I’ve heard good things about John Cowper Powys’ historical novel Owen Glendower, but haven’t had the inclination to wade through it yet. Instead, I bought a copy of White Lion, Red Dragon, a 2003 historical novel by Nobilia Paen about the marriage of Edmund Mortimer to Catherine, daughter of Owen Glendower, here spelled Owain Glyn […]
A Love Story Set in Wales Read More »
I’ve been reading Michael Hicks’ Anne Neville: Queen to Richard III, a biography that has excited much outrage among Ricardians, mainly for its description of Richard III as a “serial incestor.” Hicks’ description is based on Richard’s marriage to Anne, his sister-in-law, and his supposed plans to marry Elizabeth of York, his niece. Although, as
Michael Hicks’ Anne Neville Biography Read More »
I have a confession: When I read a novel, I peep at the ending very early on, sometimes even before I buy the novel or check it out from the library. It doesn’t matter what type of novel it is (even mysteries are not immune); it doesn’t matter whether I’m enjoying it or not; it
Confessions of a Peeper: A New Poll Read More »
Here’s an interesting meme going around that Carla, Alex, and Gabriele C among others have each picked up on: five historical people you’d like to meet (or to know more about). This one took a bit of pondering. I excluded people I’ve written about (too likely to say, “Bimbo, you got it all wrong!”) and
Meme Time Again: Five Folks I’d Like to Meet Read More »
First, as one of the hockey fans in my house has suggested that this blog is a tad too insulated from the real world: Go ‘Canes! (Who won the Stanley Cup last night, resulting in the very unusual situation of something going on in the streets of Raleigh, North Carolina, after midnight.) Second, in response
More Book Hanky-Panky, and a Dark New Theory Read More »
Having posted about Eleanor de Clare’s mum for Mother’s Day, I’m posting about her dad for Father’s Day. (Symmetry is everything.) To put it very briefly, Gilbert de Clare (1243-1295) had a stormy relationship with both Henry III and Edward I. During the Barons’ Wars of the thirteenth century, he allied himself with Simon de
A Father’s Day Look at Gilbert de Clare Read More »
Now that our flooring’s down and the sofa is no longer sitting on its side in the kitchen (don’t ask), the bookshelf is full again—but over the two nights that it was empty, I observed a strange and disturbing phenomenon. My books are reproducing amongst themselves. Yes—they’re having book sex, and as a result, they’re
Hanky-Panky in the Stacks Read More »
I see that Roger Mortimer’s been spouting off. (I’ll be damned if I’ll call him the Earl of March.) Now that my looney scribe’s stopped taking pictures of her bookshelves and popping bubble wrap, I’ll finally have my chance to reply. I am: Edward III, teenage king of England.I want: to be a real king,
Edward III Joins the "Me Too" Meme, and It’s About Time Read More »
I’m not sure what’s sexier, a big empty bookshelf or a bookshelf lined with books. In some ways, I think the first is more tantalizing, because it’s waiting to be filled, whereas the full bookshelf may upon inspection be full of something disappointingly uninteresting, such as cookbooks (apologies to the cooks out there). Anyway, as
Bare Naked Bookshelves Read More »
Maybe it’s just me, but when I surf around to blogs or websites of other people interested in history or historical fiction, I seem to encounter more cat people than dog people, judging from the pictures people post and the comments they make. And when people comment on my own website, they quite often mention
Feline or Fido? An Utterly Unscientific Poll Read More »