How often have you picked up a book that you know you ought to read (everyone says you should and the critics rave over it) but you just can't see what all the fuss is about? This happened to me with this book.
I love history. It was my favourite and best subject at school. I love reading historical novels - and this is an historical novel. So what's not to like? Well, this book received a review from the Sunday Times which read "Dramatic and colourful as a Dumas romance but stiffened by historical accuracy and political insight". that's it, exactly - the word "stiffened" says it all.
To me, this book is neither history nor fiction but a weird mixture of both and neither. It preaches like the worst history teacher and totally fails to entertain as a novel should. At least, that's how it seems to me.
The story centres on King Louis X of France and his new Queen, Clemence of Hungary. Louis's previous Queen has met a sticky end in prison after being condemned for adultery and poor Clemence is walking into a viper's den of barbarism, intrigue and ambition. Louis is a weak king, totally unlike his father, Philip IV, and the kingdom is falling apart under his reign. What should be an exciting, page turning, gallop through this blood-curdling period of French history turns into a turgid history lesson that had me yawning from page 4. Did I finish it? No. Do I recommend? Only if you like your fiction as dry as a bone and your history full of impossible made-up dialogue.
This edition of The Poinsoned Crown (first published in 1956) is published by Harper Collins, ISBN 978-0-00-749129-2
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