Ten Weeks That Changed England Forever

Abbess of Meaux #0.5

by Cassandra Clark

This is a prequel to the Hildegard of Meaux medieval suspense series. I intend it as a gift to her many fans who ask, why on earth did she become a nun? Here she is, still only twenty-two, a widow with two small children, when she claims her rights over lands in the Welsh Marches. Meet her in the turbulent London of 1376 when John of Gaunt and the barons try to silence the voice of the common people and push England to the brink of civil war. Soon the streets are running with blood in the so-called Peasants' Revolt and Hildegard is drawn in as witness to the brutal beginnings of the long and savage battle for power when a king will die for the Crown.

Genres: History

46 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 23, 2016

About the author

I'm mad about the middle ages and love writing this series of medieval whodunits featuring nun sleuth Hildegard of Meaux. When I started with Hangman Blind I thought Hildegard would become an abbess but then she joined the Cistercians who only allowed women to be prioresses so she's had to put up with that. It surprises me that I'm writing historical novels at all, especially ones involving crime, as before this I wrote contemporary plays and romance. I'm doubtful about putting too much violence in the stories as there is already so much in the world and I don't like the idea of adding to it, even if only in the imagination, but then, it's part of that world too so it cannot be avoided. I would love to write a book shadowing every year of Richard II's reign with a different, multi-layered mystery for Hildegard to solve. She's about 32 now, with two children living in different households as was the custom then, so by the time poor Richard is murdered, she's going to be quite old. I wonder if she and Hubert will ever be together? Who knows? It's a question readers often ask me but we'll have to wait and see.

Reviews

[PR · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now for more of these...

About Hubert, Brothers Gregory and Egbert, The Prioress, The Dogs, Brother Thomas, Brother Luke, and others...backgrounds and histories are so cool!

[geoff Bridgman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well hooked

Am not normally a lover of these type of books and stories,this is the 5th book read and can't wait for more.

[Elizabeth A. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I haven’t read this series; I bought this, which was a bit expensive for what it is, partly as a preview to decide if I would. No.

There are two ways to look at this. If one’s expectations are created by the title, this brief, vivid recounting of an important piece of history, then it is fascinating as a bit of history.

Reading this to understand why Hildegard of Meaux entered a convent, or as the mother of two small children even considered it, is a failure in my opinion. We are left at the beginning of the legal process that will determine life for her and her children at least until her son reaches his majority. There are ways that this could turn out that might make that decision seem reasonable, but we’re left hanging.

One of Hildegard’s musings is that she could be useful in a convent, as if she had nothing else to do. She’s touched at the way the nuns care for orphaned children, but she doesn’t seem to have a vocation, not do we see any particular expressions of faith. If she wants to avoid remarriage, I understand that she could take a vow to that effect, without entering a convent.

Granted that her children don’t seem terribly important to her, since she shows little sign of missing them or thinking about them, neither does she seem particularly drawn to the religious life.

I am left with no idea why she entered a convent, and I don’t find her interesting enough to read the series.

[Channon Coats · Rating 5 out of 5]

Momentum for Hildegard

You get a good glimpse of medieval life, language and morés from this introduction that serves in good stead of what is to come here in this intro. I can already tell she is an intelligent woman that will have adventures that I will appreciate. This is the first time in too many years that I've needed a British dictionary, and I love that, too.

[G.A.NEWMAN · Rating 3 out of 5]

interesting preview of her further novels and a good inside too the period

[Karen Pirelli Appelbaum · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short but curiosity-inducing! I got out my book on the Kings and Queens of England to research this period further.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

1376. How did Hildegard, 22, widow with two children enter the Abbey at Meaux. In the time of the old Edward III.
An enjoyable story

[Susan Meyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ten Weeks, a peek at history

While this was an interesting short story to read, it was a bit on the confusing side. Conversation did not flow easily and one became uncertain who was supposed to be 'speaking.' Other than that, and the fact I thought it was a mystery, since it showed up in that category, (which it is most definitely not, unless the mystery is whether Hildegarde gets her decree for workshops or not) this is an intriguing look into a tiny slice of English history.
I cannot give it five stars, the confusing conversation was too much of a down side for me. I almost have up because of it. But, I'm glad I continued; it was definitely worth it. I would recommend to any of my friends who like to read about European history, a fictional take on historical royal characters. I mean, we all know John of Gaunt was a very bad man, but how he got his start, well, since we weren't there, we can only speculate, right? That's why it's called fiction.