Lady of The English

       Elizabeth Chadwick's newet novel follows the story of two incredible and very different women. Matilda is the daughter of England's Henry I and after an unfortunate shipwreck becomes his heir. However, in a time when women were consider nothing more than chattel she is forced to fight for her right to the crown. Adeliza is Henry I's second wife. Though a dutiful queen she is unable to fulfill her primary duty by producing an heir to the throne. The two women form a bond that nothing, not even a bloody struggle for the Crown.

       The contrast between the two women is striking. Matilda is full of fire, letting her feelings rule her and cursed with an unhappy family life with an abusive, unfaithful husband and three beloved sons she is separated from in her quest for the Crown. Adeliza on the other hand is much more fragile and less fiery. Her second marriage brings her great happiness and finally, children to warm her heart. Yet both women share an unyielding devotion to justice and duty above all.

Courtesy of Elizabeth Chadwick

       The ending is bitter sweet, but fitting for both parties. Matilda's role in history proves greater than it may seem at first. Her son would succeed where she had failed and would once more make England a mighty empire. Fear of her failure to obtain the crown and the civil war that followed was part of what spurned Henry VIII to seek his infamous divorce and remarriage in order to produce a male heir. Finally, centuries after Matilda England would indeed have its first reigning queen in the form of Mary I, followed by her more famous sister Elizabeth I, the Virgin Queen. Elizabeth I would go on to prove the truth in Matilda's claim that a woman could be a s good as a man and could in fact serve as the sovereign ruler of a nation.