My life in books

I was somewhat disappointed with Sherry Jones' historical novel Four Sisters, All Queens. Perhaps because of the focus on the personal lives, ambitions, and interactions of the four Savoyard sisters - Marguerite, Eleonore, Sanchia and Beatrice of Provence - the intense political and military turmoil of their time, which in some ways reshaped the borders and balance of power in Europe, was dealt with rather sketchily.

As the queens of France, England, Germany and Sicily, these four women were at the centre of conflicts of diplomacy and arms from Wales to Outremer, and while women did not always have direct access to information or knowledge, a historical novel with subjects so close to so much important history should be able to paint the background of their times, the intrigues and issues in their courts, the policies of their husbands and the effects of the major events in and between their countries in sufficient detail to give the characters and their action depth, and the reader a solid understanding of the times. Unfortunately, Four Sisters, All Queens does not achieve this.

Further, I found the private lives of the four sisters rather melodramatically handled at times, and their characters at times too modern - particularly Marguerite. It's not easy to recreate a historical character who is unequivocally of her time - but getting it right can be the difference between a rich and fulfilling journey to the past, and a generic costume drama. And the writing was at times awkward and somewhat confusing.

Nonetheless, I did read it through to the end, and there were some parts of it that were quite enjoyable - Eleonore's early years with Henry III of England, Marguerite's courage and leadership in Damietta while on crusade, for example. But after two misses, I don't think I will be reading any more from Jones, when there are other, superior historical novelists to choose from.