I just saw her books in the bookstore and I'm wondering what the general impression is regarding storyline and historical accuracy.

Any one have any favorites in particular that you'd recommend as a starting point for her books?

Love her, and she always seems very historically accurate. Do you prefer historical fiction or historical mystery? I can't speak much to the historical mystery, but if you prefer historical fiction I would just pick the book/series on the period that most interests you.

The Sunne in Splendor is great reading, as accurate as historical fiction gets. Highly recommended - if you like medieval history.

Penman writes big books that have a lot of details & sub-plots. They are not historical mysteries, though they contain mysteries & they also contain romance. Ms Penman takes pride in her accuracy of historical facts. If you start a series of her books (she usually writes in series of 3) make sure you start with the 1st one, first.

Her books are the best historical fiction - she's the gold standard to base all others on, you don't get much better than Penman, her historical accuracy is right on and I second The Sunne in Splendour - a great book!

Sunne in Splendour is my Favorite, made me believe that Richard is really great! Then I tried her Here be Dragons series on Wales, which is followed byfalls the shadowand The REckoning For another pass at her work, there is when christ and his saints slept

So that inclination to get them at the bookstore, go for it...

Penman is one of the best! Highly recommend all of her books that have been mentioned as well as Time and Chance and her most recent release, Devil's Brood. These are books 2 and 3 in her trilogy on Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine - When Christ and His Saints Slept is the first.

Thanks for the recommendations.

Think I'll try the used bookstore first though. I saw that some of the books that appear to start series' were missing in my local store.

I am in general a fan of this author also. She writes very well. Sunne in Splendour is a tremendous novel, though you should be aware that her very positive view of all Richard III's actions is by no means shared by all historians.

>4

The Justin de Quincy books are historical mystery. The only one I've read is the first, The Queen's Man, which I highly recommend if you like mystery and the late twelfth century.

Just finished Sunne in Splendour for the second time...start there! You won't be disappointed.

I love her too. I prefer her historical fiction books to her historical mystery books. The HF are very meaty which I like. The HM books are what I would call thin, not as satisfying (though not terrible).

SQUEEEE! Sharon Kay Penman will be on LibraryThing for a few weeks (until August 21st), participating in an Author Chat.

http://www.librarything.com/talktopic.ph...

Mensagem editada pelo autor, Ago 10, 2009, 10:42am.

Very cool

I am a huge fan of SKP's books. I definitely would recommend The Sunne in Splendour as a starting point for her writing. Although it is a positive look at Richard III, I still would recommend it. It made me believe that the Shakespearean portrayal of Richard was tainted.

I also enjoyed (cried while reading) the Welsh Trilogy, it's remarkable.

To be honest, there is not one of her HF books that I wouldn't recommend. I have not read any of her HF mysteries yet.

Enjoy!

Sharon Kay Penman sets a high bar for historical accuracy and literary style. Her story entraps the reader, sending one into the Middle Ages, experiencing both fictional and real characters, "being right there" in the past, at the same time learning a lot. Her novels are excellent spring boards for more scholarly study.
I recommend them one and all.

I have read all of SKP's books except the mysteries. I started with "The Sunne in Splendour", moved on the Eleanor of Aquitaine trilogy and just finished the Welsh Trilogy. All the books were excellent. I took "The Reckoning" on vacation and lost it. I had to have a book for my flight home and picked up a Philippa Gregory book in the airport gift shop. After months of reading Penman, the Gregory book (The White Queen) seems almost juvenile, as if it was written for young adults. I am almost in mourning that I have no more of SKP's historical fiction books to read and eagerly await her next book which I believe is to be titled "The Lionheart".

While reading her books I will frequently google places and people mentioned. I have yet to find a historical inaccuracies. Any fictional character she inserts or inaccuracies she explains in her "author's note" at the end of the book.

Sharon Kay Penman is highly regarded for her historical accuracy. She also keeps a great story-line going. Each of her books have led me to do further research. My three favorites are "When Christ and His Saints Slept" about the 12th century civil war between William the Conqueror's granddaughter Matilda ( who I wish had won) and nephew, the future King Stephen, for the throne, "Devils' Brood" about Eleanor of Aquataine and Henry plus their brood of future kings, and finally "Here Be Dragons" about England and Wales in the 13th century. I can't say which is my favorite because I've read them all more than once.
However, her The Justin de Quincy Mysteries I couldn't get into. I like much more substantial history.
Good luck,
Sheila

#18 - you could argue that Matilda almost did win the civil war in that it was her son Henry's line that succeeded to the throne, rather than Stephen, who died a year after the war ended.

I just read the first two books in the Welsh trilogy. Loved them! I definitely needed the tissues in parts. I'm happy to know she is writing another book and I am so glad I have more by her to read in the meantime...I'm hooked.
Vicky

I really enjoyed Sunne in Splendor and Here Be Dragons. I don't know if all her titles are available.