Sharon Kay Penman's Blog, page 68
March 25, 2015
Mont St Michel at its best
This is a dramatic video of Mont St Michel, one of my favorite places in all the world, appearing as an island again because of a historic high tide. I’d have loved to have seen it for myself.
http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/rar...
Here are some photos of the abbey, temporarily claimed again by the waters of the bay.
http://www.cnn.com/2015/03/22/travel/...
In Prince of Darkness, I was fortunate enough to set some scenes in this remarkable locale; I even got to commit a murder there. Here is Justin’s first look at Mont St Michel.
Page 125.
* * *
They reached Mont St Michel as the late afternoon shadows were lengthening. In spite of his fear for Arzhela, Justin was awestruck at sight of the abbey. At first glance, it looked to be a castle carved from the very rocks of the isle, its towering spires reaching halfway to Heaven, the last bastion of Christian faith in a world of denial and disbelief. A fragment of religious lore came back to him, that St Michael was known as the guardian of the threshold between life and eternity, and that seemed the perfect description for his abbey, too, a bridge between the land of the living and the sea of the dead.
* * *
And here is Justin de Quincy and his nemesis, Durand de Curzon, making a dangerous night crossing from Genets, Normandy to Mont St Michel, with the help of a local guide. Since in the twelfth century, the tide came in fast enough to outrun and overtake a galloping horse, the risk was great indeed.
PRINCE OF DARKNESS, pages 145-147
* * *
The Mont was still sharply etched against the darkening sky and seemed to have a halo of stars. The horses were edgy, sensing the mood of their riders, and Baldric had difficulty getting his mount under control. “I usually do this on foot during the day,” he admitted. “Any advice about keeping on this nag’s good side?”
“Just do not fall off,” Durand said laconically, and the young Norman laughed mirthlessly.
“Passing strange that you should say that, for I was about to warn you that we do not stop, not for anything or anyone. If one of you blunders off course into a bog, a pity, but we’ll not be riding back to your rescue. Understood?”
Justin and Durand traded smiles like unsheathed daggers. “Understood.”
Baldric was studying the clouds scudding across the sky. “At least the wind is from the north. The tide comes in faster if it’s driven by a westerly wind. Given a choice, I’d rather be crossing at least two hours before the next high tide. But we still ought to have enough time. Just follow after me, and hope that the Archangel is in a benevolent mood tonight.”
(omission)
The wind was cold and wet and carried the scent of seaweed and salt. The muted roar of the unseen sea echoed in Justin’s ears, as rhythmic as a heartbeat. Seagulls screeched over-head, their shrill cries eerily plaintive. Justin’s stallion had an odd gait, picking up its hooves so high that it was obviously not comfortable with the footing. One of the tavern customers had told Justin that walking on the sand was like treading upon a tightly stretched drum; he very much hoped that he’d not have the opportunity to test that observation for himself. Behind him, he could hear Durand cursing. Justin kept his eyes upon the glow of Baldric’s swaying lantern, doing his best to convince himself that, as St Michael led Christian souls into the holy light, so would this Norman youth lead them to safety upon the shore.
The sound of the surging sea was louder now. Along the horizon they could see the starlit froth of whitecaps. Despite all they’d been told about the tides of St Michel, they were amazed by the speed of those encroaching waters, and it was with vast relief that they splashed onto the sands of the Mont. Baldric did not slow his pace, though, urging them off the beach and on toward the steep rocks that sheltered the village.
They soon saw why he’d been in such haste. The water was rising at an incredibly rapid rate. By the time the tide hit the isle of Tombelaine, it had merged into a single white wave. It was soon swallowing up the beaches of the Mont, a wall of water slamming against the rocks with such force that spume was flung high into the air, and for the first time Justin and Durand fully understood why it had been so difficult to find a guide.
* * *
http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/rar...
Here are some photos of the abbey, temporarily claimed again by the waters of the bay.
http://www.cnn.com/2015/03/22/travel/...
In Prince of Darkness, I was fortunate enough to set some scenes in this remarkable locale; I even got to commit a murder there. Here is Justin’s first look at Mont St Michel.
Page 125.
* * *
They reached Mont St Michel as the late afternoon shadows were lengthening. In spite of his fear for Arzhela, Justin was awestruck at sight of the abbey. At first glance, it looked to be a castle carved from the very rocks of the isle, its towering spires reaching halfway to Heaven, the last bastion of Christian faith in a world of denial and disbelief. A fragment of religious lore came back to him, that St Michael was known as the guardian of the threshold between life and eternity, and that seemed the perfect description for his abbey, too, a bridge between the land of the living and the sea of the dead.
* * *
And here is Justin de Quincy and his nemesis, Durand de Curzon, making a dangerous night crossing from Genets, Normandy to Mont St Michel, with the help of a local guide. Since in the twelfth century, the tide came in fast enough to outrun and overtake a galloping horse, the risk was great indeed.
PRINCE OF DARKNESS, pages 145-147
* * *
The Mont was still sharply etched against the darkening sky and seemed to have a halo of stars. The horses were edgy, sensing the mood of their riders, and Baldric had difficulty getting his mount under control. “I usually do this on foot during the day,” he admitted. “Any advice about keeping on this nag’s good side?”
“Just do not fall off,” Durand said laconically, and the young Norman laughed mirthlessly.
“Passing strange that you should say that, for I was about to warn you that we do not stop, not for anything or anyone. If one of you blunders off course into a bog, a pity, but we’ll not be riding back to your rescue. Understood?”
Justin and Durand traded smiles like unsheathed daggers. “Understood.”
Baldric was studying the clouds scudding across the sky. “At least the wind is from the north. The tide comes in faster if it’s driven by a westerly wind. Given a choice, I’d rather be crossing at least two hours before the next high tide. But we still ought to have enough time. Just follow after me, and hope that the Archangel is in a benevolent mood tonight.”
(omission)
The wind was cold and wet and carried the scent of seaweed and salt. The muted roar of the unseen sea echoed in Justin’s ears, as rhythmic as a heartbeat. Seagulls screeched over-head, their shrill cries eerily plaintive. Justin’s stallion had an odd gait, picking up its hooves so high that it was obviously not comfortable with the footing. One of the tavern customers had told Justin that walking on the sand was like treading upon a tightly stretched drum; he very much hoped that he’d not have the opportunity to test that observation for himself. Behind him, he could hear Durand cursing. Justin kept his eyes upon the glow of Baldric’s swaying lantern, doing his best to convince himself that, as St Michael led Christian souls into the holy light, so would this Norman youth lead them to safety upon the shore.
The sound of the surging sea was louder now. Along the horizon they could see the starlit froth of whitecaps. Despite all they’d been told about the tides of St Michel, they were amazed by the speed of those encroaching waters, and it was with vast relief that they splashed onto the sands of the Mont. Baldric did not slow his pace, though, urging them off the beach and on toward the steep rocks that sheltered the village.
They soon saw why he’d been in such haste. The water was rising at an incredibly rapid rate. By the time the tide hit the isle of Tombelaine, it had merged into a single white wave. It was soon swallowing up the beaches of the Mont, a wall of water slamming against the rocks with such force that spume was flung high into the air, and for the first time Justin and Durand fully understood why it had been so difficult to find a guide.
* * *
March 24, 2015
What famous actor is a distant cousin (very distant!) to Richard III?
Stories about kings today. Another interesting relative of Richard III is taking part in the services on Thursday. http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2...
And here is some more news about the kings (and queens) fighting over the Iron Throne.
http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2...
And here is some more news about the kings (and queens) fighting over the Iron Throne.
http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2...
People at their worst and dogs at their best
Believe it or not, I am not starting out with a Richard III story this morning. But I do have a story that will have you all shaking your heads in disbelief. A young woman who lost her leg in an accident last year is learning to use a prosthetic leg and her apartment complex gave her a parking spot close to the door so she needn’t risk falling on the ice. When someone else parked there, she left them a note, pointing out that this was a disabled parking spot. In return she got a note mocking her disability, calling her a crybaby, making a veiled threat, and ending that she should tell this to someone who cared. Her sister posted this poisonous screed on-line and it turns out there are a lot of people who care. Here is the link. http://www.cnn.com/videos/us/2015/03/...
Meanwhile, dogs continue on their quiet quest to prove they are smarter than a lot of their human best friends. Certainly nicer. Here is the story of the heroic Nico, who saved a couple from drowning when they were caught in a riptide, and they were strangers to Nico, too. Just people in trouble who needed his help. http://www.cnn.com/videos/us/2015/03/...
And lest we slight other animal heroes, here is a video of a couple admiring some ponies in a field when they are suddenly attacked by a wild boar. But not to worry; the ponies came to their rescue and actually chased the boar away. They don’t say where this happened; the couple is clearly speaking French and I saw it said elsewhere that it was in Belgium.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPacF...
Meanwhile, dogs continue on their quiet quest to prove they are smarter than a lot of their human best friends. Certainly nicer. Here is the story of the heroic Nico, who saved a couple from drowning when they were caught in a riptide, and they were strangers to Nico, too. Just people in trouble who needed his help. http://www.cnn.com/videos/us/2015/03/...
And lest we slight other animal heroes, here is a video of a couple admiring some ponies in a field when they are suddenly attacked by a wild boar. But not to worry; the ponies came to their rescue and actually chased the boar away. They don’t say where this happened; the couple is clearly speaking French and I saw it said elsewhere that it was in Belgium.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPacF...
March 23, 2015
Richard--the drama continues
My agent told me they’d issued safety warnings, asking people to stay away from the cathedral in Leicester as there were thousands lined-up to pay respects to Richard and there was a four hour wait to get inside. One of my readers now says the wait is down to two hours and they are selling cold drinks, etc, to people in line.
And here is live coverage of it all.
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/ri...
And here is live coverage of it all.
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/ri...
The White Rose and the Red
This is quite a week for all who believe Shakespeare got it wrong and Richard was much maligned. But on this date in 1429, a woman was born who’d not have joined in the celebrations, Marguerite d’Anjou. I imagine she hated Edward the most, but I doubt that she harbored warm feelings for his brother. Her life was a tumultuous one with many mistakes and much sorrow, but I have to admit that she was fun to write about.
Meanwhile, I bet I am not the only one who was moved when the church bells began to toll as Richard’s coffin was carried into the cathedral yesterday. I think it is wonderful that his great-nephew seventeen times removed, the gentleman who provided the DNA for a conclusive identification, was the one chosen to build his coffin; he is a cabinet-maker. And I had to smile when they announced that one of the horses pulling the funeral cortege was named Lionheart.
Now here is a ton of coverage from the BBC—many photos of the crowds in Leicester, tweets, (no, not from Richard) and links to other articles. Even if I were not a partisan of the White Rose and the White Boar, I would find all this fascinating; how often do we see medieval history brought to the forefront like this?
http://www.bbc.com/news/live/uk-engla...
Meanwhile, I bet I am not the only one who was moved when the church bells began to toll as Richard’s coffin was carried into the cathedral yesterday. I think it is wonderful that his great-nephew seventeen times removed, the gentleman who provided the DNA for a conclusive identification, was the one chosen to build his coffin; he is a cabinet-maker. And I had to smile when they announced that one of the horses pulling the funeral cortege was named Lionheart.
Now here is a ton of coverage from the BBC—many photos of the crowds in Leicester, tweets, (no, not from Richard) and links to other articles. Even if I were not a partisan of the White Rose and the White Boar, I would find all this fascinating; how often do we see medieval history brought to the forefront like this?
http://www.bbc.com/news/live/uk-engla...
March 22, 2015
Live coverage, starting today, of Ricardian events in Leicester
Live coverage below of Richard’s remarkable week in Leicester, culminating in Thursday’s ceremony at Leicester Cathedral. I’ll post other links as friends share them, and I am guessing you guys will too.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth...
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth...
March 21, 2015
Richard the rock star
It has begun. CNN has quite a lot of coverage of Richard III, his lost grave, the fight over his bones, what we learned from the skeleton, and the upcoming ceremonies and events. Take that, Henry Tudor!
http://www.cnn.com/…/richard-iii-leic...
http://www.cnn.com/…/richard-iii-leic...
March 20, 2015
First reviews of Game of Thrones
I just had to spend ten minutes clearing snow from my car on the first day of spring. This is wrong on so many levels. Luckily we can remind ourselves that we don't have eternal winters like in Westeros; it just feels that way. Anyway, here are the first reviews of the Tower of London screening. http://www.ew.com/…/game-thrones-earl...…
Eclipse!
This is an amazing video of an eclipse of the sun in the Faeroe Islands, which are in the North Atlantic, halfway between Norway and Iceland. (Yes, I had to Google that) An English friend tells me this is Eclipse Day and many in the UK and Europe will be lucky enough to witness this fascinating phenomenon; how much will depend where you live.
http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/tim...
http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/tim...
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