Just flesh and blood by Jane Caro
University of Queensland Press, 2018. ISBN 9780702260018
(Age: Children - Young adult) Recommended. Themes: Historical
Fiction (1500-1600 England Royalty). Just Flesh and Blood is
the last novel in the Trilogy which include Just
A Girl and Just a Queen which depicts the life
of the very famous and long reigning Queen Elizabeth 1, Protestant
Queen of England and Ireland. The story is told from the perspective
of the Queen as a flesh and blood person with emotions, love,
intellect and daily personal and political struggles.
Queen Elizabeth 1 is a woman in a man's world who had accomplished
much more than was ever expected for any Royal during an extremely
long period of 44 years of reign. Her main concern was always for
the welfare of her people and country and as such she became as a
mother to them all. But, she still craved loving attention and
acknowledgment from her father (Henry VIII) and although she was a
young child when her beautiful mother Anne Boleyn died, Elizabeth
never resolved her grief and guilt. Her loving mother was beheaded,
sentenced to death by a husband King. Elizabeth was always well
aware that if she had been born a boy, a successor to the Tudor
throne, her mother would have been in the King's favor and she would
not have met such a terrible fate. Elizabeth was born a princess and
through political motives she was declared as 'illegitimate', hence
unimportant and mostly unseen by those in the majesty's court.
As Queen Elizabeth 1, lies on the floor and then on her death bed,
she drifts in and out of sleep. She is reflecting on her life and
she is assessing herself and her path of destiny which she
diligently worked hard throughout. Has she done enough? Would her
father and mother be proud of her? Has she failed them, made a
mistake, by remaining a maiden Queen and not marrying or bearing
children to carry on the Tudor family reign? Who would be the first
person that she meets in the afterlife?
Although I came across this last book in the trilogy and have not
read the previous two, Jane Caro does a marvelous job in summarizing
the Queen's life during her final days, hence, the storyline flows
well and the reader is not left feeling confused or as though parts
of the story are missing. In fact, it leaves the reader wanting to
read/re-read the trilogy set without pause and the writing skill of
Jane Caro is such that the reader will find it difficult to put down
the books.
This book is a marvelous way to learn some history of the Royals of
England. It motivates the reader to delve into further research
about the era and come to know Queen Elizabeth 1 not only as a great
ruler, stern and at times merciless Queen - but as a child, young
girl and woman living an exceptional life in a difficult time.
About the Author - Jane Caro Jane Caro is often a guest on the
Channel 9's Weekend Sunrise and Gruen Planet. A busy 60 something
year old who keeps herself busy as a novelist, columnist and
novelist. Jane has won awards for her ability to write outstanding,
"to the point" and relatable advertising material.
Maria Burford