tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19545049.post114639994125774280..comments2024-03-14T05:56:44.390+00:00Comments on Edward II: Edward II Novel of the Week (1): 'Gaveston' by Chris HuntKathryn Warnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00397714441908100576noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19545049.post-45643075026035517662021-05-13T00:48:06.276+01:002021-05-13T00:48:06.276+01:00The scene where Edward learns of Piers' death ...The scene where Edward learns of Piers' death always struck me as so very very believable - him at first almost numb with shock and then sending outsiders away and then the storm of grief. <br /><br />The ending is almost as heartbreaking, with Edward cheerfully thinking all is well and Robert being in a way "our" viewpoint - Robert fears, and we KNOW, that things will end in tragedy because Despenser is not Piers and Isabella has been too badly (if unthinkingly so) treated. RuthChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01936918094746854631noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19545049.post-65344724131865827642008-12-09T10:44:00.000+00:002008-12-09T10:44:00.000+00:00Oh, forgot to add - if you can get hold of a copy ...Oh, forgot to add - if you can get hold of a copy of Brenda Honeyman's The King's Minions, which I reviewed a few months ago (link on the left) I highly recommend it. Gorgeous portrayal of two men (Ed and Piers) in love. The sequel, The Queen and Mortimer, is pretty damn good too, with a very interesting take on Ed's relationship with Hugh Despenser.Kathryn Warnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00397714441908100576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19545049.post-91146308179671070762008-12-09T10:41:00.000+00:002008-12-09T10:41:00.000+00:00Thanks, Aricia. Yes, Chris is such a talented wri...Thanks, Aricia. Yes, Chris is such a talented writer I'm sure she intended to portray Ed and Piers as thoughtlessly selfish, rather than it coming across inadvertently. (I've expressed that really badly, but hope you get what I mean.) Gaveston is the only novel of hers I've read, but I would like to try the others - agh, so many books, so little time! ;) I have heard of Mel Keegan, but haven't read any - thanks for the tip.<BR/><BR/>BTW, I've put in a link to your blog in the sidebar, in the 'Blogs I Read' bit.<BR/><BR/>Hope you enjoy your re-read of Gaveston! The research really is terrific, absolutely spot-on. I've never read another Ed II novel (and I've read a LOT) that's so fantastically historically accurate. Bravo, Chris.<BR/><BR/>Best wishes, A.Kathryn Warnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00397714441908100576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19545049.post-20436433357757215202008-12-09T05:19:00.000+00:002008-12-09T05:19:00.000+00:00Very good review of what I remember as a "difficul...Very good review of what I remember as a "difficult" novel ... vast amounts of research and a real "feel" for the time, place, subject -- and the gay aspect ... but it got to be hard going in places, for someone who's not really into polics even of our current era!<BR/><BR/>Chris Hunt is always a good read. Her stories focus on PEOPLE. I do agree 100% that her Edward and Piers are terribly self-centered. I have a strong suspicion this is how she came to visualize them after doing the months' or years' worth of research needed to make the novel so believable! <BR/><BR/>I haven't read GAVESTON in years, but I remember thinking at one point, "Damn, these guys are so selfish" ... and I think, actulally, this is the impression Chris wanted to give. She's too good a writer to "miss" that aspect of the narrative -- ie., it was done by mistake. <BR/><BR/>I have three all-time favorite gay historical novels, and one is by Chris Hunt, and the other two are by Mel Keegan -- who, oddly enough, was a contemporary of Hunt's at GMP, way back in the 1990s. My favorites are Street Lavender (GMP); Dangerous Moonlight (DreamCraft); and Fortunes of War (GMP), in no specific order. Depends what I feel like on the day!<BR/><BR/>Thanks for this review! I'm putting together a blog on old favorite gay novels from long ago, and to be honest, I'd forgotten GAVESTON! Got to dig it out and reread it. Soon.<BR/><BR/>Best wishes,<BR/>AriciaAricia Gavrielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08927379599276520008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19545049.post-1146498755908570802006-05-01T16:52:00.000+01:002006-05-01T16:52:00.000+01:00I thought Chris was a man, too, but I'm not surpri...I thought Chris was a man, too, but I'm not surprised it turns out she's a woman. Most slash writers are. ;)Gabriele Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17205770868139083575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19545049.post-1146495592723366662006-05-01T15:59:00.000+01:002006-05-01T15:59:00.000+01:00Hi Sarah! Yes, I saw on Amazon that Chris Hunt ha...Hi Sarah! Yes, I saw on Amazon that Chris Hunt has written a few other historical novels, too. Off the top of my head, there's 'The Bisley Boy' and 'Street Lavender' as well as a couple of others. I haven't read them, though. If s/he (??) has done as much research for the others as for this one, I'd imagine they're pretty good.Kathryn Warnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00397714441908100576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19545049.post-1146484733239360882006-05-01T12:58:00.000+01:002006-05-01T12:58:00.000+01:00Alianore, thanks for this review - very interestin...Alianore, thanks for this review - very interesting! It sounds like Edward's fool (as is typical for fools!) is wiser than anyone gives him credit for. I think I have a copy of this novel somewhere around here... this sounds like a good opportunity to dig it out.<BR/><BR/>I see on Amazon that Chris Hunt has written another historical about the court of James I, but I don't know as much about that period.Sarah Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13340312953393474963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19545049.post-1146468355603403392006-05-01T08:25:00.000+01:002006-05-01T08:25:00.000+01:00Yes, there's quite a bit of gentle humour in the n...Yes, there's quite a bit of gentle humour in the novel, which I liked. You don't often get that in Edward II novels!<BR/><BR/>BTW, when I wrote the post, I assumed that Chris Hunt was a man. I've since seen a couple of websites that say she's a woman!Kathryn Warnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00397714441908100576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19545049.post-1146438243352749892006-05-01T00:04:00.000+01:002006-05-01T00:04:00.000+01:00I was especially impressed by the fact that Hunt g...I was especially impressed by the fact that Hunt got his Gilbert de Clares straight (no pun intended)!<BR/><BR/>I also liked the way Hunt allowed Edward's fool to get a gentle jibe in now and then--it added a perspective lacking in Edward now and then.Susan Higginbothamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13517907583894026599noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19545049.post-1146428882683258882006-04-30T21:28:00.000+01:002006-04-30T21:28:00.000+01:00Correct historical background and gay sex - what's...Correct historical background and gay sex - what's not to like. *grin*<BR/><BR/>I'll mark that one for future purchase.Gabriele Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17205770868139083575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19545049.post-1146412205752888452006-04-30T16:50:00.000+01:002006-04-30T16:50:00.000+01:00Great review Alianore. I can really see where you'...Great review Alianore. I can really see where you're coming from when you say that if the author had have made Ed and Piers give even the briefest thought to 'Meg' they would have appeared more sympathetic. I mean, I know it's a gay novel, but gay men have hearts! It's a shame he goes into the political machinations in such detail though - I always feel things like that aren't as important in a novel as they would be in a non fiction book. Still, the fact that you couldn't find a major error speaks volumes - there's not many historical novels one can say that about!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com