The King's Bed

Shadows of the Crown #5

by Margaret Campbell Barnes

This is the story of an inn-keeper's daughter and the natural son of a king. Because her family had served King Richard, and because the king spoke kindly to her when he stopped at her family's inn on the way to Bosworth Field, Tansy was devoted to the Yorkist cause. After the army left, another visitor arrived -- a young man of no apparent importance, wo called himself Dickon. Dickon's face showed his relationship with the King, and after Richard had been killed and the Yorkist army defeated, Tansy risked her good name to shelter him from Henry Tudor's victorious army.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, 15th Century, Fiction, British Literature, Tudor Period, Medieval

251 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1961

About the author

Margaret Campbell Wood was born on 17 February 1891 in Rotherfield, Sussex, England, UK. She was the youngest of ten children, who had a happy childhood in the Sussex country side. She was eventually educated at small private schools in Paris and London.

She married Peter Barnes in 1917,( a furniture salesman), and the couple had two sons, Michael and John. Michael, a Royal Armoured Corps Lieutenant, was killed during WW II.

She died on 1 April 1962 in Yarmouth, Isle of Wight.

Her books are historical novels, called Shadows of the Crown, that follow the history of the English Crown. The majority of her books were written between the 1940's and 1950's. Her last and posthumous novel Lady on the Coin was finished by the novelist Hebe Elsna

Over two million copies of Margaret's historical novels have been sold worldwide.

Reviews

[Misfit · Rating 3 out of 5]

Margaret Campbell Barnes recounts the story of Richard (Dickon) Broome, an illegitimate son of Richard III. Dickon was raised not knowing his parentage, but is summoned to Bosworth and acknowledged by his father on the eve of the battle. The King had spent a night previously in Leicester at the White Boar Inn and planning on returning left behind the King's bed (a portable one that traveled with him). Tansy Marsh, the daughter of the Boar's proprietor saves young Dickon's life as he flees Bosworth and helps him return to London to learn his craft as a mason. Meanwhile Tansy stays behind and continues her battle of wills with her step-mother, which worsens after her father dies.

The first part of the story is focused around the King’s bed left behind and the secrets it may hold leading Tansy into a bit of a pickle and very much in need of a rescue. The second half focuses more on Dickon's life as a mason, as he tries to keep his anonymity and avoid getting sucked into the plots of the various pretenders to the throne. Not the fastest paced book, but enjoyable none the less, although I’d only recommend it for fans of Barnes or those needing to read everything on this period. I did like the author’s addition of what she thinks was the ultimate fate of Francis Lovell.

[Christine Cazeneuve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don't let the title throw you

Very interesting story about the alleged illegitimate son of King Richard III, Richard Broome. It's not a terribly exciting story but it's intriguing nonetheless. First book I've read about this Richard and also by this author.

[Louise Child · Rating 2 out of 5]

A sweet little story

A sweet little story marred by very poor editing and grammar .I was unaware that plasters for cuts were in common use in Tudor times ! So a few inconsistencies .

[Jane Barry · Rating 2 out of 5]

Story good, but where are the proofreaders

Storyline was very interesting and moves quickly. If not for innumerable spelling and grammatical errors the rating w/o higher. PROOFREAD!

[MARY JANE CLARK · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating!

I always enjoy reading about the early English dynasties and this book was very good. Dickon always been considered a pretender to the throne and this brings him to life. Great fiction! Look forward to more from this author!

[Julia Ibbotson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very enjoyable novel. I am fascinated by this period of history. Full of detail and most intriguing, with interesting characters.

[dylan barter · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very enjoyable read

A good credible story . The facts and history have been researched well . I wouldn't say I couldn't put it down but I did thoroughly enjoy rewarding it .

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good yarn.

[Rosie Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely read about the aftermath of Bosworth and the start of the Tudor dynasty

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

THE KING'S BED was one of Margaret Campbell Barnes's later books. It tells the story of Richard (Dickon) Broome, illegitimate son to Richard III, and how he faces and deals with the short rise and fall of his father's reign. Though it is certainly a pleasurable read, it is not one of MCB's best books. At the time she wrote this, she was already quite successful and was working with a reliable formula. There is a sense that she turned this book out rather quickly. This is not to say that her work became sloppy or fell off later on; quite to the contrary, her book MARY OF CARISBROOKE, written close to the end of her career, is her strongest. Despite all of this, THE KING'S BED is still an enjoyable read, offering up the beautiful language and engaging look into the personal lives of English royalty that any reader of Ms. Barnes's work has come to expect.

Margaret Campbell Barnes wrote eleven historical fiction novels about the monarchs of England. She was also my great-grandmother and is my favorite writer. She has been a great inspiration and guide during my development as a writer. I have read each of her books at least once; this was my second time through THE KING'S BED.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Story of the illegitimate son of Richard III.

Working from a list of books I read years ago.