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murray_m 's review for:
The Sunne in Splendour
by Sharon Kay Penman
This is a long, informative, entertaining and very well researched book. Richard III has suffered from the fact the Tudors wrote the history that followed and Shakespeare penned his excellent play in Elizabeth Tudor's shadow.
At the end you have a really good idea why history turned out the way it did and also confirmation that Richard was very unlikely to have murdered the princes in the tower (his much loved brother's sons). The portrait of George, Duke of Clarence is particularly good; a totally self involved creep who showed the worst excesses that those of royal blood tend to exhibit.
Why not 5 stars then? Well, although the descriptions and characterisations are well executed I found that I was aware of this labour as I was reading. It was as though the mechanics of the book were still there a bit for the reader to stumble over. That said, I am glad I read all 900+ words - Richard deserved no less! I can happily recommend it to those who like chunky, accurate and consummately well written historical novels.
At the end you have a really good idea why history turned out the way it did and also confirmation that Richard was very unlikely to have murdered the princes in the tower (his much loved brother's sons). The portrait of George, Duke of Clarence is particularly good; a totally self involved creep who showed the worst excesses that those of royal blood tend to exhibit.
Why not 5 stars then? Well, although the descriptions and characterisations are well executed I found that I was aware of this labour as I was reading. It was as though the mechanics of the book were still there a bit for the reader to stumble over. That said, I am glad I read all 900+ words - Richard deserved no less! I can happily recommend it to those who like chunky, accurate and consummately well written historical novels.