Granddaughter to King Edward I of England and of the
Plantagenet lineage, Joan of Kent has lived her entire
short life at Liddell Manor in the country. Her father's
death and mother's mental decline has placed her eldest
brother, Edmund, in control with the title of lord. Joan is
happy here and an outspoken, daring manner has provided her
adventures and freedoms most girls her age have never
experienced. All of that has now come to an end as her
brother has told her she will be leaving to live at court
with the king's family.
Joan is torn between the pain at leaving the only home she
has known and a budding hopefulness at what lies ahead. She
meets a handsome young man who is totally captivated with
her and amused at her forthright manner. Joan too is
surprised by the emotion this man stirs, embarrassed and
angry later to learn his true identity -- Prince Edward. The
prince's attentions, as well as many other aspects of court
life, confound Joan, but the real revelation comes when she
learns the royal family is responsible for her father's
disgrace and death. Who other than Prince Edward to pay for
the injustice done to her family, but can Joan stay the
course? To Joan's dismay, her heart is now part of this
equation and she must decide what she values more, revenge
or love.
A most fascinating and entertaining novel of medieval
history, this book promises and delivers a page-turning
account of the lives and love of Edward, the Prince of
Wales, and the beautiful and at first unsophisticated young
woman, Joan of Kent. Although love is the focus, the scores
of complications besetting the hero and heroine keep the
reader from being certain of the outcome of the
relationship. The author has a truly poetic way of telling
this remarkable tale of life at court -- always a bit of
gossip, a note of scandal, callous ambition of the royal
family, secrets and lies. Readers will connect with the
energy and emotion of the characters, and the dialogue
reflects a wit and commonness that is shared by us all. A
must-read for even the most discriminating readers,
especially lovers of history.
(Note: This story was originally published as Sweet
Passion's Pain by Kensington in 1984.)
The daughter of a disgraced earl, she matched wits with a
prince.
It is the fourteenth century, the height of the Medieval
Age, and at the court of King Edward III of England,
chivalry is loudly praised while treachery runs rampant.
When the lovely and high-spirited Joan of Kent is sent to
this politically charged court, she is woefully unprepared
for the underhanded maneuverings of her peers.
Determined to increase the breadth of his rule, the king
will use any means necessary to gain control of France—
including manipulating his own son, Edward, Prince of
Wales. Joan plots to become involved with the prince to
scandalize the royal family, for she has learned they
engineered her father’s downfall and death. But what begins
as a calculated strategy soon—to Joan’s surprise—grows into
love. When Joan learns that Edward returns her feelings,
she is soon fighting her own, for how can she love the man
that ruined her family? And, if she does, what will be the
cost?
Filled with scandal, court intrigue, and prominent figures
of the Medieval Age, The First Princess of Wales has at its
center a wonderful love story, which is all the more
remarkable because it is true. Karen Harper’s compelling,
fast-paced novel tells the riveting tale of an innocent
girl who marries a prince and gives birth to a king.
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