I want to thank you all for continuing to suggest books for the rest of us to read. I’ve gotten very positive feedback from readers about this; it is a wonderful way to find new authors.
First of all, I want to alert you to an interview that Elizabeth Chadwick gave on http://myblog.susannesaville.com/2009/02/04/elizabeth-chadwick-at-the-chatty-cat-cafe.aspx, in which she discusses her cats and her dog; it is a lot of fun. Another alert: Dana Stabenow’s latest Kate Shugak mystery, Whisper to the Blood, is finally out. For those of you lucky enough to live within driving distance of the Poisoned Pen in Scottsdale, Arizona, (people like you, Cindy!), Dana is going to do a reading there on February 17th at 7 PM, hanging out with the brilliant mystery writer, Laurie King, and Barbara Peters and as many readers as turn out. And here I am, stuck in the Jersey Pinelands…drat.
I finished the novel, The Road to Jerusalem, by the Swedish writer, Jan Guillou, and I cannot recommend it highly enough. I have another book to recommend, too, an intriguing mystery set in revolutionary Boston, with Abigail Adams as the sleuth. The title is The Ninth Daughter and the author is Barbara Hamilton; it is coming out as a trade paperback in October, and I think any one who enjoys reading of a bygone time and place will like it.
It is easy to see Abigail Adams as a detective, given what we know of her intellect and curiosity and self-confidence. There is a clever mystery series by Stephanie Barron, in which Jane Austen is the protagonist and this works well, too, for Jane was an astute judge of character and a very observant eye-witness, qualities that any good detective needs to have. But I am so sorry to report that I’ve heard there are two other books about Jane Austen looming on the horizon, one in which Jane is a vampire and the other in which she is a zombie…..and to steal Dave Barry’s favorite line, No, I am not making that up. I have nothing against vampire novels; I was a huge fan of Josh Whedon’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel series. But for heaven’s sakes, Jane Austen???
Let me respond now to some of your questions. Suzanne, recommendations for biographies, histories, etc, are to be found under the Research Recommendations, as well as in some of the blogs. I hope to add to the list from time to time, my back and Richard permitting. You also asked about Bernard Cornwell. I have read only one of his other historicals, but I am a great fan of his Richard Sharpe series; I can’t think of another writer who does better battle scenes. Anne, I’ve never read Rosemary Sutcliffe, but I know she was a very well respected British writer. Any readers familiar with her work? Or Bernard Cornwell’s non-Sharpe books? Jeremy, I have never read Sandra Worth. Again, readers? Angela, you asked if I were tempted to change history. If only! I’d let Richard III win at Bosworth, Simon de Montfort win at Evesham, and the royal House of Gwynedd would be ruling Wales to this very day.
Leigh, I am in total agreement with you about the importance of language. I just finished a chapter set in Sicily, which had three official languages—Arabic, Greek, and Latin. The people themselves spoke Arabic, Greek, and French, and those who’d settled from Lombardy spoke an Italian dialect, In Devil’s Brood, I had characters speaking Norman-French, the purer French of the Ile de France, Breton, the lengua romana (today called langue d’oc or Occitan) of Eleanor’s domains, Welsh, and English. I always have to ask myself which language a character would have been likely to speak, and take this into account if I have someone snooping around and eavesdropping! And the reason the dialogue in Sunne differed so markedly from subsequent books is that Sunne was the only novel in which my characters were actually speaking English. What you get in the other books is a “translation” of French or Welsh, etc. Having said that, I think I would probably do some tinkering with the Sunne dialogue if I could go back in time, as I occasionally had a tin ear; this was my first book and it was therefore a learning experience.
Gayle, we do not know if Edward I permitted Davydd ap Gruffydd’s young sons to be educated or attend Mass. We know they were cruelly separated from their mother, and an order is extant in which instructions were given in 1305 to confine Owain in a cage at night. However, at least Edward spared the lives of the boys, who were five and three at the time of their capture. When Heinrich VI seized the Sicilian crown in 1194, his rival was a four year old boy; Heinrich sent the child to Germany, where he was castrated and blinded and died soon afterward.
Lastly, I want to respond to your interesting question about bathing, Kristen. One of the myths of the MA is that people went into the sea every ten years to bathe and were allergic to soap. Not true. Obviously the highborn were able to bathe more frequently because they had servants to do the heavy lifting, to lug the buckets of heated water up to their bedchambers, etc. Since castles were so drafty, I don’t imagine that people wanted to take many baths in the dead of winter, but daily washing in a basin was done by the upper classes, and hands were always washed before and after meals in the great halls. Since I usually am writing of people in positions of power, my characters are cleaner than the less affluent members of medieval society. We know that King John took a bath every ten days to two weeks or so, for money was paid to his laundress for each bath and carefully entered into the account books. Edward I’s young son, Henry, was sickly and indeed did not survive his childhood; a gallon of wine was added to his bath on Pentecost for health reasons. Cities and many towns had public baths, and medieval manuscripts often show people bathing. The historian, Margaret Wade Labarge concluded that the standard of cleanliness for the medieval upper classes was much higher than the standards prevailing in the 16th-18th centuries, and my own research supports her contention—which is why I have been known to joke that it was the Tudors who raised grime to an art form.
Another myth is that medievals knew nothing of sanitation. Cities hired men to clean the streets, and malodorous occupations like butchers, tanners, etc, were banished to the outskirts of town. There were laws against dumping chamber pots out of windows; London even had laws requiring the leashing of pet dogs. Obviously not all were law-abiding, good citizens, and many of these ordinances were ignored. But the same can be said of us.
I’d meant to continue our discussion about historical accuracy in novels, but before I knew it, I had a blog that would have rivaled Moby Dick in length. The tone was strikingly different, too, for I become quite indignant over some of the more egregious mistakes in historical writing. So I am saving my soapbox rant till next time. Since it is already partially written—and since my back pain is finally easing up—I ought to have it ready for posting in record time, a week or less.
Meanwhile, I know our hearts go out to my Australian readers; many prayers are being said for your besieged country. I think that photo of the smoke-blackened fire-fighter tenderly offering his bottle of water to a frightened and burned little koala will long remain in our memories; for those who haven’t seen it, I’ve been told it is on You-Tube.
Happy Valentine’s Day to all. Henry and Eleanor’s daughter Joanna was a Valentine’s Eve bride, wedding King William of Sicily on February 13, 1177.
February 11, 2009
Dear Ms. Penman,
Just a brief note to tell you how much I enjoyed Sunne in Splendour–and how I wish that Richard III had won at Bosworth. I’m surprised, despite the amount of research done on this subject that no one has thought to make a film or TV serial on the REAL Richard III. One would expect Hollywood or the TV companies to take note! I must also tell you how much I enjoyed Cruel as the Grave.
Thanks and regards,
Devaki Khanna
I’ve read both Bernard Cornwell and Sandra Worth and love them both. For whoever asked, do read Cornwell’s Saxon chronicles, they are easily his best, and you can’t go wrong with anything Sandra Worth has written.
I don’t think there is much question that the MA were dirtier than now, but I’m highly amused by the idea of Henry Tudor bringing excess grime to England and very interested to discover the relative standards of cleanliness. I’m definitely going to remember that. I knew that tanners etc. were confined to the outskirts of the town, but didn’t know they hired people to clean. Could also take it the other way and assume the laws were made because of the excessively dirty nature of the cities but at least they tried. Interesting stuff, I need to spend time with the more mundane records. Thanks!
I can highly recommend Bernard Cornwall, his Saxon chronicles are brilliant, I may be a bit biased because I live in the North of England and have been to Bamburgh often and other parts of Northumbria that are mentioned in the books although a great deal of the time they are a bit further South. Also his new book Azicourt is very good too. I haven’t read any of the Sharpe books – but have all the DVD’s Sean Bean has made the part his own.
I have read all of Elizabeth Chadwick’s book and enjoy her books on the Will Marshal saga. Her book A place beyond courage is about Will’s father and sheds a new light on the Stephen/William hostage situation. Well worth a read.
Thanks for the interesting blog, will continue with the reading of Devil’s Brood next!
I’m always so excited when I see that you have posted a new blog entry. Re. Bernard Cornwell, I consider him a favorite author, along with Elizabeth Chadwick and yourself. I have not yet read any of the Sharpe novels, but I was totally entralled with the Saxon chronicles, and the Grail Quest series. Such interesting information about the English archers and the effect they had on the outcomes of so many historical battles. And I totally agree with the three examples you named about wishing you could change history, especially the continuation of the House of Gwynedd. Another thing I would change: give Henre VIII such an appreciation of architecture that he would not have allowed the destruction of the beautiful abbeys and cathedrals.
Thanks again for your interesting posts.
Linda B.,
That’s a wonderful observation/wish about Henry VIII–so much beauty and history was destroyed in his reign. If Richard had won at Bosworth, Henry wouldn’t have been king in the first place!!
I agree Bernard Cornwell’s Grail Quest and Saxon Chronicles are wonderful and I also enjoyed the warlord trilogy about King Arthur. I also agree that all of Elizabeth Chadwicks books are great reads. Another author I enjoy is Edward Rutherfurd, specifically London, Sarum, Russka and The forest. Nigel Tranter’s stories about William Wallace and Robert the Bruce are excellent as well.
I really enjoyed The Devil’s Brood and hope I can stand the wait for Lionheart! Good Luck!
I too loved Bernard Cornwell’s Saxon Chronicles. I was a little iffy on his Arthurian books – I suspect that is because I love Mary Stewart – read her Arthur books when I was 8 or so and fell in love with all things Arthur! I have been doing a great deal of research on Richard the Lionheart in anticipation of your next book! Can’t wait. I hope your health continues to inprove…positive energy flowing your way!!!
Hi Sharon,
Thank you so much for the information about medieval hygiene. My education is in medieval literature, but the subject of hygiene, present or otherwise, never really came up in my studies! 🙂 I had *no* idea that the medieval people were actually cleaner than later eras! That blew my mind. I will be snagging a copy of the Lebarge book. Thanks for the recommendation! Interesting–I will have to try to find some more books on the mundane aspects of medieval life. I think knowing how the lower class people lived is fascinating, but I really don’t know much about daily life.
Thanks, also, for the book recommendations, as always. I will be adding all the ones you mentioned to my Amazon mega wish list. I have never read any Bernard Cornwell books, but I actually got The Last Kingdom as a Yule gift, so I will be reading that soon. If I like that one I will probably pick up the rest of the Saxon Trilogy and the Arthur trilogy. I have a particular weakness for Arthhurian legend in any form.
I am happy to hear that your back is starting to feel better! I’ll be sending healing thoughts your way. Have a terrific weekend!
Sharon,
Thanks so much for taking time to “add” to your books with interesting tidbits on your blog. I have been reading MA historical fiction for about 30 yrs. I love your books (I just finished Devil’s Brood because I wanted to savor it!!) beacuse they are so long and develop so much. Eleanor is one of my favorites and I have visited Fontenvrault Abbey and a couple other places in France, but have concentrated more on England. I can’t wait for Lionheart, but will read some of the recommended books while I wait – not patiently!!
Glad to hear you are feeling some better. Take care.
Sandi
I’m glad to read someone else who realizes that sanitation for upper classmen, at least, was quite good. Also, I’m just in awe of your ability to discern and be able to switch back-and-forth between the many languages spoken in the Middle Ages.
I’m quite impatient for ‘Lionheart’. I want to see more of Berengaria, especially since she seemed a much deeper character to me than your Eleanor, in ‘Here Be Dragons’ made her out to be.
Glad to hear from you!
I’m glad to read someone else who realizes that sanitation for upper classmen, at least, was quite good. Also, I’m just in awe of your ability to discern and be able to switch back-and-forth between the many languages spoken in the Middle Ages.
I’m quite impatient for ‘Lionheart’. I want to see more of Berengaria, especially since she seemed a much deeper character to me than your Eleanor, in ‘Here Be Dragons’ made her out to be.
Glad to hear from you!
Rosemary Sutcliff has written some wonderful books. Her THE EAGLE OF THE NINTH is one of the influences that got me into writing novels about the Romans.
Not all her books are in print, alas, but her take on Arthur, SWORD AT SUNSET, has recently been reissued, and ‘Eagle’ and the sequel, THE SILVER BRANCH, are still avaliable, as are a few others like THE MARK OF THE HORSE LORD (which has a very yummy cover, btw.).
Her settings vary from the Romans in Britain to Saxon and Medieaval times, and there’s even a prehistoric one I read as kid but can’t find again these days.
In case anyone here reads German, I’d like to recommend the novels by Rebecca Gablé; she’s written several with a setting in English history from the Norman Conquest to the War of the Roses.
And there’s always Dorothy Dunnett. 🙂
In my earlier posting I recommended Bernard Cornwell and Elizabeth Chadwick however I feel a bit of a traitor as I have every book that Sharon has written and she is top of my list of recommondations. Looking at the blog a lot of you mention the Sunne in Splendor, this is my favorite book I have read it at least 4 times. I have been to Warwick Castle 3 times and have stood in the grounds with goose pimples thinking Richard III was here and so am I. I felt the same at Middleham, unlike Warwick it is a ruin but you can feel the history. However sadly I have been to Nottingham Castle – it is basically an Art Museum, nothing left of the once Manificent castle that sadly Richard and Anne’s only child died in.
I am just about finished Devil’s Brood sadly and await the next installment, I am also sad to hear the Justin de Quincy isn’t to be sent on his next assignment in the near furture or maybe ever.
Sharon I hope that you are on the mend and look forward to your next book
I must confess that I haven’t yet read Bernard Cornwell, for no other reason than I just haven’t got to his books yet!
Thanks for the thoughts re the fires! I live in melbourne and while the fires are relatively far away from me, we can smell the smoke today and we know that not too far away people’s lives were irrevocably changed seven days ago.
Hello Sharon,
I live in country Victoria and while my town was not directly affected by the fires I know people who lost their lives and lost their homes. It means a lot to us that people around the world are sending their condolences and kind wishes. As I have so often in my life when I am going through hard times I picked up one of your books to read when I faced sleepless nights of worry. As always they are a great joy and comfort, particularly ‘Here Be Dragons’ and the story of Joanna and Llewellyn. Thankyou for once again helping me in a time of great stress.
Sammy the Koala is healing well from her burns at a local wildlife shelter. The firestorms were so intense and furious that many animals who normally avoid humans ran to humans to save them
HI Sharon,
This is the first time I’ve lobbed into your site and I’ve enjoyed trawling around in it. I was motivated to have a look cos I just finished Prince of Darkness and I was really hoping there was new Justin de Quincy novel out – please hurry! I enjoy the series so much, as I do all your novels. Your early novel When Christ & His Saints Slept was a hugely important introduction into the time of the anarchy for me (quite a few years ago now), and has helped to inform my own novels which are also set at that time: a medieval crime series for teenagers titled The Janna Mysteries. I am greatly in your debt for bringing this fascinating (and treacherous) period alive and for kindling in me a lifelong interest in all things medieval. Many thanks indeed. Can I also add A.E. Marston’s Doomsday Chronicles to your and your readers’ lists of favourites. I’ve read them all and wish he’d write more. Finally, thank you for your thoughts and good wishes regarding the bush fires in Oz. I live in Sydney (where it is cold and wet at present and far away from the inferno in Victoria) but these tragedies touch us all in a country so given to extremes – we also have major flooding up north in Queensland at the moment. It’s heart-warming to know that the world is watching with sympathy.
Just dropping by on the run to say thank you Sharon for the recommendation for The Road to Jerusalem by Jan Gaillou. It is now waiting on my TBR – for once I’ve finished reading Devil’s Brood – which I am enjoying tremendously. The scene with Henry II doing Penance at Becket’s tomb is absolutely spine tingling.
I’m with you on the bathing issue. One book I have found very useful in explaining medieval mindset on the subject of bathing/smells/attitudes to cleanliness is ‘The Senses in Late Medieval England’ by C.M. Woolgar. The term ‘Late Medieval’ is a misnomer because it spreads itself across the medieval period. It certainly gave me insights into the wherefores and the whys.
I have many Australian friends who have been affected by the terrible bushfires. My thoughts go out to all on that continent.
I’ve read quite a few of Sandra Worth’s novels – the Rose of York triology (Richard III), the Lady of the Roses (about Isobel Ingoldesthorpe and John Neville), and The King’s Daughter (about Elizabeth of York). I really liked Lady of the Roses. I agree with a comment that was made on an earlier blog, that if you read Sunne in Splendour first, the Rose of York triology isn’t that great. But then again, I had that same reaction with a book of Anne Easter Smith’s (Rose for a Crown). Sunne in Splendour is just too good!
I love Brian Wainwright’s books, and I’m extremely excited to see that he has a blog. I’ve read Alianore Audley over and over again, and each time makes me laugh. Within the Fetterlock is excellent as well, but very heavy material.
It’s funny how really good historical fiction will forever bias you to a certain era. I read Alison Weir’s The Princes in the Tower, and she was so biased in her treatment of Richard III that I almost threw the book away.
A few other good books I’ve read:
Daughter of Time, by Josephine Tay
The Illuminator, by Brenda Rickman Vantrease
The Canterbury Papers, by Judith Koll Healey (a mystery starring Alys of France! – it assumes she DID have an affair with Henry II)
Jean Plaidy series – quite a few of her books have been reprinted, some are great stories, others not so much
Fiona Buckley mystery series, set in the time of Elizabeth I
Daughter of York, Anne Easter Smith
Inventing the Middle Ages, by Norman Cantor (non-fiction, looks at the lives of the pre-eminent 20th century medieval scholars and how their lives affected the contemporary interpretation of medieval history)
Two other fantastic blogs I’ve stumbled upon:
Got Medieval – http://gotmedieval.blogspot.com/ – described as “A[n intermittently updated] tonic for the slipshod use of medieval European history in the media and pop culture.”
Geoffrey Chaucer hath a blog – http://houseoffame.blogspot.com/ – no other way to describe it except hilarious.
I am so saddened today….. as I will finish “The Devil’s Brood”…..I hate finishing books that I have truly savored……..
I made it a point to re-read “When Christ…” and “Time & Chance…” to then be ready to read “Devil’s Brood” right in sequential order to regain the continuity of the saga……
I am so saddened at Henry’s life . . . & Eleanor, as always, is one of my heriones… I have been telling my 17 year old daughter about her, , and hope to instill some curiosity about this facinating woman…..
I have also just ordered “Eleanor of Aquitaine and the Four Kings”, by Amy Kelly, published by Harvard Press.. I am anxious for that reading…..
In the meantime, I enjoy reading Sharon’s books in chronological order of the time periods….My other absolute favorite story is the love of Joanna and Llewelyn, in “Here be Dragons”…..
My other favorite author of historical fiction is Diana Gabaldon………She and Sharon absolutely TOP my list!
Felicity, I was so excited to see that you’ve written medieval mysteries with a heroine named Janna, since that’s my name! Janna’s a relatively uncommon name (at least in the U.S., maybe it’s more common in Australia) and I especially have never heard it used as a medieval name. So it’s fun to see my name in print. I’m trying to get the first book in the series through WorldCat so I can read it.
And to Sharon, I never read blogs, especially not on a regular basis, but I can’t seem to stay away from yours. Thanks for bringing yourself so close to your readers…I love it!
HI Sharon,
I am so glad you are feeling better! I don’t know how you have time to read novels and then write novels! I mean your research must be extensive!
Eleanor of Acquitaine is not my favorite heroine. Eleanor failed her husband when she didn’t instill in his sons any respect for their father. Maybe she couldnt’ make them love him, but respect yes. Henry was so busy putting down rebellions in her domains and his own that he was rarely with his sons and they didn’t know him very well, so it was up to Eleanor to educate their children about him and demonstrate her own respect and to teach them to respect each other, but she didn’t. It seems Eleanor was so intent in showing how independent she could be, that Henry believed he didn’t need to be with her or take her with him when he traveled. In your books it seems as though years can pass before they are in the same country let alone in the same castle together.
Henry’s mother Empress Matilda didn’t undermine her sons’ love for their father and didn’t actively seek to encourage lack of respect even though she actively disliked (too weak a word) her husband, Geoffrey d’Anjou. And Geoffrey as much as he disliked his wife, also didn’t undermine his sons’ love for their mother. And he had plenty of opportunity while she was in England trying to win her crown! Henry had a right to believe that Eleanor would do the same for him with their sons, but it didn’t happen. Instead she encouraged their sons in disrepect and when they were older to rebel and fight their father and to seek the support of the King of the French! How sad that Richard was so cold when his older brother died leaving him the heir. I think of Henry (which ever he was) John’s son and in the novels in which he appears, he is depicted as an excellent father. His sons loved him and protected him all his life. His wife loved him and actively supported him in his troubles, which attitude was imparted to his sons. Where would he have ended up had Edward felt toward him as Hal, Geoffrey, and Richard did toward their father? Even in the MA as powerless as women were due to Church and society’s strictures, they still were a great influence on their children.
I believe the Welsh won in the end. After all Henry the VII was of Welsh descent and his great grandson was King James of Scotland became James the 1st of England when the two kingdoms united after the death of Elizabeth I’ ended the House of Tudor and made way for the beginning of the rule of the House of Stuart over England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland (today’s United Kingdom).
Keep up the good work. I hope Richard doesn’t give you too many sleepless nights. He probably is quite demanding. You speak of your characters as if they are in charge of their own responses to events. Sometime when I am reading, I can tell when an author has forced a character to do something they didn’t want to do. It is kind of funny when they do grab center stage (ala Llewellyn in Here Be Dragons) and can probably be quite disconcerting to the author. Who’s in charge here? and al that.
I keep trying to purchase Beyond Courage, but it is only available on Amazon in audio format. Well, I’ll keep looking.
Hi, Gayle,
You can find copies of A Place Beyond Courage at Alibris; I saw several offered by American booksellers ranging from $10 to $16. Or you can try Amazon’s Canadiain site, where they offer it for about $11 or $12 Canadian dollars.
Yours is a very interesting post about Henry and Eleanor and I hope it generates comments from other readers.
Sharon
I’m so excited to see your update, in particular that you are a huge fan of Joss Whedon’s Buffy and Angel shows. Did you like Firefly as well? I was as big a Buffy fan as exists: fanfiction, conventions, the works. It always makes me happy to hear that I have something in common with my favorite writers.
The fate of Davydd’s sons is so sad. I recently reread that book and found it hadn’t lost its impact for having been read at least four times now. I still tear up when Davydd is remembering watching his sons being taken from their mother. I have sons myself… I’m sad just writing this! I think the biggest reason I enjoy your work is the way you bring home the emotions of people who lived so long ago.
Hello Sharon, Thank you for noticing my comments.
I am reading Margaret Pargeter’s 4 novels about the Princes of Gwennydd. Have finished the first and am into the second. These are very dense books. Lots of detail and small print. Don’t you hate it when you buy a hardback book and the print is huge, the paper is thick so the book has really been padded to look like more than it actually is! So you settle in for a good read that may occupy a couple of days, but you reach the end in two hours! So disappointing! Back to Margaret. . . She wrote in first person, which is probably why I haven’t read these books before. Also her protaganist is a man! Seems strange for a woman to write as a man!
It is interesting to read the differing ways you and she write of the same events. But I think her novels were colored by the decades in which she wrote them. For instance, the only bastard mentioned in her book is Griffith ap Llewellyn, Joanna was the mother of Llewellyn Fawhr’s children except for Griffith and David’s daughters were all born of his marriage to Elizabeth! So I believe you were wise to leave off reading her books about the Princes until after you had researched and written yours! Also she has David as the last son and Rhodri as the third, a switch in birth order from your novels. However, David’s character is almost identical to the way you wrote it. Apparently he made quite an impression on the chronicles of the time if they were able to agree on how he behaved! And her book does state that he was the first to be hung, drawn and quartered. I had read that term, but never had it described before and now I read that same book with the reference and marvel at how casually it came into the conversation and was voiced by a woman asking a man if that might happen to him! Such a terrible way to die! In Falls the Shadow after Llewellyn ap Griffith defeats David and Owain you wrote that David protested to Llewellyn that it wasn’t treason to fight for his rights! and Llewellyn replies, “It is, when you lose”. Almost a prophecy. Did you plan it that way?
Take care of your health because we are all waiting to read about Richard C’ouer de Lion!
And thank you for pointing me in the right direction to get A Place Beyond Courage. I tried every online bookseller I could think of and most of them don’t even carry the book! Which is beyond frustrating. No wonder Amazon has such a commanding presence in online book selling.
You have no notion how happy and honored I am that you read my comments and responded! I am just sitting here smiling.. . . . .
Gayle, I have read your comments regarding Henry and Eleanor, and in particular your views regarding Eleanor and the role she plays in her son’s rebellion. I feel I must speak in her defence (hope you don’t mind!), I must add however I am not an historian nor have I done any research but I have read a few books with regard to Henry and Eleanor so although what I write may not be historically accurate it is just my opinion. So here it goes!!
Eleanor was brought up from a very early age knowing that she was to be a very important woman as the Duchess of Aquitaine and what that involved at a time where women should be seen and not heard. She them became Queen of France, although she may not have been able to show as much of her spirit if Louis had been a stronger man. When she married Henry he was still only the Duke of Normandy so she was more than his equal and it seems for a good part of their early marriage he treated her as such. But I think the more children she had the less time she had to help out Henry, although he seemed less in need of her council she was still willing to provide it. With regard to the lack of respect instilled in to her son’s I think she probably had very little to do with most of here children as they grew as girls where mostly sent off at an early age to their future husband’s homes and son’s sent out to various household’s to learn the craft of knighthood. Therefore I think that any respect or otherwise was not wholly hers to instil and that it had to be earned. Henry was away most of their childhood too so it would have been hard for them to form any attachment to him. With regard to her help in the rebellion, I think that it came at a time where Henry no longer sought out her help in matters of state and she still wanted to show she was still a capable woman and as her son’s came to her with that need she helped them out. I suspect she did truly regret this decision as I think she loved Henry but felt betrayed when he no longer sought her advice.
Hope you don’t mind my comments, your views are very interesting.
regards
Jane
Hi Sharon
I have finished reading Devils Brood and have to admit I’m sorry Henry’s story is over. I actually liked him. The fact that he honestly did not understand why his sons and wife rebelled made him endearing. I have read that he was one of the most effective kings in all of England but that is often overlooked due to Thomas Becket’s murder and the rebellion with his sons.
Thanks for the great read. It’s always a pleasure to read a book that is both interesting and well written.
Cheers,
Lyndsey
Hi Sharon,
I wanted to tell you how much I’ve enjoyed all your books! I’m 2/3 thru Devil’s Brood right now and dreading finishing it. I also re-read the first two of the trilogy before I started DB. I’ll have to go back and re-read the Wales series, too!
The worst thing about finding these great books is that it makes it so much harder to find other authors that can compare. I read about the Poisoned Pen trip you made, and oh, MY TWO FAVORITE AUTHORS IN ONE PLACE! If it wasn’t for you and Ms. Gabaldon writing so many books, I don’t know what I would read! I just this past year read one of Dana Stabenow’s books and really enjoyed it, I’ll have to look for the others.
I’m of two minds on Henry and Eleanor. I think they were both their own worst enemies. Two very stubborn and opinionated people. I really like their “Royal Attitude”, but it’s also great to see them portrayed with warts and very human after all. So sad, though, how the family imploded. I’m avidly looking forward to the next one on this family.
Just a thank you from a big fan and fellow Jersey resident!
I just have to comment again – because while I can see how some would see Eleanor as totally betraying her husband and children by encouraging her sons to rebel, I have to admit she’s a favorite. I’ve read a number of books, both fiction and non fiction, about her and she really was one of the most intriguing women of the MA. I think, Sharon, you summed it up best when you wrote how she always saw herself as Duchess of Aquitaine first, Henry’s wife and mother of his children second. (or something to that effect) She was raised to believe she was above convention. There’s something in that that I just love! And I loved it that you made her more human during her capitivity with the musings about how she could (and maybe should) have done it differently. And I have to say I loved Henry too – he was an amazing leader, warlord and lawmaker. But he was so blind to his sons needs – thinking he was the only one who could hold it all together. You made these legendary figures human, Sharon! I will miss Harry in the next book.
Hi Again, I wonder if the Sanitation was As Good, Sharon for the Upper-Class;es in there Castles?……..(old wine-Vinigar?)……Down the Drains Etc?. Also Could We Deduce that ..Clarats were perhaps shipped to ,England ?…….Tonage for ships,.. Leaving La – Rochelle Indeed,!!…Were these wines?,….perhaps!!.. English,. Before they were (French)??Oh My,….I for one Am really looking Forward too “Lionhart Many thanks” James.
Hi Jane,
Thank you for your viewpoint. I can hardly wait for Sharon to give us a clearer picture of Richard Coeur de Lion. As I read it, he was Eleanor’s favorite son and all of her sons respected her. So, she probably didn’t have much time for them what with being pregnant all those years, however, she certainly made time for Richard! My point is that it isn’t only proximity that builds closeness and respect, but communication. She didn’t communicate respect for Henry. She was indeed a great woman politically, but perhaps not so wonderful in her personal relationship with her husband. She also didn’t appear to have much finesse with Henry. They saw each other at spaced out intervals between wars. In that time, even a Duchess was subordinate to her husband. It seems like Eleanor was of the fight or flight mentality where Henry was concerned. No half measures for her! Henry saw how difficult it was for his mother to defer to her husband who was 10 years her junior, so would he not have taken more care with his own wife who was older than he by 10 years? In the beginning of their marriage, they were still talking about everything and he listened to her. But it was a man’s world! I still maintain that the tone was set by Eleanor and she should have done more to encourage a trusting and respectful relationship between her husband and sons. Henry’s daughters loved and respected their father. What was the difference? The daughters didn’t see him any more often than his sons, probably much less often as the boys were being taught warfare by their father and his men. Eleanor was the bridge and she failed with her sons. She (probably unconsciously) decided after one more time of being snubbed by Henry when he ignored her advice, or her wishes, to prove that she was the better parent and wiser politically and how better to do that than to undermine his relationships with his sons? The rebellions of his sons was certainly a political blow to Henry’s hopes for a united dynasty.
Hi Sharon,
I was curious about your comment that you would redo some of the dialogue in Sunne if you could do it again. Do you actually reread your own books periodically? Or do passages and dialogue just stick with you for years after writing?
Unhappily I have just finished Devil’s Brood. I say unhappily because although I try to read slowly so I can relish your wonderful writing I always appear to come to the end of your books far too quickly.
Needless to say I was enthralled by every word as I have been with all your other books especially Sunne in Splendour which I have read numerous times in between waiting for your next book.
I have also read other novels ie Shardlake where Eleanor is the strong minded woman she presents in your wonderful tales but although I enjoy all authors I find you get to the core of the woman and I feel a great loss when I come to the end of your books, wishing they would go on for just a little longer.
Thankyou Miss Penman for taking me away into another world, when do you plan to release your next??
Hi Sharon,
Hope you’re doing better – you’ve had quite a go lately! I have read Bernad Cornwell’s Arthurian trilogy and I just finshed the first book in his trilogy about Alfred the Great (well, I’m old and cannot seem to remember the names of any of them!). He is actually a good, easy author. From what I know about the time periods he wrote in for these two, it is historical and presented quite realistically. He truly is great at the ‘war’ scenes, which although I don’t like bloody descriptions, I get a good understanding of what warfare was like in those periods. I have not read the Sharpe series – I watched the movies (all 14 of them) and understand they kept to the books very well. I am deep into reading Margaret Frazer’s Sister Frevisse books – LOVE them! They remind me of the Brother Cadfael series. I also love Susannah Gregory’s books about Brother Matthew (which, I think I’ve said this before! OOPS). Well, off to check the library for some of the other mentioned authors! Can’t wait for your next one – what an interesting figure Richard is – should be interesting – he’s more like his father than most realize, just goes about it differently. lol
On the subject of bathing–I guess I’d largely understood to be more or less directly proportional to the depth of Romanization in the preceding era–most regular in the areas around the Mediterranean, progressively less so as you got into colder and more haphazardly Romanized areas. Of course, bathhouses then as now frequently served illicit purposes as well–several of the tales in the Decameron feature bathhouse settings. I seem to remember reading or hearing somewhere that in the 14th c or so the Church decided to take on those moral cesspools, and in the process aggressively stamped out public hygiene as well. True?
BTW–Rosemary Sutcliff–especially the Mark of the Horse Lord and to a lesser extent, Sword at Sunset–was the author who got me hooked on historical fiction to begin with. Still one of my absolute favorites.
Michele O’Connor says: I too loved Bernard Cornwell’s Saxon Chronicles. I was a little iffy on his Arthurian books – I suspect that is because I love Mary Stewart – read her Arthur books when I was 8 or so and fell in love with all things Arthur!
Michele – I can HIGHLY recommend Helen Hollick’s trilogy on Arthur: The Kingmaking, Pendragon’s Banner and Shadow of the King. They are written with Arthur as a very realistic warlord with all the courage, flaws and strength found in a leader.
Hi Sharon!
I just wanted to tell you how much I loved ‘Devil’s Brood’. I didn’t realize it was part of a series until I got home, but I’m definitely going to read ‘When Christ and His Saint’s Slept’ and ‘Time and Chance’.
I’m only fourteen, but I absolutely love historical fiction. When I learned about Henry and Eleanor in school I thought ‘Somebody should write a book about this’ and, lo and behold, there you were! It was like when you need money and then find twenty bucks in the back pocket of your jeans.
What I loved especially about ‘Devil’s Brood’ was how you get the reader so immersed in the story and the characters. In the process of reading it, I actually wrote two songs, one for Joanna, one for Hal.
I’m so happy you’re feeling better, and that you’re writing another book about Richard and Salidan. What luck…I just watched a PBS documentary about them!!
Judith
Sorry, I forgot: I loved the ‘Josephine B.’ trilogy by Sandra Gulland. I also love ‘The Last Wife of Henry VIII’ by Carolly Erickson and ‘The Other Boleyn Girl’ by Philippa Gregory. I’m not too familiar with the medievel period yet, but I will be soon!
Sharon,
In addition to zombie and vampire adaptations of Jane Austen, Elton John’s production company Rocket Pictures is working on “Pride and Predator”, a period alien flick. You can read the article here:
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118000187.html?categoryid=13&cs=1
Sharon (and all you commented, also), thank you for all the wonderful suggestions. Having just finished watching HBO’s John Adams I would love to read more on Abigail! Bernard Cornwell has been hit or miss for me, I did enjoy his Arthurian trilogy. I agree with you when you say he writes battle scenes so well! But now I am excited to read some of the other suggestions of books about Arthur. I’ll also agree with Carmen and say I enjoy Edward Rutherford, the genealogist in me loves to trace the families through the ages.
The book that got me started reading historical fiction was “My Enemy The Queen” by Victoria Holt. Years ago I found a dusty copy on my grandmother’s bookshelf and fell in love. While the MA is my true love, I’ll always have a place for Elizabeth I, Robert Dudley, and especially, Lettice Knollys. I’d just like to put “The Red Tent” by Anita Diamant out there also. Perhaps not a true historical fiction but, nevertheless, an imaginative ‘what if’ about a woman largely over looked in the Bible.
Sharon, if you really can’t bear to give up writing about Henry and Eleanor and their children, then I have two words for you: alternate history. Why should Harry Turtledove have all the fun? For instance, how about a novel where all four of Henry’s sons survive him? A four-way power struggle with Eleanor trying to keep everything together while Philip of France works to tear it all apart. And you already know all the players, so you’d be the perfect person to write it.
First, I just want to thank you for writing such amazing novels that captivate people all around the world. I first read “Here Be Dragons” and fell in love with all things Welsh. Your story of Joanna, Llywelyn & John was simply gripping. I do admit that I cry near the end of the book every time, and often while re-reading it will stop, for a few days, before the Will de Braose debacle and have to summon the courage to get through what follows. Of course the end makes up for the hard part!
In a few months I’m traveling to Wales for 5 weeks to do a college semester abroad, and will be staying in Carmarthen. My question for you is regarding visiting sites. I knew I had to take this opportunity in school just to get me over there – But looking online, I’m having trouble finding just where to go to visit Llywelyn’s tomb, if there is one still to visit. Or really, any sites that you can visit nowadays in Wales which relate to your novel. I’d appreciate any help in this regard; reading this novel, and then all of your others, is what decided me to pursue a major in history, so I must make the most out of this trip!
And, since many people are suggesting & recommending books, I’d like to as well: Juliet Marillier writes a wonderful trilogy starting with “Daughter of the Forest” – it is based loosely on the fairytale “The Six Swans,” and set in Ireland. Simply fantastic. Thanks again!
Hi Sharon
I am also very enthousiastic about the Saxon saga by Bernard Cornwell…I like his writing style a lot. Rosemary Sutcliff I read when I was younger, sadly many of her books are out of print now, but they are enjoyable.
If you have any chance at all you should read them. About Rebecca Gable, I hope for all the english readers out there she gets translated soon, I love her books and have read them to bits ( maybe learning german is an option)
I can’t wait for your book on Richard since he is still quite controversial. Was he gay or not…why did he do things he did? I am really looking forward to your take on him.
Also I wanted to thank you for these long blogs. They keep us updated and informed as well as educated about the MA and life as a writer. I really enjoy them.
I had to post again with one more book recommendation – I’ve just been browsing all your past posts, and your second blog was great – I loved reading everyone’s responses to their favorite books (not surprisingly I’m on the “More Wales” bandwagon!)
What I did see though, was that you had mentioned you enjoyed reading about Ancient Egypt, and that only 1 person mentioned Pauline Gedge. I hope you get a chance to check out her work; she is to Ancient Egypt what you are to Medieval ‘England’ (et al.) Her novel “Child of the Morning” is about Hatshepsut, and it’s wonderful. My favorite would have to be “House of Dreams” – Just spellbinding. I wonder if anyone else her has read her stuff?
So very sorry to hear your back has been giving you trouble – I also have trouble with my back, and certainly sympathize with you!
My family and I were recently in AZ, though unfortunately, not close enough to Scottsdale to visit the Poisoned Pen – much as I’d love to. (Very interesting to see that you spent some time with Diana Gabaldon – another of my favorites!) Thank you, and your bloggies, for some excellent book suggestions… have been reading Sex With Queens (satisfying my voyeuristic needs, I suppose) and another about arranged marriages (the name of which escapes me), which has been really interesting… but am feeling the pull to drop into another time.
Another interesting read, though not so much in a novel sense, but in a fuller understanding (and using all 5 senses) way, was “1700:Scenes from London Life.” Never ceases to amaze me that the human race was, somehow, unsuccessful in killing itself off… though that the content of the book is fuller than just the medical aspect.
I’m off to look at You Tube for the fireman and koala… to be honest, I don’t watch much news on TV anymore, so I missed that one.
Best to you!
I have not read through all the comments so I’m not sure if anyone has posted this, sorry if they have –
I see Bernard Cornwell’s Saxon and Arthur chronicles have been mentioned frequently. I have not read them, but plan on doing so as soon as the first one comes from Amazon.
However, I truly loved his new book, Agincourt. My strongest interest has always been in 12th century history, but this book introduced me to the fascinating history of the Hundred Years War.
I do not know if this has already been said, but I must mention Ken Follett’s Pillars of the Earth and World Without End. They are definitely not as historically accurate as other novels may be, but they are truly spectacular novels. Two of my all time favorites. Pillars of the Earth offers a view of the anarchic reign of Stephen from the perspective of non-royals; peasants, monks, and merchants. It is set in the fictional town of Kingsbridge, and almost all the characters are made-up, but it is brilliantly written and a total immersion into the dangerous world of the 12th century.
I also must say that I was very happy to read that one of my favorite authors is also a fan of one of my favorite shows ever: Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Sharon, I wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed the Sunne in Splendour. I was only two years old when the book was published, and I haven’t stumbled upon it until now! I’m so glad I did. What a deeply layered, rich and moving story, truly in a category of it’s own. You’re a wonderful writer and made the characters just come to life. I can’t wait to read your other books. Thanks!
Nice stuff thanx 🙂
Sorry if this has been asked and answered. I did a search and could not find this information. I love the Welsh trilogy, but must admit I get confused keeping up who goes where. In the second and 3rd books there is a very helpful sort of family tree connecting the different houses. However, there is no such chart in the first book “Here be Dragons.” Does anyone know of web sources that help ties the characters of these 3 books together? Thanks for any help.
Well researched site – I love Bernard Cornwell’s work! – Will look to incorporate some of your ideas into my site. Thanks!
That was a excellent post,I count on some more post from you.
Firefly is one of the TV Series that was created by Joss Whedon. I love Firefly so much but it does not have Season 2.’~”
Firefly is one of the TV Series that was created by Joss Whedon. I love Firefly so much but it does not have Season 2.~*,
I really like your blog’s style, and hungry to withstand friends is that: the strict test!
Joss Whedon is a great director, most of the science fiction series that i love are created by him.~:,
i wish that Joss Whedon could also make a sequel to FireFly and Serenity-‘`
Thanks for this post. It’s very useful.
of all the sci-fi directors on cinemas, Joss Whedon is my all time favorite because he has great concept *.*
of all the sci-fi directors on cinemas, Joss Whedon is my all time favorite because he has great concept *.*
of all the sci-fi directors on cinemas, Joss Whedon is my all time favorite because he has great concept .,,
of all the sci-fi directors on cinemas, Joss Whedon is my all time favorite because he has great concept .,,
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