I fought this book like it was a wild bear. But for some reason I just could not weather it. About halfway through I folded and gave up the ghost. Odd because I adore all the authors other work. This just fell flat for me. I understand the story and how a puritan from New England who is tossed into Reformation England could be polarized. The book is well very written and intelligent. But not very engaging. The characters did nothing for me. They came across exactly as the writer wanted them to be. Dirty, self-centered Londoners in the midst of plague and self absorption. ( )

Although this was an VERY long historical novel and (it took me over a month to finish it), I loved every minute of it. Diana Norman takes a spin off Restoration actress Margaret Hughes and creates a fascinating portrait of London under Charles II, James II, and William and Mary. The novel is peppered with characters drawn from life: poet and playwright Aphra Behn, who becomes a close friend of the main character; Prince Rupert, to whom she becomes mistress; the Earl of Rochester, one of her patrons; the actor Thomas Betterton; General John Churchill, poet John Dryden, and many more.

The novel begins when Penitence Hurd, a 17-year old Puritan born in the colonies, arrives in London. Circumstances have caused her to flee her home and go in search of her aunt, the black sheep of the family. Penitence is dismayed to learn that her aunt runs the Cock and Bull, a flourishing brothel, but, having no place else to go, she agrees to stay and work as a seamstress. The story takes off as the Great Plague of 1666 begins to decimate the neighborhood. As it follows the twists and turns of Penitence's life, it takes us to the stage and the court; to the Somerset countryside and Newgate prison; through the decadent reign of Charles II, the Bloody Assizes that followed Monmouth's rebellion, and the Glorious Revolution. It's a huge landscape, but Norman's wonderful eye for detail and her indomitable main character make the journey through it so worth the effort.

Norman is a new author to me. Unfortunately, she has passed away, but she left a treasury of novels over the years, both under her own name and her pen name, Ariana Franklin. (The 'Mistress of the Art of Death' series was published under that name; I'm less interested in this mystery series.) Although Norman's novels are often referred to as Historical Romances--and there is a slight romance woven into the storyline here that gets put on hold for 20 years but wraps up in the end--, it's the thrilling, solid history that shines through The Vizard Mask]. I can't wait to read more of Diana Norman's work! ( )

Please see my full review here on my blog:
http://theidlewoman.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/the-vizard-mask-diana-norman.html ( )

Impressive in scope, the Vizard Mask by Diana Norman tells the story of Penitence Hurd, a young Puritan woman, who arrives in England from Massachusetts in the year of 1664, just a scant few months before the outbreak of the massive plague that was to bring London to its knees. This is a huge, gratifying book that captures the flavor of Restoration England, and paints a particularly vivid picture of what London life was like during this time.

Arriving penniless, and searching for a unknown aunt, Penitence is horrified when her search leads her to a house of ill-repute. Destitute, she has no chose but to stay, although only in the capacity of kitchen drudge and seamstress for the prostitutes. Cursed with a stutter, Penitence struggles to find a different line of work and leave the whorehouse, but by now the plague has taken a firm hold of the slums of London and soon she finds herself under quarantine for forty days. Her attic room is across the way from rooms rented by an actor, Henry King, and he teaches her to correct her stutter by wearing a Vizard Mask that allows her to hide behind, The author based her main character on a little known actress and she gives her many adventures that allow her to be in the middle of most events that occurred in Restoration England. Her life story carries her from the depths of the slums to the throne room itself.

My only complaint with this book was it’s length. At over 700 pages, I found my attention wandering a bit in places and I think this story would have been helped by paring it down to about 600 pages. That said, The Vizard Mask was a richly detailed historical fiction read that delivered a very memorable story. ( )

As usual, a novel by Diana Norman is a cut above most historical fiction. This novel begins with a young Puritan girl from Massachusetts returning to London in search of her aunt. The novel follows Penitence Hurd through the plague, a stint in debtor's prison, a career as a stage actress, as mistress to Prince Rupert, as owner of a manor in Somerset where she hides and protects refugees from the Monmouth rebellion. She remains loyal to her friends, protects her son fathered by the man she loves but who has deserted her w/o knowing of the child, defends herself from members of the nobility who think actresses are also whores.

Penitence's adventures and love story are set within the background of Restoration England, with the decadence under Charles II, the Catholic / Protestant problems under James II, the abortive Monmouth Rebellion, the eventual reign of William and Mary.

In addition to Prince Rupert, and the kings, other real historical characters include Aphra Behn and Nell Gwynne. ( )