What do you think?
Rate this book
Royal Captive
Die bildschöne unschuldige Elizabeth Stafford wird von ihrem verarmten Vater skrupellos als Lockvogel für einen reichen Höfling eingesetzt. Sie muss sich bei Hofe den Verführungskünsten adliger Herren erwehren. Dabei gilt ihre heimlich Liebe dem Iren Kieran O’Neill. Als der König selbst sein Interesse an Elizabeth bekundet, sie zu seiner Mätresse machen will, scheint ihr Schicksal besiegelt…
368 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1986
1 person is currently reading
70 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
March 2, 2015
Superbly Told Story of an Irish Chieftain’s Love for Ireland and a Highborn Sassenach
I knew when I read LADY OF THE GLEN, Roberson’s poignant love story set in the time of the Glencoe Massacre in the Highlands of Scotland that her earlier work, THE IRISHMAN would be a treat. And it was. Oh, my.
Set in England in 1617, this is the story of Elizabeth Stafford, a baron’s daughter raised in Kent and, through her father’s wrangling, given an appointment in King James’ court as one of Queen Anne’s ladies. Before she ever gets to court, however, a carriage accident puts her in the clutches of Kieran O’Neill, last of the royal Irish family of the O’Neills, who has come to England on a secret mission he hopes will win his country’s freedom.
What can I say about a proud, dark Irish hero, descended from the Earls of Tyrone, who only wants to see Ireland free? And a high-spirited young Englishwoman, one of Queen Anne’s ladies-in-waiting, who rejects all her noble suitors for the love of such a man? The story is well-written, wringing with emotion and angst, and steeped in the history of the times. This one will keep you turning pages, I promise.
Roberson has done much research for this story and understands the feelings of the Catholic Irish, persecuted and suppressed by a Protestant England. I applaud her for that. King James I is a character who would have Elizabeth for his mistress and we see the debauched lifestyle of his court as Elizabeth tries to preserve her virtue. Her dialog is often brilliant, her storytelling compelling. Her characters vividly portrayed.
Note: The book was first published in 1986 under the title of ROYAL CAPTIVE but the author now has her rights back and decided the title she had in mind was more appropriate. I agree.
I knew when I read LADY OF THE GLEN, Roberson’s poignant love story set in the time of the Glencoe Massacre in the Highlands of Scotland that her earlier work, THE IRISHMAN would be a treat. And it was. Oh, my.
Set in England in 1617, this is the story of Elizabeth Stafford, a baron’s daughter raised in Kent and, through her father’s wrangling, given an appointment in King James’ court as one of Queen Anne’s ladies. Before she ever gets to court, however, a carriage accident puts her in the clutches of Kieran O’Neill, last of the royal Irish family of the O’Neills, who has come to England on a secret mission he hopes will win his country’s freedom.
What can I say about a proud, dark Irish hero, descended from the Earls of Tyrone, who only wants to see Ireland free? And a high-spirited young Englishwoman, one of Queen Anne’s ladies-in-waiting, who rejects all her noble suitors for the love of such a man? The story is well-written, wringing with emotion and angst, and steeped in the history of the times. This one will keep you turning pages, I promise.
Roberson has done much research for this story and understands the feelings of the Catholic Irish, persecuted and suppressed by a Protestant England. I applaud her for that. King James I is a character who would have Elizabeth for his mistress and we see the debauched lifestyle of his court as Elizabeth tries to preserve her virtue. Her dialog is often brilliant, her storytelling compelling. Her characters vividly portrayed.
Note: The book was first published in 1986 under the title of ROYAL CAPTIVE but the author now has her rights back and decided the title she had in mind was more appropriate. I agree.
June 28, 2020
Royal Captive aka The Irishman is a magnificent treatment of born enemies evolving to transcendent lovers on a dark 16th century historical background of Ireland's woes at English hands and the lewd court of King James I, described as "one large bedroom". Through a coach accident, the English Lady Elizabeth meets an Irish warrior of noble blood on a clandestine mission she unwittingly endangers. Despite her uncommon beauty and youth, she is a lady of mettle negotiating to keep some moral standards frustrated by a venal father and unwanted husband she married in a futile attempt to avoid the attentions of a promiscuous king intent on exercising his "droit du seigneur". The man she comes to love is Kieran, The O'Neill, a towering charismatic hero haunted by his country's tragic fate, doomed to fight a losing battle for Ireland. Their attraction is immediate, underlying their initial collision course. When they eventually come together, their path is fraught with difficulty but their passion for each other surmounts their conflicting loyalties and the dangers each faces. A beautiful melancholy love story, including a poignant supporting character Bard.
This is not a light hearted romance but a rich tapestry of deeper love - of country and of soulmate.
This is not a light hearted romance but a rich tapestry of deeper love - of country and of soulmate.
December 29, 2012
All I can remember is that she is attracted to the hero, and the king wants her, so she decides to marry another man (I don't know why). But this man, on their wedding night, gives her to the king for some favors. She escapes being raped by the king but not by her husband the following day. Then she flies with the hero, and I think he kills the husband in a duel.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews