Product Description

An absorbing historical novel of power and betrayal, loyalty and political intrigue in thirteenth-century England, Wales and France, centring on King John of England, younger brother to the brilliant Richard Lionheart, Joanna, his illegitimate but recognised daughter and Llewellyn Ab Iowerth, Prince of Gwynedd, a bitter opponent of English ways, laws and encroachment into Wales who becomes Joanna’s husband.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #22020 in Books
• Published on: 2000-12-07
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 800 pages

About the Author
Sharon Penman is one of the most popular historical novelists writing today. Her bestselling story of Richard III, The Sunne in Splendour, was published in 1982 and her acclaimed Welsh trilogy, Here Be Dragons, Falls the Shadow and The Reckoning, was similarly successful. Time and Chance is the second in a trilogy that opened with When Christ and His Saints Slept (1994). Sharon Penman has travelled widely on both sides of the Atlantic researching her work. She lives in New Jersey.

Customer Reviews

History made accessible
This was my second Sharon Penman novel having being so impressed by the delightful "Sunne In Splendour". Here Be Dragons is the first of her Welsh trilogy with the focus on the life of John Lackland's bastard born daughter Joanna, and her subsequent marriage to Llewellyn Fawr. The story tells of Llewellyn's ongoing struggle to unite Wales and rid them of the English, whilst Joanna is constantly torn between pleasing both her father and her husband.

This book is engrossing throughout, though do allow yourself time to acclimatize to the numerous confusing names of the characters and please persevere because this really is a great book! Sometimes sad, and full of twists and turns, by the time you finish "Here Be Dragons" you'll be just as keen for the next installment. Whether you are interested in history or not, this stands on it's own as a great story, very highly recommended!

13th Century Welsh Historical Fiction, Romance & Pageantry
Sharon Kay Penman is a remarkably gifted writer. Her impeccable historical research, attention to detail and superb storytelling ability make her novels consistently excellent. "Here Be Dragons" is one of her best efforts. It is the second book in her Plantagenet series, which include "The Sunne In Splendour," "Falls The Shadow," and "The Reckoning." Each of these wonderful historical novels stands on its own, however, and while it is an extraordinary experience to read each book in order, one does not have to do so to appreciate the history, the characters or the period.

Ruthless, power hungry King John Platagenet ruled 13th century England with an iron fist. He was determined to bring Wales, a country divided, under his thumb and into his power. Charismatic Llewelyn Farr, Prince of Northern Wales fought to unite his country's nobility and provide a strong front against the English. He finally succeeded in securing a tentative truce with England by marrying King John's beloved illegitimate daughter, Joanna. Initially wary of her new husband, her father's enemy, Joanna grew to love Llewelyn passionately over the years, but she was constantly torn between the politics of Wales and England, and her love for her husband and her father.

This is a complex saga of historic characters, politics, intrigues, betrayals, bloody battles and wars, romance, lust, power struggles, princesses held captive, revenge and forgiveness. Yet once begun, this extraordinary epic is almost impossible to put down. Ms. Penman portrays Wales, its people, culture and landscape vividly, with glorious detail. It is fascinating to become involved with the characters and realize how linked they are by common ancestry. Not only is Welsh history tied to that of England's, but the royal families, King John's and Prince Llewelyn's, are linked by blood as are their descendants. Ms. Penman joins the histories and characters of these two countries to give the reader, not just a superb tale but a look at the bigger historical picture also.

This is truly one of the best historical novels I have ever read. Ms. Penman paints an unforgettable picture of medieval England and Wales and the characters who made history. I cannot recommend these books highly enough.
JANA

Fantastic!
This is the first book the Sharon Penman's Anglo-Welsh trilogy - and weighing in at around 800 pages for this volume alone, it's not a venture to be undertaken lightly! I have already read Penman's excellent The Sunne in Splendour and the first Justin de Quincy mystery, The Queen's Man, so I had a pretty good idea of the quality of writing I would be in for, and I was not disappointed! I am not so familiar with the historical period covered here and particularly with Welsh politics, but Penman is a skilled storyteller and really manages to bring the period to life. Her characters are well-drawn using historical sources and you really care about what happens. I thought the typically wicked King John was handled particularly well. I am always appreciative of the historical note at the end to explain her decisions and where Penman tells us which characters she has introduced with no historical basis, but to help the narrative. I had a pretty shrewd guess, but feel this decision needs no apologies! And yes, I did spot the Tudor connection and felt just a little smug about it! The only thing I thought that might have been helpful would have been a list of Dramatis Personae, if you will, as there are a lot of characters and unfamiliar names, and this could maybe have helped to sort them out as sometimes I got a little confused, even though I read this in about 4 days. Now I'm off to order the other two books in the trilogy - don't be afraid to do the same!