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Edward the Second has been barbarously murdered in Berkeley Castle on the orders of his wife, Queen Isabella, and her lover Roger de Mortimer, and fifteen-year-old Edward the Third is now king. Young Edward has already met and fallen in love with Philippa of Hainault and, to prevent him enquiring into the details of his father's death, Isabella allows the marriage to take place. A son is born who goes on to become the famous Black Prince. While some suggest that Edward has a claim on the show more French throne, he is reluctant to pursue it, aware of the magnitude of such an undertaking. It is only when Robert of Artois arrives, bent on starting a war with France, that the king is provoked into action. When Robert presents Edward with a dead heron and compares him tauntingly to the timid bird, Edward vows to attack France, heralding the beginning of the Hundred Years' War. Here we see Edward in his greatness, victorious in war and leading his country to prosperity, and at his very weakest, fallen from glory and crippled by his scheming mistress. show lessTags
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Member Reviews
This should have been split into two books, perhaps three. What we have instead is a rush job with lots of "telling" and a lack of "showing".
For a king who reigned as long as Edward III, there’s great potential for a trilogy, especially when this author covers the lives of nearly everyone else involved during the period. Because of her need to pack everything in, events are rushed over.
It’s difficult to become engaged in this type of novel, though scenes here and there did draw me in, hence the three-star rating. It doesn't help that she invariably opts for the passive voice, so you get "the daughter of the king", rather than "the king's daughter", for example.
Add to this, we have the usual Plaidy trait of repeating info to an show more annoying extent, including references to events in previous books in the Plantagenet series.
On the whole, a disappointment, especially after the fantastic ending to the previous book, which led me to think real excitement lay in store in “The Vow on the Heron”. show less
For a king who reigned as long as Edward III, there’s great potential for a trilogy, especially when this author covers the lives of nearly everyone else involved during the period. Because of her need to pack everything in, events are rushed over.
It’s difficult to become engaged in this type of novel, though scenes here and there did draw me in, hence the three-star rating. It doesn't help that she invariably opts for the passive voice, so you get "the daughter of the king", rather than "the king's daughter", for example.
Add to this, we have the usual Plaidy trait of repeating info to an show more annoying extent, including references to events in previous books in the Plantagenet series.
On the whole, a disappointment, especially after the fantastic ending to the previous book, which led me to think real excitement lay in store in “The Vow on the Heron”. show less
A terrific riveting book on Edward III and his reign as King of England. What an intriguing family the Plantagenet's are! This book is full of political intrigue, betrayal and love. One of the best in the saga/series so far. A definite read!
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Author Information
255+ Works 37,229 Members
Jean Plaidy was a British writer who wrote under various pen names. Her real name is Eleanor Alice Burford Hibbert. She was born in London on September 1, 1906. Most of the books written as Jean Plaidy are historical romances based on English history featuring historical figures. The first, Beyond the Blue Mountains, was published in 1947. Hibbert show more also wrote five nonfiction histories and two children's books. Besides Jean Plaidy, Hibbert wrote under Victoria Holt, Phillipa Carr, Elbur Ford, Kathleen Kellow, Ellalice Tate, and her maiden name, Eleanor Burford. Hibbert died on January 18, 1993. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Series
Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- The Vow on the Heron
- Original publication date
- 1980
- People/Characters
- Edward III, King of England; Philippa of Hainault, Queen Consort of England; Edward, the Black Prince; Joan of Kent; Margaret Plantagenet, Countess of Pembroke; Mary Plantagenet, Duchess of Brittany (show all 9); Joan of England; Isabella Plantagenet; Joan, Queen Consort of Scotland / Joan of the Tower
- Important places
- England, UK
- Important events
- Hundred Years' War (1337 | 1453)
Classifications
Statistics
- Members
- 145
- Popularity
- 223,506
- Reviews
- 3
- Rating
- (3.77)
- Languages
- English, Portuguese, Spanish
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 12
- ASINs
- 4
