Customer Reviews

Lionheart

5 star:		(35)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Penman is remarkably consistent in her rendering of history, turning her efforts to Richard, Coeur de Lion, son of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine, a king in his own right. Filled with the fighting spirit of his illustrious ancestry, Richard I "takes the Cross" in 1191 to free the Holy Land from the infidels, Saladin in particular, and return home sheathed in glory for his country and his Church. Savvy enough to snare France's Philippe Capet into joining the crusade, Richard orchestrates an enforced truce with his brothers, John and Geoffrey, Eleanor following her son's holy journey with trepidation, fearing for his safety and that of England while he is away.

With exquisite detail, Penman recreates the enormous undertaking of a crusade, the gathering of forces, military equipment, supplies, sailing vessels, horses and servants sufficient to sustain the endeavor and win the battle for Jerusalem, the progress on land and sea, battles along the way, the sly betrayals of political enemies, the King of France uncomfortably aware of his sore comparison with the imposing figure of his rival, the handsome god-soldier astride his magnificent steed. Doing everything in his power to distract, delay and bedevil Richard, the two royal factions ride in tandem, but with contrary purposes, success in the Holy Land promising plunder for both, dissension mocking their Christian alliances.

The weight of fact and myth lays heavily on Penman's sympathetic interpretation of events, Richard I in public and private, with the bravado and courage of a warrior and the sensitivity of a seasoned lover in pursuit of a lady. Following the long reign of Henry II, a brutal, war-hardened ruler, Richard has much to prove to a country ready for change but reluctant to fund a long crusade, as driven by his commitment to the Church as his political ambitions as king, the crusade his battle cry for England against the forces of evil. Through secret negotiations Richard marries Berengaria of Spain, who accompanies him on crusade. Witnessing the wisdom and subtle diplomatic talents of Berengaria, and Richard's sister, Joanna, recently-widowed Queen of Sicily, the young king balances the military and the political, assailed by endless problems created through the crafty Philippe's machinations.

On his great mission, Richard confronts treachery, treason and the emotional strains of a new marriage, acquitting himself well throughout the grueling campaign, only to meet his match in Saladin. It is on the bloody battlefields where Richard proves himself most worthy, especially when dealing with Saladin, an equally wily and charismatic soldier/politician. Though the 3rd Crusade ends without the anticipated bounty of plunder and glory, Penman's portrait of this oft-maligned character lauds his broad appeal as a leader, at least until Jerusalem, truly the son of the ruthless and diplomatically brilliant Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine, claiming his place in history in Medieval England, a crucible of kings, warriors, power, glory and myth. In Lionheart, Richard's star is in its ascendancy, success a bright bauble waiting to be snatched to decorate the English crown. But Penman's leaves us in the Holy Land, the final chapter of Richard's fate yet to be writ in her next novel, The King's Ransom. Luan Gaines/2011.

So much is known about Richard the Lionheart. Even people who don't know much about history have at least heard about him. He is a true legend. Yet in this magnificent novel Ms. Penman manages to make him both bigger than life and ordinary man.

Richard ascends to the throne of England upon the death of his father, Henry II. His mother is Eleanor of Aquitaine and he had spent most of his life in her domain thinking he would be ruling there. He never expected to be King of England. He had "taken the cross" and found himself on the third crusade right after he was crowned King. He was unmarried and his heir was his youngest brother John whom he really did not trust. Smart man.

Richard was a soldier through and through. He was a brilliant battle commander and strategist. He and Phillipe Capet of France were joining forces to go on the crusade together but neither man liked nor trusted one another.

The book is a history lover's dream, full of detail and life created from the records left by peoples long dead. Fortunately with Richard there are records from both sides - those that hated him and those that revered him so a somewhat true picture of the man can be formulated. So often with historical records only one side is left to tell the tale.

This is not a book for someone looking for a fast, light read. This is a book for someone who wants to truly immerse themselves in time and place. There are a lot of characters from a number of countries to keep straight - this is sometimes a challenge but they are important to the telling. I have never been disappointed in a book from Ms. Penman, in fact I look forward to each one with a passion.

Lionheart tells only half of Richard's story; the rest will be told in the sequel - A King's Ransom. So my waiting begins. I first discovered Ms. Penman's books in the '80ies with The Sunne in Splendour and drove my husband crazy for every time we went to a book store I had to look for the next book and when it wasn't there I was crushed. This was, of course, before the internet became so ever present.

So if you love history and you want a deep, involving book pick up Lionheart. You will not be disappointed.

Over the years I have tried several different novels that focused on the Lionheart whilst he was on crusade, yet none of them really managed to engage me (although they did make for good sleeping pills). I'd about given up hope on ever finding one that would hold my interest until word came that Sharon Kay Penman was planning to continue her Angevin series with a book on Richard and I was dancing with joy - if anyone could do it, the fabulous Sharon Penman could. Was I bored?

No, I was not.

I think everyone knows the bare bones of this story, as well as all the myths and legends that have sprung up around it so I'll pass on trying to recap it and just share my thoughts on the reading experience. I absolutely loved how the author portrayed Richard. He is very much a man of his times, a king and a warrior who did what was necessary to get the job done and keep his men (and women) safe. I loved his sardonic wit, and had many laugh out loud moments. I felt his anguish at some of the tougher decisions he was forced to make, as well as his frustrations with the constant backstabbing and squabbles amongst those who were supposed to be his allies (damn those double-dealing Frenchmen...). His sense of timing and drama were perfection (oooh, that last-minute swoop into Cyprus to save the day once again, you just can't make that stuff up).

And how did Richard's queen Berengaria fare? Imagine being torn from your home and family, married to a virtual stranger, trekking half way around the world, surviving perils on the high sea, the stench and disease of a military camp and more, yet she handled it like a seasoned pro. Richard's sister Joanna was another favorite, very much a chip off of the old Angevin block and always there to knock some sense into her hard-headed brother when needed.

While I enjoyed this novel a great deal, this is not a light and easy read and is one best read without all of life's little distractions (no kids) so it can be savored as only a Penman novel should be. The cast of characters is large and complex (there are a lot of POV switches), as well as complicated politics and back-history the reader needs to take in. If you are looking for a light easy read with romanticized view of Richard this is probably not the book for you.

Lastly, are you going to have another great love story like Penman gave us in Here be Dragons and The Reckoning? Will they smoke off the pages like Henry and Eleanor in When Christ and His Saints Slept? Can't tell you that (besides, since there is one more book coming the story is only half told), but I will tell you that Berengaria's first...ummm...*cooking lesson* was priceless. The bed burning in Here Be Dragons is still tops, but Penmenians will love it.

Review copy provided by the folks at Putnam, thank you.

I love Penman's other books, and have been looking forward to this book for a long time. I was disappointed to find it didn't live up to my expectations, or any of her other books.
I found the book to be a tale of the crusade and the battles, which is interesting material. However what I loved about her previous books was the focus on the people, and that was missing here. There was not nearly the same level of character development; most seemed fairly shallow to me. There were many main characters from whose point of view she told the story, instead of just one or two. There were several different characters she could have chosen to focus on, and it seemed that she could not make up her mind and used them all in order to convey the battle info, with sort of scattered results.
Too much data, not enough personal.

I pre-ordered Lionheart on Kindle and started to read it the minute it was downloaded. In the week it took me to read the book, I resented having to go to work and do domestic chores. Was it worth the effort? The answer is a resounding YES! The next question is `why has it taken me so long to write a review?' I can answer that with the help of a friend, "that is the mark of a great book - that it stays with you and colours your perception of the world." I am still thinking about Lionheart, I am still talking about Lionheart and I am eagerly awaiting the release of `A King's Ransom'.

In all of Ms Penman's novels she has been able to skillfully blend together historical events, battles, political intrigue, human relationships, everyday life, joyful events and heartbreaking moments. Her books contain a rare blend of pathos, tenderness, humour, sarcastic wit and the most important element, truth. Her characters are real and you feel for them and understand their motivations. Her books have all contained main characters, weaved seamlessly with minor characters who help tell the full story. Who can forget the small but vitally important role that Jacob ben Judah plays in `Falls the Shadow'. Her most heart wrenching novel, `The Reckoning', also contains some of the funniest scenes I have ever read, my favourite being the story about the barnacle goose. In being able to mesh all these elements together, Ms Penman gives you the complete experience of the times she writes about.

In Lionheart there is less romance than there has been in other Penman novels, but that tells you a great deal about the man himself. He could be tender if he tried but there really was not a romantic bone is his body. He excelled himself on the battlefield, at times being too reckless about his personal safety while at the same time being very cautious about the safety of the men under his command. He was politically astute and always considered diplomacy as another weapon in his arsenal but at the same time his arrogance could lead him to underestimate his enemies. Ms Penman manages to bring this complex, brilliant and flawed man to life in a magnificent, compelling way. It is a classic `page turner', the sort of novel that leaves you bereft when you finish it. One consolation is that I have time to read the novel again before `A King's Ransom' is released. As with every other Penman novel I am sure that I will get different insights and a slightly different experience with each re read.

I agree with the points made by the other lower rated reviewers who like me have read all of her books as this one just doesn't come together and is somewhat boring. It is far more history than fiction . The fiction part is lacking as the characters were trite and you never identify with any of them. One point I would add that I haven't seen mentioned is her portrayal of Richard was over the top like he was some kind of God except he had a cute little temper. She made him out to be the best looking, strongest, smartest, best fighter, most honorable, etc. of anyone in mankind. Like the others who really love her work (I would give her 5's on all the others). I gave it a 3 just because I know what she can do. In reality it was probably a 2. Or perhaps I gave her a three because I expected another 5 and it was really a 4? I just hope she gets back in form on the next one.

"Lion­heart" by Sharon Kay Pen­man is a his­tor­i­cal fic­tion book about Richard I and the Third cru­sade. This is a well researched book which is fas­ci­nat­ing and exciting.

Richard I, bet­ter known in his nom de guerre "Lion­heart" takes his vows seri­ously includ­ing the one to free Jerusalem from Salah-a-Din. He leaves his king­dom and together with King Philip of France they make their way, with their armies, to the holy land.

"Lion­heart" by Sharon Kay Pen­man is his­tor­i­cal fic­tion at its best. The research is impres­sive and Ms. Pen­man doesn't try to fit the his­tory to her story, but writes the story around history.

I have always been fas­ci­nated by Richard I or as he is bet­ter known Richard the Lion­heart. It was prob­a­bly the nick­name and "guest appear­ance" in Robin Hood which spurred up the imag­i­na­tion of an eight year old boy more than his deeds.

The author brings King Richard to life, not only his bat­tle glory, but also the man in all his splen­dor, his sar­donic wit, bat­tle com­man­der genius and mis­un­der­stand­ing of women. Some­thing most men share. Richard, which thinks of noth­ing of sac­ri­fic­ing his own life, ago­nized to no end about his bat­tle plans and min­i­miz­ing casu­al­ties. The bat­tle scarred solider who under­stands and respects his ene­mies, but still under­stands the impor­tance of mak­ing an entrance, whether by land or by sea.

"Richard began to curse, "Bleed­ing Christ! I wsa so sure that raven swine would hit us from the rear! Take over, Jaufre!"

I enjoyed the descrip­tions of bat­tles, large and small, the tac­tics involved, the ago­niz­ing deci­sions com­man­ders must endure as well as the impos­si­ble logis­tics of tak­ing an army across the ocean with no means of sup­port. The author's goes into great length describ­ing Richard's suc­cess, some of it was luck, but most of it was metic­u­lous plan­ning and audac­ity both in the field of diplo­macy and war.

While Richard I is cer­tainly the main fig­ure in the book, there are many oth­ers his­tor­i­cal fig­ures. Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine, his mother, Richard's sis­ter Joana and his wife Beren­garia all have a major role in the novel, and are depicted in an inter­est­ing and involved manner.

I enjoyed this book tremen­dously, but be aware that this is not an easy novel to read. There are many char­ac­ters, each of them a world of their own, com­plex, multi-faceted with strange and fas­ci­nat­ing rela­tion­ships among them. The book also includes polit­i­cal strug­gles and intense back-stories, together with the fight­ing (they always go together, don't they?).

The book ended at the end of the Third Cru­sade, Ms. Pen­man stated that Richard I's life was so full that it would take more books to cover. I, for one, am look­ing for­ward to the rest.

One of the ben­e­fits of hav­ing this blog is that I get intro­duced to writ­ers, new and estab­lished, which I never got the chance to read. I'm extremely glad that I had a chance to review this book and am plan­ning to read more of Ms. Penman's books in the future. Not only are her books well received but her blog is one of the best author's blogs I have encoun­tered. She writes about many inter­est­ing sub­jects and best of all, about her his­tor­i­cal research.

I have been a lifelong reader of historical fiction and a longtime fan of SKP. Her trilogy about the 10th century Welsh throne was as good as anything I've ever read in that genre.

For that reason, I was shocked at what I found myself reading when the eagerly-awaited Lionheart hit my Kindle. I could not even get through the second chapter and I spent all of my time for as far as I did get waiting to become engaged with the story and the characters, which is the first time this has happened to me with one of Ms. Penman's books. I even skipped to Chapter 10, hoping beyond hope that the author would have gained enough momentum that I could begin to recognize the style I had previously so enjoyed. No such luck.

There is a huge difference between telling a story and TELLING A STORY. Lionheart is so boring and didactic that it almost took me back to high school history class. What is the point in period detail and historical accuracy when you can't care about the characters or what happens to them?

A richly textured and, as always with Ms. Penman, meticulously researched historical story, with wonderful characterizations of people, places, and events. I sat up till 3:00 AM reading it two nights in a row, so I think 'compelling' is a fair description!

There is simply no one who can pull off a sweeping and yet intricate historical novel like Ms. Penman. While Lionheart isn't as emotionally intense or as brilliantly crafted as Sunne in Splendor (truly the one novel against which I measure all other novels), it seems to me a fuller read than Penman's earlier Plantagenet novels -- but maybe I just like Richard so very much as the lead.

One major Kindle issue: the kindle edition opened at Chapter One -- skipping right past the maps, the necessary and useful (and long) list of characters and their connections, and a very helpful prologue if you've been out of the Plantagenet loop for awhile. In fact there was no indication any of these things even existed in the table of contents, but I smoked them out -- I knew Ms. Penman always includes these important reader tools. Unfortunately, on a kindle it isn't really that easy to flip back to check on new characters as they are introduced. Otherwise, the formatting and proofreading are as good as any I've seen on Kindle.

Except for her mysteries I've read all of Ms Penman's historical novels. I hate to say this but they seem to get more boring as time goes along. This one just didn't seem to have very much oomph to it at all. It was more or less just words on a page. It never seemed to come alive at any time. Generally she is able to make you feel that you are seeing life thru the character's eyes but this book never seemed to achieve this. It disappoints me because I've found her other books to generally be interesting and informative. In some instances this it almost seemed like some romance novel! When she wrote of the great attraction and sex between Henri and Isabel it was like she was writing again about Geoffrey and Constance from The Devil's Brood. She just changed the names and advanced the time a decade or two. I think perhaps she wrote things as she would like for them to have been with no basis of reality. However the book was not a total waste. I was able to get through it,eventualy, and will probably buy the next, final, volume in the Angevin saga. I hope she ends it on a high note. Then maybe she needs to move up a few centuries and tackle the Tudors or Stuarts. Something to add some new life!