Shadow on the Crown Patricia Bracewell
by
Natasa Djordjevic
- 12:38 PM
The book, which is the first of a trilogy, narrates the story of Queen Emma of Normandy, a historical figure who is not very well known. The story is set in the years preceding the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, when the Saxons were at the peak of their power in Britain, but were under constant threat from the Danes who frequently raided their coasts. Emma, who comes from a Norman noble family that has alliances with both the Saxons and the Danes, seeks to raise her family's prestige by maintaining the favor of both kings. To broker peace, young Emma marries the British king, Aethelred, who is a troubled and cruel man. Upon arriving at the court, Emma realizes that her role as queen is not what she had expected, and she must use all her wit and intelligence to survive in a world that is akin to a real-life Game of Thrones.
Shadow on the Crown is a book that captivated me from the very beginning. In my opinion, it perfectly embodies what historical fiction should be. Bracewell excels at creating a vivid and immersive world. Although I wasn't particularly familiar with the Saxons before reading this book, I now feel like I've spent time in their bleak and brutal world and gained a better understanding of what life was like during that era. I think that part of what makes this possible is that Bracewell heavily relies on the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle for her story and uses actual Saxon words throughout the book, which adds a sense of authenticity to the narrative.
The book is not entirely negative, but it doesn't ignore the harsh realities of the time. These include abusive men, disrespectful attitudes towards women, brutal wars, and cruel tactics such as rape. However, Bracewell has succeeded in portraying the Anglo-Saxon people's mindset, where they believed that signs and omens were everywhere and that their fate was predetermined. Death and betrayal were always lurking in the shadows.
Bracewell’s characters are well-crafted in the story. The narrative is told from the perspective of four characters, each with their unique point of view. Emma is a remarkably strong character for her time, without being anachronistic. Her strength is evident not from taking up arms, but from her unwillingness to give up in less-than-perfect circumstances. Emma uses all her wits to stay one step ahead of those who would harm her and, when necessary, she is just as manipulative as the men to achieve her goals. Elgiva, the other female lead, is also a strong character, but her intentions are much darker than Emma's. Aethelred, who is violent and possibly insane, is not out of character for a man who has experienced treachery since childhood and suffered significant losses in his life. His eldest son, Aethelstan, is his opposite, showing that the Saxons were not just men drunk on blood and gore, but living, breathing human beings who cared for one another.
Bracewell carefully selects each word, and the resulting prose is nothing short of poetic. Her talent for creating vivid descriptions of a time almost a millennium in the past is truly masterful, as her writing transports the reader to a world that is vastly different from our own. Her characters are brought to life with witty and well-crafted dialogue, each with their unique voice.
