Royal Escapades

Reading love stories in an interesting way of passing ones time. If the lovers happen to be kings and queens, and their relationship affects the destiny of nations, it becomes even more fascinating. One can say this of Achala Mouliks Kings, Queens & Lovers, a selection of historically well known love stories from the western world.

There are 31 chapters, each narrating a story (or more, as the case might be) of lovers, starting with Caesar, Cleopatra and Antony and winding up with Princess Diana, Prince Charles of Wales. The last chapter heading would have sounded better if the author had opted for Prince Charles or Prince of Wales, instead of combing the two. Curiously, the concluding chapter does not even mention Bob Hewitt, Dianas riding instructor with whom she was supposed to have an affair, Or Camille Parker Bowles, Prince Charles girlfriend. At the end of it all one is left asking, if Lady Di is featured in the book, why not Fergie or Jackie Onassis, questions best left to the author.

 

The bibliography at the end suggests that the authors reading has been largely historical. This accounts for the fact that most of the time the characters emerge as historical figures and not as private individuals. While one can comprehend the reasons behind this perspective, one wishes certain concessions had been made on the projection of personal traits of the characters.

Quoting from their conversations, letters, memoirs etc. would have made the accounts more lively, more personal, while retaining the historical perspective. For instance, the conversation, even snatches of it, between Julius Caesar and Cleopatra, as she came to him, hidden in the folds of quilts (or was it carpets) would have made the first chapter more interesting than the straight narrative. Sensing Cleopatras superior powers and ambitions, her brother Ptolemy XII banished her from Alexandria. Hearing this Julius Caesar sent for her and she came ingeniously swaddled in quilts. He was impressed by her courage and intelligence and commanded Ptolemy to take her back on the throne.

One feels that the author is not clear about target readership. If she has the romantically inclined lay reader in mind, she could have livened up her chapters in ways that have been suggested in preceding paragraphs. If she has the more serious academically inclined reader in mind, her research should have been more intensive, incorporating data about the characters and incidents in the book which are not common knowledge.

Moulik has not included Indian kings, queens and lovers in her book. Why this colonial attitude to well known historical figures like Noor Jehan and Jehangir, Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan, Rani Roopmati and Baz Bahadur and Edwina Mountbatten and Jawaharlal Nehru, to name a few?

On the whole the book is an easy read and can be used as a source book on an elementary level. What one finds most interesting is the philosophical paragraph that concludes each chapter often raising questions which the reader is left to answer. To quote from Theodora & Justinian: It is worth speculating why princesses born in the purple do not possess the royal virtues of leadership and talent which women born in dubious obscurity seem to display. Was Theodora the beautiful courtesan, possessed of qualities that blossomed in exalted surroundings or did she acquire them as she traversed through life from a circus girl to an empress? Almost every chapter ends with a similarly reflective paragraph. While one may or may not agree with the opinions expressed by the author, one certainly does not agree with her views relating to leadership qualities with circumstances of a womans, or for that matter, anyones birth, the reflections offer the reader food for though and save the book from becoming a mere chronicle of events.

King Henry VIII, Queen Katheryn, Thomas Culpepper is one of the best chapters of the book, not because of King Henry. The monarch is old with flecks of grey in his red-gold beard, an ulcerous leg which hurt him emitting an odour of medicine which overpower that of perfume.

What makes the chapter interesting is its liveliness, the intensity of Queen Katheryns love for her cousin Culpepper and their tragic end. On the whole a readable book with some scope for improvement.