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When you make a conscious choice to be happy, no one can take it away from you because no one gave it to you: you gave it to yourself.

A quote from April Green's - Bloom For Yourself Journal

Monday 27 April 2020

Welcoming Mercedes Rochelle and her novel - The King's Retribution - to my blog

Today I am taking part in the blog tour hosted by The Coffee Pot Book Club featuring Mercedes Rochelle and her novel The King's Retribution.


Firstly, I'd like to introduce you to her book and then I'll share what Mercedes has to say about her protagonist.
 The King's Retribution
By Mercedes Rochelle

Book 2 of The Plantagenet Legacy 


If you read A KING UNDER SIEGE, you might remember that we left off just as Richard declared his majority at age 22. He was able to rise above the humiliation inflicted on him during the Merciless Parliament, but the fear that it could happen again haunted him the rest of his life. Ten years was a long time to wait before taking revenge on your enemies, but King Richard II was a patient man. Hiding his antagonism toward the Lords Appellant, once he felt strong enough to wreak his revenge he was swift and merciless. Alas for Richard, he went too far, and in his eagerness to protect his crown Richard underestimated the very man who would take it from him: Henry Bolingbroke.

You can purchase The King's Retribution from - 
 
Publication date: 4/1/2020
Publisher: Sergeant Press 

Getting to Know my Protagonist
By Mercedes Rochelle

For a long time my only knowledge about Richard II came from Shakespeare. How typical! The great bard established many historical figures in our mind that didn't match reality (how about Richard III?). I suspect he would have been amazed at how thoroughly we believed his memorable characters. So when I decided to take on King Richard II, I thought of him as a spoiled brat with a tragic flaw. I also thought, before he came to a bad end, that he was flippant, arrogant, inconsiderate, and self-centered. It was a tribute to Shakespeare's skill that I felt sorry for him at the end.
I'm still not sure why I needed to write his story, but thirty some-odd books' worth of research later, I'm glad I made the journey. My conception of Richard changed along the way, and it's still probably incomplete. He was a complicated character, and once I found out what Shakespeare left out, I was more amazed than ever.
Born in Bordeaux, Richard didn't move to England until he was four; apparently he didn't speak a word of English. He was the second son; his brother, England's heir, died just before they left France. From what I understand, he did not grow up with a support group since much of his youth was spent in the household of a dying man—his father, the Black Prince. Crowned king at age ten, the lonely boy started out at a disadvantage. No child should have that kind of responsibility thrust upon him, even if he was only a figurehead. Did he realize he was a figurehead? Or did he take his responsibilities seriously? Since he alone had to face the ringleaders of Peasants' Revolt at fourteen, I'd say the young king took on more than his share of authority. Did any of his elders give him credit when the crisis was over? It appears not; they were quick to blame him when it came time to suppress the aftermath. I imagine this was the beginning of his "bad attitude" toward his alleged advisors. 
Not willing to suffer reproaches from his council, he sequestered himself with the men he did trust: Sir Simon Burley, his tutor, Robert de Vere, his childhood friend from Edward III's court, and Michael de la Pole, his chancellor, among others. These were the very men singled out for destruction by the Lords Appellant—led by the Duke of Gloucester and the earls of Warwick and Arundel. Once their patience ran out with Richard's "bad government", the Appellants decided it was time to clean house and get the king under their control (more of this in A KING UNDER SIEGE). As far as the Appellants were concerned, Richard was badly advised by his friends; they had to be eliminated—permanently. To say that the Lords were thorough would be an understatement! By the time the Merciless Parliament was over, Richard had lost his inner circle of friends to either judicial murder or outlawry, and his household members were all dismissed. The reins of power were wrested from his hands. His humiliation was complete. One can only imagine what that trauma would do to a young mind.
Ultimately, I see Richard as someone who never had a sense of security. On the one hand, he was able to instill loyalty with his close friends. Both his wives loved him. His court was among the most cultured in Europe; he patronized men of letters such as Geoffrey Chaucer and John Gower, as well as Oxford University. For the first seven years after he achieved his majority, he reigned quietly and efficiently. England experienced a rare time of peace and prosperity. Chroniclers had little to talk about except the weather. Then, all of a sudden, it seemed that his pent-up anger and frustration burst forth. His enemies, who had been lulled into a false sense of security, were unexpectedly arrested and tried for treason. For a few short months, the Wheel of Fortune raised him to the top. Alas, in the end, his retribution wasn't enough and he didn't know when to stop; he felt that the whole country was against him, and took measures accordingly. What would Richard require to feel safe again? I don't think he ever found out.

Mercedes Rochelle


Born in St. Louis MO with a degree from University of Missouri, Mercedes Rochelle learned about living history as a re-enactor and has been enamored with historical fiction ever since. A move to New York to do research and two careers ensued, but writing fiction remains her primary vocation. She lives in Sergeantsville, NJ with her husband in a log home they had built themselves.

You can get in contact with Mercedes via the following links -





I hope you will check out Mercedes Rochelle's work and enjoy.
Till the next time.
Take care Zoe






 

1 comment:

Mary Anne Yarde said...

Thank you so much for hosting Mecedes tour today!!