Great post! However, I think it is sad how many of your points on all characters (with the exception of Piers) find the way into books labeled "non fiction" (such as Alison Weir's "Isabella"
I have got to do one of these posthaste. I do love Piers Gaveston's tiny little sliver for his actual occupation of being Earl of Cornwall :). I think moderns are used to thinking of nobles as living lives of luxurious sloth, while forgetting that any nobleman who didn't bother to maintain his estates and keep an eye on his enemies was probably not going to enjoy his status for too long.
Thanks, Sonetak, would love to see it! So bored with seeing Piers portrayed as some kind of lounge lizard who never does anything except prance around in expensive jewels.
I just did charts for all three Boleyn siblings, posted here: https://anneboleynnovels.wordpress.com/2015/08/19/the-boleyn-siblings-now-with-pie-charts/.
/and I just realized I misspelled my own name on my last post. After that, you know the charts will be brilliant :).
Spot on! And very handy for anyone with quite limited imagination OR knowledge of the history. I think the Witch aspect is very important. But sadly, these grapsh missed the good ole She-Wolf theme which I consider a good portion of decent baloney too. :-D
"Brave, fearless knight" ought to chart somewhere for Piers, because he was by all accounts, pretty effective when serving in both Ireland and Scotland. I have to admit that when I have read fiction where any of these individuals have been the central characters, I tend to agree with the breakdowns. It's a pretty damning condemnation of us authors. I've printed this off and stuck it on the wall behind my computer, to act like a health warning on a packet of cigarettes.
Half of them don't write Ed as a physically strong man, either. Instead they make him a flouncing pansy. You should add Throwing Temper Tantrums to Ed's graph. ;-)
Great post! However, I think it is sad how many of your points on all characters (with the exception of Piers) find the way into books labeled "non fiction" (such as Alison Weir's "Isabella"
ReplyDeleteEsther
I have got to do one of these posthaste. I do love Piers Gaveston's tiny little sliver for his actual occupation of being Earl of Cornwall :). I think moderns are used to thinking of nobles as living lives of luxurious sloth, while forgetting that any nobleman who didn't bother to maintain his estates and keep an eye on his enemies was probably not going to enjoy his status for too long.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Esther! Sadly, yes :/
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sonetak, would love to see it! So bored with seeing Piers portrayed as some kind of lounge lizard who never does anything except prance around in expensive jewels.
I just did charts for all three Boleyn siblings, posted here: https://anneboleynnovels.wordpress.com/2015/08/19/the-boleyn-siblings-now-with-pie-charts/.
ReplyDelete/and I just realized I misspelled my own name on my last post. After that, you know the charts will be brilliant :).
Great, I'll go and have a look now!
ReplyDeleteHehe, I thought it was meant to be Sonetka, but thought maybe you'd changed your name ;)
Woot! Must find a way of applying pie charts to fiction!
ReplyDeleteThat's what this is, Satima, though unfortunately most of what I've said here applies to Edward II non-fiction too! ;/
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely brilliant! Not surprised 'brave, fearless knight' doesn't chart for Piers;)
ReplyDeleteOh Ms Warner you are a one - you have given me a laugh on an overcast day though.
ReplyDeletePatricia O
Thanks. Patricia! :)
ReplyDeleteSpot on! And very handy for anyone with quite limited imagination OR knowledge of the history. I think the Witch aspect is very important. But sadly, these grapsh missed the good ole She-Wolf theme which I consider a good portion of decent baloney too. :-D
ReplyDelete"Brave, fearless knight" ought to chart somewhere for Piers, because he was by all accounts, pretty effective when serving in both Ireland and Scotland. I have to admit that when I have read fiction where any of these individuals have been the central characters, I tend to agree with the breakdowns. It's a pretty damning condemnation of us authors. I've printed this off and stuck it on the wall behind my computer, to act like a health warning on a packet of cigarettes.
ReplyDeleteBut no-one ever writes Piers as a brave fearless knight! That's the problem!
ReplyDeleteHalf of them don't write Ed as a physically strong man, either. Instead they make him a flouncing pansy. You should add Throwing Temper Tantrums to Ed's graph. ;-)
ReplyDeleteOps, I should have looked more closely. The tantrums are there.
ReplyDelete