Recent Reads - A Place Beyond Courage

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A Place Beyond Courage by Elizabeth Chadwick - The stories of the real men and women who lived in medieval England provide fascinating storylines, and John FitzGilbert, marshal to King Henry I is a perfect example. Chadwick takes the known facts about John and the people he interacted with, and weaves them into a page-turning novel.

The book opens with John as marshal to Henry in 1130, as he is in his rise to power under that monarch. John marries a young noblewoman who has been his ward, bringing more land under his control. Then, the king dies under somewhat suspicious circumstances in Normandy, and the barons start to divide - some swear allegiance to the king's daughter, Matilda, as the king had forced them to do many years earlier; but many throw their fortunes with Stephen of Blois, a nephew who is the next male in the line. John chooses to side with Stephen to begin with, and is appointed as his marshal and receives more land and castles. But when some of Stephen's advisers begin to turn him against John, John switches his alliance to Matilda and from that point on works to bring the crown to her and her son. His duties as marshal to Matilda put him in the thick of many battles, and in one of those he was badly burned and scarred. After his recovery, he made another gamble, having his first marriage annulled and making an alliance with a neighboring baron by marrying his daughter. Many more battles and dangers - as well as one heart-wrenching gamble when under siege by Stephen's forces - follow and test John's courage and leadership abilities, and threaten his future and his family.

Chadwick's novel brings little-known characters to life, and although much of the dialogue and interactions, especially private conversations and family life, must necessarily be fictional, these are based on research and are quite believable. This book kept me engaged and interested throughout, eager to imagine along the author how these larger-than-life characters might have felt and behaved, and what ideals and fears drove their actions.

By the same author: Lady of the English

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