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The author is highly knowledgeable about Tudor History, and the Champenowne family is only one step away from the royal machinations of Henry VIII, Edward VI and Queen Mary. London courtly infighting has serious implications for distant counties, not least the ports of Dartmouth and Plymouth. The historical context is evoked in detail: I had no idea how much violence was wreaked between Catholics and Protestants in cities like Exeter.

Rosemary Griggs clearly delights in the natural beauty of Devon, and her descriptions of woodland and coastal landscapes take you down shady lanes and into rocky coves. Sixteenth century cities of London and Exeter are accurately depicted. Domestic detail, especially of Tudor fashions, foods and customs, is carefully described.

Katherine narrates almost all the book and combines a strong sense of her wifely duty with a wilder, outspoken streak, visible when she is riding her horse or out at sea. Her first husband, Otho, is distant and obsessed with matters military. Occasional chapters from his point of view show some reasons for his behaviour, yet I lacked sympathy for him. Walter, on the other hand, who has more chapters in the second half of the book, is a true romantic hero, risking his life for his reformist beliefs yet utterly devoted to his beloved Katherine.

Full review here: https://carolyn-morgan.com/blog/reading-historical-fiction/book-review-a-woman-of-noble-wit-by-rosemary-griggs

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