Books, books, and more books

Penman

HI, everyone.
     I suspected that Here Be Dragons would win the contest, and it did, with Sunne in Splendour coming in second.  These two are the books most mentioned when readers write to me.  Now, confession time.  Here Be Dragons has always been my own favorite of my books.  In part because, after Sunne, there were actually characters left alive at the end!  And Dragons began my love affair with Wales.  I’d initially meant it to be the story of John and his daughter Joanna. I’d wondered how a woman would react if she discovered that the father she’d adored since childhood was capable of chilling cruelties.  I knew, of course, that Joanna had wed “a Welsh prince,” but he was still a shadowy figure when I moved to Wales in 1982 to research Dragons.  It only took a fortnight, though, for Llewelyn to steal the book right from under John’s nose.  And best of all, Dragons led the way to Falls the Shadow and The Reckoning.  Writers always worry that the well will go dry and we will run out of ideas for future books.  Thanks to Dragons, I was free of these worries for nearly a decade.
     So many of the authors you recommended are favorites of mine, too.  I think Anya Seton’s Katherine and The Winthrop Woman are gems; Green Darkness is another of her books I can recommend.  LIke you, Carrie, I love Lindsay Davis’s Falco series and Laurie King’s clever series about Mary Russell, who just happens to be wed to Sherlock Holmes.  I think Bernard Cornwell’s Richard Sharpe series is brilliant; he does about the best battle scenes I’ve ever read.  I agree with you Julie, about Edith Pargeter.  I read all of her Brother Cadfael books, written under the name Ellis Peters.  The only books of hers that I have not read are the four novels about the Welsh princes.  By the time I’d done my own Welsh trilogy, I was feeling so possessive of “my” princes that I didn’t want to read about them in another writer’s books.  And the fact that she wrote her books about thirty years before I did was utterly irrelevant!
     Kelly, I have good news for you.  P.F. Chisholm is writing another of her spectacular Elizabethan mysteries.  For those of you not yet familiar with this series, I can’t recommend it highly enough.  I am going to be doing an event at the Poisoned Pen in Scottsdale, Arizona next month, and Barbara Peters, the owner of the bookshop, is also the publisher of the Chisholm books.  So once I find out when we can expect the next one, I will let you all know.  And Sharon, by now Devil’s Brood should be in Australian bookshops; Penguin published a paperback edition for Australia and New Zealand, although their hardback edition will not be published in the U.K. until February 5th.  And Dave, I do intend to write about Owain Glyndwr in the future.  How could I resist a history like his?
     I will be adding to my Recommended Reading section, suggesting research books for those readers who’d like to learn more about the Angevins in particular and the MA in general.  Obviously I cannot list all of the books I consult while researching a novel.  Those on the list will be some of the histories I found most useful or reliable or just fun to read.  If I don’t mention a biographer, that is usually because I have reservations about the work in question.  So feel free to ask me privately about any omissions that have aroused your curiosity.
     I think I will also add a Lionheart section to the Recommended Reading List since Richard’s story is already well-known and there is no danger of “spoilers.”  The volume of crusader histories is truly astonishing.  I have had to fight some memorable battles in the course of my books, but never as many as will be looming ahead in Lionheart.  I’ve dealt with gifted battle commanders before–Simon de Montfort and Edward I come at once to mind–but Richard’s exploits in the Holy Land were truly the stuff of legend.
     I hope we can continue discussing books we like; this is a wonderful way to find new authors to read.  And if there are any subjects you’d like me to address in one of my blogs, I am always open to suggestions.  If there are any literary websites you’d like to recommend, please share those, too.  I think Elizabeth Chadwick’s website is one of the best for people interest in the MA; do check it out for yourselves.
      Lastly, I want to thank  you for the wonderful, supportive e-mails about my on-going health problems, for your patience when Devil’s Brood kept falling off the radar screen, and for offering such heartening proof that reading is not a dying art and history still matters, now more than ever.
November 3, 2008

0 thoughts on “Books, books, and more books”

  1. I bought Devil’s Brood yesterday afternoon, waiting until I had finished books I found at my favorite secondhand bookstore in Provincetown. After P.G. Wodehouse’s golf stories, I read Yankee from Olympus, by Catherine Drinker Bowen, which in places reads more like a historical novel than a biography of Justice Holmes. Your discussion of Geoffrey in the Author’s Note has whetted my literary and historical appetites. As you know, the brevity of his career and the location of his duchy on the Celtic fringe have made him the least known of the brothers. After an evening of reading, I am at the eve of the rebellion of 1173. I eagerly look forward to the remaining 600-odd pages, though as perhaps Geoffrey’s first “modern biographer” (Senior Thesis at Harvard in 1967) I am well aware of his fate. My conclusion then is in accord with yours now, though stated much more prosaically: “The best compromise of the two versions will have him contracting a fever, or at least lingering for a couple days, after suffering the tournament injuries.”

  3. The first book I ever read set in Wales was a romance, Keeper of the Dream by Penelope Williamson. I was utterly fascinated by the differences between medieval Welsh and Anglo-Norman cultures. I remember the day I saw Here Be Dragons on the shelf at B&N. I was so excited there was another book about this dynamic country, I bought it immediately.
    I LOVE talking about books, especially historical fiction and mysteries. I’ll definitely check out P.F. Chisholm and the Richard Sharpe series. At the risk of shamefully plugging my own work, I wrote a book review on Storyteller by G.R. Grove, a great historical fiction novel set in 6th century Wales. If any fellow Welshophiles are interested in reading it, here it is: http://www.powells.com/review/2008_11_01.

  5. Yes, the paperback of Devil’s Brood is out in New Zealand – sooner than I was expecting. I was surprised and delighted to see two copies in my favourite book shop today and immediately bought one. What a treat I now have in store. And thanks for all the other recommendations of books to read. To me, realism and believable characters are the most important elements in historical novels. I lose interest when a book about historical figures goes way off into realms of fantasy – which actually isn’t necessary in order to produce a great book as your incredible chronicles have proved. (And I love your author’s notes!)

  6. History matters so much. It saddens me that people are so ignorant of it, but I think historical fiction can go a long way towards fixing the problem and also showing us that humanity doesn’t really change all that much.

  7. Love, love the new book. Could not wait to get it from Amazon. You have outdone yourself this time. I loved it and hope you will keep on giving us more and more about Eleanor and Richard and John. You are the best. I wish that you would tackle Heloise and Abelard – know you would do a fabulous job brining them to life. Nancy Russell

  8. I loved the new book – it always makes me sad when I finish reading them because it’s like losing someone you care so much about!!
    I’m so pleased you enjoy Anya Seton too – she was my first jump into the historical fiction genre with Green Darkness and another book I can totally recommend of her’s is Devil Water – set a little later than Katherine and (parts of) Green Darkness, but also a fabulous book
    I really really love that the places and events really took place and it’s possible to see them today and that they aren’t just in the author’s head
    Fiona

  9. and Here Be Dragon’s will always be my favourite too – the love story get’s me every time!
    Fiona

  10. Hi Sharon,
    I found your blog but yesterday, so I’m a bit late in answering. My favourite is a different one: Time and Chance. I think it’s because I’ve done some research about Henry the Lion Duke of Saxony and Otto IV, which also led to our dear Plantagenets, and I got hooked by this charming family. 😉 But since I’ve been in Wales this spring, a certain Welsh prince started growing on me – I’m going to reread Here Be Dragons soon. No wonder he took over the book; characters love doing that. My nemesis is Arminius.
    I love historical fiction that is epic and richly plotted, like your books, like Colleen McCullough’s Rome series, Dorothy Dunnett’s Lymond Chronicles and some German writers that ought to be translated into English. The second favourites are books with lots of action and battles, like Bernard Cornwell. But I also love Fantasy, esp. the epic stuff that’s sometimes loosely based on real history (fe. A Song of Ice and Fire, Scott Bakker’s Prince of Nothing trilogy, Paul Kearney’s The Ten Thousand) or alternate worlds like Guy Gavriel Kay.
    As aspiring writer, I have a trilogy about the Romans in the works (early Empire, and mostly set in Germania and Britiannia), and that alternate historical Fantasy plotbunny that refuses to stay under the bed. *grin*

  11. I’m about half way through Devil’s Brood right now. What an excellent story. I would have finished by now, but work beckons. I hope you are feeling better now, Sharon. I had Mono in 2001, and it really took its toll on me. I’m thrilled to bits that you plan to write about Owain Glyndwr. I was just over to Wales in September. I even went through the crazy task of climbing Bryn Glas. If you make Owain come alive like you did Llywelyn Fawr, then I expect the book to be a #1 best seller. My girlfriend, who lives in Hillsborough loves Sunne in Splendour. And, I suspect she’ll like Here Be Dragons. I hope I can meet you at a book signing one day.
    Iechyd da,
    Dave

  12. Got up at 6am this Sunday morning to finish Devil’s brood after reading past midnight last night 🙂 Wow. When I saw it in the shop, it was only by chance and I grabbed it and added it to the pile without even knowing what it was about – a SKP is always a good read 🙂 My fave’s would have to be Here be Dragons which was my first read – I would have called my son Llwelleyn if my husband had let me ! I think my favourite part is when Joanna burns the bed *BEG* And The Sunne in Splendor. I sobbed my heart out over that book!! And I love Simon de Montfort and Henry and Elanor….hmm pattern emerging here I think ! Another favourite author of mine Diana Gabaldon who writes the Outlander series. Long wait between drinks, but worth the wait.

  13. Hi-
    I just finished Devil’s Brood and I’m so, so happy! It was amazing, great job. I was thrilled to see that you are writing another about Richard and John- I have a strange fascination with John now! 🙂
    I am also very excited to see that you’d like to write a story about Owain Glyndyr (probably butchered the spelling), I’m really interested in him!
    Keep it up, I hope you feel better!

  14. Hi, finished reading Devils Brood having ordered from the States as could not wait for UK publishing in February!!! Brilliant, my mum is waiting with bated breath to read it. Here Be Dragons is my favourite and I have dragged my husband & kids around all the castles involved!! Still my favourite read when nothing else new out. Would have called my daughter Eleanor but my husband put his foot down !!!! Can’t wait for Lionheart.

  15. I just finished Devil’s Brood. What an AWESOME book! You did a superb job of presenting Eleanor, Richard, John & William Marshal in a way that takes them seamlessly into Here Be Dragons. I wasn’t sure how you’d be able to segue a current book into one you’d written before, but you made it look easy. I’ve been hooked on the Plantagenets since I first made the acquaintance of Anya Seton, Marguerite Campbell Barnes, and Molly Costain Haycraft back in high school. Thank you thank you for telling their story so well! And thanks for letting us know that we have Lionheart to look forward to.
    Please keep writing your wonderful books. I have a dream that someday my Sharon Kay Penman bookshelf will go all the way from Henry II through Richard, John, Edwards I-III, Richard II and Henry IV before culminating in The Sunne in Splendour.
    Another book you might enjoy is The Fatal Crown by Ellen Jones. It deals with Henry I, William the Conqueror and Maud.

  16. I just finished Devil’s Brood and wanted to cry because it is done. I absolutely loved it! I think Sunne is still my favorite though. I have read all of your books and may reread some of them through the winter. Other favorite authors for me include: Bernard Cornwell (all of his books), Edward Rutherford (Sarum, London), Nigel Tranter (who wrote great stories about Robert the Bruce and William Wallace) and I loved Elizabeth Chadwicks portrayal of Will Marshal in her two books.
    I hope you continue to write these extrordinary books, you truly have a gift. I wait with bated breath for you next book!

  17. Here be Dragons was my first Sharon Kay Penman book and my favorite as well. I bought Devil’s Brood earlier this week and have been savoring it slowly, a little bit each night. I am not disappointed. I don’t buy books very often because I have access to some great libraries; but no one was going to get this book quick enough for me to read.

  18. Hi Sharon, I love your books! I’ve been a huge fan since Sunne In Splendor and eagerly awaited each installment in the ongoing Plantagenet saga. I just got Devil’s Brood and can’t wait to read it. I also really like your mystery series; the last one, Prince of Darkness, was my favorite.
    I like most of the authors you’ve mentioned. I’d include Pauline Gedge for ancient Egypt books, Judith Merkle Riley for medieval / renaissance romps with the supernatural thrown in, and I’m a big fan of CW Gortner’s books. His Tudor mystery The Secret Lion, was one of my favorites and his recent book, The Last Queen, about Juana la Loca of Spain, is haunting and beautiful. Lastly, I’m very into Clement Davies, who writes animal-themed books, like The Sight, about wolf packs battling evil in their midst. I think you might like this book, as you like dogs so much.

  19. Re Edith Pargeter’s books about the 4 Welsh princes–they’re written in a quasi-Shakespearean manner. It was appropriate for her book about the Battle of Shrewesbury, but distracting for the period in question. All in all, it felt very stilted.

  21. “Devil’s Brood” sparked a fierce debate between me and my wife, a true Mars-Venus discussion. I argued that Eleanor was as blame for the family problems as Henry. My wife, Gretchen, argued it was Henry’s fault, because he did not respect her heritage, and he was stupid enough to make Hal the “Young King”. We are still at it, and I have given her Alison Wier’s bio of Eleanor for further read. And, Sharon, if you read responses to your blog, I repeat a suggestion I made to you several yerars ago that you write a novel about Edward the Aethling, Ethelred, and Dunston. Look at Francis Palgrave’s 19th century history, “The History of the Anglo-Saxons”, page 233 in the Senate edition.

  22. Why does no one mention MY FAVOURITES – I love your historical mysteries and was devastaded to find you will not be letting us know the further adventures of Elenor’s wonderful Spy – I hope you write more of him I do so hope and hope –

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  29. I wished these books would never end. So glad to hear you are still writing!
    Dorothy Dunnet is another favorite author of mine, and of course Diana Gabaldon.
    Thank you for your passion and commitment! And I do love the authors notes!

  35. Here Be Dragons is also my fave SKP book and the one that got my daughter to read something other than fantasy. She bought the trilogy by accident judging from the title and cover illustration that it was another of her fantasy books. Sharon is now one of her favorite authors. I agree with Sharon on Any Seton too. I was a blubbering fool reading the last pages of Katherine and The Winthrop Woman was another memorable book. And anyone who hasn’t already read Sharan Newman should pick up Death Comes as Epiphany immediately and get hooked.
    I just finished Devil’s Brood and am looking forward to reading Lionheart.

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