Once, I wrote not quite nasty (but definitely on the snarky side) review of an early novel by a Legend of Science Fiction (capitalization necessary) in the mistaken belief that this Legend of Science Fiction was either dead or too old to use the internet.

This was not, in fact, the case. The Legend of Science Fiction showed up in my comments, many of which were nasty, and begged the lot of us to remember how old the book was.

I’ve felt terrible about it ever since.

More on point: I agree you probably wouldn’t like MELUSINE. You know it’s one of my very favouritest books, but it’s definitely not for everyone.

And I feel for you when that author linked to your review with a sad face. So mortifying. I need to keep your experience in mind when I write seriously negative reviews.

Yikes! There’s also the Anya Seton version of the story, entitled just ‘Katherine’. That’s supposed to be very good, too, though I haven’t read it. You’ve made up with Katherine Addison, but I wouldn’t want to push you too far out of the comfort zone! 🙂

Hahaha, your reputation for erudition would have been untouched if you hadn’t been able to think of anything! Even the most erudite person in the world is not knowledgeable on every topic whatsoever. Thank you for that recommendation — my respect for you is such that I am going to read it even though Alison Weir and I are PERMANENT ENEMIES and have been since I was twelve.

Well the best I can do is a book by Alison Weir, entitled ‘Katherine Swynford: The Story of John of Gaunt and His Scandalous Duchess’. This is about the court of Edward III, which is a teeny bit earlier than the period you are looking for, but it’s a good book and Weir is a fantastic historian, and if I remember right there are LOTS of machinations. (I very badly want to retain this image of erudition!!)

Hahaha, I DID wish for that. And now I have done it! :p

Have you been reading her Ayn Rand versions of Harry Potter? GOLD.

Oh, definitely me too. I try to catch buzzy books before they get TOO buzzy — and in fact I think I’d have been disappointed in this one (I read SO MANY good reviews of it before trying it out) if I hadn’t been trying really hard to like Sarah Monette after all. Sometimes you just have to wait out the hype cycle.

Ugh, yeah. It was awful. I wish I could take it back.

I hope so! I wonder what I can cash those brownie points in for.

I admit that I was slightly hoping you would know of a nonfiction book about court life. You are so knowledgeable and erudite! Anything? Any such book?