DONE HER HOMEWORK AND WRITTEN A HISTORICALLY ACCURATE NOVEL FROM MATILDA'S VIEWPOINT. THE CHARACTERS ARE WELL-DRAWN AND BELIEVABLE, AS THEY WERE REAL PEOPLE. MOST HISTORICAL BITISH FICTION BEGINS WITH HENRY II WITH MENTIONS OF HIS GREAT GRANDFATHER, WILLIAM THE CONQUERER. NOW WE HAVE AN IDEA OF THOSE CHARACTERS IN BETWEEN. "
— Cheryl, 12/20/2013 -
" I have read several books about the conflict for succession after the death of Henry I but this, more than any other, humanises Matilda and makes her real. Very enjoyable and credible. "
— Gill, 12/19/2013 -
" I found this book disappointing. I am a big admirer of Chadwick. I have enjoyed many of her Plantagenet books, and William Marshall is now a hero of mine. This book is pushing it "
— Sarah, 12/5/2013 -
" I love Elizabeth Chadwick! She really brings historical periods to life, and in this case the character of Empress Matilda. I love the period she writes about, usually 1100-1200, with lots of wonderful historical details that don't take away from the story. "
— Kate, 9/28/2013 -
" I loved this book! Elizabeth Chadwick brings history to life in her books! "
— Alicia, 9/20/2013 -
" I gave up on this one. I couldn't find any empathy for Matilda or her milquetoast stepmother Adeliza. "
— Lisa, 9/20/2013 -
" Chadwick...enough said. "
— Rio, 5/2/2013 -
" Not bad! I was interested in this era due to some links I discovered while conducting family history research. Well written and I loved the epilogue. "
— Catherine, 3/8/2013 -
" Loved it! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book....Elizabeth Chadwick is an amazing author! Will read many more of her books! "
— Rita, 1/24/2013 -
" Wonderful Medieval story of royal court and war of the times. Full of historical fact and making for a intense and intriguing story. "
— Kate, 6/23/2012
About Rosalyn Landor
Rosalyn Landor is an English-born television, theater, and multiple-award-winning audiobook narrator. Her television credits include Love in a Cold Climate, Rumpole of the Bailey, Sherlock Holmes, and Star Trek: The Next Generation. She has won numerous Audie awards and AudioFile magazine Earphones awards.