Product Description

Set in the Netherlands in the 1640s, Astraea tells of the relationship between two royal exiles, Elizabeth of Bohemia, daughter of James I, and Omoloju/Pelagius, erstwhile heir to the Yoruba kingdom of Oyo, now a freed slave with shamanic gifts. They meet, fall in love, and marry clandestinely. Secretly, Elizabeth gives birth to a bay Balthasar Stuart, whom both come to see as a hope for a new age. As ever with Stevenson's work, Astraea appeals to both the head and the heart. An utterly convincing picture of seventeenth-century life and politics, it is also an immensely moving account of a strange, magical love affair.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #261632 in Books
• Published on: 2002-01-03
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 520 pages

Review
Amongst the sober Dutch citizens of the 1640s Netherlands, two exotic royal exiles fall into a dangerous love. Elizabeth Stuart, daughter of James I, Winter Queen of Bohemia, finds a soul partner in Pelagius, once heir to the Yoruba kingdom of Oyo, then slave and now a doctor of medicine. A clandestine marriage produces an unexpected son, Balthasar, of whom much is arcanely predicted as heir to such a strange conjunction of devout nobility. A possibly dubious concept in less talented hands is beautifully executed by the author, Jane Stevenson, who convinces the reader of the plausibility and the passion of this great love through character-driven prose of great insight. As an historical novel this is exceptional, her research deep and wide, covering the religion, science, magic, politics, society and manners of the age as well as that of the Yoruba kingdom of Pelagius's youth. The shock that Elizabeth and Pelagius experience as they find themselves possessed by a powerful, undeniable love in the approaching twilight of their life is touching. Perceiving themselves beyond romantic love or indeed childbirth, age, rank and race prove no obstacle, as they seize this last chance of happiness and meaning in lives that have seen every dream and ambition cruelly killed. Stevenson depicts the slow eclipse of love by their responsibilities with a credible realism, resisting the opportunity for a more dramatic turn. Elizabeth is the last truly Protestant Stuart and a player in the power games of Europe as she machinates for the return of her house to power. Inevitably she has to be politician before lover, leaving Pelagius to raise the secret product of their magical union. First in a trilogy, this novel has a wide historical scope but an eye for detail and deep personal emotion that seizes the heart as well as the imagination. (Kirkus UK)

Sunday Telegraph
'Perfectly persuasive. I was both moved and fascinated by this story of illicit love.'

From the Publisher
Her astonishing debut Several Deceptions, followed by her first novel London Bridges, showed that Jane Stevenson is a writer of extraordinary range and ambition. Now with Astraea she is embarking on a trilogy of historical novels that will range from the seveneenth century to the twenty-first.

Customer Reviews

A beautifully written historical novel.
I was extremely impressed by Stevenson's writing style in this novel. Not only is the employment of English superb, but the plot is engaging and believable, and owing to the detailed descriptive language, the reader feels completely immersed in the historical and geographical setting. I very much look forward to reading the next instalment of this trilogy.

Stevenson presents a sense of 'being there' in 17thc. Neth
Stevenson succeeds again in providing the ultimate entertainment with her story telling. I enjoy her work so much I can't wait for it to get to the United States, therefore, I order it from the UK. In "Astraea" I felt very much like I was in the Netherlands in the 1600's, and simultaneously reading reports from around the world's monarchies and their political intrigues. A writer that can realistically transport you to 'time and place' is a rarity. While the story and characters were unfolding, you were eager to know what happened to them next and to wish them the best -- however, the ending she chose was quite perfect and added to the feeling of real life.

astraea
I HAVE READ MANY, MANY BOOKS IN MY LIFE AND THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL AND SATISFYING OF THEM ALL....