New Novels

August 31, 2008 — fuzzyhistory

31 August 2008 — fuzzyhistory

Below is a list of forthcoming historical fiction. Click the book cover image to pre-order the novel at Amazon (U.S. site). Fuzzy History receives a small commission for referral purchases. Alternatively, use the resources in Find Books to locate of pre-order options.


Devil’s Brood by Sharon Kay Penman, 7 October 2008 (U.S. release), 5 February 2009 (U.K. release). The third book in the Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine series covers the final years of their marriage, including the first rebellion of their sons, the Young King, Richard I and Geoffrey, Eleanor’s imprisonment, the Young King’s death, and more. 
The Time of Singing by Elizabeth Chadwick, 2 October 2008 (U.K. release). This is the story of Roger Bigod and Ida de Tosney as they struggle to hold on to their family and lands under the tumultuous reigns of three kings – Henry II, Richard I and John.
Crown in Candlelight by Rosemary Hawley Jarman, 1 November 2008 (U.S. release). Biographical fiction on Katherine of Valois, covering her life with Henry V of France and Owen Tudor. Reprint.
I, Jacqueline by Hilda Lewis, 1 November 2008 (U.S. release). Biographical fiction on Jacqueline of Hainaut. Reprint.
The King’s Grey Mare by Rosemary Hawley Jarman, 1 November 2008 (U.S. release). Biographical fiction on Elizabeth Woodville, wife of Edward IV. Reprint.
Blood Royal by Elisabeth McNeill, 1 December 2008 (U.S. release). Product description: Nathan, a pedlar and seller of embroidery threads, first sets his eyes on Mary Queen of Scots as an infant being crowned at Stirling Castle. He follows her life, being one of the many who are drawn to her, and becomes more closely involved in her life than a mere pedlar could possibly imagine.
After the Lies by Mandessa Selby, 17 December 2008 (U.S. release). A love story during the Indian wars in Texas in 1873.
Blindspot by Jane Kamensky and Jill Lepore, 9 December 2008 (U.S. release). Historical mystery set in 1764 in Boston.
The Virgin Queen’s Daughter by Ella March Chase, 30 December 2008 (U.S. release). Speculation surrounding an illegitimate child belonging to Elizabeth I.
People of the Thunder by W. Michael Gear and Kathleen O’Neal Gear, 6 January 2009 (U.S. release). Product description: By 1300 AD, the Sky Hand people had crushed and enslaved the Albaamaha people and built their high-walled capital, Split Sky City, to dominate towns up and down the Black Warrior River. Great armies are on the march, and a cunning new leader, Smoke Shield, has risen. He will lead the Sky Hand people either to stunning triumph or to bloody doom.
Twelve by Jasper Kent, January 2009 (U.S. release). An army captain under Alexander I discovers intrigue and treachery in a band of Wallachian mercenaries during Napolean’s invasion of Russia in 1812. Twelve is the first in a series of 5 novels that span Russian history from the Revolution of 1917 to the first World War. Excerpt.
The Antigallican by Tom Bowling, January 2009 (U.S. release). In June 1794, the first major naval engagement of the Napoleonic Revolutionary War takes place between British and French ships. The story centers around the French frigate, The Hortense, which is commanded by Republican Admiral Jan Van Stabel and on its way to deliver corn to the French.
Fire and Sword by Simon Scarrow, 8 January 2009 (U.K. release). The third book in a quartet focusing on Wellington and Napoleon.
Roanoke by Margaret Lawrence, 27 January 2009 (U.S. and U.K. release). “Roanoke tells the story of two Queens and two continents, linked by one of history’s most fascinating unsolved mysteries: What Really Happened to the lost colony of Roanoke?” (High Crimes Mystery Bookshop)

More Resources for Forthcoming Historical Fiction

  • Historical Fiction at Amazon
  • Historical Novel Society
  • Forthcoming Books for 2008 (part 1)
  • Forthcoming Books for 2008 (part 2)
  • Forthcoming Books for 2009
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Historical Fiction Online

August 27, 2008 — fuzzyhistory

Susan Higginbotham has been kind enough to remind me about the availability of a new discussion forum on historical fiction. Historical Fiction Online is a spin-off of the former, HistoricalFiction.org, which mysteriously went offline late last week.

Members have been working hard to restore as much of the content as possible. The new site provides a forum for discussing historical fiction and related issues. You will find book reviews, discussions on authors, time periods, research and writing issues, and more.

Free registration is required.

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Historical Fiction on Eleanor of Acquitaine

August 27, 2008 — fuzzyhistory

Updated 2 September 2008. A most unique and interesting woman, Eleanor of Acquitaine was at different times queen to the kings of two countries – Louis VII of France and Henry II of England. She inherited Aquitaine (southwestern portion of France) at the tender age of 15 when her father, Duke William, died without a male heir.

Eleanor lived an eventful life. She actively recruited soldiers from her duchy in preparation for the Second Crusade. She also joined the Crusade.

When she became bored with Louis, she attempted to divorce him. Later, the two received an annulment.

Eleanor then married Henry, 11 years her junior. They were crowned king and queen of England together in December 1154. Eleanor again became disgruntled about 12 years later, superficially because of Henry’s public affair with Rosamond Clifford. She returned to Aquitaine.

By 1172, she was leading her older sons (Young King, Richard and Geoffrey) into rebellion against Henry. The short-lived uprising ended in her capture. Eleanor remained Henry’s prisoner for 16 years.

After his death, she ruled England while Richard was on crusade. Eleanor died in 1204 at about the age of 82. (Source: Marion Meade, Eleanor of Aquitaine, Penguin Books, 1977)

Regarding historical fiction about Eleanor, see the reading list below. Use the resources available in Find Books to locate copies. Or for books currently available at Amazon, follow the title links. Fuzzy History receives a small commission for referral purchases.

Green titles comprise those I really enjoyed (Excellent to Very Good rating). If there is no comment following the title, I haven’t read the book and I know nothing about it. Please feel free to suggest titles by leaving a comment.

Alinor by Roberta Gellis. The second book in The Roselynde Chronicles, a historical romance with strong historical background. Eleanor plays a minor role.

Beloved Enemy by Ellen Jones. The focus is on the relationship between Henry and Eleanor during their early years.

The Book of Eleanor by Pamela Kaufman. Historically inaccurate, but if accuracy isn’t high on your list of requirements in historical fiction, you may enjoy the romantic tale.

The Canterbury Papers by Judith Koll Healey. A historical mystery with intrigue centering around Eleanor and her desire to retrieve a secret cache of letters.

Champion by L. Christian Balling. Biographical fiction on the knight, William Marshall (see The Greatest Knight and The Scarlet Lion), with Eleanor in the background.

The Court of Love by Denee Cody. A historical romance with many of the problems associated with the genre.

The Courts of Love by Peter Bourne. A historical romance.

The Courts of Love by Jean Plaidy. The 5th book in the Queens of England Series focuses on Eleanor.

Cruel as the Grave by Sharon Kay Penman. The second in a history mystery series that begins with The Queen’s Man.

Death at Blenheim Palace by Robin Paige. A historical mystery with early 20th century researchers investigating the poisoning of Rosamund Clifford.

Devil’s Brood by Alfred Duggan. Covers much of the same ground as Sharon Kay Penman’s new novel by the same title.

Devil’s Brood by Sharon Kay Penman. The third book in the Henry II and Eleanor trilogy will be released in October 2008. It covers the later years of their marriage.

Dragon’s Lair by Sharon Kay Penman. The third in a history mystery series that begins with The Queen’s Man.

Duchess of Aquitaine by Margaret Ball. Biographical fiction on Eleanor.

Eleanor: Crown Jewel of Aquitaine by Kristiana Gregory. Young adult fiction.

Eleanor: The Passionate Queen by Anne Powers.

Eleanor the Queen by Nora Lofts. Biographical fiction on Eleanor. Later reprinted as Queen in Waiting.

Forever Love by Laurie Grant. Historical romance.

The Greatest Knight by Elizabeth Chadwick. Biographical fiction on William Marshal, a knight during the reigns of Henry II and his sons. Eleanor once saved his life. She appears throughout.

The Lion in Winter: A Play by James Goldman. Tells the story of Henry and Eleanor starting in 1183, six years prior to Henry’s death.

The Lion of England by Margaret Butler. Henry takes a fictional mistress with pagan beliefs while Eleanor is imprisoned for leading the rebellion of his sons. (World Historical Fiction, Oryx Press, 1998)

The Lute Player by Nora Lofts. Biographical fiction on Eleanor’s son, Richard I. Part of the story told from Eleanor’s point of view.

Mortal Love by Linda Hutchins. Eleanor muses about the people she knows and the way she passes her days. (World Historical Fiction, Oryx Press, 1998)

My Lady Troubadour by Maureen Peters.

The Passionate Brood by Margaret Campbell Barnes. Focuses on the sons of Henry and Eleanor.

The Plantagenet Prelude by Jean Plaidy. This is the first of 14 books in the Plantagenet Saga. It covers Eleanor’s early years.

A Pride of Kings by Juliet Dymoke. The first book in The Plantagenets series, it covers Eleanor, Henry, Richard and John.

Prince of Darkness by Sharon Kay Penman. The fourth in a history mystery series that begins with The Queen’s Man.

A Proud Taste for Scarlet and Miniver by E.L. Konigsburg. Young adult fiction.

The Queen’s Man by Sharon Kay Penman. The first book in a historical mystery series set during the time of Henry and Eleanor.

The Queen’s War by Jeanne MacKin. Focuses on the first rebellion of Henry’s sons, the Young King, Richard and Geoffrey.

The Revolt of the Eaglets by Jean Plaidy. This is the second book in the Plantagenet Saga. It covers Eleanor’s marriage to Henry and her involvement in sons’ first rebellion. It’s much the same ground covered in Devil’s Brood.

The Scarlet Lion by Elizabeth Chadwick. Biographical fiction on William Marshal, a knight during the reigns of Henry II and his sons. Focuses on the years after his marriage to Isabel de Clare. Eleanor appears throughout.

The Serpent’s Tale by Ariana Franklin. Eleanor is the prime suspect in this historical murder mystery that involves the death of Henry’s mistress, Rosamund Clifford. (U.K. title is The Death Maze)

Through a Glass Darkly by Carol Phillips Cooke.

The Tigress and the Rose by Richard Cameron Low. I found no information on this book, but the subtitle indicates it’s about Eleanor and Rosamund Clifford, one of Henry’s mistresses.

Time and Chance by Sharon Kay Penman. I haven’t read this novel yet. The second in the Henry II and Eleanor trilogy, it covers the early years of their marriage

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Do You Love/Hate Richard III?

August 17, 2008 — fuzzyhistory

17 August 2008 — fuzzyhistory

Vulpes Libris will discuss Richard III during the week. “We won’t be providing any definitive answers this week, but we will – we hope – be offering a reasonably balanced overview of the most controversial and enigmatic monarch England has ever known.” Discussion topics include Shakespeare’s Richard III, Sharon Kay Penman’s The Sunne in Splendour, Emma Darwin’s A Secret Alchemy (due out in the U.K. in November 2008), Sir John Everett Millais’ painting, The Two Princes Edward and Richard in the Tower, two different versions of Richard III in film, and Annette Carson’s Richard III: The Maligned King. Annette Carson will join in at the end of the week. (Tip of the hat to EC at Historicalfiction.org for the head’s up.)

Richard III Week

  • To Prove a Villain (Monday)
  • The Sunne in Splendor by Sharon Kay Penman (Tuesday)
  • Writing wrongs to make A Secret Alchemy (Wednesday)
  • The Shadows in History’s Eye (Thursday)
  • The Trouble with Richard III on Film, or just The Trouble with Richard III? (Friday)
  • The Maligned King by Annette Carson (Saturday)
  • Interview with Annette Carson (Sunday)
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Fiction and Non-fiction on Edward II

August 14, 2008 — fuzzyhistory

14 August 2008 — fuzzyhistory

I have admired Alianore’s Edward II blog from afar for awhile. I was catching up on my blog reading tonight when I found her post on fiction and non-fiction on Edward II. It’s a great list with short annotations.

I read two of the fictional titles on her “like” list – The Traitor’s Wife by Susan Higginbotham and The Lion of Mortimer by Juliet Dymoke. Both of these are excellent. I intend to re-read them.

I’ve been watching for Brenda Honeyman’s books at used book sales for several months. She’s not easy to find. I’ve seen some of her titles associated with the name Brenda Clarke. Unfortunately, she’s not available through my local library. I may have to go the interlibrary loan route (since she’s on Alianore’s “like” list).

Don’t miss the comments on the post. They’re equally informative and entertaining.

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Lavinia by Ursula K. Le Guin

August 10, 2008 — fuzzyhistory

Similar to Black Ships (review), Lavinia comes to light through Virgil’s Aeneid. But it picks up the story where Black Ships ends – with Aeneas’s marriage to King Latinus’s daughter, Lavinia, after defeating the enemies of Latium.

Lavinia, who never speaks in the original Aeneid, visits a sacred cave where she meets the shade of the dying Virgil. He tells her of what is to come – of Aeneas, the coming battles, her future child and more. You know the end of the story – or you think you do – before Aeneas arrives. But you don’t know how it ends.

Even though the story isn’t new, I found it compelling. Le Guin’s style of writing sucked me in and I put the book down only twice before finishing it. I wonder, though, if I had read the Aeneid and knew the story well, if I would have found it as compelling. I think so, especially since Le Guin gives voice to Lavinia, but I’ll never know for certain.

I especially appreciate the author’s end note, which is more of a historical essay. Here, Le Guin explains why she chose to re-tell the last part of the Aeneid. She talks about the geography of the region and the sources she used to pinpoint the locations in Lavinia. She also discusses what parts – or rather, what emphasis of the original Aeneid – she minimized and why.

While both Lavinia and Black Ships are great reads, perhaps especially for people like me who never had the opportunity to read the Latin Aeneid, I enjoyed Lavinia a bit more. Perhaps it’s just the romance of Lavinia’s story; perhaps it’s the writing of a more seasoned author. I don’t know. But I simply did not want this book to end. Rating: Very Good+ (Click the image above to purchase the novel from Amazon. Fuzzy History receives a small commission for the referral.)

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Devil’s Brood by Sharon Kay Penman – ARC

August 10, 2008 — fuzzyhistory

10 August 2008 — fuzzyhistory

 

Updated 13 August 2008. Yipee! I received an advance reading copy of Sharon Kay Penman’s upcoming novel, Devil’s Brood, through a promotion offered on Shelf Awareness.

It’s the third book in a trilogy that includes When Christ and His Saints Slept (book 1) and Time and Chance (book 2). According to the book cover, Devil’s Brood takes place during the last days of the tempestuous marriage of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine. I’m reading it now and I really like it.

The author’s Web site now features an excerpt from the novel. It’s due out in U.S. bookstores in October 2008.

Thanks, Penguin Group and Shelf Awareness! (Click the image above to pre-order the novel from Amazon. Fuzzy History receives a small commission for the referral.

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Stealing Athena by Karen Essex

August 9, 2008 — fuzzyhistory

9 August 2008 — fuzzyhistory

Stealing Athena tells the story of the deconstruction of the Elgin Marbles during the early 19th Century. Originally belonging to the Parthenon, the Elgin Marbles comprise marble sculptures created, or supervised, by the Greek sculptor Pheidias. In 1801, Thomas Bruce, the British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, received permission to remove them to England. He did so over the course of several years at great expense and not without mishap.

While the politics of both countries regarding this event, as well as the disruption of the Napoleonic Wars, provide interesting background, the story centers around the lives of two women – Bruce’s (called Lord Elgin) wife, Mary, and Aspasia, the consort of the Athenian politician Perikles during the 4th Century B.C. Both women suffer to a greater or lesser degree because they live in a world that did not recognize their status except as a man’s chattel.

Thus, the premise of the novel intrigued me. But, unfortunately, the anachronistic portrayal of Aspasia, as well as oft-mentioned feminist ideals out of context with the times and anachronisms in conversations amongst ancient Greeks (particularly, the use of modern coarse slang) contribute to my overall dissatisfaction with the book.

If this were the sum of the problems with the novel, I might still have rated it “good” as defined in my chart. But the story fails to engage. I became bored at about page 150 and remained bored until the end. I was unable to connect with either Elgin or Mary.

Elgin was an irritating conniving vengeful bully, who despite his role in government, remained clueless about people and politics. Mary, more a woman of her times than Aspasia, was too innocent and saintly – a Mary Sue. Rating: Fair.

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Amazon to Acquire Abebooks

August 1, 2008 — fuzzyhistory
1 August 2008 — fuzzyhistory

Amazon announced today it would acquire the online used books aggregator Abebooks. Abebooks will continue to operate independently. It’s Web sites will remain in operation.

LibraryThing posted a note indicating that Abebooks owns a minority share in the company. Therefore, if the deal receives approval from the shareholders and the Federal Trade Commission, Amazon will own a minority share in LT.

While LT assures customers they will see no changes, my hope is that Amazon will pay more attention to how LT handles tags. Maybe Amazon will even license LT technology for tags and improve the handling of such for those of us who also are customers of Amazon. Hint! Hint

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