A Kingdom of Dreams
 First paperback edition cover | |
| Author | Judith McNaught |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Series | Westmoreland series |
| Genre | Historical, Romance, Novel |
| Publisher | Pocket Books |
Publication date | 1 March 1989 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
| ISBN | 0-671-63780-0 First edition, hardback |
| OCLC | 19342529 |
| Followed by | Whitney My Love |
A Kingdom of Dreams is a 1989 New York Times Bestselling historical romance novel written by American author Judith McNaught.[1] It is set during the early 16th century.
Plot summary
Jennifer Merrick is the feisty daughter of a Scottish laird. Royce Westmoreland, the "Black Wolf", is sent by the King of England to wage war against Scotland. When Royce's brother, Stefan Westmoreland, kidnaps Jennifer and her stepsister, Brenna, and brings them to Royce's camp, the lives of the two become intertwined. Royce and Jennifer must marry by order of the King of England and the King of Scotland after they consummate their keeper-prisoner relationship.
Forced to accept the marriage, Jennifer's family try to make the marriage fail by intending to send her to become a nun in a convent after the wedding reception. Royce beats the family plan by kidnapping her first and takes her to his home. The King of England orders the two families to settle their score in a tournament where Jennifer must choose which family her loyalty lies with.
Characters
- Jennifer Merrick – daughter of a Scottish laird, the Earl of Merrick. She is the Countess of Rockbourn through her mother who had died when she was born. Her features are described as a little peculiar as she has sapphire-blue eyes and flaming red-gold hair which Royce Westmoreland admires so much. She was banished to the Belkirk Abbey after she publicly challenged her stepbrother to a joust and beat him in a most peculiar way. She is described as being very compassionate yet hot-headed, strong, willful and stubborn person. In fact, she offered herself to the duke (Royce Westmoreland) in exchange for her stepsister Brenna's release.
- Royce Westmoreland – a powerful Earl, who then receives a dukedom, sent to Scotland. Well known as the Black Wolf, he possesses a pair of piercing gray eyes and dark hair. His very name strikes terror in the hearts of many. As the story develops, it is revealed that the Duke has been in a way rejected by his people. He notes that he was dubbed the Black Wolf by King Henry VII of England at Fort Bosworth because he had not eaten in days (for the rations were very poor) and his dark hair making him look like a hungry wolf. He also noted, after Jennifer Merrick slashed his face leaving a terrible scar, that 'tis fear of my legend that defeats my enemies before they raise their swords.' In truth, he is a good sort of person. He is far from being brutal for Jennifer Merrick once said that if she and Brenna had become someone else's captive they would not have been treated so well.
- Brenna Merrick – Jennifer's stepsister. also known as Jewel of Scotland. She is described as having blonde hair and hazel eyes. She is described as being very meek and submissive but not very witty or intelligent. She cares for Jennifer Merrick very much.
- Stefan Westmoreland – Royce's younger brother. The one who captured Jennifer along with Sir Eustace. He is depicted as looking a lot like his older brother, Royce Westmoreland, but he has blue eyes instead of gray. He falls for Brenna.
- Arik – He is one of Royce Westmoreland's personal guard. He is depicted as being as tall as a tree, having light blond hair and pale blue eyes and always carrying a battle-axe. He rarely speaks and when he does, he only speaks in monosyllables. Royce Westmoreland says on more than one occasion that Arik is his most loyal friend and guard.
Reception and Legacy
Romantic Times gave A Kingdom of Dreams a favorable review and a five-star rating.[2]
NYT bestselling Romance author Tanya Anne Crosby credits the work for inspiring her to write her first published book, Angel of Fire.[3] When NYT bestselling Romance author Sarah MacLean writes a new book, she rereads all of McNaught's works, ending with A Kingdom of Dreams: "Here’s why – I am a sucker for the black moment. I adore the moment when the hero and heroine are both broken in their own way, and they – and the reader – can’t imagine how this love story will ever work out.[4]
Library Journal wrote that the book is "filled with McNaught's trademark mix of lush romance and horrible conflict", and noted that the Westmoreland family was iconic in the genre, with significant impact on Romance fandom.[5]
A Kingdom of Dreams features prominently in Sex and the Genre: The Role of Sex in Popular Romance by Codruţa Goşa of the West University of Timișoara, where the novel's five sex scenes are compared with those of Nora Roberts’s Enchanted and Sandra Brown’s Fanta C (the three being selected as examples of works of bestselling Romance authors in Romania).[6]
In a 2006 prank interview on WFMU's The Best Show with Tom Scharpling, American musician Marky Ramone appeared to credit the book as sparking his interest in the historical romance genre, which led him to write a romance novel of his own, Lady Wainsworth's Desires.[7][8]
The book has been rereleased numerous times, and translated into more than ten foreign languages.[9]
References
- ↑ "PAPERBACK BEST SELLERS: April 2, 1989". New York Times. April 2, 1989. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
- ↑ "A KINGDOM OF DREAMS". Romantic Times. Retrieved 2016-01-30.
- ↑ "Here is my interview with Tanya Anne Crosby". Retrieved 2016-02-01.
- ↑ "31 Books of Love – A Kingdom of Dreams". December 7, 2014. Retrieved 2016-02-01.
- ↑ "Review by Library Journal Review". 2010. Retrieved 2016-02-01.
- ↑ Goşa, Codruţa (2012). "Sex and the Genre: The Role of Sex in Popular Romance". In Dana Percec. Romance: The History of a Genre. Retrieved 2016-02-01.
- ↑ Levitt, Aimee. "Marky Ramone, Romance Novelist". Riverfront Times. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
- ↑ "Best Show Gems with Tom Scharpling: Playlists and Archives". Retrieved 2016-02-01.
- ↑ "A Kingdom of Dreams > Editions". Retrieved 2016-02-01.