Carol’s Comments (group member since Jun 05, 2013)

Carol’s comments from the Ask Carol McGrath group.

A Tudor period or early Stuart novel set in and about a tower house would certainly make for an atmospheric read.

Me too. And Zoe has given me so much too for it. Very excited. Paula's story is excellent so I look forward to the next part. I have also been reading and have loved Peaceweaver. Put it on the book shelf and must add some more 1066 books too.

And I have already written 90 per cent of the first draft in this way of Gunnhild and Alan and Niall.

Yes I used her too when writing The Handfasted Wife. Excellent.

Ah Paula, I do agree and Oderic was writing after the events. However I have looked at land tenure too and yes, he kept on Saxon/Norse lords in the north and I like to think he was clever about how he handled the north after the harrowing. That does not mean to say his relationship with Gunnhild was a successful one. She did take up with his brother. Maybe, as Zoe told me, Alan (Niall in my story) Alan's black-haired half brother was Launcelot to her Guinivere. I do use this notion in my new book. Thank you Zoe and Paula. You are both inspiring me here!

http://englishhistoryauthors.blogspot...

This is a link to my blog today on how it is possible that panels of the tapestry were made at Wilton Abbey.

I think you need to recognise you are writing fiction if this is what you are writing. There are variations in clothing and apart from maybe woven plaids I cannot think of any Irish distinction. For noblewomen go by the English versions maybe. I don't know of book groups but will ask Henrietta who is coming to my book launch next week if she can suggest any. The main thing with fiction as you know are the characters and the plot. I think you should have enough already. Don't get too bogged down with detail. Conceal research with action. Good luck. Will keep the discussion going as long as Goodreads permits!

That too is interesting. What ports did the Bretons use do you think? Could they use St Malo . I am thinking just how rocky the coastline is. Where we're their shipbuilding ports? All interesting . I think some of those ships must have been very big and 60 does not surprise me. I know the Bretons starred at Hastings. They, also, were a large proportion of William's forces. Then we're there not Bretons who rebelled against him after Hastings and why did Brian , Alan 's brother give up his Cornish lands? Do you know?

Thank you Zoe for commenting. I think Alan could well have known Edith Swan-Neck, and they were all nobles together after all. It is likely that Alan did love Gunnhild but also odd that she took up with his brother after his death , odd too, that there appears to be no other marriage for Alan or his brother. And have you read the Haskins entry. What do you think of that. It also uses land as a background too. I guess there are various ways to read his extensive land grants though certainly he did retain a number of English sub tenants and there were a lot of Bretons too. Have read the Domesday entry. Then two brothers one after the other inherit all!

She is excellent and she is coming to my book launch in Oxfordshire in two weeks time. I quoted her a bit in my academic thesis on romance and realism in historical fiction.

Thank you but we still have another week of fun here and in a bit I shall run another. I have almost finished A swarming of Bees which is a lovely book and which I got from you. We must keep in touch. I am @carolmcgrath on Twitter and over the next few weeks will set up a face book page for my stories and other good ones.

Would anyone here like a free apple download of The Handfasted Wife? I still have a couple of promotion codes ( full book for I player) and would love to offer a few as we reach the last week of this discussion which has truly been fabulous.

I think Ulf when knighted was more Norman than English. I also think he did not return to England but stayed in Normandy with Duke Robert. It is possible he joined the first crusade. I did find out something and it is on an early blog, maybe the one on Edith Swan-Neck October 2011. I think I found it in Emma Mason's book about the Godwin family. I'll look when I am back in England.

Yes they were all nobles together. They were kept well I suspect but without freedom. It is a great topic. Just to think little Ulf was more Norman in the end too!

Robert Cothose also freed hostages after the death of his father. It is recorded that he freed and knighted Ulf the youngest son of Harold and Edith Swan-Neck taken hostage after 1066.

In the very early period they may have used them as fastenings but by the eleventh century men often wore a long gown or a tunic with fullness in the skirt. This style is common in Anglo-Viking carvings. Some tunics had smooth close fitting sleeves to the wrist. This can be seen in manuscripts and the shoulders are not fastened with brooches. They were used to fasten cloaks. Female figures appear in long sleeved gowns . The necklines are concealed by the headdress. They seem to be tailored unlike the sleeveless over gowns which hang loosely from the shoulders. Many gowns are ankle length and some have a pronounced hem or border of contrasting colour. The sleeved gown could be brightly coloured. The sleeves of undergarments can be seen at the wrists in illustrations. They even had pleats drawn together with needle and thread. Thus they did use toggles as fastenings as far as I know. Shoes were secured by toggles and I am positive they were used on garments too.

Linen was the favoured fabric for clothing in summer but in winter wool of course. Natural dyes created beautiful subtle colours. Silk was traded during the 11thC and I did allow the noble women in The Handfasted Wife silk. Does anyone have any questions or suggestions about 11thC clothing? I have put pictures on pinterest with shoes and costume and yes, that Viking boat too. But would love to hear your thoughts on fabrics of 11thC.

Have you a reader's card? They are ruthlessly strict. Investigate how to get one . Mine was a phd perk. But also I did something else there too long time ago. Do try. Otherwise shall make notes and share them.

That might be worth looking at. Shall try the Bodleian in July.

I have been asked if there are records by English survivors after 1066. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicles would have been updated after the event and they are one source that tells us that Gytha , Harold's mother left Exeter for Flatholm after the siege . In the next century it speaks of the suffering during the Civil War between Stephen and Matilda. Oderic Vitalis speaks of the suffering of the English during the Northern Rebellion of 1070. He wrote in early 12 thC and he speaks of the Normans marrying English heiresses . He was half English. Edmer's Chronicle also talks of how women were married off to Normans. He is known as Edmer of Canterbury and wrote in the early 12th C. Does anyone know about any other source on writings by survivors of the Norman Conquest? If you do tell us please.