REVIEW: Naked: A Novel of Lady Godiva

Naked: A Novel of Lady Godiva
Eliza Redgold

We know her name. We know of her naked ride. We don’t know her true story.

We all know the legend of Lady Godiva, who famously rode naked through the streets of Coventry, covered only by her long, flowing hair.

So the story goes, she begged her husband Lord Leofric of Mercia to lift a high tax on her people, who would starve if forced to pay. Lord Leofric demanded a forfeit: that Godiva ride naked on horseback through the town.

There are various endings to Godiva’s ride, that all the people of Coventry closed their doors and refused to look upon their liege lady (except for ‘peeping Tom’) and that her husband, in remorse, lifted the tax.

Naked is an original version of Godiva’s tale with a twist that may be closer to the truth: by the end of his life Leofric had fallen deeply in love with Lady Godiva. A tale of legendary courage and extraordinary passion,Naked brings an epic story new voice

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What AusRom Today thought:

Naked: A Novel of Lady Godiva is a unique and superbly researched novel based around the story of Lady Godiva and her famous naked horse ride through the streets of Coventry.

Redgold offers an almost poetic style to her writing that entrances and engages you as a reader instantly. This in particular adds to the uniqueness of Naked as Redgold’s previous writing is far more contemporary in its style.

Within the novel, the presentation of history and politics of the time is such that though strongly emphasised it would neither inhibit readers unfamiliar with these angles nor would it be too simplistic for history buffs. The way Redgold has intertwined these aspects within the storytelling is compelling and skillful.

– J’aimee Brooker, AusRom Today.