Loving Beatrice by Maryanne Fantalis

A masterful transformation of the Bard’s comedy Much Ado About Nothing set in 16th century Sicily to a novel set in England at the end of the War of the Roses. The story centers on Beatrice, who is an estated maiden of Ashley House, but second fiddle to her cousin Grace. Ashley House is turned upside down when conquering King Henry visits with his beloved princess Elizabeth and the King’s men, who return from the war full of triumphant hubris and looking for wives. Beatrice’s first person account presents to us a strong, smart, independent and prideful young woman who is disillusioned with the prospect of marriage after being dumped by Kingsman Benedict on the eve of battle, and is happy to let cousin Grace take center stage with suitors. Beatrice and Princess Elizabeth lend Grace a hand as she pursues her dream to marry for love rather than accept a marital alliance to further family fortunes. Among the challenges to be overcome is King Henry’s mother, befittingly described when she shadows the beautiful princess as: ‘a blown milkweed beside a lily in the first heady rush of spring.’ Ashley House prepares for a grand masquerade, and we are skillfully immersed into the period through setting and costume descriptions, and snippets of authentic dialect. Beatrice encounters Benedict on several occasions, and with a steady stream of sharp wit reminds him that he dumped her, yet their interactions have a chemistry that builds a keen sense of romantic suspense. The suitors persist in their efforts to woo maiden Grace, and she finds true love with Sir Thomas. Unfortunately, in medieval times the word of a noble man has absolute power to destroy, and Grace finds herself left at the altar. In the ruins of Grace’s humiliation, Beatrice’s and Benedict’s relationship begins to blossom as they ally to hunt Grace’s wrong-doer and unravel a complicated scheme. Beatrice’s strong moral compass and courage are painted in vivid strokes. A few more twists and turns, and we arrive at Ashley House’s parallel to Much Ado’s climactic mystery nuptials. The second book in Ms. Fantalis’s “Shakespeare’s Women Speak” series, Loving Beatrice is once again a terrifically entertaining alternative to wading through the Bard’s early English prose!

Maryanne Fantalis’s web site A Writer’s Notepad