I keep hearing her recommended as the best historical fiction writer of medieval themes; specifically she’s referred to as the Anti-Follett (i.e. her books aren’t Days of our Lives in the 12th century). Anybody who’s read her works, can you recommend a good one to start with? I know she’s written several trilogies as well as some stand-alones.
Thanks for any suggestions.
While I like every book of hers I’ve ever read, and own several, I’d recommend starting with The Sunne in Splendour. It’s stand-alone, and I like its portrayal of Richard III.
The Sunne in Splendour is pretty good to start with. As I remember it is very pro-Richard, though.
Sunne in Splendor also seems to be her first book (and thus a good place to start). Thanks.
All of her stuff is good, so I’d suggest starting with the historical subject that interests you most:
Richard III - The Sunne in Splendour - this book is partly famous because Penman’s only manuscript was stolen, and she had to re-write the entire thing. It’s great, as long as you’re willing to go along with a Richard III who is innocent of murdering the Princes. Penman doesn’t often have villains in her books. She tends to present a sympathetic point of view for everyone (even John!).
Stephen & Maud and Henry & Eleanor - start with When Christ and His Saints Slept, which I think is a great title. She’s working on the fourth book in this set now, about Richard I and Berengaria.
The Welsh princes - start with Here Be Dragons.
(Guess which set my favorite.)
Out of curiosity, how compatible are her Henry & Eleanor with The Lion in Winter? I completely understand wasn’t a documentary and had some 20th century views intertwined with medieval settings, but I’m curious as to her characterizations of the Plantagenets.
I’m a big fan of the series that ends with The Reckoning. I can never remember which is the first one in that trilogy and which is the second, seeing as I read the third one first–it was on a display table at my local library when I was a teenager.
Depressing read, though.
The Sunne in Splendor is really her only real standalone book, so if you’re just going to read one, it probably should be that one. It is, though, as has been said, sickeningly pro-Richard. It’s frankly so pro-Richard it’s hard to read. Whenever Richard isn’t in a scene walking on water or raising the dead, expect either conversations about all the mean stuff those nasty Lancastarians/Woodvilles/Tudors are saying about Poor Richard, or Queen Margaret/the Duke of Warwick/the Duke of Clarence/Elizabeth Woodville/the Duke of Buckingham planning or doing something evil or Anne Neville pining.
Well, they’re not quite as histrionic in the books. Some elements of Henry and Eleanor, at this period of their lives, are portrayed both in the book and in the movie: Henry never admits to his mistakes, or understands why his family rebelled. Eleanor is bitter that he disregarded her rights (and Richard’s rights) over the Aquitaine. She’s not happy about Rosamund, either. In the books the Rosamund incident is the straw that breaks the back of their partnership.
In the books, Henry doesn’t deliberately play evil games with his family. He honestly thinks they should just accept whatever he deigns to give them, and that he knows what’s best for everybody. Considering his accomplishments, he’s not completely crazy to feel this way.
Is his father (Geoffrey of Angou) a character in the books? I’ve always thought his marriage to Maude was interesting (a teenaged kid and a twenty-something dowager empress and then lots of other complications).
I’ve watched the online eps of Pillars of the Earth and their version of Maude bothers me. Calling her princess for example- she’d have had your fingers snapped off for that one when in the first place she was rightful queen and in the second place she was indisputably entitled to the title Empress.
Geoffery of Anjou is a character in When Christ and His Saints Slept.
if you’re mystery folks, The Queen’s Man is quite good and not as ultimately sad as the Welsh trilogy (which begins with Here Be Dragons)
In the book Geoffrey and Maud despise each other, but Henry is close to both his parents.
She portrays Maud as arrogant and stubborn, who makes some bad decisions as a result - like pissing off the citizens of London, whose support she badly needed.
Stephen is portrayed as a kindly man, who spares little William Marshal, keeps forgiving people who betray him, and in general isn’t hard enough to be an effective king. Henry took the field when he was 14, and when he botches his first expedition (against Stephen’s forces), Stephen loans him the money to pay his men and return home!
I like the Queen’s Man mysteries, too. An elderly Eleanor is in them, trying to collect money for Richard’s ransom and keep John from doing his worst.