Review of 'The Players' by Minette Walters
Review of 'The Players' by Minette Walters
October 29th, 2024
Publisher: Allen and Unwin
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Huge thanks to Dmcprmedia and Allen and Unwin for the review copy and inclusion on the tour.
What the story is about.
A gripping tale of compassion, imposture, trickery and surprising alliances set against the backdrop of The Bloody Assizes, from the bestselling author of The Last Hours and The Swift and the Harrier.
The much-anticipated sequel to The Swift and The Harrier
England, 1685. Decades after the end of the civil war, the country is once again divided when Charles II’s illegitimate son, the
Protestant Duke of Monmouth, arrives in Dorset to incite rebellion against his Catholic uncle.
Armed only with pitchforks, Monmouth’s army is quickly defeated by King James II’s superior forces and charged with high treason. Those found guilty will be hanged, drawn and quartered.
As Dorset braces for carnage, Lady Jayne Harrier and her enigmatic son, assisted by the reclusive daughter of a local magistrate, contrive ways to save men from the gallows.
Compelling and powerful, The Players is a story of guile, deceit and compassion during the dark days of The Bloody Assizes. Secrets are kept and surprising friendships formed in a dangerous gamble to thwart a brutal king’s thirst for vengeance ...
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MY REVIEW
Wow! Where do I begin? I was completely and overwhelmingly dazzled by this brilliant, intelligent, gripping literary historical fiction novel by Minette Walters. Her clever craftmanship led me into the dark heart of England where vivid descriptions shocked and rattled my core of a gruesome period in history. This journey left me informed, inspired and in awe. I was totally pulled into the characters’ tumultuous lives and horrendous events that surrounded The Bloody Assizes.
Many years after the civil war, England is once again in the stranglehold of division. Charles II’s illegitimate son, Monmouth, a Protestant, lands in Dorset to start a rebellion against his Catholic uncle: spurred on by the fear of being ruled once again by Rome. It is shocking to see, though, how ill prepared Monmouth is with his plan. He and his followers battle with pitchforks! Of course, they are overpowered easily by King James II’s well-equipped forces. And so the real trauma begins…
The outcome for Monmouth and his band of supporters is gruesome. Treason means certain death. And the sting of distrust whips through every community as each person becomes pitted against his neighbour. Not knowing who is going to turn them in, some get a head start. But when they are confronted by the law, even if they are not guilty, their sentence is set. Elias and Jayne try to help discreetly where they can. She treats anyone in need no matter who they are or their beliefs and he ‘has sympathy for all men who are punished for the sins of others’. A few supporters masquerade as consumptives to escape punishment. Others flee during travel arrangements. Some are set up to become slaves. Plots for survival abound on all sides.
At the head of this bloody campaign is Lord Jeffreys: a man reported to have revelled in the fear he inspired. But is there more to him than meets the eye?
Although the trials and incidents are an important part of the drama, it is ‘the players’ at its core who captured my mind and gave me so much to ponder. From the first page to the last— I was enthralled— feasting on intelligent dialogue between sparring characters of equal wits. Minette Walters shows through her exceptional skill the many sides, complexities and contradictions in people. Her fully developed characters swept me into the flames of persecution to experience the tyranny of a bloody rule. As a result, my emotions bolted in numerous directions.
In The Players, dark shadows of the age are set against the light, creating realistic greys— for life is rarely black and white— or straightforward. Wisdom bounces across these pages smashing misconceptions about the law: its purpose, position and provisions. Many ideas are challenged or questioned concerning the law and how to apply it. I found the conversation on the comparison of guilt/crime/punishment very interesting as I have pondered it myself. Should a woman who steals bread for her starving family be seen the same as a man who clubs a shopkeeper to death? Jeffries responds with ‘The law makes no allowances for circumstance.’ True, in those days, there was no grace or mercy. Heads would be lopped off or hung and bodies butchered. Ironically, it is the very rigidness of law that eventually condemns Jeffries for treason—the very thing he has passed judgement on to countless others.
Yes, Jeffries acted on his King’s orders. But those orders were anything but fair and just. Could he have resisted? Yes. But would it have brought him death for disobedience. Maybe. Or at least banishment or removal from his office. He was not invincible. His own health ailments reminded him of his human frailty. But this allowed him to meet Jayne Harrier and to experience the heart of kindness from another when he wasn’t deserving. These compassionate gestures by Jayne and her son, Elias, come when Jeffries least deserves it. But temporary release from pain through Jayne’s treatments changes him long enough for us to see another side of him that we can embrace. For he is a man of great wit and skill and is capable of some good deeds and thoughts.
Highly flawed characters come alive on the stage of these pages. Real, multi-dimensional persons. Nothing about their lives or motives is simple or cut and dry.
This vivid and thorough examination of Jeffries’s character is fascinating for it splits the man from his position in brief moments to give us a thorough view of his complexities and contradictions in nature. Is he all bad, just serving his king, seeking recognition by exercising his power? Or is he acting out of dedication to the monarch in power who wants revenge and is determined to deliver the harshest of penalties to make a statement or example of everyone he sees as a traitor? This sort of delivery of power will only produce fear and not devotion in his subjects. Uprisings will be inevitable. But to a King drunk on the blood of revenge, he will continue to wield his swords, axes and nooses to make his point. So when Dame Alice Lisle is captured and convicted of treason on the accusation that she has offered a Monmouth supporter a place to sleep, her chance for a fair trial is forfeited. Her mental state is fragile and any knowledge of her actions are questionable. For it appears, revenge has taken precedence over justice. And she will pay for her late husband’s actions. Her biggest crime was once being married to the presiding judge who convicted and executed Charles I. It becomes obvious that King James II is acting out of malice by making her pay for her husband’s decision.
I could rave on endlessly and write an essay on the brilliant conversations between Jeffries and Elias, Jeffries and Jayne, Jeffries and Althea as they are priceless. I could listen to their verbal sparring all day! Such intelligent, insightful and sometimes witty responses stoked the fires of my inquisitive mind. The careful balance of holding their cards close to their chests, letting out little by little tidbits of truth, was a joy to watch. Suggestive, subtle and always in control of their words. No idle chatter between these folk!
I loved the strength and intelligence demonstrated by Althea and Jayne. These two women set down an unforgettable example of the importance of their contributions, education and position in society.
There are numerous phrases I appreciated in the novel and here are three:
‘A peaceful rebellion need not involve war.’
‘A time to win a country is when people turn against their king.’
‘Only a fool wagers money which he fears he may lose.’
And I must not forget the quote by Shakespeare and its relationship to the novel’s title:
‘All the world’s a stage, and all men and women merely players…’
I was transported effortlessly to the period of 1685-1688 and settled quickly into the highly detailed descriptions of the settings, food, dress, customs and rhetoric. This story of vengeance versus justice is delivered from the puppet’s hand of the king. Even the details of the forms of death for treason shook me. The cruelty was astounding but the kindness of some created rich and rare moments.
I loved so many things about this novel but there were some extra special scenes. I was quite moved by the last passages with Althea when she visits Jeffreys during his imprisonment, once King James II has been removed and William and Mary take over the throne. I revelled in their conversations and the change in Jeffreys countenance. To see glimpses of hope. These passages with her and Jeffreys inspired me to look at the complexities and contradictions of human nature again and reminded me how much people need encouragement—especially in the darkest of moments. And as the text states: ‘Hope is worth nurturing… while there is life, there is hope.’
This is without question the most fascinating literary historical fiction novel I have ever read. Dripping with power, intelligence and imagination. A riveting non-stop masterpiece that I struggled to put down and will never forget. An absolute must-read for 2024! 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Huge thanks to Dmcprmedia and Allen and Unwin for the review copy and inclusion on the tour.
