The Shattered Rose Book

I have read The Shattered Rose three times now and the more I read it the more I have come to believe that what JB doesn't say, only implies through throw away phrases and off chance remarks really shows that there is a whole lot more to this story than a woman driven mad with grief who cheats on her husband and her love struck husband who magnanimously forgives her.

I was a little shocked when I read some of the reviews for this book on the product page and at various websites. They all concluded that Jehanne was either a witch or a slut and pretty much hated her. Everybody adores Galeran and hates Jehanne for betraying him. I don't agree with the idea that Jehanne was a promiscuous, imperious tart and I think her infidelity was based more on a desperate situation than temporary insanity. I think Galeran ultimately realizes this and that more than his undeniable love for her, is why he ultimately forgives Jehanne with so little regret.

I see Galeran as a typical extra son, he never really thought he would be responsible for lands of his own, he figures he will have to learn to fight and then he will second one of his landed male relatives. Initially he doesn't seem that incisive and he seems perfectly willing to let others take the lead in managing his actions. He is intrigued, frightened and attracted to Jehanne but prior to his leaving on Crusade, Galeran is very passive in his actions and diffident about his status. He seems to have no initiative of his own, he isn't concerned about children, he does his duty to Heywood exactly as his father in law prescribes and basically is happy with Jehanne and the well ordered path to his days that Jehanne's father and his father have dictated to him. Galeran is oblivious to the nuances of managing a large group of people that are not family but just as closely bound. When the rumors of Jehanne being cursed because she is barren start, Galeran dismisses them and says "Don't worry my nephews can inherit Heywood". This thinking shows a lack of connection with the continuity of the estate and a failure to really understand what Jehanne needs when she becomes desperate for a child.

Overall though Galeran is a very nice, good man and so when Jehanne seeks out her bargain with God, Galeran agrees to go to war because he loves his wife and truly wants to see her fulfilled. This is actually a good thing for Galeran. It gets him out of his daily rut, forces him to become more aware of others and their motivations and finally forces him to act for himself. In short, going on Crusade forces Galeran to grow up and become a leader in spite of himself.

The horrors of the children dying also make Galeran aware of the fragility of life and teaches him about the blessings of leaving a valued legacy behind when life ends. War and its atrocities teaches him to appreciate the goodness in his life. He has a loving wife, a profitable estate and valued people to help retain the basic daily blessings he has heretorfore taken for granted. It is a greatly changed Galeran who returns from the Holy Land. He has seen the worst in men and can now appreciate the goodness in the people he left behind. He has grown in shrewdness, compassion and empathy and the returning Galeran is finally ready to be a true leader and lord to his people. Unfortunately, he comes home to an awful mess. His father has besieged his home, his loving wife has betrayed him with another man and put him in his place and his son, the whole reason for the campaign to begin with, is dead and may have been murdered by his mother Jehanne.

Galeran initially acts just as you expect him to. There is shock, horror and then incredible anger but even as Galeran feels like his world has ended, his hard won composure from the Crusades steadies him enough to be able to look more carefully at the situation and his deep basic compassion will not let him condemn Jehanne with a fair hearing.


Jehanne on the other hand, has always been a leader. After the deaths of her brothers, when she became her father's only heir she is taught to run Heywood. The running of an estate like Heywood is a lot more than seeing that meals are cooked and rooms are cleaned. As chatelaine of Heywood, Jehanne has to oversee all aspects of daily life for all of it's inhabitants. The growing of food, production of clothing, maintaining repairs and making sure the people of Heywood are healthy, productive and reasonably happy and secure is a huge job. In many ways Jehanne is the CEO of a major corporation. Not only does she have to make sure everyone is doing their part, she has to do her part too in managing them and also keeping Heywood secure in the changing political maneuverings around Heywood.

It is never explicitly stated but Heywood appears to be a very valuable and strategic location in the politics of Northern England. It is Jehanne's duty, ingrained from the cradle, that she is to preserve and and enhance Heywood for her family line and provide a future for the estate by leaving wise and healthy heirs to continue the line when she is gone. This is probably one of the reasons Jehanne's father agreed to have her wed to Galeran. He can be sure he is leaving his legacy in Jehanne's capable management, Galeran's family will help defend the line and he can die knowing his biggest acheivement will last for generations.

Jehanne's desperation when she can't get pregnant is caused by two things. First, there is the duty to her family line - she needs an heir so her father's and her own life's work is not in vain and also the success of any medieval estate is dependent on the willingness and happiness of the people who work it. If the estate workers think that the Lord and Lady are cursed, they tend to think they are cursed as well and cursed workers probably don't lend themselves to profitable estate management. They don't work as hard or as cheerfully and when trouble comes may not defend the land as well as they might.

Jehanne is also angry with Galeran to a certain extent, his casual "My cousin's can inherit" is liked being slapped in the face with a fish in her estimation. Heywood is HER families land, they run it, nurture it and suffer along with the workers. How dare Galeran just dismiss her heritage and her future. Jehanne won't be having any of that, she demands a child from God and she sends Galeran to fulfill the bargain. If God requires a sacrifice, and I do believe it is a sacrifice on her part as well, then off Galeran needs to go. It does seem God approves, since Jehanne does manage to bear an heir.

Then disaster strikes, there is word that Galeran is killed while taking Jerusalem. This is devastating to Jehanne, for she really does love him but she has to balance her love with her responsibility. She has to protect Heywood for her son and hope that Galeran is still alive. The news of Galeran's death leads to Raymond of Lowick trying to take advantage of the situation. Raymond has always fancied Heywood and Jehanne as well. Jehanne was attracted in her youth but for the most part, really wants nothing to do with Raymond.

It was a basic strategy in medieval times to wait until a Lord had left his holding and then move in on the inhabitants. The phrase "possession being nine tenths of the law" was used to facilitate the transfer of ownership of a keep or estate. If the Lord left without an adequate defense for intruders or if the noble family left behind accepted the new Lord's occupation, the original owner may return to no estate and the only way to get it back being open war.

Raymond was being very shrewd when he showed up and started importuning Jehanne, if Galeran is dead and he can convince Jehanne to marry him, he just got his own lands. Even if Galeran really isn't dead, he still has a good case for ownership especially if Jehanne goes through a marriage service. Depending on the political situation of the King and who he can bribe in the church, Raymond could be set for life.

Now Jehanne not only has to deal with Raymond, she also has to worry about what Galeran's family will do. One of Galeran's brothers comments on the news of his death and casually mentions there were big debates about the status of Jehanne and guardianship of the Heywood heir. Her son is just a baby, but if Galeran is dead, then someone is going to have teach him to be a noble. Jehanne, for all her management skills is unable to teach warfare and it is quite possible that she could be replaced as the child's guardian or forced to marry someone not of her choosing by Galeran's father. Her life could become a living hell very easily and then her child dies.

This is a disaster of major proportions for Jehanne. She has lost the one surety that held Galeron's dad in check, especially if William decides she did murder the boy and Galeran really is dead. Suddenly she has to deal with the death of a child and possible loss of her freedom or even her life. William could force her into a convent or if there is enough innuendo and rumor she could be forced into a church trial where she has to prove her innocence through torture. If found guilty, she could be burned at the stake.

In her despair and fear, Jehanne makes a tactical decision. She seduces Raymond for one night to keep him pacified until she can chart a course of action and then she finds out she is pregnant. She has the means to abort the child, but she can't do it. Not only is this solace for her grief but the baby is also the continuation of her bloodline. Even if she is condemned and banished or put to death, the baby is considered innocent and Raymond can hold Heywood for the future. Then she takes the maneuvering a step further, she openly proclaims Raymond master of Heywood but makes sure William knows so he will besiege the castle, thus checking Raymond's running amok and Jehanne prays hard for Galeran's return.

Thankfully Galeran is alive and manages to overcome his betrayal. He is personally shattered at Jehanne's actions but eventually comes to understand what exactly she was trying to do. I think Galeran's new appreciation for life combined with his new political maturity allows him to forgive Jehanne her actions far more easily than the old Galeran would have. He expresses his understanding when he is with the King and hoping Raymond just gets sent to the Crusade. He knows Jehanne was using Raymond and although he hates the fact she slept with him, he appreciates the man did love her in his own way and that Jehanne manipulated him to save herself.

Jehanne for her part, finally understands the danger of hubris and also wants to spare Galeran any more anguish. Jehanne has a fine intuition of people management skills. She knows she has to make public reparation. She has to restore Galeran's image with Heywood's people, the rest of the court and with the Church. She knows Galeran can't be seen to be weak in dealing with her, thus the beatings are the perfect solution. As long as she keeps her mouth shut until the knowledge of the beatings can be made public in open court, Galeran comes out looking strong, Jehanne is perceived to have been punished and all is right with the world. Order is restored and restitution and atonement puts the whole incident in perspective for everyone else. To the rest of the world, life can go on as before, the only true casualty may be Jehanne's and Galeran's relationship.

Fortunately both Jehanne and Galeran have grown up. They have been tested and they have learned. Jehanne has learned some humility and to share power and Galeran has learned some perceptiveness and to use power. The couple also has a deep love for each other and the skills and the will to create a lasting legacy for Heywood and it's descendants.

The story of Jehanne and Galeran is subtle, deep and not at all what it appears to be on the surface. Ms. Beverley has written a really thought provoking tale with some great perspectives on what it means to be a strong female leader in a male dominated world and the secondary story of Raoul and Aline was charming and at times a welcome respite from the underlying seriousness of the main story line.