[OFE]⇒ [PDF] Falls the Shadow Sharon Kay Penman 9780345360335 Books

Falls the Shadow Sharon Kay Penman 9780345360335 Books

Download As PDF : Falls the Shadow Sharon Kay Penman 9780345360335 Books

Falls the Shadow Sharon Kay Penman 9780345360335 Books

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.


Tags : Falls the Shadow [Sharon Kay Penman] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. "A marvelous literary and historical achievement...Impossible to put down." THE BOSTON HERALD This is Simon de Montfort's story--and the story of King Henry III,Sharon Kay Penman,Falls the Shadow,Ballantine Books,0345360338,FICTION Historical General,Fiction,Fiction - Historical,Fiction Action & Adventure,Fiction Historical,Fiction Literary,GENERAL,General Adult,Historical - General

Falls the Shadow Sharon Kay Penman 9780345360335 Books Reviews

Although more a fan of Henry VII, I’ve never believed the Shakespearean Richard III. Having said that, neither do I believe he was the saint put forth by the Richard III Society, mostly because of the rage-filled execution (murder), without trial or defense, of his close friend, since childhood, of Will Hastings. Hardly the act of a saintly king. Also, I believe he wasn’t innocent, if nothing else except pre-knowledge, of the murder of poor Henry VI. I do not believe he murdered the sons of his brother Edward IV, the renowned Princes in the Tower. My gut feeling, along with Penman’s belief, is that sorry deed must be laid at the feet of the overly ambitious and soulless Duke of Buckingham.

Was Richard III the evil, cruel, bitter and twisted king portrayed by William Shakespeare? Most properly not. Propaganda is propaganda, after all, even for those times. Did he have the right to take the throne? There I think is the real debate. To set aside his beloved brother’s family, sons and daughters that he confessed to love most devotedly is not the act of a decent man. It was the act of a man who wanted to be king, the act of a man, like so many others, willing to put aside right and wrong, family obligation, a dying king’s request; knowing endangering the lives of all of Edward’s children, for personal gain, personal glory, personal greed. Richard III was no saint.
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.