Title: The Lark and the Laurel
Author: Barbara Willard
Series: The Mantlemass Chronicles, book 2
Major Themes: England, Tudor Times, Henry VII, War of the Roses
Synopsis: Cecily had been carefully kept isolated from nearly everyone as long as she could remember, but when her father suddenly found himself on the wrong side of politics he sent her to his sister, whom he had never gotten on with.
For history lessons, I love to read historical fiction to my children. We are working our way from the Middle Ages into the Renaissance and Reformation times, and have just reached the time of the War of the Roses. One book that was suggested in the guide we are using was The Lark and the Laurel. We have read several books by Barbara Willard already, so I knew that while her books aren’t the most gripping and memorable we’ve come across, they do contain solid history and a storyline that keeps our attention. So, I located a copy, and we enjoyed it together.
Publisher’s description:
In haste and fear Cecily Jolland has been forced to leave the cloistered existence she has led for fifteen years to take up another very different life in Sussex. It had taken a Lancastrian victory and a Tudor king on the English throne to persuade her scheming father to unburden himself of the treasure he had held so close. Cecily knew all of this, and the hurt of it made her bitter and afraid. How could she be expected to take up the rough country ways of Aunt Elizabeth, her new guardian?
The first months at Mantlemass Manor were disturbing. Yet country life brought its own rewards, and the greatest of these was Cecily’s realization that she was no longer the puppet of her father’s ambitions, but her own person, increasingly free in thought and deed. With this astonishing knowledge came the growth of a friendship with Lewis Mallory, a handsome stranger who was oddly familiar. Will their friendship flame into a love so great that Cecily can at last defy her father and take her future into her own hands?
My thoughts:
As I said, Barbara Willard’s books are not as memorable as some. We likely won’t remember the entire story in The Lark and the Laurel for very long. However, it does certainly add to our understanding of the era. For example, one detail that stood out to me was the isolation of the manor house in the winter. I was also impressed with the uncertainty in the country as the king from one family died, and another family took the throne. Of course, these events were wrapped up in a delightful story. I was apprehensive about my boys’ reaction to it, since it turned out to be somewhat of a romance, but they liked it well enough to want to continue the series. I like the way Barbara Willard writes history!
WARNING: Chapter 1: Mention of a king killed horribly in battle, crown dripping with blood. Chapter 4: Old woman called a witch. Chapter 5: Woman says her husband was a “royal bastard,” thank God “no child was born alive.” Chapter 7: I’ll swear. Chapter 8: I will swear, I said I would swear, Lord. Chapter 10: He was swearing still and blaspheming. Chapter 11: Cursing and hatred, I swear.
Age levels:
Listening Level—Ages 8 – 12, 10 – 12, 12 – 15, Family Friendly
Reading Independently—Ages 8 – 12, 10 – 12, 12 – 15
Links to buy this book:
Amazon: Paperback | Hardcover
AbeBooks: View Choices on AbeBooks.com
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