Books I Have Ejoyed

For as long as I can remember, I have always been an avid reader, particularly of historical fiction and non-fiction. As a child I read Jeffrey Farnol and Geoffrey Trease’s children’s historical fiction and, at the library, always chose to read historical fiction and non-fiction. Later, I read the classics, Thomas Hardy, Charles Dickens, Charlotte Bronte and Jane Austen. At around the age of fourteen or fifteen, I borrowed my next door neighbor’s novels by Georgette Heyer and could not read them fast enough. I also read the works of Elizabeth Goudge, Anya Seton, and, I think, in my late teens began reading the Angelique series by Seargeanne Golon. These authors and many more invoked my wish to become a published historical novelist. More recently I have read and enjoyed Helen Hollick and Elizabeth Chadwick’s novels. By the way, if you browsed through my personal home library, you would find The Bhagavita, The Song of God by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and the great Indian classics The Mahabharat and the Ramayan, which rival The Odyssey and the Illiad which I own, as well as the St James Bible and the Book of Common Prayer. You would also find The White Witch by Elizabeth Goudge, all of Elizabeth Chadwick’s mediaeval novels, Benita Brown’s novels, Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell, These Old Shades and Devil’s Cub and other novels by Georgette Heyer, the works of Jane Austen, The Far Pavilions, The Shadow of the Moon and Trade Winds by M.M.Kaye, Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scot, and many others by authors I appreciate such as Baroness Orczy’s Scarlet Pimpernel series and the novels of Francis Parkinson Keyes. 

The Chamption by Elizabeth Chadwick

Disgusted by the corruption in an English monastery,where he has been flogged for a minor misdemeanor,Alexander de Montroi flees to his older brother in Normandy, where he learns to excel in tourneys.


Monday, whose mother ran away from her father, Lord of Stafford, to marry a mere knight who earns his living in tourneys, dreams of being a lady gowned in silk instead of a sempstress.

Alexander and Monday's friendship is corrupted when, inebriated, they make love. Monday runs away to bear her child. A quirk of fate leads to her becoming the future King John of England's mistress.

Another quirk of fate brings Alexander and Monday together but they must fight for their happiness.

The Champion is peopled with imaginary and historical characters each of whom springs to life on the pages. I particularly liked Monday and Alexander's small son, Florian.

12th century life is expertly described with many interesting details including birth control.

I shall keep The Champion with other novels to be read again.

Tangled Love
Sunday's Child
New Release. False Pretences. October