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Title: The Dragon and the Jewel
ISBN: 0440206243
Author:
Virginia Henley
Publicate Date: 1991-11-10
Publish: 1991-11-10
List Price: $7.50
Average Customer Rating: 4.0
Format: Paperback
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Amazon Lowest New Price: $2.78
Amazon Lowest Used Price: $0.01
Amazon Merchant Price: $7.50
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| Customer Review: |
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1: A fun, but rather lengthy romance
There are good and bad things about this book. The story is a bit lengthy and sometimes the history lessons get to be a bit tiresome. The story establishes two separate romances which becomes a bit exhausting because by the time Princess Eleanor's first husband is out of the picture, you still have more than half the book to go and a lot of new character developments and histories to learn before you move on to the second romance.The characters were well developed and interesting. I would have preferred the characters to be a little bit easier to relate to. How many of us are stunning attractive 4 ft women who are with stunningly handsome 6ft 8 men? It almost made me feel like a man had written the book simply because of the character's size difference. Some of the sex scenes were pretty hot, but there was just too much in my opinion and I kept laughing through most of it. It was just too ridiculously written to be taken seriously. I mean really, "manroot", "women's center". Things unfurling like beasts. I mean, COME ON! How is anyone supposed to get lost in the writing when it keeps yanking you out of your reverie with how absurd it is?! Overall a fun book, but be prepared to have a good laugh during moments that aren't necessarily appropriate.
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2: trash... at its finest!
classified as 'historical romance' i must say that the 'dragon and the jewel' is pretty much void of any historical fact, the only thing ringing true is that Simon de Montfort and Eleanor Plantagenet were real people. however we are talking about Virgina Henley and although she's rather good at writing housewife porn in an historical setting, she does tend to stray from fact (if you are at all interested about Simon's life and want to read something with abit more substance try Sharon Penman's "Falls the Shadow"). DATJ is basically your typical, formulaic romance, complete with stubborn, insolent heroine and ruggedly handsome, narrow minded, oh-so-good in bed hero. the exception: the bedroom scenes in this book are switched on to overload (to the point where it just gets ridiculous). the dialogue between the two lovers is both crass and corny. there were times where i just found it so trying to read this book because i was either laughing too hard at all their ridiculous attempts at declaring their love for one another (for example Simon telling Eleanor "i plan to f*ck" as a way of making ammends after one of their many superficial arguments) or just rolling my eyes ( eleanor calling simon her "black-eyed devil"). also i found Simon's tendency to lick bodily fluids before and after their love-making to be most distastful... its was almost gag worthy - i mean, sure they like getting on the hobby horse, but is it really necessary to go into such unnecessary detail? by the way, there are also some weak battle scenes, a deceitful bishop (who also happens to be a kiddy-fiddler), some verbal sparring with the king and a horny helper which act as filler between Simon and Eleanor's bed hopping.
so if you are looking for some brain candy with a plot that is not complex and doesn't require alot of thinking with a hero who's looks sound way to be good to be true (perhaps this should be catergorized as fantasy?), this book might be for you. just don't take anything from DATJ as educational.
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3: History
I am endeared to this book. The history appeals to me in a great way. This isn't just a romance novel but a little history lesson. No one really knows what happened after John died unless they look it up, so it was a delight to read.
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4: Holy size worship batman!
Wow, Virginia Henley sure seems intent on exploring a woman's fantasy with huge men and their proportionately gargantuan phallus in THE DRAGON AND THE JEWEL. Over half the novel seemed focused on Simon de Montfort's herculean physique; who knows, probably out of necessity since he towers over other men. I thought the love scenes featuring Simon's extraordinary size detracted from the passion and love (or overwhelmed it, depending on how you look at it!). The size factor and Henley's infatuation with her hero's huge size easily overshadowed the words of tenderness Simon bestows Eleanor after their first time (and many times thereafter).
As far as historical backdrops, plotting and settings go, I found Chadwick's LORDS OF THE WHITE CASTLE (***) superior, as far as tempestuous interactions go, I enjoyed Shannon Drake's COME THE MORNING (***) better, and as far as uninhibited passions go, Elizabeth Hoyt's ordinary-of-appearance characters in THE LEOPARD PRINCE (****) shared a heated passion and love far beyond that of our beautiful couple in Henley's THE DRAGON AND THE JEWEL. Finally as far as sensuality with beautiful characters go, Sylvia Day's ASK FOR IT (**) was better.
I thought the love between our Eleanor & Simon was fairly one-sided for the most part, both in the deeds of love and in words of love. Along with possessing an unmatched warrior's strength and ability, a cunning and observant mind, gargantuan proportions in size, a servicing lovemaking flair for his heroine, and a predilection to justice, Simon de Montfort also serenades our heroine with poetic words of tenderness (throughout). Yup, he's also a regular poet. Eleanor's scathing words (repeatedly) quickly got old while Simon is showering her with tender words and focusing on giving Eleanor pleasure in all the lovemaking. Simon is very gentle and tender with her, while Eleanor scratches, claws and bites Simon everywhere. In every way, the giving was all one-sided: Simon giving everything he is to Eleanor. I really didn't think Eleanor really deserved Simon, but hey, it's Virginia Henley's story and Henley's characters. Eclipsing everything are these insistent and persistent references to Simon's enormous size! Also got old quickly, seemingly draining the resulting "love" and "romance." You immediately see the book for what it is: Virginia Henley's "passion" for ginormous-cock worship. ;> Shannon Drake's heroine in COME THE MORNING also seethed and lambasted her hero, but that was handled in a fun manner and turned into an all-consuming love on both of their parts.
Eleanor is one annoying, airhead of a heroine. I like a defiant, willful, badgering girl just as much as the next guy, but too many times, I wanted to slap her so she'd shut up, please don't talk ha! When she isn't railing against the hero for being a brute, oaf and a devil, she's enamored with jewels and costly gowns. She exacerbates poor Simon's debt 100-fold with lavish jewels, gowns and gifts. When Eleanor buys a costly gift for her brother King Henry's newborn prince, she pays little heed to Simon's enormous debt (only equaled by his gargantuan size!). Later, when Simon pleas with Eleanor about all her lavish tastes and to take it easy, she ignores him and fights with him instead. She fails to recognize any plots in her first husband's death, and she defends her capricious and feckless brother King Henry like an insipid dolt. She was endearing when she proved herself worthy of her first husband (though she enjoyed every liberty and freedom with her kind, first husband). Then with Simon, she's horrible. Though she was affectionate and caring with her late first husband William Marshal, she's not an affectionate person at heart, and she rails and rants at Simon constantly. When she's pregnant a second time, instead of being happy at the prospect of a second child, she's furious with Simon thinking he sidelined her to bed.
In fact, the love, trust and worship is so one-sided that when Eleanor overhears of a plot to trap and kill Simon, she again fails to return Simon's love, trust and loyalty. She's more concerned about the prospect of Simon's ambition for the English crown than about any danger to Simon. At one point in the novel, Eleanor accuses her sister (Holy Roman Empire's Empress) and sister-in-law (Richard's wife) of being materialistic. Ha, I love it! That's rich, considering her lavish tastes digging her husband deeper in debt. Then, when they gossip about Simon's first wife, again she doubts her husband. Despite Simon's constant worship of Eleanor, she never truly trusts him.
Then, in the Middle East, she ventures to a Sultan's palace, hoping to negotiate in earnest for Simon's captive brother. Whether in public matters of state or in private, Eleanor always gets her way with Simon despite Simon constantly telling her to learn her woman's place. So gaily, Eleanor assumes all men from the time period will honor and worship her esteemed status as Princess of England on a pedestal like her husband Simon does. Similar to most men during the time period, when the Sultan doesn't feel the same way as Simon, she's shocked. Well, duh! Her plight to free Simon's brother quickly turns ugly.
Eleanor may be passionate, but she's definitely not affectionate or understanding or smart.
The Story (briefly).
Ever since she was a small girl, Princess Eleanor Plantagenet, dreams of marrying her hero the marshal of England, William Marshal. Eleanor is willful and usually has the many men in her life wrapped around her finger and finally her brother the feckless King Henry arranges a marriage to 40+ year-old William Marshal to Eleanor when she's 9 years old. William is a kind and strong character, and Eleanor resolves to please him by subduing her will and passion and become the wife William wants. William honorably abstains from a sexual union with Eleanor until she's 16 and mature enough. Both Eleanor and William grow to love each fondly during the year before she turns 16, since Eleanor has grown into a beautiful woman and William lusts for her now.
I liked reading about a heroine's first love. Unlike Chadwick's LORDS OF THE WHITE CASTLE though, it was too idealistic and there's an instant attraction and love between Eleanor & William despite the vast age difference. LORDS OF THE WHITE CASTLE described the heroine's growing fondness and love for her old, first husband over time, which seemed more appropriate.
After a poisoning plot kills her husband William, Eleanor mourns and vows to remain chaste in widowhood before the Church. Enter Simon de Montfort close to 200 pages later, the "greatest warrior" of the time, a behemoth in proportions, honorable, shrewd, and a man who adopts and loves England as his own country. Simon of course pursues Eleanor relentlessly after their first meeting and finally Eleanor relents.
From the moment Simon enters the story, the book is more about Simon's enormous size than anything else, and the poisoning plot was dropped too conveniently later on. The "epic" feeling of the early pages quickly dissipates, and the love between Eleanor & Simon seemed a one-way street throughout with Simon giving all to Eleanor.
The prose is below-average, the plotting just average, the settings fairly nonexistent, the characterizations too childish (Eleanor) or too perfect (Simon), and the romance/love mostly dry.
I'm not giving up on Virginia Henley though, there's potential and I'm curious to see her more recent writing.
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5: The Dragon and the Jewel book
I absolutely LOVED this book! I have read it atleast 5 times. I love the story of Simon and Eleanor. I agree with another person's review though. I also think that the story should have continued on to tell about Simon's later battles. If you love this story, you will also love "The Falcon and the Flower" by Virginia Henley, which precedes this book. I haven't read a Virginia Henley book that I haven't loved. "The Pirate and the Pagan" is also another favorite.
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