I am sorry it has taken me so long to put up a new blog, but I had a rough re-entry, both to the States and to reality. Like a huge percentage of the population, I suffer from chronic back trouble, but I’ve been fortunate in the past and it has never interfered with one of my research trips—until now. On Day Six of this trip, the back pain flared up and got progressively worse, forcing me to curtail some of my more ambitious endeavors. And of course that lovely 9 ½ hour plane ride in a space only slightly larger than a bread-box did me a world of good. I mentioned this in a post to my last blog, so I will spare you all the gory details, except to say that I was then ambushed with the need for emergency dental surgery which entailed (shudder) root canal work. It took me a full week before I even got around to unpacking my suitcase, and as of this weekend, I still hadn’t been able to sort through all of the e-mails that piled up in my absence.
I have been practically camped out at my chiropractor’s, but I think I am finally on the mend, at least well enough to post a blog before I take on the real challenge—dealing with a very impatient medieval king. I have not been able to go over all of the comments you guys posted while I was away, so I won’t respond to any questions, etc, in this blog, will have to save that for the next one. I did take some photos (none of me, for I am allergic to having my picture taken unless at gunpoint) and I might try to post them at a later date. The last time I tried to integrate photos into a blog, though, it resulted in a calamity, so this is only a possibility, depending on how brave I feel.
This trip began in Paris, of course, and from there we took the train to Avignon and then on to Carcassonne and Toulouse and Poitiers before returning to Paris. Usually I rent a car in France, but this time I was able to rely upon the excellent French railway system. One caveat, though, for those of you planning trips to France in the future. Their stations do not always have elevators, lifts, or ascenseurs, and while they usually have escalators, they take passengers up, not down. So pack light if possible!
Here are a few more travel tips for visiting France. Even if you buy a Rail Pass beforehand, as we did, you still need to make reservations on any of their high-speed TGV trains and there is a nominal charge for this; reservations are not needed on local trains if you have a rail pass. If you are using tickets, be sure to validate them in the orange or yellow boxes on the station platform before boarding your train. If you are going to Avignon, the train from Paris actually takes you to a TGV station a few miles from the city. You will then board a bus (no charge) which will take you into Avignon’s local train station. Aside from the hassles with the luggage, French trains are wonderful, very comfortable and almost always on time, and I’d definitely recommend them. I’d also recommend booking seats on airport shuttles from your Paris hotels to Charles de Gaulle Airport, as this is much cheaper than using taxis and I’ve never had a problem in all the years I’ve been doing this. Oh, yes, and I got a rude shock at the airport when my suitcase was “overweight” by six pounds. That didn’t surprise me, as it was stuffed with books. What did was the extra cost—$125! The airline staff were very nice, suggesting I try to lighten the load by putting things in my carry-on; fortunately my friend Valerie hadn’t been snatching up research books and her suitcase was within the allowable limit, so I was able to transfer some of my stuff to her bag. I mention this only because I vaguely remembered paying a reasonable fee for having overweight luggage in past years, but I forgot to take into account the current airline trend to charge passengers for everything but air. So, be forewarned.
Someone asked me recently on my Facebook page if it was necessary to speak French to enjoy a trip to France. I told her no, certainly not in Paris or popular tourist destinations. I think it always helps, though, to memorize a few useful phrases even if only to say “Je ne parle pas francais” or “Anglais, s’il vous plait?” The only time on this trip when speaking some French was necessary occurred at the Carcassonne train station. There was a sign indicating taxis, but there was nothing in sight outside. When I went back inside, the young woman at the ticket counter explained that we had to cross a small bridge into the town and catch a taxi there. Since she did not speak English, this could have presented a problem for travelers speaking no French. In the summer, the town provides a bus to take arriving passengers to the Cite, the old section of Carcassonne, but in October, visitors are on their own. So if you are planning to visit Carcassonne, remember that you must walk over a little bridge (not far at all) and wait on the corner at the taxi rank.
Before I start rhapsodizing about Carcassonne, the highpoint of the trip, I ought to mention something that surprised us. Many of you know that tipping is included in the price at French restaurants; you will see a statement on the menu saying that “Le service est compris.” But this is not always true in the south of France. So keep that in mind and ask.
Avignon is a lovely city, well worth a visit. The Palace of the Popes is very impressive, looking more like a citadel than a “palace” and the city walls date from the 14th century. There is also a fragment of the famed Bridge of Saint-Benezet, also known as the Pont d’Avignon, which figures in a well known nursery rhyme. Eleanor and Berengaria would have crossed the Rhone River here on their journey to join Richard in Sicily. Unfortunately “their” bridge was destroyed by the French King Louis VIII after laying siege to Avignon during the bloody conflict known as the “Albigensian Crusade.” But the four arches that survive are still medieval and I enjoyed looking out upon a vista that Eleanor would have seen.
There is little left of medieval Toulouse, but I had fun browsing in book stores for histories of the Counts of Toulouse. Unlike Toulouse, much of medieval Poitiers has survived and it should be a “Do not miss” stop for anyone interested in Eleanor of Aquitaine and the Angevins. I’d visited it some years ago, but this time we were lucky enough to be given a personal tour by Mary McKinley, an American who now lives and teaches in Poitiers. I will tell you more about our memorable day in Poitiers in a later blog, including our hunt for “Eleanor’s Eagle.”
While San Francisco remains my favorite American city, on this trip I left my heart in Carcassonne. There are actually two towns, the medieval La Cite, which is the largest walled city in Europe, I’ve been told, and the Bastide Saint Louis, which encompasses the “rest” of Carcassonne. I would definitely recommend staying in La Cite if you visit; it was the next best thing to time-travel. Cars are not allowed; our taxi driver took us to the city walls, where the hotel sent a van to pick us up. The driver’s skill at navigating narrow medieval alleyways and lanes had to be seen to be believed! We stayed at Le Donjon, a delightful hotel less than a block from the castle; there is another hotel, a five star one, in the Cite, too, but Le Donjon was much more reasonably priced and just as convenient and comfortable. And the castle….ah, the castle. It deserves a blog of its own.
I was so impressed by Carcassonne that I plan to set a chapter in Lionheart in the castle and town. In the cathedral of St Nazaire, we lit candles in memory of Carcassonne’s young viscount, Raymond-Roger Trencavel, one of history’s more tragic figures. The Albigensian Crusade was one of the darker chapters in the history of the Church, and I will discuss it in a later blog. In Paris, we also lit candles for Geoffrey, the Duke of Brittany, who was buried at Notre Dame Cathedral after his tournament death in 1186. Unfortunately Geoffrey’s tomb is long gone, but I like to think that his bones are reposing peacefully somewhere in the cathedral. I was never able to light candles for Henry and Eleanor and Richard and Joanna, all of whom are buried at Fontevrault, for it is no longer in use as a church. John’s tomb is still intact at Worcester Cathedral and I could have lit a candle for him, but it never occurred to me to do so on any of my visits to Worcester. Maybe I just assumed John’s soul was in need of more help than a few flickering candles could provide? But at least John has a hallowed resting-place, which is more than can be said for Richard III, of course.
I will talk more about the trip in upcoming blogs, as well as responding to your queries. If you are interested, you can find a number of videos on YouTube about Carcassonne. They are usually shot by travelers so the narratives are not always reliable. But the visuals are stunning. I’ll close now with by telling you about the cats of Carcassonne. The Cite is a cat’s paradise; never have I seen so many sleek, well-fed, friendly felines. They were obviously owned and cherished, many wearing collars, which cats normally won’t deign to do. They strolled along the cobbled streets, sunning themselves on stone walls and meandering by the tables of outdoor cafes. On our last day in Carcassonne, my back was beginning to give me pain, so I’d gone to sit on a step while Valerie shopped for Christmas presents. Suddenly a calico cat sauntered over, gave me an appraising look, and promptly hopped into my lap, where he settled himself comfortably, a king who’d found yet another human to service his royal needs. On trips to France, I always think how much my dogs would love to live there, for they are allowed everywhere, permitted to enter shops and hotels and even restaurants; and probably because they are so thoroughly socialized from puppy-hood, they are invariably calm and well behaved. But now I know where I’d want to live if I had nine lives of my own–the blessed cat kingdom of Carcassonne.
November 23, 2009
Back from baseball practise (remember, we are in Florida) and dinner with our oldest son, I saw on Facebook that you had recovered enough to post your French Travel Blog. As I mentioned in a message last month, my wife and I spent a delightful day in Carcassonne’s old city in late December 1973. Our hotel, whose proprietors were Breton expatriates, was on the old city side of the river, with a short walk up the hill to la vraie Carcassonne. On a slide somewhere, we have a photo of the panel memorializing Geoffrey in Notre-Dame de Paris. In March 1974, I was at the Charles de Gaulle-Roissy airport during the first week it was open, meeting my mother and aunt when they flew over from the U.S. Bienvenue.
Sharon,
So glad to have you back. One question though. Are the research books you are buying written in French or English? A thought too. Not to sound like your mother or anything, but hauling around an overweight suitcase full of books would not be healthy for anyone….especially someone with a bad back.
Signed,
Someone with a lot of research books and bad wrists.
Sharon, a dog person greeting a cat! Or are you an omnivore of animals – like any animals. Sounds wonderful, I was just saying to my husband that if ever we get to travel to Europe we should travel around by train, and there is your blog with tips.
Put your photos up on facebook, you could put them on your page, or on the groups page, and others could join to go to see them.
I look forward to reading your chapter on Richard in Carcassonne to get the images in my mind painted by your words. That is what I love about reading, it is my mind that makes the images proposed to it by the words the author has written for me to read.
I do hope teeth and back recover soon.
Great to have you back. As a sciatica sufferer, I can sympathise with your back troubles. Bending over the computer for hours doesn’t help much either!
I know Carcassonne very well and usually stop over there each time I make the trip from Biarritz to St. Tropez, as it is about half way and is such a wonderful place. I know the Best Western Donjon hotel well, but have come to prefer the Hotel du Chateau which is located just outside the Pont Levis on the main external wall. Great rooms, swimming pool and food!
I can think of nowhere else I have visited that brings the middle ages to life in the way that the Cite that does. The Templar villages in the Aveyron (North of Montpelier), particularly the village of la Courvertoirade, come very close and are almost as well preserved. In Wales, Edward’s castles and the castles of the Welsh Princes are also magical, but somehow, Carcassonne stands apart.
Did you walk around the ‘Lices’ (The ‘Lists’ or the tilting yard, i.e. the space between the inner and outer walls) at night? Quite the most marvellous sight! I have not arrived by train, so I don’t know if you had a distant view of the cite in the same way as when you approach by car from the Route Nationale. That first view is mind blowing for a medievalist and worth the trip on its own.
Did you get a chance to visit the other Cathar castles, particularly the chateau de Montsegur, perched high on an outcrop some 4000 ft above the plain? This was where the 250 inhabitants who followed the cathar church held out under siege from summer 1243 to the 01 March 1244. Finally, rather than give up their faith, they chose, men, women and children to give themselves over to their enemies and they were all burned to death as heretics. To walk within the walls of this chateau is a humbling experience.
Looks like I might have to join facebook if I am to view the photos you took and compare them with mine! Please include at least one of yourself, even if taken from a distance!
I hadn’t heard about a panel memorializing Geoffrey in Notre Dame, Malcolm; can you tell us more? BTW, Notre Dame is my favorite cathedral. There are others more beautiful–Salisbury comes to mind–or more closely connected to my books–Tewkesbury Abbey or York Minster–or simply more spectacular–Chartres. But Notre Dame has held my heart from my first glimpse of it more than twenty years ago.
The books are in French, Ellie; fortunately, I read French much better than I speak it. I had a much more extensive study of Spanish and also spoke it fluently till I was about five years old, and as a result, I’ve been told that I speak French with a pronounced Spanish accent! But being able to read French has been a godsend, especially when researching the Counts of Toulouse, for there is almost nothing written about them in English.
Celia, I am an “equal opportunity” animal lover. In fact, for much of my life, I actually preferred cats to dogs for dogs are so high maintenance! But that changed when I got my first poodle. At the present time, I have two dogs, my German Shepherd featured on my website and a very cute but neurotic little poodle who is his partner in crime. I haven’t had a cat for several years; I’d taken in my mom’s cat after she died in 1999, but she died of cancer in 2006 and I haven’t gotten another as much as I miss having one because the one drawback of poodles is that they are pathologically possessive and Chelsea would never allow a cat to sleep in my bed or cuddle in my lap, etc. So it didn’t seem fair to get a cat and have it live as a second-class citizen. With Tara, my mom’s cat, it was take her in or take her to a shelter, so there was not really a choice involved. At that time I had three dogs, a poodle, a Norwegian elkhound, and a neighbor’s dog that I’d taken in “temporarily” for what turned out to be 12 1/2 years, and I was very dubious about Tara being able to adjust. But she was a remarkable little cat and settled right in. So I felt honored to have the Carcassonne cat decide I was “lap-worthy,” and for the Seinfeld fans out there, does that make you think of “sponge=worthy” as it does me?
No, I didn’t get to see any of the Cathar castles on this trip, Ken, would need to hire a care for that. I’d wanted to go to Beaucaire south of Avignon because this is where Richard’s sister Joanna gave birth to her son, and was thrilled when I discovered that there is a local train from Avignon, though only twice a day. And walking the lists by moonlight will definitely be on my agenda for my next trip. Actually, though, Celia, Richard won’t be in my Carcassonne chapter; it will focus upon Joanna and her new husband Raimond, the Count of Toulouse. The young viscount of Carcassonne, Raymond-Roger Trencavel, was Raimond’s nephew, the son of his sister. Sadly they had a tense relationship once Raymond-Roger grew up, but he is only 12 at the time of the chapter so a family visit makes sense. I’ve done this occasionally in other books–become so enamored of a particular site that I wrote it into the book. I set a scene in the cloisters at Salisbury Cathedral in Sunne for that very reason.
Good to have you back, Sharon. And it seems like you had a really good time. Carcassonne sounds amazing. I wish I could have goen there. Perhaps in the future…
I certainly understand what you mean when you say Carcassonne makes you feel like you’re back there in the Medieval ages – I feel the same when I last visited the Templar Fortress in Akko, and whenever I come to Jerusalem. Indeed, I love nothing better than wandering around in the old city, simply feeling as if I’m in a different time. I hope to find time to go to Akko this Hannukah, and take some pictures to show you all.
I’m currently looking into where I’m going to learn next year, so I’m tavelling and busy. But I’ll try to participate in the discussion, and I’ll be awaiting your stories and answers eagerly.
Oh, and while I’m unsure about this, I think that today Conrad of Monteferrat married Isabella of Jerusalem, becoming King of Jerusalem.
Welcome back, Sharon!
Carcassonne sounds fabulous. Isn’t it wonderful how a visit to a special place can move and inspire you? I had a similar experience during my recent visit to Charleston, SC, when I visited the magnificent Middleton Place plantation.
Glad you had a good time, sorry about your back troubles! Can’t wait to hear more about your trip!
Welcome “back”, Sharon! It may have been your “sponge-worthy” comment that brought this to mind, but I’ve often found pelvic tilts to do wonders for my bad back.
I’ve long wanted to go to Carcassonne, but now you’ve sealed the deal. Like you, I love both cats and dogs and have, totally unintentionally, “collected” them in my travels. I think I’ve already told my story about the magical cat of Conwy here. There have been special cats in Alaska and on St. Thomas and memorable dogs in Wales, Paris, and on Maui.
As for time travel, one of my favorite experiences was staying on Mont St. Michel in the off-season. Strolling there in the evening was the only time I’ve truly felt in the company of ghosts from the past. I’m sure Geoffrey must have been in the neighborhood.
Sharon-
So glad to have you back! The imagery you brought to mind will certainly stick with me for a bit of time. Although I’ve never been to France, I now see the appeal (that is not a dig to the French at all!).
On a completely “out there” topic, I was listening to NPR on my way to work last week and they had authors on there discussing how electronic readers like the Kindle, the Sony e-reader, etc will impact the publishing world. They basically made it seem like the entire publishing realm as we know it will disappear. None of the authors seem inclined to either purchase or encourage others to purchase these devices. From a book lovers view, I love everything about buying/looking for a book. I love the smell of bookstores, the feel of the book in your hand when you pick it up, the smell of library books as you flip through the pages, and I could go on and on. But from an environmentalist perspective, I think the e-readers are a great idea. Cuts down the material goods that may or maybe not be recycled, etc.
I just wondering if you or anyone else on the blog have an opinion one way or the other, of if you even agree with some of these authors who claim that the need for publishing will go out the window.
Sharon, thank you for the wonderful account of your trip, and all the tips for traveling in France. We are all glad that you’re safe home. Give Richard my best!
Sharon, what a fabulous trip you’ve had (your back notwithstanding!) I loved Carcassone when we visited a few years ago. I confess to buying a sword while I was there and sneaking it through customs! Couldn’t do that now! Ken, I have climbed Montsegur – and nearly put my hand on an adder! I love the way they have the payment kiosk half way up the climb! I have a photo of the monument to the Cathars. We had the car with us when we went to France, but we took it on the overnight couchette train from Boulogne. Wonderful to watch the scenery change from rolling Norman farmland to steep green gorges and then this flatter more arid land of vines.
Sharon, I am so glad you lit a candle for Geoffrey.
I’ll let you return to Richard and talk to you anon.
All best
Elizabeth
Hi Sharon!
Your trip sounds wonderful! I am so jealous…
I’m glad your back is doing better. Mine goes “out” on me every so often, and I walk around all bent over. Makes me feel old.
Also, I just wanted to let you know that calico cats are always female.
Hi Sharon,
I am so glad to hear you can get around France by public transport. While I have hired cars in England I think I would be too scared to do so in France- I don’t think I could cope with driving on the other side of the road. Do you know if you can get to Fontevrault Abbey by train or bus?
Some of the friendliest cats I have come across have been in Wales. I got invited inside for a cup of tea by a lovely gentleman in Wales after I stopped and talked to one of his 13 cats. I have always found people in Wales to be friendly and hospitable. I have also never had any problems dealing with people in France. My French is pretty much non existent but I do my best to study the phrase book and have a go. I find it much harder to get around in places like Russia and China where the alphabets are different as well.
I love Notre Dame cathedral as well. I enjoy showing people I travel with where the little carving of Quasimodo is. My favourite cathedral though is Wells cathedral in England. The scissor arches are breathtakingly beautiful as is the West Front when it is illuminated at night. I would recommend a visit to anyone interested in Medieval architecture.
And today was the disaster of the White Ship, where many nobles of ENgland sank in the Channel, including William Adelin. On the other hand, if it hadn’t happened, we wouldn’t have been able to read When Christ and His Saints Slept. Also, today was the Battle of Montgisard, where Baldwin IV defeated Saladin’s far superior army.
And if we are mentioning the Kingdom of Jerusalem: Sharon, do you have any plans on how you’re going to portray things in the book about Baldwin d’Ibelin? I mean the controversial (or lesser detailed) ones, such as his marrriage to Queen Maria and his fleeing (?) the Battle of Hattin.
Welcome home, Sharon! I am sorry your back was giving you such trouble, especially since the trip sounded spectacular otherwise! Have you tried yoga? I am plagued with chronic neck pain and yoga really helps loosen it up and helps me stay flexible and strong in my core, which also helps with back and neck pain.
Also, a suggestion about the photos–I think a couple others may have mentioned it already, but you could post them to your Facebook account instead of to this blog. That way you won’t have to bother with whatever hassles the blog site gives you when you try to incorporate photos. Or if you have another online photo hosting site like photobucket or shutterfly, you can post the pics there in an album and then just share the link.
The entire trip sounds amazing. I love that you lit a candle for Raymond-Roger Trencavel and Geoffrey. I can’t wait to hear more about Avignon and Carcassonne. Both sound like wonderful places!
Brenna, I am an avid book lover and can’t imagine a home that isn’t crammed to the gills with books. But I am still *thrilled* with Kindle. Yes, I do love physical books, and for me, I will never be able to go completely digital. I need books as much as I need food and water. However, I tend to read a lot of books that I don’t really *need* to keep, like some of the sillier teen vampire books or Star Trek novels, what I call my trashy literature. These are currently cluttering my bookcases–I have over 1000 books and I literally have no more space to put new ones, and no more space to put new bookscases, either. Woe! 🙁 A Kindle lets me still get those books that I don’t really need copies of and save the shelf space for my true favorites, like Sharon, Juliet Marillier, Diana Gabaldon and Elizabeth Chadwick. I still buy THOSE books on Kindle, too, if they’re available as such, but I will always also buy the hard copy of my favorite authors.
Plus, with a Kindle, I no longer have to spend hours agonizing over what books I want to bring with me on my trips. I can just bring them all! This makes me happy in my heart. 🙂
To Brenna~ Curling up with a cat and a Kindle…..I don’t think so. Books have a ‘feel’ that can never be replaced with plastic.
To Debbie ~ more cat triva….white cats with blue eyes are usually deaf. A white cat with one blue eye will be deaf on the blue eyed side. Don’t ask me why I know this.
Kristen-
I’m beginning to have the same problem-running out of room for bookcases. I live in a very small apartment with my husband and we have 7 bookcases and we are already having to pile books on the floor until I can find another one. I think I would like to have a Kindle for the reason you mentioned-for those books that I don’t necessarily have to have or don’t want to take up space (or want people to see that I occassionally read trashy romance novels when i’m at a loss for anything else). Also, when you do travel, you don’t need to take 5 books along with you-also a bonus when you have weight restrictions on planes.
Ellie- I agree. Curling up on a rainy day with a Kindle isn’t very comforting.
I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving!
And Today was the death of Owain Gwynedd, last king of Wales, and Llewellyn’s grandfather.
Sharon, your trip sounds wonderful, but do take care of your back! I assume that your baggage has wheels,at least? Don’t be shy about asking some strong young thing to help you now and again. It makes them feel so wanted 🙂 I do need a better map of France – my knowledge of the geography is really terrible – so I can place all these towns when I read!
Re kindle – like many of you, I am a book lover from an early age, and can’t imagine life without them. That being said, think about our grandparents (great grandparents for some of you) who made the transition from horse to car, telegraph to phone, radio to tv. In some ways each invention had good sides and not so good sides, but progress moves on. It might be that those of us in this generation will be the transition group, while the ones after us will take to ebooks like fish to water and they will have their own experiences, their own memories of reading. It will be different experiences, but the idea is still the same: reading a story, becoming part of another time and place. Thats need isn’t going to change anytime soon. I probably won’t get one, the way I don’t have an ipod, but I would assume that the business end of it will be the same product.
What does worry me is how this all works: you have to pay to download a book onto Kindle, right? But who owns it? Can that access disappear? Will only people with computer access be able use it?
oops. Can someone delete that double post please?
Hi, Cindy. Deletion done. Interesting comments about Kindle; I’ll get back to you guys on that later. I hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving. I am about to fight my first sea battle, so wish me luck. Say what you will about Coeur de Lion, the guy makes an interesting traveling companion. Naturally he couldn’t sail from Cyprus to Acre without running into a Saracen ship.
Hi Kristen,
I am so glad that someone else in the Sharon universe also likes Juliet Marillier. I have mentioned her name a few times but can’t recall anyone else having done so. I have just started her latest book ‘Hearts Blood’ and am already hooked.
And thanks Sharon for the mention of ‘Wolf Hall’ by Hilary Mantel. I bought it for my mother to read and she says it is brilliant. She found the writing style a little odd at first but once she got into it she was unable to put it down.
Hi, Paula. Can you tell us a little more about Juliet Marillier? I admit I am not familiar with her work, but like all of us, I am always interested in new historical novelists. Though I do wish some of them would stop poaching on my turf and writing about Richard III, Eleanor, the Welsh princes, etc. And the fact that some of these books were written decades before mine (Edith Pargeter’s series about the Welsh Princes, for example) is totally irrelevant, of course!
Thanks for the help Sharon. And other fan of Wolf Hall. Its not a book for everyone; you really need to be able to bend your mind around her narrative style (and I happen to like unique styles, so this wasn’t that hard for me) and it helps to have some background into the machinations of Henry VIII court. But I’d encourage anyone who loves good HF to try it!
Ellie, if all blue eyed cats were deaf, my siamese cats growing up would not have run through the house the minute they heard the can opener! Here is a good response to this very popular myth, from a vet:
White-haired, blue-eyed cats are not all deaf, but they are more prone to going deaf and blind than other breeds of cat.
I’m not sure exactly why that is, but to venture an educated guess, I’d say that it’s probably because since white hair and blue eyes don’t occur naturally in cats, most cats with that colouring are the result of humans selectively breeding for cats with white hair and blue eyes over centuries.
When people breed animals for certain characteristics, they usually end up mating animals who are very close together genetically, resulting in inbred offspring with a whole host of genetic defects, which are passed down and made even worse the more generations of animals they’re passed down through.
Sorry, Debby…Every white cat I have been around was deaf. There are always exceptions to every statement though. Maybe I should not have said all white haired, blue eyed cats are deaf. I should have said most deaf cats are white haired with blue eyes. You’re right about the can opener thing though…that brings them all running.
Hi Sharon,
Juliet Marillier is actually classified as a fantasy writer even though there is a lot of history in her novels. Juliet was born in New Zealand but she now lives in Australia.
In the authors note for the first book of ‘The Bridei Chronicles’ she says that the books are a blend of known history, informed guesswork and imagination. That series is about Bridei who ruled the Picts from 554AD.
Juliet has also written a series set in 9th century Ireland and two books set in Orkney with some Viking and early Christian influences. I mentioned Juliet previously when we talked about the use of the supernatural in novels. In Juliet’s books there is a lot of Faeries from the otherworld and shapeshifting and so forth. People into more recent and accurate historical fiction may not like her novels but I think they are great.
I have also been interested in the discussion about white cats. I have two all white cats currently and until recently I had three. They were all strays so I don’t know their breeding history. My most recent arrival has blue eyes and the vet said she would definitely be deaf. He was very surprised to find that she is not deaf. I am glad my cats are not deaf as I love to get home from work and have their eager little faces bounding to the front door to greet me when they hear my car arriving. And they can tell the difference between me and someone else arriving.
Thanks for the Juliet Marillier suggestions, ladies! Just looked her up in my library catalog and they stock most of her books! I look forward to reading her!
An today, Henry V entered Paris, Isabella of England, John and Isabella’s second child died, and Louis VI ‘le Gros’, Eleanor’s father-in-law was born.
Re: Reading Kindle books. How do you mark a page with your finger so you can look forward and back to verify what you have read? I would have to have 2 Kindles to make it work! Same with textbooks! and scriptures! How do you compare or keep track of the original paragraph and then look up the reference or what you previously read? You can’t put the paragraphs side by side, or grab several pages in your hand so you can read several pages forward or back! Traveling with a Kindle would probably be good. I am addicted to books. I have moved my books 4 times in the last 8 years and that is enough! I am staying where I am until they haul me out comatose on a gurney! I won’t care about books then! Right now I am unpacking several boxes of books from my last move! Purchased two bookcases and hope they are enough! SKP and E. Chadwick have pride of place on the top shelf. I buy their novels in hardback because I know I will read and reread them!
Hi, Sharon,
Can I ask you a question? When you are writing your novels, do you stick to writing of events in a chronological order, or do you allow yourself to jump forward or backwards as the writing mood takes you and then weld it all together at the end?
The reason for my question, is that I have become a bit bogged down in my own writing lately and feel like jumping forward to write about a few of the battles that Othon was involved in – bit more exciting!!
Sharon: Speaking of poaching, I am reading Sharon Worth’s books about Richard III and finding them a poor man’s Sunne in Splendour. They don’t hold a candle to your writing. When I got to the page where she has John Neville writing to his wife Isobel on the eve of the battle of Barnet, I almost threw the book across the room. The letter is almost completely plagiarized from the letter that Sullivan Ballou wrote to his wife during the Civil War. She apologized for it in the Author’s Notes because I guess she neglected to give credit for the letter in previous editions, but she says it “draws heavily” from the Ballou letter when in reality it is almost word for word. Barf.
Hi, Ken. I tried to answer you this morning, but just as I was about to post it, my computer pitched a fit and it disappeared into a black hole of cyberspace. Hopefully Merlin has calmed down since then, so I am giving it another try. Based on my own experience, I do not think it is a good idea to skip from one chapter or scene to another. This is what I did while writing the first draft of Sunne; I wrote whatever scene appealed to me on any given day. After the book was stolen, I had a lot of time to think about this, and recognized one major drawback—writing at random makes it difficult to establish character development. For example, the disillusioned, jaded Edward at 40 was quite a different character than the cocky 17 year old readers met in the first chapter. I don’t know that I could have conveyed the gradual changes in his nature if I were flitting from chapter to chapter like a bee in search of nectar.
Having said that, though, I have a story to relate. Last year I was at the Poisoned Pen in Scottsdale with Diana Gabaldon and Dana Stabenow,and someone asked me your question. I gave the same answer, but before I was done, some of the people in the audience were laughing and so was Diana. It seems that she does write this way, does not follow a strict chronological order. So it can be done! But few of us have Diana’s unique talent and I am not sure this would work for all writers. I know it did not for me. Now…let’s see if I can send this out.
Marilyn, I understand why someone would be impressed by the Ballou letter, for it was one of the most beautiful and haunting declarations of love that I’ve ever read. For those of you who have not read it, do so ASAP! I am sure if you google it, someone has put it up on-line. But if the letter was going to be used, then the author has an absolute duty to acknowledge it at the onset. I’m glad she eventually did give credit where due, but it should definitely have been done in the first edition. And in her place, I would have mentioned it during book tour appearances, etc, too, if only to draw attention to this timeless letter from a husband to his wife on the eve of battle. If my memory serves, she never re-married after being widowed, and after reading that letter, it is easy to understand why.
Sharon, I agree completely about the beauty of the letter. That’s why I recognized it immediately.
And in regard to Diana Gabaldon, I think sometimes her writing shows that she writes in blocks like that. Sometimes it seems quite choppy to me and doesn’t quite flow as well as it should.
And today, Henry VI of England was born.
Sharon,
As I’m finishing Sunne for the second time (it is amazing how much you miss the first time around), I’ve found myself wondering several things. First, in the present day, has anyone gone “looking” for any DNA evidence for the Princes in the Tower? It would seem that if the boys were smothered or buried somewhere on the Tower’s grounds, someone would have found them by now. I know we Americans get a little curious, hence the medal detectors on Civil War Battlefields. I just find it odd that after all these years, this mystery has gone unsolved.
I read “A Daughter in Time” by Margaret Tey and her conclusion was Henry Tudor was behind the disappearance of the boys. However, I tend to agree more with your stance, that the Duke of Buckingham was to blame. It is quite possible though that the Duke was working on behalf of himself and of Tudor.
After reading all of the books, beginning with William the Conqueror and ending with Richard III, I’m starting to feel the way most do on your blog..the Tudors had a puny claim to the throne and really that entire era should just be glanced over. Oh well, I’m going to start over and begin with Arhur’s time~Mary Stewart’s series. Maybe by the time I get to Richard the Lionheart, you’ll be done. A girl can hope 🙂
My sincere apologies to Elizabeth Mackintosh aka Josephine Tey. I have no idea where Margaret came from…
Hi, all. This is not in the least medieval. But a friend sent me some breathtaking photos of the Northern Lights and they are so spectacular that I wanted to share them. http://hubpages.com/slide/Northern-Lights-over-Teepees—Awesome-Photos/1003036
Back in 1191, the sea battle is still raging. (My first–at least Coeur de Lion is broadening my horizons even if it feels as if I am wading through blood half the time)
Brenna,
Actually the princes in the tower may have been found in 1674. Check out this website. http://www.infobritain.co.uk/tower_of_london.htm There’s a little about the princes on that page. Enjoy!
Iechyd Da,
Dave
Dave-
Great site! Thanks for bringing that to my attention. Now what I find curious is they never compared the DNA from the two boys to that of Edward IV or Elizabeth. I realize that the technology has come a long way and someone with a hefty purse would have to be willing to pay for the necessary tests to be done. And why did it take so long to find their bodies? Once Richard knew they were missing, why didn’t he tear the Tower apart brick by brick until he found them (besides the fact he was convinced to keep quiet and tearing apart the Tower would have brought unwanted attention). Still…I’m trying to put all of the pieces together in my head-the Richard Sharon portrays in Sunne with the evidence we have…if he was so upset by the loss of his nephews, why didn’t he ever go looking for them? Unless he did..and then found them..and since there was nothing to be done for them, hid their poor bodies away further. Another question that comes to mind is where are the bones now? Did they ever get buried or are they just stuck in some lab somewhere?
Ok, I’m done now…Dave you are just feeding my incessant need to know! 🙂
Brenna,
I am admittedly “behind the loop” when it comes to Ricardian scholarship, as I’ve explained that I did not keep up with new publications after Sunne. I simply did not have the time, not if I wanted to keep writing. But when I wrote Sunne, there was considerable skepticism as to whether those bones found in 1674 were those of the little princes. It was speculation, not evidence. Now it is possible that something new has come to light since Sunne that escaped my attention–those Angevins do take up a lot of my time! If there is, I am sure someone here will let me know. I think we have to accept the unpalatable fact that many of history’s mysteries will remain unsolved. Who can ever prove whether or not Willliam Rufus died by mischance or design in the New Forest? Or whether Arthur was murderd at John’s orders on that April night in Rouen? For what it is worth, I do think Arthur was murdered, as readers of Dragons know. I don’t know enough about William Rufus to venture an educated opinion, though it certainly does sound like a convenient death to me! Any one think of any other “mysteries” like this?
Well, no really knows what happened to Richard II right? Obviously we think Isabelle had him killed, but the how and who donnit for sure can’t be answered. At least, I don’t think they can, but I could be “out of the loop” on that one myself.
Brenna,
I don’t know whether this is just his opinion, but according to Simon Schama(A history of Britain), Richard II was most likely starved to death at Pontefract Castle. Mainly so there would be no marks of assault on his body. Because there had to be a public funeral so people would see him, and any supporters of Richard would not have someone to rally around.
As for the princes in the tower, I made sure to say “may” as in it may have been them, but no one is sure. Still, how many 9 and 12 year old skeletons could there be buried in the tower?
Iechyd Da,
Dave
Sharon,
It’s now medieval britain, but I would like to know what happened to the first english settlement in America. The lost colony of Roanoke. I’ve always wondered about that one.
Iechyd Da,
Dave
Sorry that should have been “I know it’s no medieval britain”
That is a good one, Dave–the lost colony of Roanoke. And I thought of another one; apparently some historians contend that Edward II was not really killed at Berkeley Castle. This is not “my” time, so I couldn’t judge the validity of these claims; I just know that they’ve been made.
PS I am happy to report that the sea battle is over and Richard is about to make his long-delayed arrival at Acre.
You know Dave, I’m pretty sure I was thinking of Edward II when I made my previous comment. After reading all of these books in order, you would think I would have a better memory! My apologies.
yea, finally off the sea and on to some land–Acre! (it frightens me to think about being in the middle of the ocean he-he). Saladin, here comes Coeur de Lion… thanks for the status Sharon!
This is a little late in the discussion now, but to answer Cindy’s Kindle questions–no, you don’t have to have a computer. The Kindle device is wireless, like a cell phone. If you want to get a new Kinidle book, you just open the Kindle store on the device, browse and download right there. You do not have to pay for access to the Kindle store–Amazon handles all that, so your access is always free. The device itself stores from between 1500-3500 books, depending on which model you get. If you run out of room, Amazon also keeps backup copies of your Kindle books. Once you buy them, they’re yours forever, just like a hard copy book. You just tell them you want such-and-such book sent to your Kindle now, please.
As for bookmarking and notations and such, it allows you to do that, too. Maybe it isn’t *quite* as fast and easy as just making a dog ear or whatever, but it’s not too bad once you get used to it.
Adding to what Paula said about Juliet Marillier (Yay, I’m happy to know you’re another of her fans, Paula!), she is what I would call a write of historical fantasy. As Paula noted, she is generally categorized as fantasy but she does weave in some actual history into her stories. Her Sevenwaters Trilogy is supposed to be in Ireland during the time when England was a Saxon nation, I believe. Her newest book, Heart’s Blood, is actually set during the reign of Henry II, although that’s about the only real history in that story. The primary focus is not on history, but rather just to tell a fun story.
Yay on the end of the sea battle! Your little updates like that, Sharon, are making me really chomp at the bit to read Lionheart. I can’t wait!!
Today Llywelyn the Last, Prince of Gwynedd was killed.
On December 11, 1282, the Welsh prince, Llywelyn ap Gruffydd was slain. In a haunting elegy by his court bard, Gruffydd ab yr Ynad Goch, a traditional song of lament became a despairing cry from the heart, giving voice to the anguish of the Welsh, who understood all too well what they’d lost. “Ah, God, that the sea …would cover the land! What is left us that we should linger?” History would remember Llywelyn as Ein Llyw Olaf–Our Last Leader.
I am very happy to report that Richard has FINALLY reached the siege of Acre. He landed yesterday, to a very enthusiastic welcome. The Chronicle of the Third Crusade said, “Tongue cannot tell, pen cannot do justice to the people’s joy at his arrival….Trumpets blew, horns sounded, pipers played, drums crashed…Wax lights and flaming torches shone everywhere to drive away the night shadows. With the profusion of lights, bright day seemed to replace night, so that the Turks reckoned that the whole valley was on fire.” He mentions singing and dancing and wine, so I am guessing there were a lot of hangovers the next morning.
Now I am hoping Richard will let me take a little time off to get ready for Christmas. But first I am going to try to post a new blog this weekend.
Sharon
PS They used the terms Turk and Saracen interchangeably, although interestingly, they did not use the term Arab. Saladin’s men called them Franks, meaning Christians from the west; Christans from the East (Byzantium) they called Rum. Each side called the other infidels!
Today Geoffrey Fitz Roy, bastard son of Henry II and Archbishop of York died.
>bastard son of Henry II and Archbishop of York
Wow, that was quite a trick.
He,He, Cindy!
Hi Sharon,
Just thought I’d let you know that Lady Moppet has published her ’12 days of Christmas’ over on the HFO Site. King John is having some trouble with his mum Queen Eleanor, and the ghost of your Richard is scaring him!!
Thanks, Ken. I continue to have some serious back problems, and it has really curtailed my activities and drained my energy. Since I’ve been home, I’ve been able to do little but focus on Lionheart and care for my beloved German Shepherd, Cody, who is bravely battling that relentless foe, Old Age. So I haven’t been able to keep up with Lady Moppet’s fiendishly clever time-traveling. I am looking forward to reading about John haunted by Big Brother Richard. I would suspect he’d have been haunted by his father, too, for I am sure Henry had a few things to say about Johnny’s treacherous betrayal.
Sorry to hear about your bad back flaring up again! Only those who suffer from this absolutely draining pain can understand the effect it has. Has it been diagnosed? Is it ‘wear and tear’ from a sporting history (apparently my problem!) or, if I may be so bold, years of bad posture before a typewriter/word processor/computer?
The only thing that works for me (Nurofen doesn’t!) is mobility. When mine flares up as it does every month or so, I walk and walk and only then does it start to relax.
At least in the noughties, there are some remedies. Back in Richard’s day, we probably would have been put out to pasture (or worse!) by now!
The ugly rodent had a meltdown yesterday, making it almost impossible for me to use the computer and thus torpedoing my hopes of getting a new blog post up. Said evil mouse then experienced a spontaneous cure this morning–faith healing? Who knows? Of course my paranoia is in full bloom, so I am expecting another calamity at any moment. But if I can still access the computer this evening, I hope to get that blog up tonight or tomorrow. More anon, I hope.
Good luck Sharon!
I just started reading Mary Stewart’s series on Arthur. Oh my goodness! I finally found an author that lives up to the high standards you set. I highly recommend this series and I’m only halfway into the first book.
Sharon,
I have to agree with Ken. When my back goes out(not too often anymore since I switched from a soft mattress to a firm mattress) I find that a good “long” walk helps. And when I say long I mean three or four miles.
Hope that helps.
Iechyd da(good health),
Dave
Maybe it was possesed by the Ghosts of Christmas? Or maybe it wanted to make sure that the famous rhyme “And all through the house. Not a creature was stirring. Not even a mouse.” would be true.
Sharon, I have rhuematoid arthritis, and of late its been hitting my back, so I do know your pain. I have some excercises that I do from my friendly local physical therapist that help, plus I also walk as much as I can. Celebrex is my drug of choice when its especially bad. Hang in there – don’t worry about the blog, just feel better!
Brenna, Mary Stewart was a favorite of mine way back in college, and I flew through her books. Should go back and do some rereading, its been a very long time. Enjoy!
This will be very brief because the (expletive deleted) computer has had another meltdown, this one apparently and ironically triggered by Norton Anti-virus. I have no access to e-mail now and only limited access on-line. I just wanted to let you all know why there’s been a delay in putting up a new blog. More as soon as I can.
Sharon
You must get your publisher to sponsor a new super-computer, because as they say on the television with a toss of thei hair – “You’re worth it!”
Just to show who is boss, my computer decided to send this message before I had a chance to edit it!!(‘thei’ was to be ‘their.’). Who is in charge here??
Sharon – I have long been a fan of yours – read your earliest books in the nineties, and now I am buying them for my daughter because I can’t find them among my numerous book shelves. However recently bought your mysteries – all of them for a prolonged health stay in Houston, and also bought all your books that I hadn’t yet read because I only found out recently that you had written them!
I have been to Carcassone twice – once in the early nineties and once in the late nineties and did the wall walk and ate lunch in the teeny main square! The second time we had a marvelous visit to the cathedral with two professorial guides, and learned that the stained glass windows are among the best – if not THE best in southern France. Took some amazing photos although this was before I started with digital cameras, sadly.
My best memory of Carcassone however has nothing to do with history: on our first visit we ate lunch in that little square; it was ninety something in the sun and the entree was of course cassoulet. However after conquering what is really a winter dish. I looked through the restaurant window and saw what appeared to be a large angelfood sized white and caramel colored cake, and I ordered it. It turned out to be the most amazing, simple and unfattening dessert I have ever encountered and totally memorable, called Isle Flotante. The cake – unlike my mother’s Floating Island, was slightly sweetened whipped egg whites baked in a high pan previously lined with caramel, and the whole thing turned out on a platter was sliced just like a cake and set in a small field of English custard. Oh my – I found the recipe on the internet but have yet to make it. I am in fear that my version won’t be true to my memory!
As for the Albigensians, I owe one of your previous books a debt for introducing them to me, and because my husband was descended from the Huguenots, who consider themselves the inheritors of the Albigensians (yes even today!), we spent some time in Albi, right in the middle of Albigensian territory. The cathedral there is beautiful, unspoiled relatively, and constructed as a fortress, as much a fortress as Avignon. Some day you must go to Albi!
Thank you for enlarging my historical life and for feeding my curiosity about history, religion and the medieval world. You have been one of my life influences!
Well, my friend Lowell saved Merlin from a grisly fate–I was planning to smash it to smithereens with a hammer. It took hours and tons of patience and some creative cursing, but Merlin seems to be functioning again. Of course I know he is merely hoping to lull me into dropping my guard, but that is another story. At least you guys gave me a good laugh by suggesting here and on Facebook that my publisher buy me a new computer! The chances of that are slim and none and slim has left town. I’m just lucky to have a friend like Lowell who knows how to outsmart the evil entities. More later…I hope. Maybe I can actually get started on a new blog tonight, at long last. As to who is in charge, Ken, we both know the answer to that, don’t we?
An today, Henry VI was crowned King of France. They got lucky.
To Brenna,
Re: Mary Stewart living up to Sharon Kay Penman, I believe since Mary Stewart wrote her books decades before Sharon, it may be the other way around. However, I also know that isn’t the way you meant it. I am so enthralled with SKP that it is difficult to find other authors who are as brilliant at characterization and description whether current authors or older ones. So my search goes on for readable, interesting, fascinating, true to the setting and time period historical novels! Sharon can’t write fast enough for her fans! Even with Richard the Lionhearted prodding her on!
Thanks Gayle-
You’re right, since SKP came after Mary Stewart, it should be the other way around. However, since I didn’t start reading Mary Stewart until after I read SKP, I was embracing the fact that I finally found another author who can enthrall me like Sharon can. Like you, I continue to search for authors who have that capability. I’ve only read one of Elizabeth Chadwick books, but I already think she is brilliant as well.
Sharon certainly sets pretty high standards!
I second your opinion about Elizabeth Chadwick’s books, Brenna; they can be dangerous, though, for as soon as I start reading one, life comes to a screeching halt. I feel very flattered to be compared to Mary Stewart, who is a brilliant writer. Have you read any of Anya Seton, Brenna? In addition to her cult classic Katherine, I highly recommend The Winthrop Woman, set in the American colonies, and Green Darkness, which involves time traveling back to 16th century England, but you’ll be willing so suspend disbelief–honest!
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Hey! This is my 1st comment here so I just wanted to give
a quick shout out and say I really enjoy reading through your articles.
Can you suggest any other blogs/websites/forums that go over the
same topics? Thank you so much!