Sullivan,
Laura L. Ladies In Waiting. Houghton Mifflin/ Harcourt Brace 328p $16.99 978-0-547-58129-3 ms/hs VG Historical Fiction
In this novel three Elizabeths (Zabby, Beth, and
Eliza) are sent to the court of Charles II by their parents for different
reasons. Eliza wants to be a
playwright for the King’s Theater, but her father wants her to marry well so he
will have
an influence at court. Zabby comes to court
from the Islands so that she can further her scientific studies and gain access
to the King’s laboratory. Beth is
a poor noble girl whose mother is putting her on the marriage market to further
the family's status.
The court is teeming with mysteries,
schemes, and jealousies, along with allegiances made and broken daily. Into this drama King
Charles welcomes his new bride, Queen Catherine. The three Elizabeths befriend the queen and becoming her ladies in waiting.
The daily intrigues and doings of the three
ladies will provide the reader with chuckles and despair as they follow their
future. Life at court is
exciting as they deal with the theater, love affairs, and overly determined
mothers. Readers will not want to put the
book down until it is finished.
This historical novel will be a good
addition to any collection that needs Great Britain history. It will show readers
the everyday activities of court life. However, it was not recommended for our "Books of Note" category
because of the lack of author notes and historical notes,
which would have helped readers understand the jargon and timeline
of the Court.
English courts-Fiction, King Charles
II-Fiction,
Great Britain-Fiction, --Linda McNeil
