This HaBO request is from Heather, who is hoping to find this older historical romance:
Way back around 1980 I read most of a book while on vacation, but had to leave it behind when my family went home. The book is set in the late 12th century. It’s about a distant kinswoman of Eleanor d’Aquitaine. She’s from a family with more “nobility” than money, and her family sends her to Queen Eleanor’s court for fostering and to improve her chances of a good marriage.
I remember a scene where her feet hurt because her only court-worthy shoes are too small. And I remember another scene where she’s told not to wear green because it makes her eyes look green and people will think she’s a witch. And there was a scene where the queen gave her a violet dress that brought out her inner beauty.
I recall that the author’s world-building was really good—she put a picture of 12th-century western Europe that has stuck with me ever since (and seems to be supported by several other books I’ve read about the period). I’m pretty sure there was a plotline where she was trying to attract a young lord of some sort. And, given that I’m pretty sure it was a historical romance, I expect she succeeded or ended up with someone even better. But I have never been able to find the book to read the end.
If someone here could help me solve a 30+ year mystery, please, that would be wonderful!
Let’s solve this HaBO!
This sounds like a book by Roberta Gellis that I read a long time ago. But I can’t remember which title it is. I hope that this helps a bit.
This sounds like my catnip so I hope someone solves it. Love those old school romances!
Is it Katherine by Anya Seton? The heroine is a ward of Phillipa of Hainault, wife of Edward the III and mother of the Black Prince. The violet/purple dress is given to Katherine by Alice Perrers (the Kkng’s mistress).
It’s based on real-life people – Katherine went on to become the mistress of John of Gaunt (and later his wife) while her sister marries Geoffrey Chaucer
I’ve read this!! Probably around the same time … 20+ years ago. Oh man, now I’m totally invested in this HABO and want to re-read!!
@Laurie–
The Roberta Gellis book is ‘Roselynde’. Young Alinor (our heiress heroine) is a lady in waiting to Eleanor of Aquitaine. Lots of court politics. However, Alinor’s true love is a very much older knight named Simon.
Originally came out in 1979 and was reprinted several times. Gellis’s books were known for their mix of solid history and romance.
This could be Heather’s long lost book.
Jcscot—Even if that’s not the book, Katherine is soooo good, I named my daughter after it! Anyone who likes medieval romances should read it.
It is a brilliant book (I am the mother of a Catherine too!) and one I have read several times. Have you read Alison Weir’s biography of Katherine Swynford? She cites Seton’s book as being part pf the reason she became a historian and certainly credits the novel as being well-researched.
I seem to remember a scene with too-tight shoes but not the one with green eyes.
Another vote for Roselynde. I loved that series back in the day and had Rhiannon on my keeper shelf until I downsized my book collection a couple of years go.
My money’s on it being a Gellis book. In Seton’s KATHERINE (which I only read, oh, about a hundred times in my teen years), Katherine has grey eyes. Those grey eyes both trouble and intrigue John of Gaunt in equal measure. There’s not a scene where she’s told not to wear a particular color, but there is a scene where Hugh (the man she marries) tells her she must have cast a spell on him and that’s why he’s willing to marry her without a dowry. It’s a fabulous book—has anyone at SBTB ever written a Keeper Shelf review for it?
Thanks for the suggestions, everyone! I definitely remember Eleanor d’Aquitaine being involved. I’ll see if I can find a copy of Gellis’ Roselynde, as that sounds like it might be the book I’m looking for. That said, Katherine sounds great! I’ll see if I can find that one, too.
Thanks again!
All those plumping for the Roselynde series by Roberta Gellis – I am a screaming fangirl for the entire set, and this does not match them. In the original, Alinor goes as an attendant in Eleanor’s court, but there is no green dress, or violet one, and no too-tight shoes. Also, she is the only one of her family left, so family could not send her to court.
That being said, this description is so much in the same era that I MUST READ IT when it’s been identified.
I agree with Gillian. It is not Roberta Gellis, however, the Roselynde Chronicles is a great series.
Not Roselynd, because one of the issues between Alinor and Simon was she had a lot of money and land, while he didn’t.
Heather I’m pretty sure I have this book at home, but for the life of me I can’t remember the author or title (but I can picture the cover – green with a gold circle?). I’ll post it later today and if I’m wrong, it’s still a great book to recommend.
Well, I’m a little disappointed that it’s not R. Gellis, but at least I have good recs for an author I haven’t tried before. Thanks!
Megan, I’m afraid I don’t remember the cover. But I’ll look forward to learning which book you’re referring to. Thanks for looking into it!
High praise for anything written by Robert Gellis!!! And Katherine remains one my top five books EVER read!! But if this isn’t either of the above, then I can’t wait to read it – right up my alley. Please someone id this book.
@Barb-I totally agree! I love Roberta Gellis, and Roselynde is one of my very favorite books.
I’m no help but I had to come here to say yaaaaasssssss for the 30 Rock reference 😀
Heather I was totally off, the book I was thinking of is “Labyrinth” by Kate Mosse, published in 2005. Sorry!
@Charity: Yessss! So glad someone got it.
Thanks for checking, Megan. Labyrinth looks good, too.
I was thinking it might be a Virginia Henley. She had a Plantagenet series that I LOVED as a young teen in the late 80’s/early 90’s. She writes on the naughtier side, and I haven’t read her in a while so she might be …”old skool problematic”. At the time, tho, I thought it was fantastic.
I think I may have read some of Henley’s books. Unfortunately, she didn’t start writing Plantagenets until after the time frame for the book I’m trying to find (before 1984). But thanks for the suggestion, elaanfaun!