Revenge of the Rose: A Novel - Hardcover

Galland, Nicole

3.76

630 ratings by Goodreads

9780060841775: Revenge of the Rose: A Novel

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 006084177X ISBN 13: 9780060841775

Publisher: William Morrow, 2006

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Welcome to a world of intrigue of the most intriguing kind, where emperors and popes desperately vie for power, even as their subjects and servants engage in behind-the-scenes machinations of their own.

The Holy Roman Empire circa 1200 A.D.

Impoverished young knight Willem of Dole believed he would spend his life in rural Burgundy, struggling to provide for his widowed mother and younger sister, Lienor. And so it's with surprise—and apprehension—that he obeys a summons to the magnificent court of Konrad, Holy Roman Emperor, whose realm spans half of Europe. Willem's mischievous friend Jouglet, Konrad's favorite minstrel, is no doubt behind it somehow . . . but what's in it for Jouglet?

Court life is overwhelming to the idealistic young Willem, who is shocked by the behavior of his fellow knights, for whom chivalry is a mere game. Yet under Jouglet's witty, relentless tutelage, the na�ve knight quickly rises in Emperor Konrad's esteem—until suddenly his sister, Lienor, becomes a prospect for the role of Empress. This unexpected elevation of the sibling "nobodies" delights Jouglet, but threatens three powerful—and dangerous—men at the court: the Emperor's brother, Cardinal Paul, who has in mind a different bride for Konrad; the Emperor's uncle, Alphonse, Count of Burgundy, who would keep secret certain things that only Willem can reveal; and most especially the Emperor's own steward Marcus, who is hopelessly in love with Konrad's cousin Imogen. For if Willem's star keeps rising, Imogen will be betrothed to the knight by royal decree—and Willem's star will surely continue to rise, unless Marcus figures out a way to stop it. But that would entail outscheming clever Jouglet, ablest of schemers.

Gossip, secrets, and lies are the fuel of daily life in Konrad's court. As Konrad edges closer to proclaiming Lienor his bride, those around Willem play a perilous game of cat-and-mouse as they attempt to secure their own fortunes, knowing that even the slightest move can shift the playing field entirely. And through it all, Jouglet remains Willem's most maddening yet staunchest ally. But what, really, does Jouglet stand to gain . . . or lose?

Transporting the reader to the brilliant, conniving heart of the largest empire of medieval Europe, Revenge of the Rose is a novel rich in irony and tongue-in-cheek wit, and reveals all the grit and color, politics and passion, of court life in the Holy Roman Empire.

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About the Author:

Nicole Galland's five previous novels are The Fool's Tale; Revenge of the Rose; Crossed; I, Iago, and Godiva. She writes a cheeky etiquette column for the Martha's Vineyard Times. She is married to actor Billy Meleady and owns Leuco, a dog of splendid qualities.

From Booklist:

This sprawling novel by the author of The Fool's Tale (2005) is like a tasty fictional stew, mixing elements of twelfth-century culture together skillfully to produce a veritable reading feast. The setting rotates among remote estates in Burgundy and cities and counties in the Holy Roman Empire. Major characters include a made-up Holy Roman emperor named Konrad; his court minstrel; courtiers and ecclesiastics lacking in moral and ethical values; a naive, chivalrous knight; and his beautiful (of course) sister. The minstrel, an intelligent and manipulative player, schemes to elevate the knight and his family within Konrad's court. The combination of vicious politics, mysterious doings, betrayals, and double-dealing, added to a leisurely but engaging plot, will keep those pages turning. The invented Holy Roman emperor, some anachronistic language, and wholesale disregard of some medieval cultural proscriptions, combined with the author's glossing over the more unpleasant aspects of medieval life, will irritate historical fiction purists. However, the romance is sweet, and the revenge is satisfying enough to appeal to readers of period mysteries and light historical fare. Ellen Loughran
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