Lindsey Davis's historical novel, REBELS AND TRAITORS,
explores the British Civil War from both Royalist and
Parliament points of view, showing readers its impact on
both sides and on the rich, poor and those that fall
somewhere in between. The prologue details the execution
of Charles I in flowing prose, and then Davis jumps back
15 years to 1634 to introduce one of her two main
protagonists. Gideon Jukes works as an apprentice in a
print shop, has a popular older brother, a father in the
grocery trade and a mother well-known for her expert
cooking. But Jukes hasn't quite found his own place. He
gets married but more because he feels he has to than
because of love and flees to join the army on the side of
Parliament at the first opportunity.
Juliana Carlill's only friend in the world is an elderly
guardian, Mr. Gadd who is helping her to find a husband so
she will have some security. Spirited and intelligent but
naïve when it comes to men and marriage, Juliana is chosen
by Orlando Lovell rather than her choosing Lovell as a
husband. Lovell, who fights on the side of the Royalists,
has returned from fighting on the continent and doesn't do
anything unless it has a benefit to him. And having a wife
will definitely prove beneficial. But Lovell's plans take
him into fighting for long periods and into espionage for
even longer periods, leaving Juliana with shattered dreams
of cozy matrimony and to fend for herself in the raising
of their two children.
REBELS AND TRAITORS has a romantic element as well, but the
two lovers don't meet until 2/3 of the way through the
book. Davis fleshes out her characters well, giving
readers insight into how they coped with war but shedding
light on their personalities and aspects of daily life as
well. and the portions of the book dealing directly with
their lives are compelling and well-written. She has
clearly done her research on the period, but unfortunately
the story bogs down with too much detail and introducing
numerous participants in the war on both sides with which
the reader has a hard time keeping track. For readers who
want to know more about this period and are willing to
wade through the minutiae to ferret out the wonderful
story, it's worth the read. For readers who want a
fast-paced story that skims along, I'd have to recommend you
pass on this one. Davis is well-known for her Marcus
Didius Falco mystery series and her other stand-alone
novel, The Course of Honour as well.
A groundbreaking historical novel set in the English Civil
War.
Rebels and Traitors is a groundbreaking
departure for this most admired of British authors,
returning to Lindsey Davis’ first love in historical
fiction, the English Civil War. Sweeping in scope and
fraught with the same drama and passion, her epic novel does
the same for this conflict as Margaret Mitchell’s Gone
with the Wind did for the American Civil War.
The
book tells with startling realism what it was like to have
fought in the front line of the battles and politics of the
era. Through the story of a man and a woman, Gideon Jukes
and Juliana Lovell, caught on opposite sides of the
Parliamentarian/Royalist divide but fated to be brought
together by adversity, loss and mutual attraction. But
before this can happen, the terrible events of the seven
years that King Charles waged war on his own people must be
endured, culminating the day in January 1649 when the world
was turned upside down and the King was executed. It is in
this crucible that Gideon’s and Juliana’s love will be forged.
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