From the Bookshelf of Retro Reads…

The Sunne in Splendour

Sharon Kay Penman

Start date: April 7, 2021

Finish date: May 21, 2021

Discussion: Group Reads

Discussion leader: Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂

Why we're reading this: This year's chunkster - chosen to honour the late Ms Penman…more
[close] This year's chunkster - chosen to honour the late Ms Penman

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What Members Thought

May 14, 2021 Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: historical

3.5★

Ms Penman sadly died of pneumonia earlier this year, so the Retro Reads Group decided to read this as a tribute to her. Most of the group loved this book. I also loved it - in parts.

Let me explain.

This book was always going to be a challenge for me as I generally like my fiction to come in at under 450 pages and this was a whopping 886 pages. I applaud Ms Penman's dedication & determination in recreating this after her original (much shorter) manuscript was stolen from her car, b ...more

46 likes · Like · see review

Apr 14, 2021 Mela rated it it was amazing

Shelves: region-british, historical-romance, internet-archive, historical-fiction, historical-fiction-to-learn-history, psychological-and-philosophical, historical-period-middle-ages, greatly-impressing, greatly-touching

And what of those who didn’t know him? What happens, too, when all who knew him are dead, when people know only what they’ve been told? What truth will we be talking about, then? Tudor’s truth. Dickon doesn’t deserve that

No, he doesn't! Sharon Kay Penman dug up and preserved the truth. And I will never forget you Dickon! You were with me for the last two weeks, and like two Llewelyn and Simon (from Welsh Princes Series) I will always remember you and cherish the time I have spent with you.

M ...more

8 likes · Like · see review

Jan 15, 2020 Infosifter rated it really liked it

For the most part, history views Richard III as the ultimate villain among British royalty, but is that a fair estimation of his times and deeds? Author Sharon K. Penman thinks not, and in this novel she sets out to explain another way things might have been. In this retelling, Richard's tragic flaw, if he had one, was blind loyalty to those he loved or trusted, and an unwillingness to recognize that their actions might be wrong. At the very least, we as modern readers need to keep in mind that ...more

5 likes · Like · see review

Nov 21, 2015 Theresa rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction

With over 900 pages this historical fiction novel of the reign of Edward IV and Richard III is by far the longest historical fiction book I have ever read! I picked this up thinking I would be reading mainly about Richard III. However, this novel is also about Richard's brother King Edward and Richard's relationship with him in the years before Richard assumes the crown.

From the very first pages the reader's interest and sympathy is engaged with young Richard, of the house of York, in the War of ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Sep 26, 2013 Theresa added it