JUNE 2023 READING LIST
David Cox. River Landscape in Wales, ca. 1850. The Metropolitan Museum of Art
FALLS THE SHADOW BY SHARON KAY PENMAN
The second in Sharon Kay Penman’s Welsh Trilogy, Falls The Shadow focuses intently on Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester, a French Norman and a member of the English peerage who led the barons against Henry III. After a short-lived victory, he became de facto ruler of England and helped develop a constitution that influences the government today.
Among the stories of de Montfort, who married Eleanor, the sister of King Henry III, are the childhood, adolescence, and rise to power of Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, grandson of Llywelyn the Great. The story is an epic tale of conflict, betrayal, enduring love, and honor.
Penman is a wonderful writer when it comes to historical inspiration. She brings the thirteenth century vibrantly to life. Her quick pacing is easy to follow with dates at the head of each chapter, and it keeps the story moving and not floundering too much in the slower periods. She even includes historical facts about monumental moments at the end of certain narratives to support her fictional account.
I call books like Falls The Shadow dense reads because they are deep and long, but not slow or dry. Penman’s writing is richly descriptive and yet potent, like her description of death:
“An intimate enemy, death, capricious and cruel, ultimately invincible.”
After I finished reading the book, I would review the facts and see how in-depth her historical research was. Penman brings to life so many details and aspects of a world from hundreds of years ago, and yet, I feel as though an independent Wales was only recently lost. Another wonderful attribute of Penman’s writing is her use of multiple narrators without confusing the reader; each voice adds to the story.
The one area that was a struggle to read through was the more intimate portions and the discussions of cycles, possible pregnancies, and some attempts at wording around coupling. Nothing pornographic, but a little awkward.
I read at the end that although the real timeline of Simon de Montfort and Llywelyn ap Gruffudd overlap quite a bit Penman wanted to focus the storylines of the reaming books on each ruler and in doing so devoted Falls The Shadow to the story of Simon de Montfort and the final book, The Reckoning to the story of Llywelyn ap Gruffudd and how he became Llywelyn the Last. This made it easier to focus on the story of de Montfort, his formidable wife, and the many exploits of their children, thereby laying the foundation for their characters in the third and final book.
Prescott Adamson. 'Midst Steam and Smoke, January 1904. The Minneapolis Institute of Art
AMONG THE MAD BY JACQUELINE WINSPEAR
On the way to visit a client, Maisie encounters a man who commits suicide. She then finds out that the Prime Minister is being threatened, and there could be a potential for massive loss of life. The writer of the threats mentions Maisie by name, and what follows is a journey through the mind of a man broken by the First World War, which leads Maisie into the dark wards filled with shell-shocked men. Meanwhile, Maisie’s assistant is struggling with the melancholy that his wife has still not recovered from the death of their daughter.
Among The Mad delves into the complexity of the mind and how some people who have harrowing experiences still hold hope of recovery, while others continue down a path of darkness into an abyss. The hardships of poverty and the aftermath of a war that took so many and destroyed many others make the period seem rather bleak.
What was different about this sixth installment in the Maisie Dobbs series was that several entries are from the madman's point of view, which gives a better understanding of why he is doing what he is doing. Insight into the madman’s way of thinking was enlightening and provided a broader context for the story.
I must admit, however, that this was probably my least favorite of the series so far. The plot felt a bit shaky, and even from the madman's point of view, I was not completely sold on the story. I also did not understand why Maisie decided to attempt to confront the madman alone, even with backup close at hand.
FOOTNOTE: I read in an author interview that Winspear had originally intended the first Maisie Dobbs book to be the only book, but when asked about continuing the series, she looked over her notes and found enough research and ideas to develop six more books. I am interested in seeing how Winspear adapts and evolves the Maisie Dobbs series as she moves beyond her initial research notes.
Other books read this month:
JESUS AND THE DISINHERITED