Jane Shore is often considered a fringe character in history. In fact, she may not show up at all because she is one of many mistresses of King Edward IV, albeit his favorite, and what is a Jane Shore compared to an Elizabeth Woodville? In this account by Jean Plaidy, Jane Shore not only takes center stage in her own story but also in history. Some of the great turning points in the Wars of the Roses are attributed to Jane, and this novel brings those fascinating machinations to light.

Plaidy presents Jane Shore as a kindhearted but sensuous woman. She isn't content just with being a "good wife". She must have passion and love. It's her greatest weakness, you could say, against her otherwise flawless character. She undergoes several transformations in this book, and it's riveting to watch her mature, for better or for worse. In the beginning she battles with her conscience about leaving her husband for King Edward, eventually and inevitably succumbing. Her years as Edward's mistress expose her to all sorts of plots from the royal court. Not only does she become entangled in them, but she also devises a few of her own, though she can hardly be called cunning. Her worldview is tested again and again as her lover's reign progresses and Edward makes difficult choices in order to keep his power. It's fascinating watching an otherwise guileless woman grapple with the sordid world she's fallen into.

After Edward's death, she becomes the lover of Dorset and Hastings, both offering something completely different from Edward and each other. Jane's relationships with men evolve over the course of her life and the book, and like any human, she makes bad decisions. Unfortunately for her, the stakes are much higher than for the rest of us. Her experiences sober her. She becomes wiser. Yet, through it all, she never loses her kindness to those less fortunate than herself. These contradictions and nuances make her feel like a real person instead of a trope in a novel.

My only frustration is that, either due to a lack of information or a lack of interesting information, we cease to follow Jane's story around the last quarter of the book. Instead, Plaidy follows the perspectives of pretty much anyone else besides Jane: Elizabeth Woodville Sr, King Richard, the princes in the Tower, and even those men who are said to have murdered the young princes. While it did make the story exciting, Jane only popped up tangentially in these parts, and they felt a little out of place.

It's somewhat tragic watching Jane's descent from the daughter of a wealthy merchant and the coveted mistress of the king to being imprisoned for debt before her final transformation as an old beggar woman who lives on a London street corner. However, as Jane herself is aware, she is many things but wise is not one of them. What principles she values - that of love and selflessness - are paramount to survival. Readers may not always agree or even like the choices Jane makes, but you will understand and sympathize with her, and that is the most important thing in a good book. If you like medieval or Tudor history, this book is a must. ( )

This is one of several novels I’ve read set during the Wars of the Roses, which I continue to consider as a fascinating period of England’s history. This is also the second fiction-based-on-fact account of Jane (aka Elizabeth) Shore.

Jane Shore is one of my favourite personages from medieval times. It’s unfortunate that more details of her life haven’t been recorded. But in the world of historical fiction a good author can fill in the gaps. Jean Plaidy has managed to do just that, portraying a very different account of Jane’s life compared to the version featured in Anne Easter Smith’s “Royal Mistress”.

The Jane in this book is as likeable as she is beautiful. She could’ve gone on to be the ultimate haughty bitch, what with her unrivalled good-looks and her position at court, but rather she uses her influence to aid the suffering of others.

I also like Ms Plaidy’s portrayal of Richard III. She neither paints him as a demon in human form, nor in an unbelievable hero, like a fanatical Ricardian may be tempted to. Her version of the last Plantagenet monarch offers a realistic balance of what Richard may have been like as a person.

The ending is a melancholy one. Won’t say more in case I reveal a spoiler.

Overall, this was in the most part an entertaining read, though I felt it had potential to be even better. ( )

The story is ok, but the I found Jane to be a bit weak. It is true that for back in that time period she would have seemed a strong woman, but in today's standards she would be seen as weak. The thing I enjoyed most about the book was the backdrop that it all took place in. ( )

http://shelfandstuff.blogspot.com/2007/12/goldsmiths-wife-by-jean-plaidy.html ( )

I've got an autographed copy of this! Not read for 35 years but still treasured. ( )