The
Harlot's Daughter
by Blythe Gifford
What is truth? Power, Law or Love?
Publisher:
Harlequin Historical (October 2007)
King Edward III called Lady Solay daughter. Today, the whispering and
mocking court of King Richard calls her the harlot’s daughter. Once
banished from court, Lady Solay now returns to court in an attempt to
curry and money. Her mother Alys, the former mistress of the late King,
coaxes her daughter in the ways of seduction and how to win favors from
kings. The disgraced Alys knows her daughter's success at court remains
the only hope for her family's economic survival. Despite the murmurs,
Solay holds her head high. She must focus on the king, the supreme
power and law of the land. Her family depends on her.
Lord Justin Lamont, a lawyer, works with the Council and the Duke of
Gloucester in an attempt to reign in the power of the king and prevent
the misuse of Treasury money for extravagant favors. For him, Solay
represents all the extravagance, corruption and debauchery rampant in
the court and yet her beauty and spirit attract him. Can she protect
King Richard by spying on Lord Justin’s plans while showering him with
her attentions? Has she learned her mother’s lessons well enough to
please both Lord Justin and King Richard? In an effort to control the
treasury from the King’s decadence, Lord Justin must keep a careful eye
on all those seeking the King’s favor. Threatened by each other’s
political roles, they are forced together by the King, promised oaths
and bargains. Justin and Solay find much more is at risk as they are
drawn together in a risky dance of secrets, politics and law --- their
hearts. When King and Council war with one another for ultimate power,
can Justin and Solay’s growing love for one another protect them from
all the conflicts or will they be forced to turn against each other in
a bid for personal safety and ideals?
In The Harlot’s Daughter,
Blythe Gifford’s imagination opens a window into the details of
medieval history, blending details from historical and literary records
with fictional characters whose romance makes history come alive for
the modern reader. Based on Joan the daughter of Alice Perrers the
infamous mistress of King Edward III, Lady Solay’s encounters and
conversations with Lord Justin reveal riveting philosophical questions
underlying the Parliament’s action to place the King under the control
of the Council of Lords Appellant. What is truth? Is truth based on
power or law? Can absolute power ever achieve justice? How does justice
apply to those motivated by need as compared to an ideal? Does
compassion supercede the law? Can an individual medieval woman receive
justice or compassion from king, the law or love? Pitted against each
other by their opposing ideals and needs, yet drawn to each other by
love growing more passionate, can Solay and Justin reveal their ideals
and secret vulnerabilities? If so, what are the ramifications for them
and the court?
Blythe Gifford’s medieval historical romance is grounded in both
medieval history and literary traditions from the larger plot elements
to the finest details. Medieval enthusiasts will find a special delight
in the marriage conditions such as the one Justin places on Lady Solay
with the reminiscences of medieval tales (see The Wedding of Sir Gawain
and Dame Ragnell as well as the versions of the Tale of Florent told by
John Gower’s Confessio Amantis and Chaucer’s Wife of Bath’s Tale.), yet
transformed by setting this convention within the context of a concrete
historical event and the romance genre. True to history and literature,
John Gower makes an appearance at Richard’s court. Even more fine in
detail than the time setting of the liturgical calendar, a minor
character is mentioned as reading a book to create a contrast to Lady
Solay‘s temperament and interest in astrology. Medieval enthusiasts
will remember that William Caxton brought the printing press to England
at a date later than the time frame encompassed by this book and
therefore books, as we think of them, were rare, expensive and likely
to have originated from the court. To the reader’s delight, even this
most minute detail echoes the suspense and literary themes of the
romance! Blythe Gifford‘s The
Harlot’s Daughter easily transports the reader into the time and
the romance and yet this is a romance that Medieval enthusiasts might
choose to keep on their shelves and reread ---- this is a romance that
continues to give and delight after the first reading!
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