A Noble Cunning follows Bethan Glentaggart, the wife from a noble, Catholic, Scottish lord during the Jacobite Rising of 1715. Bethan's story strongly mirrors that of the real life Winifred Herbert Maxwell, who did rescue her husband from imprisonment in the Tower of London after the 1715 Rising. While the story was interesting, it was initially difficult to get into, as it felt like Bethan exhibitions of her Catholicism were forced, and overall slow period after the initial, harried sequence. The story picked up more once the main events revolving around The Rising began.

Since the Bethan's life based on Winifred's, I am curious as to why the author chose to not use Winifred and her family as the main subject for the book, bringing their story more prominence. ( )

Happy Publication Day! (March 7, 2023)


Based on true events, A Noble Cunning: The Countess and the Tower by Patricia Bernstein revolves around forty-three-year-old Bethan Carlisle Glentaggart, Countess of Clarencefield and her efforts to save her husband Gavin from execution.

“It wasn’t just Catholics against Protestants. There were Dissenters like the Covenanters who hated the Church of Englanders almost as much as they hated the Catholics.”

The story is set in 1700s Scotland and England. After the death of Queen Anne, the last Stuart monarch, laws disallowing Catholics to ascend the throne resulted in bypassing several claimants and establishing the closest Protestant heir George of Hanover as successor. However, those loyal to the Stuart line of heirs support King James II’s son, James Francis Edward, the Chevalier’s claim to the throne. He had been living in exile but was expected to be returning to England shortly to take up arms and lead the rebellion. When Bethan’s husband Gavin joins the Jacobite rebellion she is fearful for him but supports his stance, both her family and his being loyal to the Stuarts. Unfortunately, the Jacobites are defeated and forced to surrender. Gavin is one of many who are imprisoned and awaiting trial. Bethan, leaving her children with relatives, travels to London amid inclement weather with her friend and confidante Lucy Dunstable to meet Gavin, who is imprisoned in the Tower of London. Bethan is no stranger to the perils of her journey and is aware of her precarious standing as a Catholic in anti-Catholic England. As a child of parents who served in the court of James II, she had been forced to flee to France with her family when he was overthrown by William of Orange. As a married woman settled in the Scottish Lowlands with her husband and children, she faced the Covenanters when they raided her home some years ago in search of a Catholic priest who Bethan was rumored to have (and actually had) harbored in her home. Unable to find the priest, her home was ransacked during the search and Bethan was physically assaulted by one of the Ministers.

“For so many of my years, I and those I love have been victims of the times, blown from pillar to post without any volition of our own. We have been able to find some happiness for a while, only to see it taken from us, simply because we are loyal to a disfavored faith, and because we subscribe to the belief that the English should be ruled by an Englishman.”

Gavin, along with others who fought with him , is pronounced guilty and sentenced to death. When Bethan's petition for Gavin’s pardon is ignored, she enlists the help of Lucy, her new friend Amelia Thrupp and her estranged sister Aelwen in devising and executing a plan to save her husband.

Based on the true story of Winifred Herbert Maxwell, Countess of Nithsdale, a noblewoman who plotted to free her husband William Maxwell, Earl of Nithsdale from the Tower of London with help of her friends, A Noble Cunning: The Countess and the Tower by Patricia Bernstein is an informative and fascinating read that I thoroughly enjoyed. The story is shared from the perspective of the protagonist in the first-person narrative format. The narrative is fluid and well-structured. Meticulously researched, the novel sheds a light on the anti-Catholic sentiment and persecution of those of the Catholic faith and the changes in the political and religious landscape of that era, while also giving us a window into the societal practices prevalent in those times. Bethan is an admirable character as is her friend Lucy. The second half of the novel is particularly engaging as we follow these resourceful women as they go about working out the details of their plan. Please do read the Author’s Note where she discusses the historical context of this novel in further detail. This was a departure from my usual choice of books but I was glad for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this novel and share my thoughts.

Many thanks to author Patricia Bernstein, History Through Fiction, and Stephanie Barko for the digital review copy of this fascinating novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. ( )

This book captured my attention from the first dramatic scene in which Covenanters raid the Countess of Clarencefield's Scottish manor, terrifying her and the children. Elegantly written, it features a courageous Catholic heroine, her handsome husband, and a group of minor, but interesting women friends, such as her strange sister Aelwen, and her maid Lucy, who help her. Although they are wealthy, well-educated aristocrats, the Glentaggarts are Catholic in a time of persecution of Catholics. The usurper, George 1 (who has brouight two mistresses with him) is on the throne, and the family are Jacobites who want to restore the rightful Stuart dynasty. When Gavin joins the battle to fight for James III's accession, Bethan Glentaggart stays home to look after the children. She soon receives news that he is in prison facing execution, however. Can she save him?
I loved this novel. Patricia Bernstein fills her book with intricate details of life in the 18th century, and has obviously researched the period extremely well. I also liked the fact that her heroine is not only Christian, but Catholic, because so many novelists make a point of being anti-Catholic today. There are many Catholic prayers, Latin sayings and literary allusions included in this multi-layered novel, an historical note, and an excellent bibliography for those who want to read more,
I won this ebook through the Early Reviewers at LibraryThing. ( )

Religion has done more to cause war and harm than almost anything else in the course of history. Whether it being differing sects of Protestants fighting each other, the Protestants fighting the Catholics, the Christians warring with the Jews, and heaven forbid I bring the Muslims into this conversation.

I am not sure it will ever end. But that is neither here nor there – except that this book is about religion and war. Protestants against Catholics in Scotland to be precise. But let’s get real – it’s truly about money and power isn’t it?

But back to our story – in this rousing tale we have some very strong women who band together to save the laird who has been imprisoned. They need to use all their wits to deal with a society that thinks them nothing more than ornamental. But they are so much more than that.

This was a wonderful tale, based on a real woman and a true marriage of fact with fiction to create a book that was hard to put down. I didn’t want to leave until the last page was turned and even then I wanted more. A truly remarkable woman who deserves all the attention this book gives to her and more. ( )

Bethan Glentaggart and her husband Gavin live in Scotland in 1716, a dangerous time for Catholics. As they fight to simply practice their religion in peace, a new King takes the throne in England, King George. King George is German and Protestant, many people feel that he is unfit to rule. Gavin takes up the Jacobite cause against King George and is later captured and imprisoned in the Tower of London. Bethan learns of his imprisonment and makes her way to London in order to fight for her husband's life.

Based on the true story of Winifred Maxwell, A Noble Cunning is the fictionalized version of her feats. The writing captured me in the first chapter as the effects of the religious persecution in the area were shown. I was immediately captured by Bethan's character as she kept her wits about her and refused to be the broken and weak woman that everyone expected her to be. Bethan's love for her family, home and religion shine. The pace of the story picks up after Gavin is captured and Bethan makes her way to London to eventually devise a plan of escape from the Tower of London. I love the thoughtful, long term process that Bethan proposed as well as all of the other women and family that banded together to aid her quest. The ending wrapped up rather quickly and I would have loved to know more details of what happened afterwards.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review. ( )