The Royal Game - Anne O’Brien

 The Royal Game is a novel that is based on the Paston letters. The Pastons were a Norfolk family who rose from humble beginnings to become landowners and courtiers around the time of the Wars of the Roses. The large collection of correspondence has long been considered of historical importance because they offer a fascinating insight into life during this volatile period in history and also enables linguists to study the vernacular of the time. I believe the letters are held at the British Library and various museums elsewhere in the country. 

What Anne O’Brien has done in this novel is to offer us the perspectives of three Paston women: Margaret Mautby who married John Paston, Eliza Paston, John’s sister who married Sir Robert Poynings and Anne Haute, a cousin of Elizabeth Woodville, who became betrothed to one of  Margaret and John’s sons.

The history of the family and the events of the time are seen through the eyes of these women. And it makes for fascinating stuff. I guess it’s very much in the style of Philippa Gregory which is no bad thing! These women have varying motivations but they are all shackled within the social and cultural restraints of their age. How they deal with the many challenges and obstacles thrown away is engrossing. It’s Margaret who seems to dominate the narratives. She is strong, loyal and intelligent. The reader is invited, encouraged even, to feel her frustration when her strength and intelligence do not always enable her to achieve a desired outcome.

I found it an absorbing narrative. It’s a period in history that I’ve always found interesting to read about. The historical research is thorough and I have little doubt that the writer must have pored over the Paston letters to achieve the plausible and believable characters who populate the novel. I suppose initially when I saw the title I thought there might be more royalty involved in the story! But the game seems to refer to the struggles of property ownership and the intrigues and machinations of people at Royal courts. Ultimately they are all playing the Royal Game. But the rules are not always clear cut. And people do not always play by the rules.

However I will admit to being very disappointed when I got to the end to find that it was not conclusive and I must patiently await the next book in the Paston series! 

My thanks toHQ stories for a gifted copy of this book.