This is a book about Eleanor, who is the granddaughter to King Edward I, and married to a man of insignificant background. The story moves through King Edward II and the problems he faces throughout his reign.

This is the first book I have read about this time period and I quickly fell into the story. With every dark turn the story took, I was more enthralled. It was not just that I had never read about these people before and I therefore did not know how it would end, but the writing was so captivating I felt as if I was right there with Eleanor.

The battles were being fought in the name of England but it was often unclear who the “bad guys” were because you felt so connected to the man who is not known for serving England very well.

One of the most interesting things I realized when I finished the book was how it opened my eyes to the reality of the workings of the royal family and royalty in general. It was one of those moments when you know you have all the facts but they suddenly all click together into the obvious (okay I had one of Oprah’s “ah ha” moments). I now understand how they can all be related. She was the granddaughter of a king and she became a prisoner, and then a nobody. Royalty doesn’t necessarily stay royal…or wealthy.

We still play this game of politics/royalty, and it is still just as fascinating. ( )

I ventured into uncharted territory picking up this book. I had never gone back this far in either fiction or non fiction. The farthest I ever went back beforehand was the 1600s. And I'm not very educated in English history before the 1800s, so I learned a lot. One of the things that is great about historical fiction, is that you end up wanting to learn more about the people and events you're reading about. That's what happened here, I learned about a period of history I wasn't educated in before.

The Traitor's Wife was vastly researched, there is no doubt about that. That is much appreciated.

The story itself got better as it went along. Once Eleanor got older, she got more wiser and her character developed and I liked her very much, while at the beginning of the story I wasn't sure. Her children: Hugh and Edward I ended up liking very much. Both of them vastly different from each other, and you could see their distinct personalities. I'm glad we got insight into the children, that was one of my favorite things about The Traitor's Wife, so I'm just itching to read Hugh and Bess.

One thing I can appreciate, is when you end up hating a character because there isn't any other feeling you can attend to them. They're just evil. It's easy to write a likable character, but to write one so horrible in nature such as Roger Mortimer, is harder than it seems. I loved that (I inwardly went "Yay!" when he met his fate).

In the end, I ended up loving this book and can't wait to read more by the author. ( )

Susan Higginbotham tells of the reign and aftermath of Edward the II in her steamy THE TRAITOR'S WIFE. The action is revealed mainly through the perspective of Eleanor le Despenser, Edward's favorite niece and wife of the notorious traitor Hugh as suggested by the title. Higginbotham's Eleanor is fiercely devoted and gracefully traverses the challenges of corruption, intrigue and betrayal that only the Royal Court can provide.

The novel is well researched, most of the main action being either based in fact or deemed to have historical support. History obviously provided the author with a host of interesting characters and base material, and yet this rendition is excellent beyond expectation. Higginbotham accomplishes well drawn characters that delight without presuming their motivations, and the result is a highly ambitious, informative and above all captivating story. Eleanor at times is portrayed as impossibly daft or blinded by love based on the reader's perspective, but if you enjoy Historical Fiction this book is not to be missed. ( )

Aged only thirteen, Lady Eleanor de Clare is contracted into marriage by her father to Hugh le Despenser in order to pay a debt. Though nervous, especially on her wedding night, she and Hugh quickly fall in love. When her brother dies, Eleanor comes into a much greater inheritance than she or her comparatively lower status husband ever expected. As the niece of the king, Eleanor places Hugh in a position of great power and as he begins to take advantage of that, Eleanor’s loyalty is tested as she discovers what it’s like to be the wife of a traitor and the beloved niece of a failed king.

This is one big, thick book. I liked that each chapter heading had the months and years covered because otherwise it would have been difficult to keep track of just how much time passes between events and there is a handy guide to all of the historical figures right at the beginning of the book. This is necessary to cover Eleanor’s life and relations. The author keeps to the more interesting parts, so while the book is long, the plot doesn’t bog down even when it moves more slowly and it isn’t too hard to keep track of who is who.

By the end, I grew quite fond of the characters, particularly Eleanor. I found it impossible to like Hugh though. I know way too much about what he did, and I’m sure my opinion of him is colored by a particular professor’s attitude, to ever feel much sympathy for him. I did feel sorry for Eleanor. To me, it seems perfectly logical that Hugh would hide his nefarious doings from his wife, especially given they didn’t see each other all that often once he became powerful.

I was surprised by feeling sorry for Edward II. I always have to some extent but never considered what his personality may have been like, mostly just thought of him as a very poor king. In any case, I could still feel for Eleanor and understand why she loved such men, which I thought was quite impressive considering I formed my opinion of these particular historical figures years ago. I did find one of her acts particularly unlikely and a little off-putting, but given the author says in the end note that there was a rumor about it at the time, I can’t argue with it except to say that if I was Eleanor I would NOT have done that. There was another rumor that I was hoping wouldn’t turn up, but it did. I know this is horribly vague, but I don’t want to give the story away. I can say that from what I know, Susan Higginbotham has done a terrific job with historical accuracy, and even if I squirm away from certain things or wouldn’t include them personally, there is basis for all of them. There is also one of those author’s notes which I love so much at the back of the book explaining what’s real and what’s not.

So, now that I’ve ranted on about history, did I actually like the book? Yes, I did. It’s excellent for a historical saga and if you’re interested in medieval England in fiction, I’d highly recommend this work. Convincing characters, historical accuracy, deep plot with a fair share of scandal and excitement that kept my attention despite being long and familiar; this book is historical fiction worth reading.

http://chikune.com/blog/?p=773 ( )

Susan Higginbotham's research shines through in this historical fiction novel, The Traitor's Wife, about the reign of King Edward II. Despite the large cast in this book and the multiple Edwards, Hughs, and Joans, readers will not have a hard time keeping track of the characters and even if they get stuck, there is a handy character breakdown in the front of the book. I don't know much about 14th Century England, but I do remember Robert the Bruce from Braveheart, who does make a few appearances in the novel.

King Edward II is thrust onto the throne despite his wild ways after his father's death, and his niece Eleanor becomes Isabella of France's lady-in-waiting, Edward's new bride and queen. Sweeping through battles, bedroom scenes, and the court, readers will get an inside look at the kingdom and the politics that dominated England in the 14th Century. After checking some historical information, quite of bit of Higginbotham's plot is based upon well known facts about King Edward II and his kingdom at the time.

This novel is told from Eleanor's point of view, which will quickly absorb the reader in the story and how the political uprisings impacted her family and her husband, Hugh Despenser the Younger.

Although there are several instances when Hugh, Eleanor's husband, disappears, readers are not likely to be convinced of his blind ambition, which emerges later in the novel. Oftentimes, Hugh seems not to care much for court or the politics of the age when he interacts with his father, and he fails to show himself at court early on in his marriage to Eleanor, which to many readers could signify his ambivalence to wealth and power. However, Hugh plays a central role in the novel, seeking greater power, land, and favor from King Edward II. Another drawback to the novel is the tendency for the prose to tell rather than show plot points. Overall, this novel is engaging and informative for readers interested in 14th Century England and the nation's struggles with Scotland and its political regime. ( )