EC2
09-12-2008, 05:34 PM
14th Century England.
Having the Decorators in is a follow up to Reay Tannahill's earlier novel Having the Builders in. Dame Constance's extension of her family pile at Vine Regis that caused her so much trouble in the former novel is now complete, but she needs something to grace the walls of her new great chamber. Hangings perhaps, or wall paintings. She decides on the latter and employs an Italian painter to craft her some murals. However, as with the building work, not everything goes smoothly. The peasants are revolting (!) and various refugees seeking security away from the violence wash up on her doorstep, including objectionable merchants and their lovelorn daughters, pilgrims and self-important clerics, not to mention a very annoying little boy who is suffering from a mysterious intermitent sickness. The dame's son Gervase is in need of a wife, but the one who would prove ideal for him doesn't want a husband. It's enough to give any woman a migraine, but Dame Constance is made of sterner stuff.
This is a thoroughly enjoyable novel. It is light and frothy and goes down easily. There isn't that much of a plot, more a series of charming vignettes showing the life and times of the 14th century at the time of the Peasant's Revolt. Some of the sensibilities are occasionally forced towards the 21st century. I suspect, rather like the cartoony cover this is an attempt by the publishers to reach what is perceived as a modern chic-lit audience. Sometimes too the research is put into the novel for research's sake and there will be several pages that seem more like stuffing than an integral part of the story. However, on the whole I really enjoyed this book. There are many amusing moments and the character of Dame Constance shines from the pages. Treated as a palate cleanser between more weighty tomes of historical fiction, this one's a delight. A strong 4 stars from me and 8.9 out of ten in my reading journal.
Having the Decorators in is a follow up to Reay Tannahill's earlier novel Having the Builders in. Dame Constance's extension of her family pile at Vine Regis that caused her so much trouble in the former novel is now complete, but she needs something to grace the walls of her new great chamber. Hangings perhaps, or wall paintings. She decides on the latter and employs an Italian painter to craft her some murals. However, as with the building work, not everything goes smoothly. The peasants are revolting (!) and various refugees seeking security away from the violence wash up on her doorstep, including objectionable merchants and their lovelorn daughters, pilgrims and self-important clerics, not to mention a very annoying little boy who is suffering from a mysterious intermitent sickness. The dame's son Gervase is in need of a wife, but the one who would prove ideal for him doesn't want a husband. It's enough to give any woman a migraine, but Dame Constance is made of sterner stuff.
This is a thoroughly enjoyable novel. It is light and frothy and goes down easily. There isn't that much of a plot, more a series of charming vignettes showing the life and times of the 14th century at the time of the Peasant's Revolt. Some of the sensibilities are occasionally forced towards the 21st century. I suspect, rather like the cartoony cover this is an attempt by the publishers to reach what is perceived as a modern chic-lit audience. Sometimes too the research is put into the novel for research's sake and there will be several pages that seem more like stuffing than an integral part of the story. However, on the whole I really enjoyed this book. There are many amusing moments and the character of Dame Constance shines from the pages. Treated as a palate cleanser between more weighty tomes of historical fiction, this one's a delight. A strong 4 stars from me and 8.9 out of ten in my reading journal.