tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19545049.post4819209717769581875..comments2024-03-14T05:56:44.390+00:00Comments on Edward II: Edward II and Isabella in FictionKathryn Warnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00397714441908100576noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19545049.post-4085396687303690922021-11-07T11:19:00.976+00:002021-11-07T11:19:00.976+00:00I wrote "Alice" and honestly don't r...I wrote "Alice" and honestly don't remember making Edward a paeodophile!sandra-hhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06532095855106672956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19545049.post-34077536886413085542018-02-10T19:47:41.902+00:002018-02-10T19:47:41.902+00:00What about "World Without End"?
I enjoy...What about "World Without End"?<br /><br />I enjoy your blog very much.Maud de Cliffordnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19545049.post-87229220113234107022017-05-11T01:37:00.481+01:002017-05-11T01:37:00.481+01:00Hi Kathryn - being new to your fantastic blog, I a...Hi Kathryn - being new to your fantastic blog, I am interested in the exhaustive list of fiction about Edward, Isabella and Piers.<br /><br />Now, I may well have missed them, buy I have recently managed to get hold of "The Gascon" by John Colin Penford. Rather hard to find I think but happy to loan to you if you have any time to read it. I've had to put it at the bottom of an ever increasing pile of material, but it is an Isabella of a book - winking at me coquettishly and trying to lure me away from Seymour Phillips - but I must not weaken!! Suffice to say, the object of the book is obviously Piers and I have randomly picked a paragraph to give an idea of what to expect. It appears that Piers is not keen on Edwards plans for him to marry. It would seem that the Gascon has long held a fear of sex with women !! <br /><br />....."The prospect of marriage and its imminent consummation laid bare a phobia, long suppressed, that gripped him with terror"<br /><br />Interestingly, it would seem that it is not Edward that dreads the thought of "doing it!" <br /><br />A quick glance at the epilogue suggest that Edward entered into a homosexual affair....blah!, blah! and was murdered with a red hot poker...blah! so,there may well be good reason why there are not many copies to be had!<br /> <br />Another recent find was "The Mysterious Afterlife of Edward II" by Ingrid Soren. A novel set around a young archivist gathering evidence of the reported life of the king after 1327. Tracing his steps to Italy, and in doing so happens across evidence that may well prove that Isabelle was a lovely loyal wife after all!<br /><br />You may know of these Kathryn (and all readers of this blog) so ignore me if you have!! <br /> <br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04816763380587288778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19545049.post-73432768802591427782014-06-22T07:07:59.762+01:002014-06-22T07:07:59.762+01:00In Devon, I think?In Devon, I think?Kathryn Warnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00397714441908100576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19545049.post-64494755801826257042014-06-22T07:04:50.431+01:002014-06-22T07:04:50.431+01:00But where is Michael Jecks??But where is Michael Jecks??Kate Shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07285253170830170840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19545049.post-75053120244947335242013-10-16T18:15:24.636+01:002013-10-16T18:15:24.636+01:00Very comprehensive and useful list, thank you! Very comprehensive and useful list, thank you! Carlahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11901028520813891575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19545049.post-70948994690263824342013-10-16T07:55:18.898+01:002013-10-16T07:55:18.898+01:00I admire your grit wading through some of that dri...I admire your grit wading through some of that drivel. I guess women like narrative fiction more than men, but I've never got past the front cover of any "historical novel"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19545049.post-36513015418525270872013-10-14T21:59:08.234+01:002013-10-14T21:59:08.234+01:00I thank you, Kathryn, for the kind word, "bri...I thank you, Kathryn, for the kind word, "brilliant".<br /><br />But please don't think I was pestering you for an answer. When I wrote "pedophile" it brought to mind once again the possible age discrepancy. Two years ago I read on the Internet that the first cricket match in recorded history took place between Edward and Piers. I'm not sure if that's true or not, but I definitely don't want to think of them as the two founding members of NAMBLA.<br /><br />Now back to books! I've nearly finished N. Gemini Sasson's "Isabeau". Needless to say, I find her typical rendition of Edward tedious, just as I do her curious obsession with the weather--which would be fine if she were a meteorologist. But I feel that I'm spending more time looking at the sky than at her characters. Nature can certainly enhance passages in a book. A perfect example would be the scene in "Gaveston" where Chris Hunt elaborately stages a breathtaking background view of Wales before Edward and Piers kiss. It's one of my two favorite moments in that novel. But when the elements are mentioned too often, they tend to lose the dramatic effect that they can bring to a particular sequence.<br /><br />One last note: if you should decide to read any more of Druon's Accursed Kings series, please remember that I can only speak for the English version. I know you want to get as close as possible to original sources, which is exactly why we turn to your posts for truth and enlightenment. But to twist an old phrase, a lot could get lost in the LACK OFF A translation. The suspense, and more importantly, the humor I found in his first four books might be derived from the phrasing used by the translator.MRatsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19545049.post-67409802605664479762013-10-14T17:38:57.785+01:002013-10-14T17:38:57.785+01:00Hi Kathryn,
Many thanks for a fascinating list of...Hi Kathryn,<br /><br />Many thanks for a fascinating list of books. It will certainly start a search through the darker recesses of Amazon, as I am more likely to find something there than in my local Waterstones.<br /><br />One confession though, the books that started my fascination with this period of history were Maurice Druon's "Accursed Kings" series. It must be a great many years since I first read them (when studying A level history), and I was gripped by the stories. I still have paperback copies of the first two, and they are no longer so appealing. You're right about the lack of character. Either publishers have become more demanding or I have become more discerning. I do not think they would get past an agent today. But Druon was one of two people who really sparked my interest in this era of history (the other was Andrew Harclay).<br /><br />And thank you for the pointer towards the Auramala blog - absolutely fascinating.<br /><br />And a final point for Kasia, you will just love Henry of Grosmont.<br /><br />Jerry Bennettnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19545049.post-84147825802419980462013-10-14T16:18:58.320+01:002013-10-14T16:18:58.320+01:00@Ivan Fowler;
I said that perhaps there will be a...@Ivan Fowler;<br /><br />I said that perhaps there will be a novel where Edward II and III are just normal humanbeings. <br /><br />I think Edward II was just a normal man. He loved, hated, was stupid, clever, intelligent and made big mistakes etc. In a word: he was just a man. <br /><br />Granted, he was a king and his actions were seen as exceptional, what ever they were, but still: as a man he was just a man. <br /><br />If being bi-sexual is seen as abnormal, then he was not "a norm", but other than that I do not see him being unnormal. Quite contrary: he seems to be TOO normal for his own good. The way he got along with ordinary people tells us that it was easy for him to talk and be in contact with mere mortals. <br /><br />The nobility saw this abnormal and un-kinglike behavior, for them Edward was behaving strangely and was weird, because in their heads king was semi-heavenly creature who should not have anything to do with the people. He was not normal medieval king, but as a man he was very normal.Sami Parkkonennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19545049.post-24789214090429152172013-10-14T13:01:21.137+01:002013-10-14T13:01:21.137+01:00Hi there, I'm deeply honoured by Towards Auram...Hi there, I'm deeply honoured by Towards Auramala being included among the Highly Recommended novels. Thank you! This is amazing! Thank you, thank you, thank you.<br /><br />I wanted everyone to know that a revised edition will very shortly be available, together with the Italian edition of the novel, to be released by Christmas (the title is simpoy Auramala). I am hard at work with the translator (well, he's actually working much harder than me at this stage) on correcting proofs, and making the most of the rather eerie exprience of reading one's own prose in another language to tidy up some of the writing in the English original. Including a scene where Edward II comes across as implausibly simple! I can certainly understand your comment, Kathryn, and welcome the criticism as much as the complement.<br /><br />In fact, one of the most difficult things about writing Towards Auramala was the characterisation of Edward II. I read a great deal about him and his reign, and your blog is a wonderful source of information for writers, because you care so much about Edward and the people of his time that you give many details that straight biographers tend to neglect.<br /><br />I wanted to just say a few words about the difficulties that Edward II presents as a character to interpret. Another reader commented on this post that they would like to read an Edward II novel in which he is a normal person. In my opinion, that is not true of Edward. Whoever you are, whatever genes, brain, physique, or other stuff you are made of, if you were thrust by birth into being a medieval king you could not be 'normal'... the strains and tensions and conflicting currents in your life would inevitably shape you, and change you, very often in a negative way, unfortunately. I do think that Edward did a lot more to resist the soul-distorting influence of power than most rulers. He found power less appealing than love on so many occasions, and threw himself into passtimes that greatly endear him to us today. He resisted the path that led so many into becoming simple bloodthirsty tyrants, and only fell into the trap of abusing his own power in order to avenge the destruction of love. That's a far better motive than most tyrants through history (if tyrant he was...) However, I certainly would never be able to portray him as 'normal'.<br /><br /><br />And yet I feel that I could sit down with Edward over a pint of ale, gardening tips, and perhaps play a card game with him - maybe briscola, since he spent some time in Italy. I don't feel that way about Edward I or Edward III. What strange, conflicting elements to have to come to terms with! What a daunting character to have to interpret!<br /><br />Ultimately I feel that, however we imagine him, Edward II was certainly a complex, rich and fascinating individual, and represents a far worthier character to at least try to interpret than many others who have received far more favourable attention from the world of fiction. A toast - with ale, not claret, please - to Edward II!<br /><br />Ivan Fowler.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05663800148464825570noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19545049.post-54204295722915468522013-10-13T08:47:24.347+01:002013-10-13T08:47:24.347+01:00Thanks, all, for the comments! :)
Sonetka, the P&...Thanks, all, for the comments! :)<br /><br />Sonetka, the P&P association occurred to me too! It's actually a rather good name to give someone in the early 14th century, as there were quite a few Darcys around in Edward II's reign.<br /><br />Sami, really looking forward to it :)<br /><br />MRats, thank you for the brilliant comment! Agh, I'd forgotten that bit in Alice about Edward. Hmmm, my opinion of it has gone down now :/ I was annoyed with a lot of Harlot Queen, but loved the ending so much I forgave a lot of what had gone previously, like Edward being a coward at Bannockburn (agh!!!!). Druon not only has Edward being dispatched with the poker, he has him shrieking something like 'you brutes, you brutes, you shan't do this to me', another agghhh!!!! I might give the earlier books in the series a try sometime, if you like them :-) Love your comments about the Purdy novel. I really wish now I hadn't deleted my original review of it here six years ago, but I allowed myself to be intimidated by the author's friends commenting on it, which wouldn't happen any more (frankly these days I don't give a toss about silly insecure people telling me on my own damn blog that I'm not allowed to express my opinion of something, especially a product I've purchased). You can see the same person commenting on this critical review of the Purdy thing: http://www.amazon.co.uk/review/R2VPMHPHPA49R/<br /><br />PS Sorry for not replying to your email yet! I will asap, I promise ;)Kathryn Warnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00397714441908100576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19545049.post-46147688078573536802013-10-12T23:01:05.466+01:002013-10-12T23:01:05.466+01:00Thank you, Kathryn, for posting your review of &qu...Thank you, Kathryn, for posting your review of "The Confession of Piers Gaveston" on Amazon.com where it might save an unsuspecting world from terrible misconceptions about Edward and Piers. I'm glad to say that my copy was second-hand, so that Brandy Purdy received not a penny of profit from me. Anerje wrote that it's THE worst Piers novel she ever read. Verily, verily (as Purdy has Piers repeat ad nauseum) I say it's the worst novel I've read--EVER. You were generous to remark that you might have liked it more if it were about a fictional King, but I would have detested it anyway. It's nothing but a hackneyed, 1970s "bodice ripper" romance novel with the lead character a man instead of a woman. Rape, prostitution and promiscuity--it's the same old formula with a twist: Purdy wrote it as "gay literature". And if Purdy's friend should challenge your educated views again, remember, you have us! We're your fans and we can get--dare I say it?--MEDIEVAL on her arse. (I didn't use the American spelling of "ass" 1) out of respect for you because I know it rankles, and 2) I doubt Brandy Purdy's friend owns a donkey.) <br /><br />Your remarks on Isabel the Fair were also insightful. For years I've resented Margaret Campbell Barnes for her depiction of Edward, but you're absolutely correct to say that she was doing the best she could with the historical resourses of the time. I had no right to expect the woman to be onmiscient.<br /><br />As for Harlot Queen, I can't say I enjoyed it as much as you did, but I agree with you about the ending. Hilda Lewis did a fine job on "I Am Mary Tudor", but I found "Wife to the Conqueror", and for that matter, "Harlot Queen" to be grim and depressing. Lewis inflicts such emotional pain on her characters, and it isn't always substantiated by fact.<br /><br />You also identified a number of books about Edward and Isabella that I didn't know existed, nor would I have been able to recognize them by their titles. Thank you! How I wish I could read Brenda Honeyman's "The King's Minions" and "The Queen and Mortimer". To date the best fictional account I've read of Edward's relationship with Piers is in Juliet Dymoke's "The Lion of Mortimer". <br /><br />A word about Druon: I detested "The She Wolf of France", too, just as I did the last book of the series, which I believe is called, "The Lily and the Leopard". His depiction of Edward III seems as unkind as his assessment of Edward II. But you might find the first four volumes entertaining! Since I had no emotional investment in his portrayal of the characters, I found the books engrossing and, at times, even humorous. Believe it or not, there really DOES turn out to be a connection between the Lombardy bankers and the French royal family. In fact, if Guccio's son had encountered Edward during his wanderings in Italy, it would have been a fascinating coincidence! (I hope that doesn't give too much away.) But alas, if I recall correctly, Druon takes Edward out with the mythical red-hot poker. I know he doesn't claim that Edward escaped and survived. One note: I read the books in English. Perhaps the translater improved the dialog.<br /><br />And there's one more downside to "Alice" that's not on the list--Sandra Wilson makes Edward a pedophile. You know how I hate that! (Any further information about Piers' age?)<br /><br />Thank you for another wonderful post!MRatsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19545049.post-6693280034381898812013-10-12T20:51:36.532+01:002013-10-12T20:51:36.532+01:00Perhaps, just perhaps there will be a new novel wh...Perhaps, just perhaps there will be a new novel where Edward is just a normal man. We just have to wait and see.Sami Parkkonennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19545049.post-53001460308736854292013-10-12T20:06:47.677+01:002013-10-12T20:06:47.677+01:00William Darcy? Now that would make a really strang...William Darcy? Now that would make a really strange crossover. I wonder if the writer was actually thinking of P&P or if it just popped out of the subconscious as a "Good name for romantic hero" (and to be fair, it's period-appropriate. It's just that the name has a strong association with something else).Sonetkahttp://anneboleynnovels.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19545049.post-88505012478896825172013-10-12T10:46:45.494+01:002013-10-12T10:46:45.494+01:00Enjoy, Kasia! He's really amazing ;-)Enjoy, Kasia! He's really amazing ;-)Kathryn Warnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00397714441908100576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19545049.post-61736329779827309912013-10-12T10:37:14.690+01:002013-10-12T10:37:14.690+01:00Anerje's review is really worth reading...Anerje's review is really worth reading...Katarzyna Ogrodnik-Fujcikhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10415905019122111675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19545049.post-75983076924627424242013-10-12T10:36:16.779+01:002013-10-12T10:36:16.779+01:00I have already started readint the first of your p...I have already started readint the first of your posts about him :-)Katarzyna Ogrodnik-Fujcikhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10415905019122111675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19545049.post-7754262668989844392013-10-12T10:35:38.342+01:002013-10-12T10:35:38.342+01:00Kathryn, sheepishly I admit that till this post I ...Kathryn, sheepishly I admit that till this post I have known nothing about Henry of Grosmont. I guess it's high time to remedy thisfor he sounds like fascinating figure...Katarzyna Ogrodnik-Fujcikhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10415905019122111675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19545049.post-67245975559864157012013-10-12T06:23:31.415+01:002013-10-12T06:23:31.415+01:00Anerje: ooops, yes, I forgot that one! Have added...Anerje: ooops, yes, I forgot that one! Have added it - thanks for the reminder! Will go and read your review now :)<br /><br />Esther: funnily enough, I did think for a moment about including Weir and Doherty's alleged non-fiction in the list :)Kathryn Warnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00397714441908100576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19545049.post-28343879972803678832013-10-12T04:36:23.986+01:002013-10-12T04:36:23.986+01:00Glad that Hilda Lewis is recommended ... loved her...Glad that Hilda Lewis is recommended ... loved her "I am Mary Tudor". Should Alison Weir's book on Isabella be added to the list as "good fiction" (lots of research) or bad non-fiction?<br /><br />EstherAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19545049.post-63855161627900975342013-10-11T20:03:57.335+01:002013-10-11T20:03:57.335+01:00Tend to agree with most of your reviews on these n...Tend to agree with most of your reviews on these novels. Did you forget about 'The Follies of the King' by Jean Plaidy? That started my Piers fascination! 'The Confession.....' is THE worst Piers novel I've ever read!<br /><br />Btw, posted my review of an absolutely mediocre/dismal production of Edward II.Anerjehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16305237339979790391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19545049.post-48875169608092871492013-10-11T18:06:40.985+01:002013-10-11T18:06:40.985+01:00Thank you, Lisa! Really glad you found it helpful...Thank you, Lisa! Really glad you found it helpful!Kathryn Warnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00397714441908100576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19545049.post-24417401344530482142013-10-11T18:02:50.687+01:002013-10-11T18:02:50.687+01:00Really handy list, Kathryn! Will use in reading th...Really handy list, Kathryn! Will use in reading the better Edwardian II fiction!Lisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07762766450946357261noreply@blogger.com