Here's To You, Mrs. Robinson

[prosodic]

I love it when I find a book that is difficult to put down. And when I do have to put it down, all I can think about is when I can pick it back up again.

I just finished All For Love: The Scandalous Life and Times of Royal Mistress Mary Robinson.

Wow. I mean...wow!

I have to write up a review of it, so I won't go into any detail about it here. But I absolutely enjoyed it.

And Mary Robinson's name was so familiar to me for some reason, and I couldn't quite figure out why...finally the novel revealed to me why she's familiar.

She is the poet who wrote Sappho & Phaeon, one of the works I had on my MA comprehensive exam list, and ultimately one that played a critical part in what happened during my exam. While that poem has remained etched in my memory, and not in a good way, the poet's name had escaped my mind. Until now.

Still...a fascinating woman, and a fascinating read. I will probably hold off on the review until tomorrow, since I want to give myself a day to savor it and think about it. But I have no doubt that the review will come easily to me when I do sit down to write it.

Comments

[katzies.livejournal.com]

I just finished reading two books about royal mistresses, very fascinating subject!

[prosodic.livejournal.com]

You read Sex With Kings, didn't you? I thought I remembered you mentioning that. I LOVE that book.

I think the title of this book is a bit problematic. While Mary Robinson was mistress to the Prince of England for a short time, she was also a famous actress and author/poet. She was also a Bluestocking (one of the early feminists). Unfortunately, she never would have reached her level of fame if she hadn't slept with the prince.

[katzies.livejournal.com]

Yes, that was one of them. Good book though I wish it had went into more detail on some of the stories. I also read "The Wives of Henry XIII" (I think that was the title) a while ago which was pretty interesting too. Can't wait for the movie!

[prosodic.livejournal.com]

They're making a movie of that? OMG! I'm super excited about The Other Boleyn Girl coming out at the end of the month.

[katzies.livejournal.com]

That's the one I was talking about!

[prosodic.livejournal.com]

You should see my latest post...it's about Henry VIII!

[katzies.livejournal.com]

I can't believe they cast Eric Bana as Henry! I mean, I love me some Eric Bana as much as everybody else but he's just so far away from all the descriptions of Henry VIII.

[prosodic.livejournal.com]

Well, I've heard more about Henry VIII as he aged...paunchy, smelly...etc. And he was described that way in the book too, after his jousting injury. But he was apparently quite the looker as a young man. And they can't get someone ugly to play him...it wouldn't bring people into the cinema.

[katzies.livejournal.com]

Of course!

Did you ever watch The Tudors on TV?

[prosodic.livejournal.com]

I don't have Showtime. But they are going to show it on DirectTV channel 101 starting tomorrow...season 1. So I have it written down so I remember to watch it. I'm so excited!

[katzies.livejournal.com]

I have them on my Netflix list. That's probably something I can watch when Aaron is gone.

[prosodic.livejournal.com]

Oh, and as for The Other Boleyn Girl, have you read the book? The trailer for the movie suggests that it doesn't follow the book closely at all. In fact, it looks like Mary Boleyn steals Henry VIII from Anne, when in the book, it was the other way around.

[katzies.livejournal.com]

I've read it but I didn't like it all that much. The story was interesting but I found the writing a little dull.