∎ [PDF] Gratis The Sunne in Splendour Sharon Kay Penman 9780345363138 Books

The Sunne in Splendour Sharon Kay Penman 9780345363138 Books

Download As PDF : The Sunne in Splendour Sharon Kay Penman 9780345363138 Books

The Sunne in Splendour Sharon Kay Penman 9780345363138 Books

I just love rich historical novels that take you to another time and place and give you a feel for how people in another time and place lived, thought, worked, and played. I want enough drama in the plot, and richness in the historical detail, that I go to sleep thinking about it, and then wake up the next morning *still* thinking about it. And I want to learn something about history, which requires that the book be reasonably faithful to the events it describes. The Sunne In Splendour is all of this, and then some.

The Sunne In Splendour (I read it on Kindle) is about the adventurous but ultimately tragic life of Richard III, brother to Edward IV (who preceded him on the throne). For most of the book, Edward IV is King of England, and Richard III is the favored, trusted brother; toward the end, briefly, he becomes King. This is a very complex story with many characters and subplots, which takes place during the War of the Roses, a civil war in England between the Houses of Lancaster and York in the late 15th century. The politics of the time were Machiavellian in the extreme: power-politics, scheming, and occasionally outright treason were the norm, along with laying waste to much of the English countryside through continuous warfare. Within that context was a strange morality, brutal and foreign to the modern eye, but scarily comprehensible on its own terms. The book provides a rich, detailed look at the lives of all of the major players in the War of the Roses. It cannot be overstated how rich a tapestry this book is of 15th century English court life. What really comes through in the book, in a super-interesting way, is how inherently unstable is an absolute monarchical system. Such a system requires a strong king with a legitimate, widely-recognized claim to the throne, a loyal following of powerful supporters who (continue to) see their self-interest as aligned with the monarch's interests, and a healthy male heir. Any change in any of those variables immediately produces instability and danger, and the balance of power among competing factions is continually in flux as a result.

I did feel at times like fewer words would've helped a bit. It could've been 10 percent shorter and told the same story, but at a slightly faster pace. Some of the love story stuff was slightly tedious. But I'm a guy, what can I say. I want to read about politics, battles and history, not hand-holding and walking in the park. My wife, though, who read it on her Kindle concurrently, said she had the same reaction - a few less pages, a bit less meandering, would've made it better. While the book could've been a few pages shorter, it is still a solid 5 star masterpiece of historical fiction. Great stuff - highly, highly, highly recommended reading for any fan of historical fiction or English history.


Tags : The Sunne in Splendour [Sharon Kay Penman] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. "The reader is left with the haunting sensation that perhaps the good a man does can live after him--especially in the hands of a dedicated historian." SAN DIEGO UNION In this stirring historical novel,Sharon Kay Penman,The Sunne in Splendour,Ballantine Books,0345363132,Great Britain;History;1455-1485, War of the Roses;Fiction.,Great Britain;History;Henry VII, 1485-1509;Fiction.,Great Britain;History;Wars of the Roses, 1455-1485;Fiction.,1452-1485,FICTION Historical General,Fiction,Fiction - Historical,Fiction Action & Adventure,Fiction Historical,Fiction Literary,GENERAL,General Adult,Great Britain,Henry VII, 1485-1509,Historical - General,History,III,,King of England,,Richard,Wars of the Roses, 1455-1485

The Sunne in Splendour Sharon Kay Penman 9780345363138 Books Reviews

This is the kind of book that has made me a fan of historical fiction. The characters are rich and complete, the amount of dedication it takes to write a book of this period, with the twist and turns of fate, and the hearts of English kings, barons and lords, flat amazes me!
I don't often get so involved with a character in a book that I shed tears when that character dies on the pages. And I've cried several times reading this series. I love the way the author completes each character, showing the good side, as well as the bad, she has no favorites, but then neither does fate. From Llewelyn and Joanna, to Simon and Nell, I feel like I was there, in the cleaner world of the 12 century, the birds, the sky, the rivers, and mountains, all so crisp and clear.
Every time I finish a book, I am reluctant to start another, for fear that because favorite characters have passed from the story, I will have a hard time starting the next one, but the transitions are smooth and easy to slip into.
Every time I read one of Sharon Kay Penman’s novels I’m awed by her writing. I’d give my soul if I could write historical fiction the way she does.
Falls the Shadow is the second book of her Welsh Princes Trilogy and continues the story where Here Be Dragons leaves off. Llewellyn Ap Iorwerth dies and leaves his domain to Davydd, his son by Joanna, the illegitimate daughter of England’s King John. Davydd’s reign is relatively short and the struggle for dominance of Gwynnyd falls to the sons of Llewellyn’s elder, but illegitimate son Gruffydd. Llewellyn favored his grandson and namesake Llelo, and has managed to impart to him both his military aptitude and his understanding of the need for Wales to be united against the constantly encroaching English.
The book, however soon diverges to tell the story of Simon de Montfort and his family. King Henry III’s sister, Nell, widowed at a young age, forsakes her vow of chastity to marry de Montfort, much against her brother’s wishes. The relationship between the monarch and his brother-in-law is intermittently stormy and at one point he is exiled from England.
Henry III proves a devastatingly inept monarch, both militarily and politically, and, although Simon de Montfort has sworn fealty to him, he eventually becomes the leader of a rebellion by the English barons. They attempt to impose a set of provisions on Henry which were a logical extension of the Magna Carta. The King, however, is convinced that he answers only to God and will brook no interference.
Penman astutely illustrates how a mischance or a happenstance can dramatically alter the course of history. What if Simon de Montfort’s eldest son, Harry, had not been so trusting? What if his second son Bran had been more trustworthy and competent? The course of English history might have been entirely different.
Penman paints a vivid picture of England and Wales in the 13th century. She relates the tragic plight of the Jews of that era who were the lowest and most vulnerable residents in the realm. One of the most remarkable characters in her story is Thomas Fitz Thomas, the mayor of London, a staunch supporter of Simon de Montfort, who tries to protect the Jews of his city.
Prior to reading this book I knew absolutely nothing about Simon de Montfort and his noble struggle. One of the reasons I love reading Sharon Kay Penman’s books is that she fills in glaring gaps in my knowledge of English history. At the same time, she is a masterful story teller.
I just love rich historical novels that take you to another time and place and give you a feel for how people in another time and place lived, thought, worked, and played. I want enough drama in the plot, and richness in the historical detail, that I go to sleep thinking about it, and then wake up the next morning *still* thinking about it. And I want to learn something about history, which requires that the book be reasonably faithful to the events it describes. The Sunne In Splendour is all of this, and then some.

The Sunne In Splendour (I read it on ) is about the adventurous but ultimately tragic life of Richard III, brother to Edward IV (who preceded him on the throne). For most of the book, Edward IV is King of England, and Richard III is the favored, trusted brother; toward the end, briefly, he becomes King. This is a very complex story with many characters and subplots, which takes place during the War of the Roses, a civil war in England between the Houses of Lancaster and York in the late 15th century. The politics of the time were Machiavellian in the extreme power-politics, scheming, and occasionally outright treason were the norm, along with laying waste to much of the English countryside through continuous warfare. Within that context was a strange morality, brutal and foreign to the modern eye, but scarily comprehensible on its own terms. The book provides a rich, detailed look at the lives of all of the major players in the War of the Roses. It cannot be overstated how rich a tapestry this book is of 15th century English court life. What really comes through in the book, in a super-interesting way, is how inherently unstable is an absolute monarchical system. Such a system requires a strong king with a legitimate, widely-recognized claim to the throne, a loyal following of powerful supporters who (continue to) see their self-interest as aligned with the monarch's interests, and a healthy male heir. Any change in any of those variables immediately produces instability and danger, and the balance of power among competing factions is continually in flux as a result.

I did feel at times like fewer words would've helped a bit. It could've been 10 percent shorter and told the same story, but at a slightly faster pace. Some of the love story stuff was slightly tedious. But I'm a guy, what can I say. I want to read about politics, battles and history, not hand-holding and walking in the park. My wife, though, who read it on her concurrently, said she had the same reaction - a few less pages, a bit less meandering, would've made it better. While the book could've been a few pages shorter, it is still a solid 5 star masterpiece of historical fiction. Great stuff - highly, highly, highly recommended reading for any fan of historical fiction or English history.