Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Waiting on Wednesday (38)

 
"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. So here's a thing I'm looking forward to: King's Ransom, by Sharon Kay Penman (Putnam, 4 March 2014).

 
This long-anticipated sequel to the national bestseller Lionheart is a vivid and heart-wrenching story of the last event-filled years in the life of Richard, Coeur de Lion. Taken captive by the Holy Roman Emperor while en route home—in violation of the papal decree protecting all crusaders—he was to spend fifteen months chained in a dungeon while Eleanor of Aquitaine moved heaven and earth to raise the exorbitant ransom. But a further humiliation awaited him: he was forced to kneel and swear fealty to his bitter enemy.

For the five years remaining to him, betrayals, intrigues, wars, and illness were ever present. So were his infidelities, perhaps a pattern set by his father's faithlessness to Eleanor. But the courage, compassion, and intelligence of this warrior king became the stuff of legend, and A King's Ransom brings the man and his world fully and powerfully alive.

Cover and description from Fantastic Fiction.
*****

I am a big fan of Sharon Kay Penman; it's because of her work that I'm a fan of historical fiction in general and of historical fiction set in the medieval era specifically (and also a defender of Richard III). I've read almost everything she's ever written, though I've gotten a little bit behind; I haven't read Lionheart yet. Now that this new one is coming out, I guess I'll have to bump the previous volume closer to the top of the list of Books I Want to Read Real Soon Now.


2 comments:

  1. Ooo, this sounds great! I haven't heard of the first one either, but I'll have to take a look! Thanks for putting it on my radar, Becca!

    Stop by my WoW

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  2. I really need to read more historical fiction! This sounds good!
    Missie @ A Flurry of Ponderings

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