Before Gavin was born I was in the midst of reading one of the books I received as Christmas presents. Two books that I told DH I would like to read. The one I chose to read first was "The White Queen" By Philippa Gregory. I quite enjoy Gregory's books. I think most people have at least heard of the movie "The Other Boelyn Girl" well this is the same author.
I enjoy most of her books. Many of her stories are based on historical fact and then embellished, I think that is a good word.
"The White Queen" is based on the life of Queen Elizabeth, Queen to Edward IV of England....mother to the famous Princes in the tower.
I read many pages while I waited that day in labour and delivery, but hadn't picked up the book again until today. I remembered my main character too felt the pain of losing a child, more than one actually. Sadly stillbirth/infant/child loss was very common in those times. It is obvious that people of that era lacked various advances in prenatal care and medical care that we have today, which led to many losses. While loss was common I had to wonder what those women felt. Did they mourn their little ones, or just get on with life anxious to produce more heirs? I can't imagine how cold ones heart would have to be not to mourn and grieve.
Looking back at the pages now where Elizabeth speaks of losing her son I know I would have read her words that afternoon I waited on unit 48.....how prophetic.
"I hear the sound of the lullaby again, softly, as softly as the wind, and I know that Melusina is rocking him now, and my boy George has gone. I have lost my son."
"They tell me that I still have my boy Edward......They tell me to be glad of Richard......I am glad of both my boys. But that makes no difference to my loss of George, my little George with his blue eyes and his tuft of blond hair."
"I don't imagine that one child can replace another."
Maybe one day soon I will feel like finishing the rest of the book....not yet though....my page was marked 4 weeks and 2 days ago...the day my life took such a tragic turn.
I also came across this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_of_Great_Britain
17 losses....all but one within the first 2 years of life or still born.
1 comment:
I find now, when I read, that those losses leap off the page at me. Where I just read past them, now they stick in my heart, lodge in the back of my throat.
No, I don't think they move on quite so easily.
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