Sharon Kay Penman's Blog, page 8

A bargain Ransom

I am delighted to let you all know that A King’s Ransom is currently available at a bargain price. You can buy the e-book edition for only $1.99, either as a Kindle or a Nook, and I believe the reduced price is good until January 26th. Unfortunately, only my American readers can benefit from this promotional bargain. Here is a link to my publisher’s Facebook page, although it can also be bought on Amazon or Barnes and Noble. https://www.facebook.com/PutnamBooks/...
Now, on to my Today in History post, a day late. On January 13th in 1151, one of the more significant figures of the twelfth century died, Abbot Suger of St Denis. He was a highly influential and respected counselor to two French kings, Louis le Gros and his son, Louis VII, first husband of our Eleanor. He was also a historian, author, and artistic patron; at one time he was even considered the originator of gothic architecture, although historians today don’t give him quite as much credit for that. We have him to thank for the survival of the elegant crystal vase that Eleanor presented to Louis at the time of their wedding, which resides today in the Louvre. Some historians have speculated that if Suger had not died when he did, Louis and Eleanor might not have gotten divorced, for Suger was adamantly opposed to the dissolution of their marriage. From all I’ve read of Abbot Suger, he was a benevolent influence, clever and generous, his only “flaw” a taste for luxurious living. But since my livelihood depends upon the accession of the Plantagenets to the English throne, I suppose I have to be glad that Abbot Suger did not get more time on earth than his biblical three score years and ten.

Cat in need

This is a sad story, but with a good chance for a happy ending. Click the link to find out about CVS Cat, who followed his owners around their Passyunk neighborhood like a dog; he especially liked accompanying them to the CVS store. A few months ago, though, he started showing up alone at the CVS. He was well known to customers for his friendly nature and they found out that his owners had moved away and left him on his own. Understandably traumatized, he has been seeking out comfort at the only other place that felt like home to him, the CVS store. Customers have been feeding him, and during the day he is allowed to wander the store, greet people, and nap on their newspaper stand. But when the store closes at night, he is evicted to fend for himself. His newfound friends are concerned, especially now that it is so cold, and they have been trying to find him a home. I think this story, which ran today in the Philadelphia Inquirer, should be a huge help. There are probably many families who’d be delighted to take this sweet boy in; it is just a question of making his plight known to the public. So I am asking my fellow animal lovers, especially those who live in the Tri-State area, to share this story on their Facebook pages or with their Goodreads friends here. Thanks!
https://www.inquirer.com/news/cvs-cat...

Devastation Down Under

Here is a touching story about people worldwide trying to help the Australian wildlife. They are estimating that over a billion animals have died because of these fires, almost impossible to comprehend. And to make donations to the Australian Red Cross, I am adding a link for that, too.
https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/07/austra...
https://australian-red-cross.giveeasy...

Hell Down Under

Sorry I am still not able to stop by on a regular basis; as frustrating as it is, I remain optimistic that things will change for the better in 2020, at least for my Facebook connections. I hope you all were able to welcome the new year in without too much stress. That was not possible, of course, for our friends in Australia. As I am sure most of you know, they are suffering the worst bush fires in their history; also facing record heat, this beautiful country now resembles Hell on earth.
The extent of these fires is staggering, They are using the unit hectare (one acre equals 2.47 hectares) The Amazon fires in 2019 consumed 900,000 hectares and the California fires in 2018 consumed 1,800,000 hectares. So far, the Australian fires have consumed five million hectares. The last that I heard, 24 people had died and many more were unaccounted for; hundreds of homes have been lost and it was estimated tonight that half a billion animals have been adversely affected by the fires. Unfortunately, the US media has not been covering this catastrophic story as thoroughly as it deserves; the BBC website and Australian media are better sources. Here is a link to a story about the fires and the devastating impact they have had on people and animals alike. I will also post a link to the Australian Red Cross for those who’d like to donate. In the past, Australia has often sent its firefighters to combat US fires in our western states. I am happy to report that firefighters from New Zealand, Canada, and the US have rushed to help; most of the brave Australian firefighters are volunteers, many of whom have lost their own homes.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia...

World's cutest thief?

All good wishes for a very merry Christmas and a happy Hanukkah to my readers and Facebook friends. For those of you who will be traveling over the holidays, I hope it goes smoothly, sparing you gridlock, winter storms, or the aching bones that come from being shoehorned into plane seats better suited to doll houses than 747s. Here is a link to a Christmas story sure to make you all smile, about a police department discovering that the theft of donated toys from their station was an inside job. https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/20/us/pol...

Christmas music I love and hate

I have my Christmas tree up and there is eggnog in the refrigerator and at night, I light candles in the windows. But I also have a Christmas tradition here, too—a discussion of holiday music, sharing our opinions about the songs we really like and those we really don’t. So I’ll get us started today.
One of my favorites is What Child is This, because it is set to the music of Greensleeves, one of my best-loved songs, followed by Christmas Eve—Sarajevo by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. I enjoy listening to The Little Drummer Boy, in large measure because my dad loved it and I think of him whenever I hear it. Along the same lines, I was never a fan of The Twelve Days of Christmas, but I have learned to like it simply because it was my mom’s favorite Christmas song. I stop whatever I am doing to listen to I’ll be Home for Christmas, even though I think it is one of the saddest songs of the season; I interpret it to be a lament for bygone days and loved ones now dead. Who does not like Silent Night? I am not normally a fan of novelty Christmas songs, though I do like Rudolph; after all, he prevails over the bullies in the end! I like Silver Bells and Mele Kalikimaka. I once lived in Hawaii and am still proud that greeting can roll trippingly over my tongue; Hawaiian is a beautiful language. I also have fond memories of decorating a corn plant with big red bows for our Christmas tree and going to the beach on Waikiki on Christmas Day.
There are more, of course, that I really like. And then there are the clunkers, the ones I’d ban from the airwaves forever if I ever become Dictator of the World. The version of Santa, Baby by Madonna sets my teeth on edge. I don’t like the song that turns “Christmasing” into a verb—ugh. And I absolutely loathe I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus, surely the most obnoxious Christmas song of all time. It always sounds smarmy to me, but I’ve even heard versions where the bratty kid plans to blackmail Mom, making her pay for his silence. As you can tell, I am not a fan of novelty songs, although I confess to being amused by Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer.
Okay…..your turn, guys. What Christmas songs do you love to hear and which ones affect your nerves like chalk on a blackboard?

One of my favorite films

I am sorry I cannot post an image here, but at least I can “tell” you the joke. It shows Peter O’Toole and Katharine Hepburn in a scene from The Lion in Winter, and the caption is: And they think Die-hard is an edgy, Christmas movie. I realize there are probably lots of people out there who would not understand the joke here. But that is so not true for us! I plan to add this to my renovated website; I will have an Angevin page and we’re going to include a few other Lion in Winter items there. I realize the film does require a suspension of belief at times—John was not the village idiot and Richard and Philippe were not lovers and I never believed Henry bedded Alys—but the wonderful performances by Peter O’Toole and Katharine Hepburn and the devastating dialogue carry the day as far as I am concerned; it remains one of my all-time favorites.

Monk and Mickelgate Bar

Cris and I became friends decades ago when I first moved to York to research Sunne. We’ve remained good friend, and I recently came upon a stunning photo she’d once sent me of the Monk Bar medieval gatehouse in York decked out for Christmas. I just shared it with all of my Facebook friends and readers. Unfortunately, I cannot do that here, but you can see it on all five of my Facebook pages.
It really is spectacular.
Most of you are probably more familiar with Micklegate Bar, for after the Duke of York and his teenage son Edmund had been slain at the battle of Wakefield, their heads were mounted on Micklegate Bar, grisly trophies of a Lancastrian victory that would prove very fleeting and very costly. That shocks modern sensibilities, but medievals became inured to such sights. I remember reading a chronicle in which it was reported that the citizens of Coventry were complaining about the heads of rebels mounted above the city’s main gate. But they were not repulsed; they were annoyed because one of the heads had not been properly attached and it kept plummeting down, sometimes hitting carts and passersby.

The Eagle and the Octopus

I am taking a quick break from my website rewrites to share a remarkable video with you all. I would not have believed it had they not captured it on video. I know many people feel that we should not interfere in Nature. But I was very glad that they saved the eagle. Yes, I know that octopi need to eat, too. They are not our national symbol, though.
After watching this incredible life-or-death duel, you can read my Today in History posts, though they will not be nearly as dramatic.
https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/12/americ...
On December 14, 1553, my favorite French king, Henri of Navarre, was born. If only I’d had nine lives like a cat, I’d have loved to write about him.
On December 14, 1287, one of the worst floods in history occurred. It was known as the St Lucia’s flood because it happened the day after St Lucy’s Day. A dike broke during a savage storm and it is estimated that 50,000 people were drowned in the Netherlands and northern Germany. Hundreds also died in England. The flood changed the history of the Netherlands by creating direct sea access for the village of Amsterdam, which allowed it to become a major port city.
On December 14, 1476 (maybe) Vlad the Impaler died. Prince of Wallachia, he earned a reputation in his lifetime for great cruelty, as his name indicates. But his real notoriety came in the 19th century when the novelist Bram Stoker chose Vlad’s family name—Dracul—for his infamous vampire, Dracula. I am sure Stoker never dreamed that vampires would become sex symbols in our time!
And on December 14th, 1542, King James V of Scotland died. He was the son of Margaret Tudor and the father of the little girl who would become known to history as Mary, Queen of Scots.

Interview with Bernard Cornwell

My interview with Bernard Cornwell is up! My website continues to refuse to let me add photos, one reason why we are doing this major renovation. I asked my webmaster to see if she could insert them,but I also added them on my Facebook pages. Here is the link. http://sharonkaypenman.com/blog/?p=701