Greetings to all. I am sorry it has taken me so long to post another blog entry, but my herniated disks chose this time to flare up again and I’ve had to ration my time at the computer, much to my (and Richard’s) frustration. We ran into technical difficulties with my on-line chat on January 19th; their server kept crashing. They are contacting my publicist at Putnam’s and we’ll see if we can reschedule it. I’m feeling snakebit, for I also encountered computer troubles while I was doing a chat at the Historical Fiction On-line forum; it is almost enough to make me believe in vengeful Tudor ghosts.
Let’s start with some of your posted comments and queries. Meghan, I don’t think there are transcripts for most on-line chats, at least for this one. Mary, I don’t have any New Jersey readings scheduled at present, though I hope to do one on behalf of the Atlantic County Women’s Shelter later in the year. I am reluctant to take on any PR obligations until my health “issues” are resolved. I’m feeling better than I was, but I have limited energy and tire very easily. This is why I haven’t been able yet to add book recommendations for my earlier novels, Suzanne.
Julia, I am glad that you and others like the title “Land Beyond the Sea.” I’ll probably use Outremer as the working title for my convenience since it is short and then suggest the translated version to my publishers. What do you all think? Does Land Beyond the Sea work for you? I have never had any interest, though, Julia, in writing about Isabella and Edward II and Roger Mortimer; their story is too grim for me. And I have no desire to write about Edward III either. But after my books about Balian of Ibelin and Queen Constance, I very much want to write about Owain Glyndwr, and so Richard II will be a character in Owain’s story. So will John of Gaunt. I decided that I didn’t want to write a novel with John of Gaunt as the main character, though, not wanting to compete with a cult classic, Anya Seton’s Katherine.
Susan, I’ll relay your query about Kindle to St Martin’s Press; assuming I can deliver Lionheart on schedule—August, 2010—the publication date would probably occur in the autumn of 2011. Elizabeth, I have never read the Matthew Shardlake mysteries; aren’t they set in Tudor times? Lastly, I want to answer your question, Victoria, about John’s whereabouts in June, 1189. He disappeared after Henry’s flight from Le Mans and we don’t know where he was during the weeks leading up to Henry’s death. In Here Be Dragons, I had his last meeting with Henry at Chinon, but when I researched Devil’s Brood, I became convinced that John parted from Henry much earlier, at Le Mans.
Now…I have several books to recommend, with great enthusiasm. I have finished Elizabeth Chadwick’s A Place Beyond Courage, her novel about John Marshal and a time “when Christ and his saints slept.” It took me so long because I do what you do, Tye; when I enjoy a book, I like to slow down and savor it. Elizabeth’s John Marshal and mine (in Saints) are not carbon copies, but that is inevitable when we are writing about people who really lived. Authors take the “known facts” and then interpret them in our own way, which is perfectly fair. What is important is to get those “known facts” right. Elizabeth’s John Marshal is a compelling and convincing man of his time, and I am sure that anyone who enjoyed my Saints will also enjoy A Place Beyond Courage. It is available in paperback now in both the US and the UK.
Next I want to alert you to a fascinating novel set in 12th century Scandinavia, The Road to Jerusalem, by Jan Guillou. Jan Guillou is a best-selling Swedish author who has written an acclaimed trilogy about the Crusades. The Road to Jerusalem, the first book, will be published by Harper-Collins in May, 2009. The trilogy is being made into a film, too; you can learn more at www.arnthemovie.com I have read about 125 pages so far and I am enthralled by it, pure and simple. The first book deals with the main character’s life in what would later become Sweden; the second one follows him to the Holy Land as a Knight Templar; the third takes him back to his homeland and the woman he loved. Jan Guillou is an extraordinarily gifted writer and once you enter Arn’s world, you’ll want to stay—at least until you can finish the trilogy!
For a complete change of pace, I offer you The Adventures of Alianore Audley, which Elizabeth Chadwick kindly brought to my attention. It is set during the Wars of the Roses, with Alianore acting as a spy for Edward IV and Richard III. I am not sure how to classify the book, for it is not a historical novel in the true sense. It is a spoof, I suppose, but a very clever one and done from a Yorkist perspective, so naturally I enjoyed it! I realize it may not be to everyone’s taste, so I am going to quote a few passages to let you judge for yourselves. Here the tart-tongued Alianore is speaking of her husband (whom she loves).
“Roger wore his collar of golden Yorkist suns to show that he was one of the king’s knights, ludicrous piked shoes to show that he was fashionable, and a massive codpiece to show that he had a vivid imagination.” And here she describes Elizabeth Woodville (whom she does not love) as “Elizabeth too-sexy-for-her-hennin Woodville.” And this is her “take” on the third marriage of Margaret Beaufort (the mother of Henry Tudor) to Thomas Stanley. “She and Stanley having fallen deeply in love with each other’s money.”
The author, Brian Wainwright, has also written a “serious” historical, Under the Fetlock, set in the reign of Richard II, and I have it on my To Read List. You have to be knowledgeable about a time period to be able to spoof it successfully. As for Alianore’s adventures, if you like Monty Python, you’ll like Alianore.
For a complete change of pace, I want to mention a mystery novel, Dog On It by Spencer Quinn, which will be published in February, 2009 by Atria Books. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys mysteries, dogs, laughter, and good writing. Spence pulls off something remarkable—his narrator is a dog, and he manages to make Chet sound and act like a dog throughout the book. Check out Chet’s blog at www.chetthedog.com and you’ll see what I mean.
Finally, the British writer Jules Watson has a new novel coming out in February, 2009 called The Swan Maiden, a lyrical retelling of the legend of Deirdre, the “Irish Helen of Troy.” It is not available yet in the UK, unfortunately, but British readers can order it from Amazon.
I thought I’d close by answering a reader’s recent question, for I am sure others have wondered about it, too. She wanted to know why Henry is called Fitz Empress in his trilogy but I refer to his son as John Plantagenet in Here Be Dragons. Henry chose to call himself Fitz Empress rather than Fitz Count, preferring to stress his mother’s more rarified status. The term Plantagenet did not come into use until three centuries later; I believe that Richard, Duke of York was the first to claim it as a surname. As some of you probably know, Henry’s father Geoffrey, Count of Anjou, liked to wear a sprig of planta genesta in his cap—or so the legend goes. I couldn’t resist having one of Henry’s spies use planta genesta as a code word in Devil’s Brood.
John would not have called himself Plantagenet, but when I wrote Dragons, I chose to simplify things and go with the familiar name for their dynasty. Writers are faced with choices like this all the time. For example, the term “Byzantine Empire” did not come into use until the 19th century. But if it was just a passing reference, I have occasionally used it in one of my books for clarity, knowing my readers would then understand I was speaking of Constantinople. But when their empire actually figures in the storyline, as in Lionheart, I prefer to refer to it by its medieval name—the empire of the Greeks. It is a bit unwieldy, but has the virtue of being accurate. To show you how confusing it can be, though, the Byzantines never called themselves Greeks; they considered themselves to be Romans. And then we have the Holy Roman Empire, of course, which was actually Germany!
So….do you prefer that a historical writer use medieval names even if they are unfamiliar to you? Or would you prefer that the writer make use of the familiar albeit modern names? Henry and Eleanor wouldn’t have called it the English Channel, but I use that phrase in my narrative and I feel comfortable using the words “the channel” in dialogue. In A Place Beyond Courage, Elizabeth Chadwick has John Marshal call it the “Narrow Sea.” Whether that is historically accurate or a very clever invention on her part, I thought it worked quite well and paid her the highest compliment one writer can offer another, that I wish I’d come up with that. I was pleased recently to be able to confirm that the term “Mediterranean Sea” was used in the MA, and I am now trying to decide whether to go with “Straits of Messina” or “Far de Meschines”. Of course now you know why it takes me so long to write one of my books. I believe the correct term is “obsessive-compulsive.”
In my next blog, I would like to talk about historical accuracy and what writers owe the reading public. But if there are any subjects you’d like me to address, let me know and I’ll certainly give them consideration. Till then, I hope you enjoy the books I’ve recommended and I hope, too, that you keep sharing your own recommendations with us all. Finding a new book or new author is a joy for anyone who loves to read.
January 25, 2009
Thanks for the recommendations! I’ll certainly have to check them out. Meanwhile, I have a few books by Elizabeth Chadwick on my to-be-read shelves, maybe I’ll choose one of them next. And I’m really looking forward to your post on historical accuracy. I prefer everything to remain as historically accurate as possible, even down to using the medieval names. My own opinion is that fiction should not promote anything that contradicts the accepted historical record, but rather fills in between the lines that history doesn’t, particularly when using real historical characters/events/locations, if that makes sense! Saying that, I have never written any, so will be looking forward to your opinion. I can easily understand why names would be modernized and so on, though, because most of the reading public is probably not as into medieval history as i am. =)
Hi Sharon, I hope your back is feeling better soon. Are you going to be listing some of these book recommendations somewhere on your website that’s easier to find than sifting through old blog posts? It will undoubtedly take me a while to get to any of them, but I don’t want to lose them — I’ve enjoyed other books you’ve recommended. Although I do have to say, it was a mistake for me to read The Greatest Knight immediately after finishing your Henry trilogy, That’s no knock on Elizabeth Chadwick (who I know reads your blog), but when she spends a couple of hundred pages on a period that it’s taken you two and a half epic novels to cover, her treatment does suffer a little by comparison. I have to say (though it sounds awful!), I enjoyed her book much more after Henry died, so I guess it’s a good thing I read it before Lionheart came out! (The Scarlet Lion is currently sitting on my nightstand, next up in my queue.) One thing about reading the books one after another though, it becomes very clear what is actually in the historical record vs. what is the author’s invention! It was interesting to read the different takes of young Henry’s “escape” from Chinon.
BTW, I’m seeing Bernard Cornwall’s new book all over the place, but I’ve never read anything by him, and I don’t think I’ve seen him recommended by many of your readers, which surprises me a little, given the apparent genre overlap. What am I missing?
About using medieval names, etc., I think clarity is paramount (because lack of clarity is distracting more than anything else), but wherever possible (i.e. where readers are going to know or can be easily informed as to what or who you’re referring to) respect your readers’ interest in historical accuracy. Obviously you’re not writing your novels in Norman French (thank goodness!), so translating and modernizing names is fine, and so is using nicknames and alternate forms that would have been in use at the time to disambiguate between the profusion of characters that share the same name. I’m a little less happy about names that weren’t in use at all during the period — it’s ok for minor characters and casual passing references (where either lack of clarity or explanations would be distracting), but for someone like John, for whom people are going to know who you’re talking about regardless of what you call him, I think I’d have preferred you to use a name he actually went by at the time. What would he have called himself, btw? John Fitz Roy?
Do you have any idea what fraction of your readers are actually medieval history junkies (like, it seems, most of the commenters on this blog!) vs more casual readers? I suspect you’ll see opinions here heavily weighted towards historical accuracy at all costs (which I’m sure reflects your own preferences too), but presumably we’re not the only people you’re writing for. I guess I’m looking forward to your next blog post!
Sharon, thank you for the endorsement, it’s lovely, kind and gracious of you!
I’m really glad you loved Brian Wainwright’s Adventures of Alianore Audeley. It’s so different – and as you say, if you like Python, you’re bound to love this one. The ‘serious’ one is actually titled ‘Within the Fetterlock’ and is about Constance of York. Great book.
Thank you for the other recommendations. I will certainly add them to my TBR, especially the crusading one. Suzanne, I do enjoy Bernard Cornwell’s novels. I’m in the middle of his Uhtred ones at the moment.
Also to say that I wish I was allowed to write novels as long as Sharon does, but I’m not allowed by my publishers. If I was allowed the leeway, The Greatest Knight would have been much longer, but my publishers are word count fiends! Sharon, do you ever get requested to cut or keep the word count down?
Re the Narrow Sea. I’ve called it that for a long time, but it’s one of those things I don’t recall where I read it. Research is so rewarding and frustrating. I think doing the best one can and having respect and integrity for one’s material and the characters formed from it, will always show through and benefit the writing. I haven’t read Devil’s Brood yet, but I am very much looking forward to doing so… and the work in the pipeline.
Hi Sharon,
Thank you for your very kind words about Alianore Audley. She is not to everyone’s taste, but praise from someone like you, whose work has been an inspiration to me and to many others, means a great deal.
I’m delighted that you’re planning a novel about Owain Glyn Dwr. There hasn’t been a decent one published since John Cowper Powys’ ‘Owen Glendower’ pre WW2, and it’s a fascinating era. I did include a fair bit about the rising in ‘Fetterlock’ but most of the ‘Welsh’ scenes got edited out to reduce the book to something like a sensible size, so what’s left is mainly the reactions in the English court. I’m sure you’ll do a brilliant job on Owain and I look forward to reading it.
A source book that may help you, if you haven’t already seen it, is ‘The Revolt of Owain Glyn Dwr’ by R.R. Davies. By far the best published account.
Hi, Brian,
What a nice surprise to find you’d responded to my blog comments. It is always so gratifying to be able to tell authors directly how much I enjoy their books. I apologize for getting the Fetterlock title wrong, will correct that in my next blog. I’ve already ordered it, so I ought to be able to talk a bit about it then. I visited your website, which should be cordoned off with Danger signs, for I could easily have spent a week there without even pausing to draw a breath. For any of my readers with at least an hour to spare, check out his website. It is a treasure-trove for anyone fascinated by the MA.
I would like to talk to you about Alianore and Fetterlock. Could you e-mail me when you get a chance?
Thanks, Brian.
Hi Sharon: I asked for and received Devil’s Brood for Christmas and have been nursing it along for two weeks. I am such a fan of your historical novels. I truly think the only way for me to discover history is in a well researched book on the time. May I add Rosemary Sutcliff to your list of recommended authors? Her books, “children’s’ books” by British standards (!!) were a guide to Roman England for me and my daughter during a memorable trip some 20 years ago.
I’m nearly finished with DB and looking forward to Elizabeth Chadwick’s William Marshall books already on my next read shelf.
Oh, and BTW, I have bought “Sunne In Splendour”, etc. at least twice. You’d think I’d have the sense to keep them, but I pass on my favorites.
Thanks for hours of enjoyable reading. AK
Hi Sharon
first I want to thank you for all the hours of reading I get out of your books. I am a student of medieval history and I love that you are accurate and make the characters come alive.For me that’ s very important. I actually think you got me addicted to Welsh history, so I am very glad indeed to learn you would like to write a book about Owyn Glyn Dwr.
I also enjoy reading Elizabeth Chadwicks books, most of them are on the shelves here, and I will make sure to check out your tips.
Best wishes for your health!
I just finished reading Sunne in Splendour and LOVED it. For me, the characters were more “alive”.. more fleshed out and relateable than Henry and Eleanore. Though we all know Richard dies, it was almost unbearable to read the final battle scene and know we were losing this great character. Do you somtimes wish you could go back in time and warn your favourite characters about what’s going to happen? Maybe change history?
I’ve read all the Saxon books by Bernard Cornwell because there’s so little historical fiction about this fascinating time. IMO, he’s very much a “man’s” author, as bloody battles seem to be his favourite theme – at the cost of fleshing out realistic female characters & relationships. In any case, the years of the Danish invasions through to Henry II were horrific for the common person to live in. I’m almost through a very good translation of the Anglo-Saxon chronicles and it’s grim reading! None of the nobles really gave a toss about the people slaving away in abysmal conditions – while they lived in comparative luxury.
The Greatest Knight is next on my night stand and I’m intrigued to see how realistic the detail will be, as Elizabeth is using an Akashic reader to “see” historical events. It would be intersting to talk to her Akashic consultant, Alison King, and find out if the Richard III portrayal is accurate.
Sharon,
I hope your back is feeling better. I know all about back pain. Though I usually just pull a muscle, which requires a few days of bed rest. I’m glad to hear you’ve made definite plans to write about Owain Glyn Dwr. I’m also happy to see that many of your readers support the idea. I must admit, I prefer Welsh history more, but I’m sure your novel about Outremer will be great, and I look forward to reading it.
Iechyd da,
Dave
Hello Sharon: Re the use of medieval names etc – I’m kind of torn on this one. I am a stickler for accuracy, but at the same time using old names can make a book seem a bit cheesy somehow; the reason I love your books is that the characters are very real yet of their time, and using outdated names jars sometimes. For example, the way the characters speak in ‘olde English’ in Sunne in Splendour is not as ‘real’ as the way they speak in Here Be Dragons. Anyway I am off to check out Alianore Audley – thanks for the recommendation!
Sharon,
I am curious as to whether you or any readers here are familiar with Sandra Worth. I got the first of her Richard books, “Love and War” for Christmas, because I have heard she’s quite good, but I haven’t had a chance to read it yet. I was hoping to hear some thoughts from you and some readers.
As for the use of medieval names, I think it can be good sometimes, and bad sometimes. While I favor accuracy, sometimes it can interfere with readability, so that seems to be a fine line and ultimately in a novel readability is paramount. I believe you do a great job with that “fine line” of being accurate, but also providing us with great flow and readability of the story.
Jeremy, I have to say that I read Love and War and wasn’t overly impressed. It’s not a bad book, but if you’ve already read Sunne in Splendour, you probably won’t get much new insight out of it. She does play the scene where Anne is hidden away as a servant differently than how Sharon plays it, and I thought that was interesting and well done. She portrays Hastings in particular as a sexual degenerate (presumably to set up enough animosity between him and Richard to explain what happens later) — that didn’t really appeal to me. As you might expect from the title, the book is heavily focused on the romance between Richard and Anne — starting w/ love at first sight when they first meet as children. It’s hard to tell how much research has gone into the book — she follows Paul Murray Kendall’s biography pretty closely.
Anyway, it’s a fine book, and I’m sure you’ll enjoy it, but it didn’t inspire me to pick up either of the next two books in the trilogy. I’d rather just read Sunne in Splendour again! I thought Sharon did a much better job at getting inside her characters’ heads.
Hello Sharon,
Please, please take care of yourself. I want to keep reading your novels as long as you write them. I need my Sharon Kay Penman fix on a regular basis.
I just finished all your books in historical order beginning with When Christ and His Saints Slept and ending with The Reckoning.
I too would like to read more about Wales and the princes, however, the history of Wales is pretty short after the Normans invaded England, relatively speaking and it is their interaction with the English Crown that is the driving force in your novels about Wales. I was really touched by the ending of The Reckoning, but I also couldn’t help noticing that Edward I learned some very salient lessons from his own House’ history. For instance, don’t trust the wives to just sit back and let their husbands be imprisoned (Stephen’s Queen–Maud, Gryffudd’s wife–Senena). Also, don’t let the children of Princes loose to be used as a rallying point. Arthur of Brittany??? He almost beat John by capturing Eleanor with the help of his “friends” and would have had the Crown of England had he done so.
In Falls The Shadow and The Reckoning, the picture of Edward I is of a man who was expert at compartmentalizing his life, who made decisions and then made sure that he never had to answer to anyone who’s life he had ruined through his own duplicity. And it was never his fault! It was always the other person who reacted wrongly. In The Reckoning, it was Edward who lied time and again about enforcing English laws on Welsh soil, but when the Welsh rebelled, he was surprised! Also as you wrote it, to Edward, the captivity of Elen de Montfort shouldn’t have had any bearing on her attitude toward him. As if her imprisonment was due to a third party and she should just forget all previous events involving him and her family. But Edward was the greatest grudge holder of the time. He never forgot an insult or a slight or a “betrayal” and never forgave. A very two-faced man.
I do wonder about Davydd ap Gryffudd’s sons–did Edward allow them to be educated, go to Mass or any other civilized thing? They were, after all, very young. Or did he just forget about them? The Princesses at least were in convents where they were educated and occupied. Their choices were taken away, but they didn’t know the difference.
It is very interesting to read the different views of King John’s marriage to Isabella when she was only 12 years of age. One author’s view is that she was frightened of him and he didn’t bed her right away, but waited. Another paints her as extremely selfish and uncaring of anyone even her own children. Your view seems more balanced to me.
I loved both LLewellyns and their relationships with their wives.
Reading about the deaths of young adults, especially women in childbirth make me appreciate the value of soap and water. I noticed that in the Elen de Quincy death and Elen de Montfort’s that the midwives never washed their hands! Also, in Joanna’s birthing of Davvydd, they used a goose quill to break her waters! Ahh! talk about germy! Its a wonder any woman survived childbirth with such hazards!
I really don’t like it when twentyfirst century attitudes and behaviors permeat an MA book. It simply puts me off. I like the dress, manners, and behavior to be accurate to the time in which the book is set. For instance, I just tried to read a book by a (once) favorite author and it put me off completely. The court of the King didn’t speak French, the Scottish hero had a modern scottish brogue speaking English, the description of clothing seemed wrong and the villain was fat! I couldn’t continue reading and that was just the first 10 pages!
So keep up the good work Sharon. I love your books!
Thanks for your thoughts, Suzanne. Considering the fact that “Sunne” is quite possibly my favorite book of all time, I certainly don’t have expectations of the “Rose of York” trilogy matching it. That would indeed be a tall task. I look forward to reading the first book and I’ll just go from there. Thanks again!
Sharon: I’m almost finished with Devil’s Brood and what a wonderful book! I’ve been savoring it so it’s taking me a while to read it. What great news that another book will be forthcoming continuing the tale of the Plantagenets. Sunne In Splendour remains my favorite of all time, but I really love all your books. I have read Elizabeth Chadwick’s books about William Marshal and really enjoyed them also. You and Elizabeth have given me so many hours of reading pleasure – thank you!
Hello Sharon!
First, let me thank you for the book recommendations. My historical fiction to-read list has gotten remarkably larger in the brief time I’ve been following your blog!
You asked, “…do you prefer that a historical writer use medieval names even if they are unfamiliar to you? Or would you prefer that the writer make use of the familiar albeit modern names?” For myself, I think I would prefer that authors use the medieval names. If a narrative is set in the 12th century, and a place name was different then, it gives it that much more of an authentic feel to the story. Plus, I feel it encourages readers to go out and research it on their own to figure out exactly what it is in terms that might be more familiar. Or maybe that’s just me. But when I encounter something I’m not familiar with, I look it up. It’s just one more way in which an author engages me as a reader. I figure if the author goes to the trouble to research and gift us with a literary work, the least the readers can do in return is to try to learn more on their own.
About historical accuracy, I do actually have a question. I just finished Dragons again and was struck at the references to characters bathing, wanting a hot bath, etc. I always thought that medieval society did not bathe if they could help it. If you have time, could you maybe talk a little about medieval hygiene? I must have gotten conflicting information on this since I never knew bathing was something people did much until more modern times. Thanks! 🙂
Hello Sharon,
Firstly, I like how you always makes your blog entries so interesting.
I’m quite impatient to read your take on Richard II. He seems like such a exciting person to read about.
The quotes from Alianore are very funny. Especially the one about Margaret Beaufort and Thomas Stanley…
The tidbits about what people actually called places and themselves was very nice to learn. I neve knew some of those. Thanks!
I’ve read all of Elizabeth Chadwick’s books, and all of Sharon Penmans! They’re all great, and I haven’t found any other medieval period authors who I enjoy so much. And obviously, medieval period books are the best!
It was interesting hearing that Elizabeth can’t make her books longer, and more detailed, because of her publisher! I mentioned something about Sharon’s being more detailed in this blog before, and I have felt bad ever since, because I love Elizabeth’s books too.
I look forward to having a look at some of the other books which have been suggested, particularly the humourous look at the War of the Roses. I recently did a comedy show about Robin Hood, medieval history and popular culture, so I’m very interested in looking at these things in humourous ways. (Funnily enough, I mentioned Sharon & Elizabeth’s books in my show!)
Looking forward the historical accuracy post. This is my big bug bear, and I had a whole section about it in my show. I find that authors make a big effort with this, but filmakers feel entitled to just make it up! I mean Braveheart (while being entertaining) was an exercise in fantasy!
On the film topic… I asked once before if there was any news about Sunne in Splendour being turned into a film… Well….? It would be amazing… Or actually, I think it would make a fabulous series, a la The Tudors…. What do you think?
Have just finished Alianore Audley and I loved it! Haven’t laughed out loud so much at a book in ages. Amazon also recommended Meredith Whitford’s Treason (another take on Edward IV and Richard III) and am loving that too – recommended for all Sunne in Splendour fans…
Hello Sharon! I’m so sorry you haven’t been feeling well. I’ve been terribly remiss about reading this blog and am catching up today. One thing I want to say right away is that I would LOVE to read a story of yours about Constance of Hauteville! I first became acquainted with her a few years ago when one of my in-laws gave me the book, Travels with a Medieval Queen by Mary Taylor Simeti (when my family sees “Medieval” in a title, they think of me 😉 ). Though the book is really half history and half travel journal, it offers a fascinating glimpse into the life of this amazing, but little-known, woman! I really loved reading about southern Medieval Europe as well.
Currently, I am happily ensconced in Alison Weir’s new bio of Katherine Swynford, Mistress of the Monarchy, and it’s totally engrossing. I’m glad to have a more scholarly account of Katherine and John of Gaunt to balance Anya Seton’s sometimes melodramatic novel about them. In fact, Weir includes an Appendix in which she discusses Seton’s treatment of Katherine and describes how the novel was a product of its time. Anya Seton herself was apparently quite a character as well! Anyway, Weir is doing a great job so far, and I highly recommend this book to everyone!
Hi Sharon
Hope you get well soon. I love all your books and I finally had The Devil’s Brood delivered to me on Saturday (just out in the UK) I can’t put it down. Brilliant, well worth the wait. Save’s me having the read The Sunne in Splendour for the 5th time!
Marguerite, I’m so happy to see someone else plugging Alison Weir! I love her books. I didn’t realize she had a new one out, but I’m definitely going to check it out now!
Yes, I have also read Alison Weir’s book about Katherine Swynford, and also the ones about Isabella of France and my favourite, about Eleanor of Aquitaine. Both of them are very interesting and well researched.
After reading Sunne in Splendour for the second time many years ago, I also read her Princes in the Tower. Wow, I didn’t even realise I’d read so many books by Alison Weir! I also read her novel about Jane Grey. No wonder my bookshelves are lined with books about Medieval History – and very little else! And it all started when I read Sunne in Splendour all those years ago….
Although, having said that… I did come across a book called the Tea Rose by Jennifer Donnelly. It is set in Victorian East London (and New York), so it’s not about medieval England, but it is a gripping, well researched and wonderful book, with brilliant characters, and I couldn’t put it down. It also has a sequel, the Winter Rose, which is equally as good.
Sharon,……..I;ve read All your books, just finished Devils Brood…Great!! Be well ,take good care of yourself,If you Ever Come too portland,oregon…….I;ll vist Powells??……Or Whereever. ??Yourbooks,Inspire Me As i love History…….Also I love The Castles !I;m From Co Durham Originally……So Bamburgh,Warkworth,Durham,.dunstanburgh.Alnwick(pottermovies??)……Such an onclave,….For Imagination,…..This was my Childhood,…..”And you Capture this For Me In Your Books”…In the Springtime Around Bamburgh……Theres long Daisys(Called Margurites)??.Interesting I think?…..Very well Done
This is the way things should be, get off what we are on now
Hi Sharon
I love reading your Welsh Trilogy, but you seem to have added names and then left names out i.e I can find only 2 daugthers for Elen de Quincy but you state that she had 3. LLewllyn the great had a daugther named Susanna but you don’t mention her.
But I still think your books are great and would like to say Thank you .
Hi Sharon,
I am enjoying the Welsh trilogy so much I would like to buy a set for Spanish speaking (reading) friends, for sending to them. Are these books available in Spanish?
Sincerely,
Ralph
hi
Firstly i’d like to say how much i enjoyed The Sunne in Splendour think i’ve read it three or four timer.I’m hoping to pick up the Devils Brood before i go on holiday. Are any of your books out on AudioBook or will they be anytime soon?
I’ve just finnished Philippa Gregorys The White Queen and thoroughly enjoyed it.
Sorry to say after reading Alisons Wier Princes in the Tower i won’t give her houseroom but perhaps the latest Katherine Swynford won’t be so Tudor biased so may be worth a read .
Hope you are feeling better and thank you for your fantastic novels .
I miss reading your books. When will you be writing another book? mary lou dudley
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Just found an amazing error on page19 Sunne in Splendour, Elizabeth Woodville going into sanctuary October 1470 with 3 small daughters and 2 sons, the latter not born yet! This is a copy I bought 30 odd years ago, I am enjoying it as much this time, I must have missed this error before, or perhaps I am more observant now. I read that film rights were taken up on Sunne in Splendour, and nothing eventuated, pity, it is I believe the quinessential story of Edward IV and Richard III, streets ahead of Phillipa Gregory, a supposed “respected” historian, the only good thing about TV versiob was the gorgeous young man playing Richard. I also thoroughly enjoyed Here be Dragons. I am a dyed in the wool English history buff.
Just found an amazing error on page19 Sunne in Splendour, Elizabeth Woodville going into sanctuary October 1470 with 3 small daughters and 2 sons, the latter not born yet! This is a copy I bought 30 odd years ago, I am enjoying it as much this time, I must have missed this error before, or perhaps I am more observant now. I read that film rights were taken up on Sunne in Splendour, and nothing eventuated, pity, it is I believe the quinessential story of Edward IV and Richard III, streets ahead of Phillipa Gregory, a supposed “respected” historian, the only good thing about TV versiob was the gorgeous young man playing Richard. I also thoroughly enjoyed Here be Dragons. I am a dyed in the wool English history buff.
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Will there be a part 2?
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