The Gentle Falcon

The Gentle Falcon is a historical novel for young readers by Hilda Lewis, based on the story of King Richard II and his child bride, Isabella, written in first person from the point of view of a close companion of the Queen.[1][2] It was published by Oxford University Press in 1952 and adapted as a television series by the BBC in 1954.[3] In 1957 the first American edition was published by Criterion Books.[4]

The Gentle Falcon
First edition
AuthorHilda Lewis
IllustratorEvelyn Gibbs
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
GenreHistorical fiction
Publication date
1952
Media typePrint
Pages250

Hilda Lewis, a prolific writer of adult historical fiction, also wrote two other historical novels for young adult readers, Harold Was My King (about Harold Godwinson) and Here Comes Harry (set in 15th century London).[5]

Plot summary

Isabella Clinton is the daughter and only child of a French noblewoman, from the House of Valois, and an English soldier. With her father dead, she is heir to his estate but prefers working in the fields to learning to be a proper noblewoman. This is made clear from her sharp tongue and blunt way of speaking.

After the death of her father, it seems that the Black Prince has forgotten Isabella and her mother. It is quite a long time before Isabella is finally summoned to court by King Richard – and when she finally is, it is to be companion to her young kinswoman, Isabella of the House of Valois, Madame of France and soon to be Queen of England.

It is through Isabella Clinton's eyes that we see the love Isabella of France develops for King Richard. Although only seven years old at her first appearance, the Queen shows maturity for her age – but what happens to her throughout the book causes her great sorrow, even though she does not show it on the outside.

Reception

In a star review, Kirkus Reviews described The Gentle Falcon as a "sparkling, poignant fictionalized biography" and "princely reading fare."[6] while the Wisconsin library bulletin reprinted a review by the Bulletin of the Children's Book Center that called it "An intriguing story..."[7]

Television adaptation

The British Broadcasting Corporation produced a seven-episode television series based on The Gentle Falcon, which was broadcast from 15 June 1954. Glen Alyn played the adult Isabella, while Victoria Nolan played her as a girl.[3]

Sources
  • The Gentle Falcon, by Hilda Lewis

References
  1. The book is now out of print; however, it can be borrowed online from the Open Library and interactive ebooks are available from Beebliome Books in the iTunes Bookstore and Amazon's Kindle Store.
  2. The Gentle Falcon, Kirkus Reviews
  3. The Gentle Falcon at IMDb
  4. The Gentle Falcon at WorldCat
  5. "Beebliome Develops Interactive History Novelizations for YA Readers", Mercy Pilkington, Good E-Reader, December 8, 2012. Retrieved 13 November 2015
  6. "The Gentle Falcon". www.kirkusreviews.com. Kirkus Media LLC. Retrieved 15 November 2015.
  7. Elizabeth Burr (1957). "Books for Children and Young People". Wisconsin Library Bulletin. Wisconsin Library Association. 53 (6): 622. Retrieved 15 November 2015.
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