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A Diamond in the Dust
A Diamond in the Dust is a fictionalised account of the life of Charles I from his birth to the age of twenty-eight.
It shows England’s most maligned monarch, Charles I, as he really was. Dominated by his debauched father, James I, he grew up a diffident, stuttering, dreamy figure, wracked by a crippling disease – rickets.
But he was lifted and defined by his passion for all the arts, especially theatre and painting.
Brutal real-life caught up with him, however, spinning him at the centre of a whirlwind of love, art, war and even murder, as he struggled unsuccessfully to keep control of his life and his kingdom.
This first novel in the trilogy The Stuarts: Love, Art, War, shows Charles I growing up and finding love. It puts the vilified king in a different light. Under the wing of his precocious sister Elizabeth, he blossoms and his interest in culture and the arts grows into a passion, or some would say an obsession.
‘Sumptuous detail and a rare ability to inhabit character are skilfully combined by Dean to bring an original and compelling portrait of Charles 1 as patron of the Arts, in the first of his trilogy about the Stuarts.’ – Hana Cole
‘With historically rich prose Dean’s A Diamond in the Dust, book one of a trilogy, brings to life the intimate and artistic world of The Stuarts of 17th century England. An intriguing and fascinating read.’ – Stephanie Renee dos Santos
It shows England’s most maligned monarch, Charles I, as he really was. Dominated by his debauched father, James I, he grew up a diffident, stuttering, dreamy figure, wracked by a crippling disease – rickets.
But he was lifted and defined by his passion for all the arts, especially theatre and painting.
Brutal real-life caught up with him, however, spinning him at the centre of a whirlwind of love, art, war and even murder, as he struggled unsuccessfully to keep control of his life and his kingdom.
This first novel in the trilogy The Stuarts: Love, Art, War, shows Charles I growing up and finding love. It puts the vilified king in a different light. Under the wing of his precocious sister Elizabeth, he blossoms and his interest in culture and the arts grows into a passion, or some would say an obsession.
‘Sumptuous detail and a rare ability to inhabit character are skilfully combined by Dean to bring an original and compelling portrait of Charles 1 as patron of the Arts, in the first of his trilogy about the Stuarts.’ – Hana Cole
‘With historically rich prose Dean’s A Diamond in the Dust, book one of a trilogy, brings to life the intimate and artistic world of The Stuarts of 17th century England. An intriguing and fascinating read.’ – Stephanie Renee dos Santos
210 pages, Paperback
Published October 6, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
March 11, 2023
Having read another one of this author’s books (The White Crucifixion) and knowing the depth of research and the attention to detail he invests his historical fiction with, I was looking forward to this text, especially as it is not a period of British History I’m particularly familiar with. And, the novel does not disappoint.
We see Charles I as a shy and sickly boy, eager to find friends and please others, and fully aware of his disabilities (he suffers from rickets, his body is deformed, and even walking is far from straightforward for him). He adores his older brother, Henry, destined to become the king, and his sister, Elizabeth, who was his companion, but he loses them both: his sister to marriage (and her later political difficulties play a part in the story), and his brother to illness, and that means he will become the king. James, his father, is depicted as a truly despicable man, and he has no redeeming qualities. It is not surprising that he is generally disliked and most people around him can’t wait for his demise. And according to the novel, perhaps some decided not to wait, but I won’t go into detail.
Thankfully, Charles finds other protectors and allies (like Buckingham), and we follow him in some of his adventures, from going to the theatre in London to trying to secure a politically advantageous marriage with the Spanish Infanta. One of the most important things for Charles is his love of art, and the author excels at describing performances of masques (with Inigo Jones at the helm, designing the stage, the special effects, and ensuring the magic), painting sessions, and visits to museums and palaces. I particularly enjoyed the ins and outs of painters’ studios, particularly the depiction of Van Dyck’s method, and the grand plans Charles had to build and decorate his new palace and buy as much art as was available. As for romance, his marriage to Henrietta, his French wife, is a meeting of minds, and they are happy partners and pretty similar in their tastes and what they consider important.
Charles believes his will and all his desires should be fulfilled, and he does not worry himself with any practical details; he just expects others to provide. Although he might be childish and selfish, he is not portrayed as malicious or evil, but rather as someone oblivious to the real world around him and imbued with a sense of self-importance pertaining to his role, which he never questioned. He is also easily manipulated by those he loves, even when this sometimes can have terrible consequences for those involved, as is the case with Buckingham and his naval expedition to La Rochelle.
The story is narrated in the third person, from an omniscient point of view, and that allows readers to share in the different protagonists’ emotions and thoughts, but also have an outside perspective of how things really are. The language is beautifully descriptive, especially when it refers to clothing, works of art, architecture, and inventions, and this helps immerse the reader in the historical period and feel like a privileged witness of the action. The rhythm of the narrative is paused and contemplative at times, but it never stops moving forward, and it never drags. In fact, it is quite a short book for the number of events it contains.
As I have said, I don’t know much about the Stuarts or this period of Britain’s history, but the author’s research shines through, and his skill is evident in the way he manages to flesh out these characters and turn them into credible human beings (with their flaws and virtues) without sacrificing the known facts.
I recommend this novel to readers of historical fiction, especially those interested in the Stuarts and with a particular affinity for art and artists. There is action as well, with plenty of political intrigues, enmities, betrayals, and even crimes, and a beautiful turn of phrase and use of language, so, what is there not to like? Note that this is book 1 in an announced trilogy, and it does not cover the whole of Charles I’s reign.
I thank Holland Park Press and the author for providing me with a paperback review copy of the book, which I freely chose to review.
We see Charles I as a shy and sickly boy, eager to find friends and please others, and fully aware of his disabilities (he suffers from rickets, his body is deformed, and even walking is far from straightforward for him). He adores his older brother, Henry, destined to become the king, and his sister, Elizabeth, who was his companion, but he loses them both: his sister to marriage (and her later political difficulties play a part in the story), and his brother to illness, and that means he will become the king. James, his father, is depicted as a truly despicable man, and he has no redeeming qualities. It is not surprising that he is generally disliked and most people around him can’t wait for his demise. And according to the novel, perhaps some decided not to wait, but I won’t go into detail.
Thankfully, Charles finds other protectors and allies (like Buckingham), and we follow him in some of his adventures, from going to the theatre in London to trying to secure a politically advantageous marriage with the Spanish Infanta. One of the most important things for Charles is his love of art, and the author excels at describing performances of masques (with Inigo Jones at the helm, designing the stage, the special effects, and ensuring the magic), painting sessions, and visits to museums and palaces. I particularly enjoyed the ins and outs of painters’ studios, particularly the depiction of Van Dyck’s method, and the grand plans Charles had to build and decorate his new palace and buy as much art as was available. As for romance, his marriage to Henrietta, his French wife, is a meeting of minds, and they are happy partners and pretty similar in their tastes and what they consider important.
Charles believes his will and all his desires should be fulfilled, and he does not worry himself with any practical details; he just expects others to provide. Although he might be childish and selfish, he is not portrayed as malicious or evil, but rather as someone oblivious to the real world around him and imbued with a sense of self-importance pertaining to his role, which he never questioned. He is also easily manipulated by those he loves, even when this sometimes can have terrible consequences for those involved, as is the case with Buckingham and his naval expedition to La Rochelle.
The story is narrated in the third person, from an omniscient point of view, and that allows readers to share in the different protagonists’ emotions and thoughts, but also have an outside perspective of how things really are. The language is beautifully descriptive, especially when it refers to clothing, works of art, architecture, and inventions, and this helps immerse the reader in the historical period and feel like a privileged witness of the action. The rhythm of the narrative is paused and contemplative at times, but it never stops moving forward, and it never drags. In fact, it is quite a short book for the number of events it contains.
As I have said, I don’t know much about the Stuarts or this period of Britain’s history, but the author’s research shines through, and his skill is evident in the way he manages to flesh out these characters and turn them into credible human beings (with their flaws and virtues) without sacrificing the known facts.
I recommend this novel to readers of historical fiction, especially those interested in the Stuarts and with a particular affinity for art and artists. There is action as well, with plenty of political intrigues, enmities, betrayals, and even crimes, and a beautiful turn of phrase and use of language, so, what is there not to like? Note that this is book 1 in an announced trilogy, and it does not cover the whole of Charles I’s reign.
I thank Holland Park Press and the author for providing me with a paperback review copy of the book, which I freely chose to review.
December 18, 2022
This time period is rarely captured in fiction, and so I was drawn to it immediately.
Very immersive and descriptive and focuses on a time of Charles I that's never mentioned.
This does feel like non-fiction sometimes, as it feels so fact packed it's hard to remember it is indeed fiction. But hats off to the author for the research undertaken.
Interesting read.
Very immersive and descriptive and focuses on a time of Charles I that's never mentioned.
This does feel like non-fiction sometimes, as it feels so fact packed it's hard to remember it is indeed fiction. But hats off to the author for the research undertaken.
Interesting read.
December 31, 2022
Love Michael's writing. Great storytelling entwined with history.
Brilliant. Can't wait for the next part.
📚❤📚❤📚
Brilliant. Can't wait for the next part.
📚❤📚❤📚
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews