Georgette Heyer (44 page)

The House of Plantagenet and its Branches

Reading Group Guide

1. In the preface, G.R. Roguier describes Georgette Heyer’s love for this period of history and meticulous dedication to researching it fully. He reveals that she chose to write with John, Duke of Bedford, as the central character, because his life spanned the peak of the House of Lancaster and he was less well known than other figures. How does this focus on John shape the way the history is told? How might it have been different had another character been the central focus, such as King Henry IV or Harry?

2. In the first chapter, the four sons of Henry of Bolingbroke are described by their boasting nurses. In what ways do these descriptions foreshadow the men that they later become? In what ways are the men at the end of the novel different from their early characterizations?

3. After Queen Anne’s death, King Richard’s odd behavior causes concern amongst members of his kingdom, giving rise to speculation about his mental health. What do we learn when the story is briefly told from Richard’s perspective in the first chapter of Part 2? Do you believe Richard is mad, or is there more to his behavior? In what ways, if any, can you relate to Richard’s emotional narrative?

4. King Richard banishes John’s father, Henry of Bolingbroke. What was Richard’s motivation for banishing Henry? In what ways do familial ties and the pursuit of power come into conflict in this monarchy? Would you have wanted to be a close relative of a monarch during this time period?

5. “M. de Guyenne said that John had the best temper of all his family, and the greatest talent for peacemaking. In his old age, M. de Guyenne too was a peacemaker.” M. de Guyenne makes this prediction when John is only eight years old. As John matures, how does he fulfill Bel sire’s expectations? Does this come naturally to John, or does he have to work to achieve the role of peacemaker? Who were the people you were close to as a child that had a major impact on who you are today?

6. The marriages in this time period are often politically motivated. Which relationships in this narrative, if any, seem to transcend the political and seem to be based upon love? Which relationships illustrate the political nature of marriage? Are there any that fall into both categories? Do the women seem to be happy with their roles, or do they simply follow as duty commands?

7. Henry of Bolingbroke’s second wife, Joanna of Brittany, was dubbed the “Witch Queen” by the Commons, though this seems in stark contrast to the kind, charming woman that the princes encounter. Also, although her beauty and the attention it inspires cause some political trouble for the King, the Queen is never blamed. Who do you believe is correct, the Commons or the members of the royal family? Do you believe there is more to the controversy surrounding the Queen?

8. At age fourteen, John is eager to leave behind his formal education and take on a military and political position. Do you believe this was the correct decision for him? In what ways does John mature when learning from experience? How does he compare to his brother Humfrey, who is the scholar of the family? Do you feel that you are an experiential or a scholarly learner?

9. When Harry takes on a position of authority, tension begins to brew between him and his father, King Henry. In what ways does this tension mirror the tension that existed between King Richard and Henry? Do you think that these feelings are inevitable in this type of power structure? Do you think Henry’s resentment of Harry is justified, or is Harry unfairly punished for doing what is expected of him as a prince?

10. No ruler in this narrative is immune from the pressures of political power—Richard, Henry, Harry, and John all experience them at some point. Who do you feel handles those pressures the best? The worst?

11. When John questions his father about stories he has heard regarding the Lancaster ancestors, King Henry acknowledges that some are based in lies. ‘Yes, that was a leasing too,’ the King said gently. ‘Or so I believe. No one can know for very sooth. It served my turn.’ King Henry had used one of these lies when challenging Richard’s throne. If the lie helped to unseat a potentially unfit ruler, was the lie justified? Is lying ever justified, or is it always immoral?

12. In the battle with Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland, John has the opportunity to seize command but instead defers to his uncle, Ralph Neville. Ultimately, was it wise for John to set aside his own ambition at this point in time? Do you think you would make the same choice as John?

13. What role does superstition play in the political unrest seen throughout the novel? Is superstition a trait seen only in the Commons, or does it affect the monarchs as well? Are there any superstitions that affect your own life?

14. When Harry learns that John did not prevent the trap that led to the capture of Scrope and Mowbray, he says that John has “stained his knighthood,” and that he should not have done this for Harry’s benefit. Is Harry more disappointed in John as a brother or is the future king disappointed in a future advisor? In this moment, Harry is very moral and righteous. As a ruler, is it possible for him to maintain this idealism, or will his future role as a monarch who expands his kingdom necessitate a change in values?

15. The execution of the heretic at Smithfield disturbs all present, and it affects Harry the most poignantly. Do you identify with Harry’s reaction, or do you believe it to be one of weakness? Does the heretic’s refusal to recant strike you as honorable or foolish? What questions does this scene raise about execution in general?

16. Towards the end of Heyer’s narrative, Harry asks John to create a truce in Scotland, further solidifying his role as the peacemaker. Given his role as a trusted confidant and diplomat, do you think John would have been a better king than Harry, despite the fact that he was not the first born? What characteristics do you believe would make for a good king?

17. As Rougier revealed in the preface, the published
My Lord John
is only one third of what Heyer had intended to write. The historical note added at the end of the novel related the rest of the history that would have been brought to life had the novel been finished. What uncovered period would you have been most interested in reading in Heyer’s historical narrative?

About the Author

Author of over fifty books, Georgette Heyer is one of the best-known and best-loved of all historical novelists, making the Regency period her own. Her first novel,
The Black Moth
, published in 1921, was written at the age of fifteen to amuse her convalescent brother; her last was
My Lord John
. Although most famous for her historical novels, she also wrote twelve detective stories. Georgette Heyer died in 1974 at the age of seventy-one.