I Serve: A Novel of the Black Prince by Rosanne Lortz
Posted: Wed April 18th, 2012, 6:38 pm
As mentioned elsewhere on this forum, my mother has gotten into doing the family genealogy - at least on her side of the family. A cousin of mine living in North Carolina has made a few trips to England in search of information and has apparently managed to trace one branch of ye olde tree to Edward the Black Prince. Being a lover of historical fiction, I decided to search for any available HF about the Black Prince. Unfortunately, I found only one, this book. I snagged it for my Kindle since it was only $2.99. Considering I know little of this man, I felt it to be a worthy investment.
The story is told, as most historical fiction is, from the point of view of someone close to the subject of the novel. In this case, it is told by a friend and companion of Edward, Sir John Potenhale, as he is relating his story to the widow of someone Potenhale considered a friend and mentor. The story opens with Sir John seeking out the widow in the village where she lives so that he may deliver a gift to her and when she asks him to tell her his story, he begins with the day he became a knight. As the story unfolds, we see a poor young man who is a squire become a knight and trusted companion to the Prince of Wales. He accompanies the prince and king on forays into France in an effort to retake what Edward III believes belongs rightfully to him. The book closes with Edward Woodstock on the verge of marrying his cousin Joan of Kent.
The story is told, as most historical fiction is, from the point of view of someone close to the subject of the novel. In this case, it is told by a friend and companion of Edward, Sir John Potenhale, as he is relating his story to the widow of someone Potenhale considered a friend and mentor. The story opens with Sir John seeking out the widow in the village where she lives so that he may deliver a gift to her and when she asks him to tell her his story, he begins with the day he became a knight. As the story unfolds, we see a poor young man who is a squire become a knight and trusted companion to the Prince of Wales. He accompanies the prince and king on forays into France in an effort to retake what Edward III believes belongs rightfully to him. The book closes with Edward Woodstock on the verge of marrying his cousin Joan of Kent.