tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19545049.post9194607963156049152..comments2024-03-14T05:56:44.390+00:00Comments on Edward II: Margaret of Scotland, Queen of NorwayKathryn Warnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00397714441908100576noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19545049.post-58340609603561120542010-09-03T11:46:30.602+01:002010-09-03T11:46:30.602+01:00Carla, yes, True Thomas is about Thomas the Rhymer...Carla, yes, True Thomas is about Thomas the Rhymer. I have read it, but ages ago so I don't remember it too well (and I can't find my copy of it) but think it was a bit more gripping than Crusader. I haven't read Envoy Extraordinary yet, but judging from the blurb it's Alexander III's reign seen through the eyes of Patrick, earl of Dunbar.Kathryn Warnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00397714441908100576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19545049.post-91983219706241351802010-09-03T09:54:21.695+01:002010-09-03T09:54:21.695+01:00Well, the history is true to form (there's the...Well, the history is true to form (there's the spat between Durward's faction and the other regent faction, and a hostage-and-rescue incident that <i>could</i> have been dramatic), but it's all rather skipped over in favour of David's domestic life and young Alexander growing up.<br /><br />Kathryn, have you read <i>True Thomas</i>, and am I right in thinking it's about Thomas the Rhymer? It was published much earlier than <i>Crusader</i>, around 1980 or so, and my impression is that Tranter's earlier books tend to be more gripping than the later ones, so I was thinking I might start there.Carlahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11901028520813891575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19545049.post-72285000409781178192010-09-02T21:01:25.503+01:002010-09-02T21:01:25.503+01:00Och nay, I dunno want to read novels where nothing...Och nay, I dunno want to read novels where nothing happens. How can you write a book featuring any time of Scottish history without much happening? Surely there must have been <i>some</i> rebellious clan chief. *grin*Gabriele Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17205770868139083575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19545049.post-21129222883255584492010-09-02T10:20:07.917+01:002010-09-02T10:20:07.917+01:00'Winsome' might be rather on the harsh sid...'Winsome' might be rather on the harsh side, though I did think that a little of Alexander must have gone a long way, and sympathised with the people trying to keep him in order :-) I found the book disappointing chiefly because not much seems to happen; there was a fair degree of political turmoil between two rival groups of regents but it's mostly in the background and there's little if any sense of real danger.Carlahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11901028520813891575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19545049.post-78644157803848042432010-09-02T10:02:27.854+01:002010-09-02T10:02:27.854+01:00Carla, yes, I remember you talking about Crusader ...Carla, yes, I remember you talking about Crusader on your blog once, and not being overly thrilled by it (the words 'winsome child' stick in my mind...;)<br /><br />I'm really not sure why the Lanercost chronicler was so anti -Alexander - he also accuses him of extreme lechery and promiscuity, which isn't borne out by any other evidence (he's not known to have had any illegitimate children, unlike his father).Kathryn Warnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00397714441908100576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19545049.post-73889788755640366092010-09-01T18:33:13.038+01:002010-09-01T18:33:13.038+01:00I'd say Crusader isn't one of Tranter'...I'd say <i>Crusader</i> isn't one of Tranter's best - it concentrates on one of the regents, David Lindsay, who appears not to have had the most exciting life, so I found it rather slow, although the portrayal of Alexander as a boisterous youngster is good fun. He must have been quite a handful :-) <br /><br />I wonder what the Lanercost chronicler had against Alexander? From the little I know about him, he always seemed to me to be quite a competent king (possibly with the exception of not remarrying sooner, although he wasn't to know that his son would predecease him).Carlahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11901028520813891575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19545049.post-3178591485531417082010-08-31T12:39:01.066+01:002010-08-31T12:39:01.066+01:00Gabriele, I'm really interested in Scottish hi...Gabriele, I'm really interested in Scottish history too, and I do like Tranter's novels, or most of them. I know he gets quite a bit of criticism, but his knowledge of Scottish history was encyclopedic.<br /><br />Thanks, Anerje and Kate - glad you liked it!Kathryn Warnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00397714441908100576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19545049.post-33688555916925882732010-08-30T23:59:36.372+01:002010-08-30T23:59:36.372+01:00That post had a great deal of information - thank ...That post had a great deal of information - thank you! Such a sad story though. Poor Margaret/s.. :(<br /><br />Kate Plantaganet<br />(I don't know why Blogger wont let me log in under my own name - it is having a hissy)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19545049.post-19029439420634363222010-08-30T19:17:06.927+01:002010-08-30T19:17:06.927+01:00I'm afraid I know very little about Scottish h...I'm afraid I know very little about Scottish history from this period as well. This post was very enlightening! Thanks!Anerjehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16305237339979790391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19545049.post-42719052040835882392010-08-30T14:08:53.257+01:002010-08-30T14:08:53.257+01:00Thank you. I want to read more Scottish history, a...Thank you. I want to read more Scottish history, and a Tranter novel is a fun way to get into a subject - there are biased non fiction books that do a much worse job. ;)<br /><br />Esp. with women. I was hunting for a good but easy to read biography about Theophanu, the Greek princess who married Emperor Otto II and the acted as regent for her little son Otto III, but two out of three were more about woman empowerment than about the real 10th century.Gabriele Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17205770868139083575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19545049.post-22398431112188428552010-08-30T13:02:52.617+01:002010-08-30T13:02:52.617+01:00Gabriele, they're: True Thomas, Envoy Extraord...Gabriele, they're: True Thomas, Envoy Extraordinary and Crusader. There's also Sword of State about his father, Alexander II (who's the romantic hero of Barbara Erskine's novel Child of the Phoenix).Kathryn Warnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00397714441908100576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19545049.post-90160090910387800032010-08-29T20:49:35.935+01:002010-08-29T20:49:35.935+01:00I might get that one. And look into the Tranter bo...I might get that one. And look into the Tranter books - I got several of his novels but not the Alexander ones. Do you remember the titles?Gabriele Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17205770868139083575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19545049.post-37361333946133243462010-08-29T15:20:39.460+01:002010-08-29T15:20:39.460+01:00Thanks, Susan! Yes, I really enjoyed - it's a...Thanks, Susan! Yes, I really enjoyed - it's aimed more at the popular end of the market, but uses the sources well. Nigel Tranter has several novels about Alexander III, and there's a very good novel called Alexander the Glorious.Kathryn Warnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00397714441908100576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19545049.post-52117126846290806562010-08-29T14:53:08.484+01:002010-08-29T14:53:08.484+01:00Great post! My knowledge of Scotland at this perio...Great post! My knowledge of Scotland at this period is rather sketchy. Do you recommend the biography of Alexander?Susan Higginbothamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13517907583894026599noreply@blogger.com