Review: Just so clever and so well done!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 05 27, 2014
In another lifetime many moons ago, I was a history student, and the reign of Henry VIII was 'my period'. I have to say that leaving aside the rather more gruesome disposal of his many wives, the story Terry Tyler has woven has very recognisable parallels with that of the Tudor king. It is so cleverly done, and her depiction of the character of each of the six women in the modern day Harry Lanchester's life leaves you in no doubt that had Henry VIII been alive today, this would have been both his and their story.Charming, handsome, spoilt and used to getting his own way, Harry is Henry. Good at everything from heading up a business to seducing women and blithely brushing aside everything he is not good at as being unimportant, he leaves a trail of tragedy and destroyed lives in his wake. Without actually executing or burning them at the stake, Harry Lanchester kills his loved ones and loyal followers as surely as Henry did - and yet somehow, the reader feels sorry for him - as the history scholar does for Henry. A misguided, almost childlike character who drinks and eats to excess, but believes he is invincible.I enjoyed all the extra twists and turns Terry Tyler's own story takes and would love to believe Henry had the pangs of guilt that Harry nurses. Of the six women in his life, my favourite was Hannah Clevely, who was probably the luckiest in the end, and the one I felt sorriest for was Annette Hevers - such a bright candle to be snuffed out so young. I loved seeing other characters from the past pop up in different guises: Tom Morely, Luke Bromwell, Francis Dereham (real name) and Danny Culpeper, both of the latter being somehow responsible for Keira Howard's demise - although she was actually the main driver in her own destruction.Altogether, this was an enthralling story, and all the more fascinating for the in-depth historical research Terry Tyler has clearly done. She even includes the 'French invasion' in a totally plausible style! It is skilfully crafted and very well-written, and I was hooked all the way through. I almost feel it should be required reading for school children studying the Tudors as it puts the stories in context in a very accessible way.Well done to Terry Tyler for a compulsive, deeply researched and gripping contemporary drama!