Here be Dragons

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Summary: Rich, Compelling, Authentic Historical Drama
Review: "Here be Dragons" is a wonderful, delightful historical novel: the kind you'll read many times, and sink into on a long winter evening to cheer yourself up. I have read "Here Be Dragons" countless times since I was about fourteen, and still enjoy it thoroughly. Ms. Penman's research is excellent, and she does not spoil this book at least by involving too many peripheral characters. Although Llywelyn and Joanna are wonderful characters because they are so nice, so human and appealing, I personally enjoy the character of King John more. His faults cannot be denied, but Penman explores his personal torment, while still allowing that there are totally inexcusable acts which no amount of inner torture can absolve. If I were to find one fault with this book, and with "Falls the Shadow", its next sequel, it would be the "chumminess" of its characters. I find it hard to believe that some royal figures, who are tenuously linked by marriage, would have such personal bonds and even friendships as Ms. Penman illustrates in her books. The figure of Eleanor de Montfort, for example, causing ructions at Llywelyn's court on behalf of her disgraced sister Joanna: in reality, is it not far more likely that Joanna and the much-younger Eleanor barely knew each other? Joanna went to live in Wales long before Eleanor was born (in 1215). Travel was rarely undertaken for pleasure in Norman times, and Joanna - no matter how independent she might seem - would have spent the vast majority of her time acting as Llywelyn's chatelaine, not taking pleasure jaunts to the English Christmas court. For much of Henry III's reign there was uneasiness, hostility or open warfare between Gwynedd and England. Equally, when Eleanor was Countess of Pembroke, it is unlikely that she would have been hanging around at Llywelyn's court! By modern standards, if Joanna and Eleanor were half-sisters, we would imagine that they had a personal relationship. By early medieval standards, one need only point to the de Lusignans to verify the truth of this statement. The de Lusignants, Isabelle d'Angouleme's family from her second marriage, were also Eleanor's half-brothers and sisters, but as we see in Falls the Shadow, she did not even meet them until she was an adult, barely exchanged two words with them and had no interest in doing so. This is a far more realistic representation of many medieval relationships than Penman's highly romanticised view. Nevertheless, I would thoroughly recommend this and all of Penman's work.

Rating:
Summary: Brilliant
Review: This book explores a part of history that very little people know about. It is interesting how Penman handles the romances between Joanna and Llewellyn and John and Isabelle, given the age differences between them. But even as teenagers the central characters speak as adults. The romance between John and Isabelle is slightly hard to comprehend as today it would certainly be called paedophilia. What could a 12 year old possibly have that a 32 year old man could be interested in? But in the 12th century such marriages were common and we cannot judge them by todays standards.

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Summary: There's no funner way to get your history
Review: I agree with all the other superlatives and accolades in the reviews written here - Sharon Penman is a great story teller. I confess that I sometimes felt like I was reading a bodice-ripper but why not enjoy *all* your history? The plot components are so realistic and spellbinding, the characters have depth, the narrative is delicious - there is so much to like about this book! To top it off, Penman's treatment of historical material and painstaking research (take the Sunne in Splendor for example) is truly deserving of high praise.

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Summary: The book was so good I went to Wales!
Review: This series by Sharon K. Penman made me feel I was part of the 12th and 13th Century. The story was not only historically accurate but wonderfully written. It was so good I went to Wales to visit all of the places in the book and fell in love with the country! This series would make a great movie.

Rating:
Summary: An Absolute Marvel
Review: Ms. Penman managed to do what any other historian or author can rarely do: she allows us to see her characters not as they were viewed in history's harsh light, but as humans. She shows their good points and their bad, and allows the reader to form his or her own opinion, instead of simply being told if that person were a good king or if that woman were a terrible wife. This Welsh trilogy was fabulous and I recommend it to anyone wishing to learn about medieval Wales and the Plantagenets.

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Summary: The best book Penman has written - Unforgetable
Review: This book far outshines her other books (which are great) and shall forever live in my memory as my favorite of her books. The story of Llewelyn Fwar & Joanna is so magnetic. The book draws you into Wales, it gives you views of King John and so many others that were before pictures in a history book, that now are alive and living. People you will never forget. When I go to England it will be more than a trip for me, it will be a meeting of old friends. A chance to walk the streets these people once walked. To that I say - Thanks Ms. Penman for taking me for a visit - how much I enjoyed it! She is a marvelous writer!!! Please read this book!

Rating:
Summary: penman has outdone herself with this one!
Review: Everyone else on this page seems to have lauded this book quite aptly, but I just had to add my own opinion, so strongly did this work effect me. I grew up on knights and castles, Robin Hood and the Arthur legends, so when this book fell into my hands a few years ago it naturally captured my attention. It wasn't long before it captured my heart as well. I've always found Penman to be a good writer; her other works--"Sunne", "Saints," and "Queen's Man", however, are nothing compared to her Welsh trilogy. Somewhere, somehow, she hit true inspiration, and dammit, it shows. The prose are beautiful--that passage at the end of "Dragons" is so lovely!--her characters are fully realized and completely captivating. Yes, I fell in love with Llewelyn, too! It's like one of those old movie epics--but a GOOD one, for once! It's got everything: battles, politics, romance (!!), and above all, a fascinating, marvelously accurate window into a world so completely unlike our own, and yet people with characters we become so attached to, whether we like them or dislike them. Read it! You'll love it! Only one word of warning: enjoy the happy ending in "Dragons" because it does not get any happier. The trilogy gets even better as it progresses through "Falls the Shadow" and "The Reckoning" but trust me--stock up on kleenexes! You'll need them! This is an excellent series for anyone who has a passion for Plantagenets, history, and above all, romance.

Rating:
Summary: The first and the best
Review: I love all of Penman's books, but "Dragons" was the first one I read and still my favorite. I stayed up until dawn reading and rereading her books. She paints a poignant picture of a Welsh people led by Llewelyn Fawr on a collision course with the Plantaganets' England and Joanna in the midst of it all. I love comparing this book to "The Reckoning." "Dragons" ends with hope for the Welsh that would eventually be crushed. I always find it amusing to compare Ellen de Montfort's romantic visions of her Aunt Joanna and Llewelyn against the reality of the struggles within their marriage. Whether this is true or simply Penman's artistic license, the sense of humor she gives Llewelyn lends even more to his wonderful character.

Rating:
Summary: Impeccable! Flawlessly and compellingly written
Review: It is so rare as to be nonexistent that I am kept up half the night with a book I can't put down - and this is the first time I have ever been compelled to write a review of one. Such is the case with "Here be Dragons". Ms Penman is an acurate historian and a completely compelling storyteller. I have ever been fascinated with this century of British history, and this book has set me into delving deeply into Welsh history of this era. Llewelyn and Joanna became personal friends - I wept and cheered their stormy life together , and even found some understanding of King John with all his politically expedient, and really evil deeds - mayhap even a bit of empathy. Her description of Welsh countryside was such that I could almost smell the waterfalls and damp earth. I will visit that country in the fall, and take with me much more interest in the history and the peoples that make up this fascinating land. Thank you, Ms Penman, for "Here be Dragons" - I wait eagerly for the rest of the trilogy which I have just ordered.

Rating:
Summary: impeccable, truly
Review: Buy this book and read it. Penman is an outstanding writer and you will never read another author like her. Her works are extensively researched with several pages at the end detailing all artist licenses she took. She etaches you history while igniting your imagination with images you've never experienced before. i have learned more from this book than i have in many high school and colleges classes. simply put, the best i have ever or will ever read.