Loading...
28th out of 165 books
—
262 voters
My rating:
add to my books
The Love Knot
by
Elizabeth Chadwick (Goodreads Author)
In the summer of 1140, Oliver Pascal returns home from a long pilgrimage to discover England ravaged by civil war and his family lands forfeit to the conflict between Henry I's daughter Mathilda, and her cousin Stephen of Blois, who has seized the crown at her expense. Riding to the Earl of Gloucester's keep at Bristol, Oliver stumbles upon the aftermath of a mercenary att...more
Paperback
Published
July 1st 1999
by Time Warner
(first published December 3rd 1998)
There is a good chance some of your friends read this book. Sign in to see!
sign in »
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
754)
This is the very first Elizabeth Chadwick book I ever read and is my favourite historical fiction book by a female author, to date.. I could not put it down. Something about the way it was written really inspired me.
The only problem I had with it, well, there were two problems actually, one was the depressing and overtly descriptive manner she used over and over and over again to detail childbirth and midwifery in the 12th century. At one stage I thought if I read "and then delivere...more
The only problem I had with it, well, there were two problems actually, one was the depressing and overtly descriptive manner she used over and over and over again to detail childbirth and midwifery in the 12th century. At one stage I thought if I read "and then delivere...more
Even Chadwick's second best novels are a cut above much of the historical fiction genre.This is one of her earlier books and more of a historical romance than true historical fiction, the main characters being fictional. This is the second time I've read the book, in between I had read SKP's When Christ and His Saints Slept about England's civil war. Having a better understanding of that complicated period made this novel much more enjoyable than the first time.
I don't understand a ...more
I don't understand a ...more
The story takes place during the feud around 1140 between England’s King Stephen and his cousin Empress Mathilda. The story begins when Oliver Pascal smells something burning and decides to investigate. When he arrives what he finds is a horrible scene and his friend who has been raped by lawless mercenaries, she soon miscarries and dies. The only survivors are her 10 year-old son and Catrin her widowed maid. Oliver escorts them to Bristol Castle, home of Earl Robert of Gloucester, who Oliver ho...more
I enjoyed this, tho I found it a bit predictable. It was an entertaining tale involving the war of Stephen and Matilda, midwifery, superstitions, and knights. Oh, and let's not forget romance. The main character is Catrin who has been widowed for three years (or so she thinks) and after being caught in the middle of the Stephen and Matilda war in England, 1140, she barely escapes with her life from an evil band of raping, pillaging merceneries. She meets and falls in love with a knight that is f...more
I found The Love Knot to be an easy read. It's a historical romance set during the war of succession between Stephen and Matilda. While the romance hews close to historical facts, it treats the conflict itself and politics in broad strokes. It does not approach the level of detail about the conflict that is covered in Sharon Kay Penman's While Christ and His Saint's Slept. I would say that the level of detail was more similar to Pillars of the Earth, but The Love Knot's portrayal of medieval...more
view 1 comment
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Karla (Mossy Love Grotto)
rated it
·
review of another edition
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Karla (Mossy Love Grotto) by:
Jerelyn hodges
First off, I'm not super-psyched about medieval tales, whether it's HF or romance. If it's about royalty or at least has a significant dollop (like 50%+) of war and/or politics with razor-sharp characters, I'm OK with it. (I don't even mind really OTT bodice rippers since I find that stuff interesting in itself.) But leisurely pastorals are not my thing, nor in-depth detail about the daily life of the mid-level classes or peasantry. This book has a lady's maid as a protagonist and is heavy on mi...more
Although it took me longer than usual to read this book, there’s a good reason for it. The Love Knot by Elizabeth Chadwick is a historical romance and the author has used a style of writing that fits with the era of the story, which is the 12th Century. Because of this, it meant I had to read slower than normal in order to grasp the meaning of the words and take the story in. This sounds like a hindrance, but it wasn’t. Apart from the fact that, like everything, it only took a short time to ...more
Sheree
rated it
·
review of another edition
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Lovers of Historical Fiction and Romance
One of my favourite reads of 2008
The Love Knot is set during the turmoil of civil war between King Stephen & Empress Matilda in 12th century England.
Oliver Pascal returns home from a pilgrimage to the Holy Land after losing his wife in childbirth. After losing his lands to King Stephen, Oliver becomes a hearth Knight to Robert of Gloucester, illegitimate brother to Empress Matilda.
Oliver rescues the only survivors of a village raided by mercenaries, Richard an orphaned boy is...more
The Love Knot is set during the turmoil of civil war between King Stephen & Empress Matilda in 12th century England.
Oliver Pascal returns home from a pilgrimage to the Holy Land after losing his wife in childbirth. After losing his lands to King Stephen, Oliver becomes a hearth Knight to Robert of Gloucester, illegitimate brother to Empress Matilda.
Oliver rescues the only survivors of a village raided by mercenaries, Richard an orphaned boy is...more
Alaine
rated it
·
review of another edition
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Alaine by:
Sheree
Shelves:
all-time-favourites,
historical-fiction
What a fantastic book! I loved this book so much that I can see myself reading it again. It is one of the most beautiful love stories I've ever read set in an amazing time in history. The way in which Chadwick brings this period in history to life is remarkable. I especially loved that the heroin was a midwife and healer.
Summer in the year 1140, Oliver and Catrin are drawn together through the horrors of civil war; their love grows but is threatened. Oliver is taken prisoner and Catrin re...more
Summer in the year 1140, Oliver and Catrin are drawn together through the horrors of civil war; their love grows but is threatened. Oliver is taken prisoner and Catrin re...more
Completely believeable and enjoyable medieval romance with great characters and enough historic detail to lift it way above the usual romantic fiction genre - sheer pleasure reading the story of Catrin after being rescued from the pillaged castle where she has lived since losing her husband.
Although her rescuer, the gorgeous Oliver is quite literally a knight who gallops in on his horse to become her saviour this is never twee or trite and the story has enough twists and turns to ke...more
Although her rescuer, the gorgeous Oliver is quite literally a knight who gallops in on his horse to become her saviour this is never twee or trite and the story has enough twists and turns to ke...more
Taking place against the background of the civil war between Stephen of Bloise and Matilda, daughter of Henry I, the love affair of Oliver Pascal and midwife, Catrin takes many twists and turns keeping the reader turning pages. This is a long book but the author keeps our interest because when all seems lost, human courage and resolution rises to the fore. In this book, we meet the young Prince Henry, who is to grow up to be Henry II and marry Eleanor Of Aquitaine. It ends HEA tied up in a beaut...more
I love Chadwick's approach to historical fiction - she mentions great personalities and events in passing, but recounts their effects from the point-of-view of everyday characters. In this case, the protagonists are a dispossessed man-at-arms and a widow who is also the guardian to a bastard-son of King Henry I. Their story had enough suspense to keep in interesting, but i thought it became a bit rushed at the end. I would have enjoyed a bit more follow-up.
set in medieval england during the reign of stephen of blois and his fight with mathilda, daughter of Henry II and the rightful heir to the throne, her sex not withstanding. a dispossessed knight fights for the duke of gloucester and comes to the attention of the future Henry II...falls in love with a midwife. Interesting characters and interesting times.
I read somewhere that Elizabeth Chadwick was a really good historical fiction writer. This book was so-so for me though. It was very long and the romance seemed to dominate more than the history...which is fine for me, but Catrin made some stupid choices that annoyed me. I did want to see how it ended so I did finally finish it. Don't know that I'll read another by the same author though.
So far of all the Elizabeth Chadwick novels I have read, this is the one I have liked the least but I still liked it. I could put it down a little more easily then her other books. It was more because because the jaded 21st century me just could not believe it.
The characters were likable, especially Oliver. The story was a typical romance with history thrown in.
The characters were likable, especially Oliver. The story was a typical romance with history thrown in.
I found this story interesting, particularly the midwifery aspect because I have recently become a Mum for the first time and could relate to the emotions of the female characters. Once again history has been brought alive and made colourful with strong characters and a good story. I will definitely read another Elizabeth Chadwick novel.
It's so sad that these our out of print! I'm trying to read all the library copies of Elizabeth Chadwick before we have to weed them because they are falling apart (have mold, coffee stains, etc). They are obviously well loved.
It took me a while to get through this book. I got stuck about half way and wasn't really motivated to pick it up for a couple of weeks. Once I did though, there was another twist to the story and I finished the second half of th book in a couple of days.
I liked the real life portrayal of people living in the period. I enjoyed Oliver's story as a soldier and Catrin's as a midwife. I thought the female character made some silly choices , but otherwise enjoyed the story
I liked the real life portrayal of people living in the period. I enjoyed Oliver's story as a soldier and Catrin's as a midwife. I thought the female character made some silly choices , but otherwise enjoyed the story
I adore Elizabeth Chadwick, she is right behind Sharon Kay Penman on my list of favorite historic novelists. I thought the plot in this one was pretty compelling.
I'm really glad I got this one from the library, that way I didn't feel too badly when I gave up reading it only half way through. It was okay, but fit into my "boring & typical" romance criteria. Don't get me wrong, I'm all about a good romance every now and then, but this was not it...
I loved this book but it might put you off a) midwifery and/or b) having a baby!
A craker by Elizabeth Chadwick. One of my favourites by her.
A good read but not as good as the others I have read of hers.
Good historical fiction. I enjoyed all the involvement with the midwife, ancient remedies, etc.
Yet another great for Ms Chadwick!! LOVED IT!
The best by this author. My third read. I would hope it will soon be available on Kindle.
An enjoyable story. Not too much in the way of history except for the setting and civil war during the reign of King Stephen. When you want to take a break from heavier reading, this is a good option.
A gift from my dear friend Lee, just arrived from Canada.
This books tells the story of Catrin and Oliver during the English Civil War.
This books tells the story of Catrin and Oliver during the English Civil War.
I love Chadwick's approach to historical fiction - she mentions great personalities and events in passing, but recounts their effects from the point-of-view of everyday characters. In this case, the protagonists are a dispossessed man-at-arms and a widow who is also the guardian to a bastard-son of King Henry I. Their story had enough suspense to keep in interesting, but i thought it became a bit rushed at the end. I would have enjoyed a bit more follow-up.
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
Best selling historical novelist Elizabeth Chadwick won a Betty Trask Award for her first novel The Wild Hunt. She has been shortlisted for the UK's mainstream Best Romantic Novel of the Year Award 4 times and longlisted twice. Her novel The Scarlet Lion about the great William Marshal and his wife Isabelle de Clare, has been selected by Richard Lee, founder of the Historical Novel Society as one...more
More about Elizabeth Chadwick...
Share This Book
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
