Book 14: Royal Witches Witchcraft and the Nobility in Fifteenth-Century England by Gemma Hollman

I found this book through a library search for Elizabeth Woodville. Hollman examines the stores of four English royal women suspected of witchcraft.

The first woman is Joan of Navarre, who came to England as the second wife to Henry IV. After Henry IV's death, Joan was accused of plotting the death of  King Henry V.  This gave Henry V the excuse to confine Joan in order to access her riches to finance his ongoing battles with the French. Joan was never tried and Henry V ensured that Joan was comfortable in her confinement. Before he died, he released Joan and returned her property.

The next woman Hollman studies is Eleanor Cobham. She had been living a fairy tale life. She and husband Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester were a true love match. Gloucester was the uncle to the boy king Henry VI, and  heir to the English throne. But Humphrey's great power brought him strong enemies. It was easy to accuse Eleanor of witchcraft. Eleanor was imprisoned, her marriage to Humphrey was annulled, and Humphrey was ruined. They never saw each other again.

The last section of the book focuses on mother-daughter Jacquetta of Luxembourg and Elizabeth Woodville. I only heard of Jacquetta as Elizabeth's mother. How did I miss that she was part of the royal family in Luxembourg. She married John, Duke of Bedford, brother to Humphrey. Duke of Gloucester (Eleanor Cobham's husband) and uncle to the young King Henry VI. 

Within a year of the Duke of Bedford's death, Jacquetta scandalized England by marrying the lowly knight Richard Woodville. Despite some lean years, Richard became a respected soldier and Jacquetta eventually grew close to Henry VI's wife, Margaret of Anjou. 

When Elizabeth Woodville married King Edward IV, the Woodvilles flipped from supporting the Lancaster cause to supporting the Yorkists. The Kingmaker, Richard Neville, had been disgraced by the marriage; he had been negotiating marriage for Edward to a French princess. Neville's rebellion ended in failure, but not before he murdered Queen Elizabeth's father and brother and had Jacquetta accused of witchcraft. After the triumphal return of Edward IV, Jacquetta ensured that a judgement of innocent against witchcraft was entered into the records. 

As Queen, Elizabeth Woodville was never officially accused of witchcraft, but rumors swirled around her ever since she secretly married Edward IV. The rumors live in the literature; I'm thinking specifically of Philippa Gregory.

All  four women were related and have interacted with other. Eleanor and Jacquetta married Joan's stepsons.  Each experienced accusations of witchcraft and worse for Eleanor. It was too easy to make accusations of  witchcraft against women; they were vulnerable despite her social status. Cynical men counted on that.

Second Re-read: The Testaments by Margaret Atwood

I borrowed this book from Norwalk Library in 2019 and bought my own copy in 2023. I knew I'd reread it one day, and now's the time. 

Jeff and I recently watched the series on Hulu and liked it. But I realized that I had forgotten many of the details. Of course, many details differ between the novel and the series. There are new characters and new developments. I don't have any problems with the changes. 

Now, I want to rewatch the series. The Mets season will still be over--that will give me some time.  

Another Reason to Love...

September. 

I look at September as a month of opportunity. I like these ideas. While I don't pressure myself much about New Year's resolutions, September goals are easier. 

My main goal: return to a writing routine. 

I 💖 September

September is my favorite month. Last year, September was stressful--preparing for the move. This year, we're going away for five nights. two in Lewes, DE and three in Ocean City, MD. It took a while to find the right hotels online. I found three or four breweries and a winery in the area; we enjoy going for tastings. I've done a little research on restaurants and have a recommendation from our neighbors. Need to check out some nice stores. Looking forward to this getaway.

***

Labor Day Weekend is over, but summer isn't  But, I'm already seeing signs of fall--acorns along the walkways, leaves tracked into the entryways. (The latter is my least favorite sign of fall.) Despite a few early days with temperature in the nineties, the temperature has moderated. A few mornings have had temps in the 60's.

*** 

I've lost a lot of weight over the past four years (since Jace joined us, a coincidence or a cause?) Anyway, I finally got rid of a lot of clothes that I held onto. At one point, I realized I only had two long-sleeved blouses. Then I realized that I didn't have appropriate pants or skirt for a memorial service for our neighbor this Friday.. So, I went shopping today and luckily found something to wear. I never expected to need to get clothes because I was getting smaller, but that's what's been happening. 

Can't wait to our getaway.

Book 13: The Kingmaker's Daughter by Philippa Gregory

I really enjoyed this book until the last 50 pages or so. I became interested in Anne Neville after reading other Philippa Gregory novels and watching television adaptations of her work. Last year I read a biography about Anne.

This book begins when Anne is 11 and she is presented to the Edward IV's new queen, Elizabeth Woodville. Their marriage is an embarrassment and an affront to Anne's father, the Earl of Warwick who was negotiating a marriage between Edward and a French princess.

Gregory captures the thoughts of a young girl as she plays as being queen with her sister Isabel. Anne also calls Margaret of Anjou and Henry VI the bad queen and sleeping king.  

But Anne has to grow up fast when her father decides to support another candidate as king and uses Anne and Isabel as his tools to make new alliances. 

I disliked the emphasis on witchcraft especially at the end of the novel. Even after she is crowned queen to Richard III,  Anne is haunted by fear of Elizabeth Woodville's curses. 

I still enjoyed this book. 

End of August Summer Thoughts

 Around mid-August, I start thinking about whether I did any summer things. While I was thinking about mid-August, it became late August. I keep thinking about this this song. 

I didn't bother to make a summer fun list this year. But I was thinking of my past lists last week when I ordered a lobster roll (the Connecticut version with hot butter.) Lobster rolls are relatively rare on Maryland menus. I should also make a mojito salad--that also means summer to me. 

Yesterday I went swimming in our condo pool for the first time. What the hell was I waiting for? It felt great to get back in the water even if it was only for a short time. I was inspired by a neighbor who told me the pool will close on Labor Day. I need to get more swimming in. 

Jeff and I have plans for a getaway for our anniversary. We're going to Ocean City, Maryland for the first time. We have a room with an ocean view and balcony. It will be a nice way to close out the summer. 

Book 12: The Holcroft Covenant by Robert Ludlum

This book has an intriguing premise: In the final days of the Third Reich, its leaders secretly sent children all over the world to wait until they came of age to form the Fourth Reich with the aid of over $700 million. 

The key to the plan is Noel Holcroft, the biological son of a high-ranking Nazi officer. Noel is shown the Holcroft Covenant but believes it's for the purpose of making reparations to those who suffered at the hands of the Third Reich and to restore the honor of Noel's father and other officers who attempted to stop Hitler but failed. 

As soon as Noel hears about the Holcroft Covenant from the mysterious Manfredi, he is a target. While he escapes murder, death is all round him. He is also subjected to psychological torture. 

There is a big but coming. The action is relentless--too relentless. It reminded me about the current trends in action films, How many assassination attempts and shady organizations do you need? I think the book could have been a hundred pages shorter (my paperback copy was 500 pages.) 

Then there was a ridiculous sex scene. The woman's breasts are straining against the thin cloth of her blouse, whatever. The only point of the scene was to give the hero an out for having possibly inappropriate sex. He couldn't help himself; she was just too sexy for him to resist. It's bullshit, annoying, and lazy writing. 

Ready to move on.