Here be Dragons, a reference made by early cartographers when mapping unknown and wild lands.  12th century Wales was such a country--its various tribes warring with each other since time immemorial.  England, by today's standards, was barely better yet onto this stage, step the most amazing cast of true-life characters.  No boring history lesson is this--Ms. Penman lovingly brings the reader into the story toward the end of King Henry the first's reign.  During the age that witnessed the birth of modern nation-states and the signing of the Magna Carta, we meet Llewelyn, a ten-year old Welsh boy brought to England by his mother when she marries a Norman Lord and Joanna, the five year-old bastard daughter of the king's youngest son John.  Political intrigue, war and tragedy abound as we follow a large cast of characters through the next thirty years.  Llewelyn, destined for greatness, and Joanna, used by her father as a political pawn are married when Joanna is fourteen.  In a time when marriages are made for political power and no account is taken for a woman's choice, theirs is one of the great romances of history.  Ms. Penman masterfully brings a bone dry history lesson to life as historical figures breathe again--are filled with motive, rage, love, fear, hope, longing and sorrow.  It is not without reason that this book is found on many lists of the best historical novels of all time.
Here be Dragons, a reference made by early cartographers when mapping unknown and wild lands. 12th century Wales was such a country--its various tribes warring with each other since time immemorial. England, by today's standards, was barely better yet onto this stage, step the most amazing cast of true-life characters. No boring history lesson is this--Ms. Penman lovingly brings the reader into the story toward the end of King Henry the first's reign. During the age that witnessed the birth of modern nation-states and the signing of the Magna Carta, we meet Llewelyn, a ten-year old Welsh boy brought to England by his mother when she marries a Norman Lord and Joanna, the five year-old bastard daughter of the king's youngest son John. Political intrigue, war and tragedy abound as we follow a large cast of characters through the next thirty years. Llewelyn, destined for greatness, and Joanna, used by her father as a political pawn are married when Joanna is fourteen. In a time when marriages are made for political power and no account is taken for a woman's choice, theirs is one of the great romances of history. Ms. Penman masterfully brings a bone dry history lesson to life as historical figures breathe again--are filled with motive, rage, love, fear, hope, longing and sorrow. It is not without reason that this book is found on many lists of the best historical novels of all time.