Author: Susan Higginbotham
monarchs, is a tale that can be found on any daytime soap opera or critically
acclaimed motion picture. The fact that his story is actually history and not
fiction adds to its intrigue. While many pieces have been written about the
King, there are few that take the approach of Susan Higginbotham in The
Traitor’s Wife. Her tale is centered on Eleanor de Clare, Edward’s beloved
niece, which brings a refreshing point of view to the fascinating reign of
Edward II.
Eleanor’s story begins with her marriage to Hugh le Despenser, who
seems gentle and devoted at first but soon his ambition for power is
revealed. He exploits his marriage to gain access to the King, known for his
sexual deviancy with his advisor Piers Gaveston, and eventually begins a
love affair lasting nearly a decade. Through this relationship, Despenser
gains much power for himself and his family, but not without cost. The King’s
enemies multiply in light of his perceived weakness and shameless love life
and he soon finds himself facing a rebellious attitude amongst England’s
nobles.
Motivated by her husband’s incompetence and adulterous behavior,
Queen Isabella, for whom Eleanor worked as a hand maiden, takes it upon
herself to seize power on behalf of her son, Edward III. With the aide of her
lover, Roger Mortimer, one of England’s noble barons made discontent by
Edward’s actions, she fields a powerful army and eventually ousts the King.
Dispenser is captured, charged with treason and executed. Caught in the
middle of the political unrest is Eleanor, who is imprisoned in the Tower of
London for her blind devotion to her spouse. Her story encompasses the
human spirit and exemplifies the strength of womanhood.
Named one of 15 finalists in the historical fiction category of Foreward
Magazine’s 2005 Book of the Year Awards, The Traitor’s Wife has already
gained a well-earned reputation as an enjoyable read. This story has all the
ingredients for a great tale: erotica, treason, war and murder. Couple this
with Higginbotham’s clear passion and knack for accuracy, and this book is a
can’t miss. Purists may not be happy with the author's use of modern
English instead medieval dialect, but I would disagree with this. In my
opinion, use of medieval dialect can be likened to subtitles on a foreign film.
Sure, it’s more genuine, but also somewhat distracting and therefore would
have been detrimental to the novel as a whole. Higginbotham made the right
decision.
The writing itself seems to take a sepia colored form like an aged
photograph, similar to the sense one gets when reading Charlotte Bronte,
which is perfect for a novel set in 14th century England. It would not surprise
me if Ms Higginbotham were, herself, a fan of Bronte, as the influence can be
clearly seen. All in all, this novel was a joy to read, especially for a fan of
historical fiction like myself.