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The Heart of the Conqueror
- The Chronicles of Matilda, Lady of Flanders, Book 1
- Narrated by: Marnye Young
- Length: 18 hrs and 14 mins
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The Heart of the Conqueror
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Publisher's Summary
October 14, 1066. Two armies converge to decide the fate of England....
The most famous date in English history, when the might of the English Saxons faced the wrath of the Norman invasion. The man who stormed the sands of Sussex was William, bastard duke of Normany, the man they eventually came to call the Conqueror....
But the heart of the conqueror was Matilda, lady of Flanders and duchess of Normandy. At the side of the most famous warlord of history, Matilda worked, not as a quiet, modest wife, but as a leader...as a ruler just as ruthless as her husband. Under her soft mask of beauty and modesty there lay the heart of a woman powered by ambition. A woman who was strong, courageous, and devious....
Through the eyes of one of the most extraordinary women of history unfold the events leading to the invasion of England and the battle that would decide its fate....
This is the story of Matilda, lady of Flanders, duchess of Normandy, and queen of England.
Contains mature themes.
What listeners say about The Heart of the Conqueror
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 29-12-2018
Good story; some detail overdone; great narration
I purchased the audio version of the book. Overall, there is much to commend the story but I found a few aspects annoyingly distracting from what is otherwise a powerful narrative. I love historical fiction and especially this period. On the positive side, the story gives a fresh slant to the momentous events of 1066 and their lead-up. The historical facts, as far as we know them, are generally woven nicely with Lawrence's imagination and well written, although I felt the depiction of Harold to be one dimensional. However, quite often, I found the narrative bogged down in unnecessary description about Matilda, eg gratuitous sex (I must be getting old) and her focus on her personal appearance and clothing. Matilda comes across to me as a narcissist. I'm not sure if that's what Lawrence intended. While one shouldn't read a book by its cover, the image of Matilda on the audio book cover doesn't help, as she looks like someone from a cosmetics commercial. If I had a hard copy, I would edit by skipping pages; this isn't as easy with an unabridged recording. Despite these issues, I really enjoyed Young's narration. She takes on a range of characters: female, male; mature, young; different socio-economic backgrounds; and many emotional contexts. Her delivery is excellent throughout; and often captivating. She brings the story to life. If the audio version could have edited out the descriptive excesses of the story; this would be a solid five-star.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 02-06-2024
Detail of medieval life
The assessment of Matilda”# character, though largely speculative, was excellent. The large number of pages devoted to the sexual act was unnessecary as an implied relationship is more intriguing.? The descriptions and explanations of the political. Position in England at the time is clear.please, more pillow-talk and fewer details about sexual activities, some of which may be repugnant to Some readers. I look forward to the next volume.
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