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The lady of Monkton
Book by Byrd, Elizabeth
- GenresHistorical Fiction
224 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1975
About the author
Elizabeth Byrd
19 books15 followersFamily:
Born Sarah Elizabeth Evelyn Byrd on December 8, 1912, in St. Louis, MO; died May 11, 1989, in Tucson, AZ; daughter of Joseph Hunter Byrd (an entrepreneur and mining promoter) and Emma (Howard) Byrd; married Don Phares. Education: Attended New York University, 1932-33.
Elizabeth is the elder sister of composer Joseph Byrd (December 19, 1937) and physician Dr. Ruddell Byrd.
CAREER:
Columbia Broadcasting System, radio news writer, 1939-45; Station WMCA, script writer and actress on "What's News," 1942-43; associate editor for New York literary agencies, 1944-50; Betty Byrd Associates (literary agency), owner and operator, 1951-53; A. L. Fierst Literary Agency, critic, 1952-53; Julian Messner, Inc., writer of jacket copy, 1952-60; freelance writer.
In addition to her 9 novels, she wrote a non-fiction book "A Strange and Seeking Time", and two short stories for Argosy in 1969- 1970:
* Gay Street Ghost, Argosy (UK) Jun 1969
* Try a Little Tenderness, Argosy (UK) Mar 1970
Contributor of articles and stories to Venture, Reader's Digest, McCall's, and Scottish Field.
Born Sarah Elizabeth Evelyn Byrd on December 8, 1912, in St. Louis, MO; died May 11, 1989, in Tucson, AZ; daughter of Joseph Hunter Byrd (an entrepreneur and mining promoter) and Emma (Howard) Byrd; married Don Phares. Education: Attended New York University, 1932-33.
Elizabeth is the elder sister of composer Joseph Byrd (December 19, 1937) and physician Dr. Ruddell Byrd.
CAREER:
Columbia Broadcasting System, radio news writer, 1939-45; Station WMCA, script writer and actress on "What's News," 1942-43; associate editor for New York literary agencies, 1944-50; Betty Byrd Associates (literary agency), owner and operator, 1951-53; A. L. Fierst Literary Agency, critic, 1952-53; Julian Messner, Inc., writer of jacket copy, 1952-60; freelance writer.
In addition to her 9 novels, she wrote a non-fiction book "A Strange and Seeking Time", and two short stories for Argosy in 1969- 1970:
* Gay Street Ghost, Argosy (UK) Jun 1969
* Try a Little Tenderness, Argosy (UK) Mar 1970
Contributor of articles and stories to Venture, Reader's Digest, McCall's, and Scottish Field.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
July 15, 2025
Scotland, 1460
Gothic historical fiction with elements of fantasy
Having heard mostly bad things about historical fiction written during the 70s and 80s, I had no idea what to expect from this. I almost didn’t purchase it, as I found it randomly at an old books store. The summary intrigued me: “A compelling tale of adventure and sorcery set in Scotland.” I certainly didn’t expect it to become a new favourite.
The book is easy to read and surprisingly atmospheric, especially the parts about the Sanctuary, but even aspects about the medieval life. The Sanctuary was one of my favourite parts, and I liked how it played into the story, how it shifted for Cathryn as she herself changed. This place is deeply atmospheric, cloaked in silence, stone, and centuries of whispered prayers. Peace, but also unrest, reflecting the heart of Cathryn. And you can almost hear the monks’ footsteps echoing through time. I didn’t expect to love Elizabeth Byrd’s writing as much as I did, but I found myself highlighting a lot of quotes that I want to remember and go back to. In fact, I think I will go back to this book entirely, later on.
The fantasy element is another aspect I liked a lot. Without spoiling it, it was intriguing, captivating, and, as I do, I spun up many theories about said character. None of the questions were particularly answered, besides perhaps the most important, but I found the mystery of it suited the novel.
I must learn to master the art of writing a review of appreciation without spoiling anything… I will continue by saying that the book, as much as it brings elements of fantasy, it brings elements of reality. The reality is that most people are not heroes, and a lot of them, although our hearts, through the lens of love, may see them as honourable people, are people of grey morals, haunted and shamed by their own past, fighting their own battles as they do. If there had been a moment of unreal new-found morality, I would have not liked the book as much, I believe. The people we love are seldom flawless. And certain loves, no matter how flawed, will always hold a place in our hearts.
Lady of Monkton is different from other historical fiction I’ve read, but in a very good way. I wish to read more from this author in the future.
Some of my most favourite highlighted quotes below.
‘When love comes,’ he said finally, ‘it is sudden as a siege.’
‘And lasts as long?’ she asked bitterly. ‘A week, a month?’
‘Fortresses fall, often for ever,’ he said, ‘and perhaps the closed heart is the most vulnerable.’
‘If you would build a bridge of love I could cross from hell.’
All of my life, she thought, I have been moved by the expressions of people caught off-guard, unmasked. […] People caught in foolish situations, or tragic ones, were then most beloved to her in that brief moment of their confusion.
Gothic historical fiction with elements of fantasy
Having heard mostly bad things about historical fiction written during the 70s and 80s, I had no idea what to expect from this. I almost didn’t purchase it, as I found it randomly at an old books store. The summary intrigued me: “A compelling tale of adventure and sorcery set in Scotland.” I certainly didn’t expect it to become a new favourite.
The book is easy to read and surprisingly atmospheric, especially the parts about the Sanctuary, but even aspects about the medieval life. The Sanctuary was one of my favourite parts, and I liked how it played into the story, how it shifted for Cathryn as she herself changed. This place is deeply atmospheric, cloaked in silence, stone, and centuries of whispered prayers. Peace, but also unrest, reflecting the heart of Cathryn. And you can almost hear the monks’ footsteps echoing through time. I didn’t expect to love Elizabeth Byrd’s writing as much as I did, but I found myself highlighting a lot of quotes that I want to remember and go back to. In fact, I think I will go back to this book entirely, later on.
The fantasy element is another aspect I liked a lot. Without spoiling it, it was intriguing, captivating, and, as I do, I spun up many theories about said character. None of the questions were particularly answered, besides perhaps the most important, but I found the mystery of it suited the novel.
I must learn to master the art of writing a review of appreciation without spoiling anything… I will continue by saying that the book, as much as it brings elements of fantasy, it brings elements of reality. The reality is that most people are not heroes, and a lot of them, although our hearts, through the lens of love, may see them as honourable people, are people of grey morals, haunted and shamed by their own past, fighting their own battles as they do. If there had been a moment of unreal new-found morality, I would have not liked the book as much, I believe. The people we love are seldom flawless. And certain loves, no matter how flawed, will always hold a place in our hearts.
Lady of Monkton is different from other historical fiction I’ve read, but in a very good way. I wish to read more from this author in the future.
Some of my most favourite highlighted quotes below.
‘When love comes,’ he said finally, ‘it is sudden as a siege.’
‘And lasts as long?’ she asked bitterly. ‘A week, a month?’
‘Fortresses fall, often for ever,’ he said, ‘and perhaps the closed heart is the most vulnerable.’
‘If you would build a bridge of love I could cross from hell.’
All of my life, she thought, I have been moved by the expressions of people caught off-guard, unmasked. […] People caught in foolish situations, or tragic ones, were then most beloved to her in that brief moment of their confusion.
September 12, 2017
Placeholder book for Postal Book Club book #3
July 23, 2025
An easy read with not a lot of depth. The characters are not very empathetic or engaging. The story is alright but there are many threads that are not thoroughly explored.
December 2, 2019
In 1460 Scotland, young Catherine Grandison is married off by proxy to a man whom she has never seen. She has no idea if he is young or old, cruel or kind, or anything else about him.
After becoming the new lady of his estate, Monkton, she does her best to adjust to her life there while waiting for his return home.
In the months she spends waiting to meet her mysterious husband, Catherine befriends a strange man who professes to be a doctor, experiences the Plague, makes friends and enemies, and finds herself beginning a love affair with a priest, Symon.
I picked this book out of a trash bin, and read it the next day. Though I certainly believe that no book deserves to be thrown away, I admit that I can't blame whoever put it there.
This book was horridly written, and I am sorry that I wasted an hour on it.
Every character is flat and lifeless, either seeming stupid and unpredictable or seeming like nothing at all - just a textbook person who is there because they must be, nothing more.
The heroine Catherine was my least favorite. What little character the author did manage to breathe into her was a bad one. She shows little concern over the flurry of events that take place within two paragraphs of beginning the book. Her father dies, she is placed into an arranged marriage, she is taken away from her home and placed in a new one, and married. It is a lot, to be sure, but Catherine seems not to mind. She never shows the slightest grief over any of this, not even her father's death. The only worry she has is that her new husband, Roger, may be ugly, or very old.
She is a very stupid girl who falls in love with a selfish, conniving man. Yes, her naivety may excuse her a bit, but she shows herself through out the affair to be weak willed and pathetic.
Also, I found it ridiculous that she "loves" three different men in this book. Symon gets the majority of it, but at the end, she loves another man, and then within a few pages, she loves someone else.
The character of Symon could have been interesting. He is a priest who preys upon Catherine's loneliness and innocence and persuades her to sleep with him again and again. It is obvious what his trick is, but we never see any of his character. He simply doesn't seem to be there, it is just words.
The character of Mistress Adam was built up as if she is going to be the villain. It is hinted that she may be a witch, or that she murdered Douglas's first wife, or that she secretly loves Douglas and wants him for herself. Many things are hinted at, but they never become anything at all. She simply disappears toward the end of the story, never having done anything wrong.
This makes the book void of any conflict or villains. I was incredulous at the build-up of Mistress Adam, followed by her being tossed aside.
It was as if you know the entire book that some dangerous storm is approaching, closer, closer, closer...
And then!
It's gone. Oh, it was never coming at all. Sorry. Tricked you!
Why on earth the author made the writing decisions she did, I cannot comprehend. Would it have been so hard to at least write a scene where Mistress Adam threatens Catherine in any way? Professes twisted love for Douglas? Anything?
But alas, nothing of the sort.
Even when the Plague strikes Monkton, a few pages lightly mentioned it, but it never comes to anything.
It was as if the author was too afraid to ever let anything bad happen to her characters, or anything even close to it.
The only conflicts in this book were these:
- Robert may not be handsome. Oh my, just imagine!
- Someone may find out that Catherine has a lover, and Symon may not even love her.
The second could have at least been made into some tragic love story, I suppose, but it was simply too badly written to be inspiring or interesting.
And lastly, what was this with Michael Scot being a time traveler? Apparently he has lived for thousands of years, and has met kings and queens throughout the ages, and is now in Monkton. There was absolutely NO POINT to add this sci-fi element into historical fiction! Besides him, there is nothing fantastical to the story. And his being a "time traveler" did not even affect the plot. If he had simply been a wise, traveling healer or perhaps a former royal physician in exile, it would have worked out the same way.
I am thinking up these possibilities off the top of my head. And yet nothing of the sort ever occurred to the author.
What a waste of a book!
After becoming the new lady of his estate, Monkton, she does her best to adjust to her life there while waiting for his return home.
In the months she spends waiting to meet her mysterious husband, Catherine befriends a strange man who professes to be a doctor, experiences the Plague, makes friends and enemies, and finds herself beginning a love affair with a priest, Symon.
I picked this book out of a trash bin, and read it the next day. Though I certainly believe that no book deserves to be thrown away, I admit that I can't blame whoever put it there.
This book was horridly written, and I am sorry that I wasted an hour on it.
Every character is flat and lifeless, either seeming stupid and unpredictable or seeming like nothing at all - just a textbook person who is there because they must be, nothing more.
The heroine Catherine was my least favorite. What little character the author did manage to breathe into her was a bad one. She shows little concern over the flurry of events that take place within two paragraphs of beginning the book. Her father dies, she is placed into an arranged marriage, she is taken away from her home and placed in a new one, and married. It is a lot, to be sure, but Catherine seems not to mind. She never shows the slightest grief over any of this, not even her father's death. The only worry she has is that her new husband, Roger, may be ugly, or very old.
She is a very stupid girl who falls in love with a selfish, conniving man. Yes, her naivety may excuse her a bit, but she shows herself through out the affair to be weak willed and pathetic.
Also, I found it ridiculous that she "loves" three different men in this book. Symon gets the majority of it, but at the end, she loves another man, and then within a few pages, she loves someone else.
The character of Symon could have been interesting. He is a priest who preys upon Catherine's loneliness and innocence and persuades her to sleep with him again and again. It is obvious what his trick is, but we never see any of his character. He simply doesn't seem to be there, it is just words.
The character of Mistress Adam was built up as if she is going to be the villain. It is hinted that she may be a witch, or that she murdered Douglas's first wife, or that she secretly loves Douglas and wants him for herself. Many things are hinted at, but they never become anything at all. She simply disappears toward the end of the story, never having done anything wrong.
This makes the book void of any conflict or villains. I was incredulous at the build-up of Mistress Adam, followed by her being tossed aside.
It was as if you know the entire book that some dangerous storm is approaching, closer, closer, closer...
And then!
It's gone. Oh, it was never coming at all. Sorry. Tricked you!
Why on earth the author made the writing decisions she did, I cannot comprehend. Would it have been so hard to at least write a scene where Mistress Adam threatens Catherine in any way? Professes twisted love for Douglas? Anything?
But alas, nothing of the sort.
Even when the Plague strikes Monkton, a few pages lightly mentioned it, but it never comes to anything.
It was as if the author was too afraid to ever let anything bad happen to her characters, or anything even close to it.
The only conflicts in this book were these:
- Robert may not be handsome. Oh my, just imagine!
- Someone may find out that Catherine has a lover, and Symon may not even love her.
The second could have at least been made into some tragic love story, I suppose, but it was simply too badly written to be inspiring or interesting.
And lastly, what was this with Michael Scot being a time traveler? Apparently he has lived for thousands of years, and has met kings and queens throughout the ages, and is now in Monkton. There was absolutely NO POINT to add this sci-fi element into historical fiction! Besides him, there is nothing fantastical to the story. And his being a "time traveler" did not even affect the plot. If he had simply been a wise, traveling healer or perhaps a former royal physician in exile, it would have worked out the same way.
I am thinking up these possibilities off the top of my head. And yet nothing of the sort ever occurred to the author.
What a waste of a book!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews