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Book Review
May. 30th, 2019 08:34 pmThe Reckoning
by Sharon Kay Penman
This is the final book in Penman's Welsh series, and it covers Llewelyn ap Gruffydd's ultimately doomed attempt to keep Wales independent and out of the clutches of Edward I during the late 13th century. As such, there is plenty of tragedy to go around. Penman does her usual brilliant job bringing the middle ages to life and creating compelling, memorable characters out of historical figures. I particularly liked the loving relationship between Llewelyn and his wife Ellen de Montfort, and the complicated relationship between Llewelyn and his mercurial brother Dafydd. Her finely shaded portrayal of Edward I as someone who can seem almost good, almost reasonable whilst wreaking havoc on lives and nations, was also enjoyable. Penman expertly uses these relationships, and others, to bring emotion and life into historic events. It's a long novel, but I never noticed the length. She remains one of the best writers of historical fiction.
by Sharon Kay Penman
This is the final book in Penman's Welsh series, and it covers Llewelyn ap Gruffydd's ultimately doomed attempt to keep Wales independent and out of the clutches of Edward I during the late 13th century. As such, there is plenty of tragedy to go around. Penman does her usual brilliant job bringing the middle ages to life and creating compelling, memorable characters out of historical figures. I particularly liked the loving relationship between Llewelyn and his wife Ellen de Montfort, and the complicated relationship between Llewelyn and his mercurial brother Dafydd. Her finely shaded portrayal of Edward I as someone who can seem almost good, almost reasonable whilst wreaking havoc on lives and nations, was also enjoyable. Penman expertly uses these relationships, and others, to bring emotion and life into historic events. It's a long novel, but I never noticed the length. She remains one of the best writers of historical fiction.
