A King's Ransom

March 1, 2014
In Penman's (Lionheart, 2011) sequel, Richard the Lionheart, deserted by King Philippe Capet of France, has failed to take Jerusalem from Saladin and now treks homeward. It's 1192, the Third Crusade has stalled, and as King Richard lands in Sicily, a simple tale of heading home soon turns complex. Richard is warned that Philippe's allies are waiting in Marseilles to capture his small party, so he decides to approach Europe via the stormy Adriatic Sea. Shortly after landing, he's captured--in defiance of papal decree--by the Holy Roman Emperor, Heinrich, who wants ransom. Richard is dispatched to the prison castle of Trifels. Weeks later he's rescued by his ever loyal counselor, Longchamp, reviled by foes as a "misshapen dwarf." Richard returns to Normandy and fights to reclaim land taken by Philippe. Detailed down to the last flagon of wine, Penman's work will please serious fans of historical fiction. Conferences and confrontations between kings and emperors, dukes and archbishops stretch across Europe from Sicily to Nottingham (Prince John appears but not Robin Hood), every page illustrating prodigious research. Aristocrats, abbots and archbishops come to life in an era when bishops were churchmen, soldiers and politicians. Women conversely were chattel, bargained away in marriage to strengthen loyalties between vassals and liege lords. The most intriguing woman is Eleanor of Aquitaine, Richard's mother and primary adviser, with a "spine, like the finest swords, forged in fire." Characters rise from the pages--Richard, brave warrior, skilled diplomat; Heinrich, "If he were cut, he'd bleed ice"; the mercenary Mercadier; and multitudes more. Seven years of sieges and battles, confrontations in castles and on horseback are lovingly detailed, marred only by the occasional intrusion of an overly modern perspective. With enough story to fill two Cornwells and a Lambdin, Penman's latest is a massively entertaining work of historical fiction for dedicated fans.

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February 15, 2014
Penman follows up her best-selling Lionheart (2011) with a panoramic retelling of the tumultuous last years of Richard the Lionheart's life. In addition to detailing the long road home from the Third Crusade and his brutal imprisonment at the hands of the Holy Roman emperor, she continues to explore the complex nature of Richard's relationships with his demanding and determined mother, Eleanor of Aquitaine; his long-suffering wife, Berengaria; his sister Joanna, Queen of Sicily; and a host of other superbly rendered historical figures. Breathing life into a revered legend is never easy, but Penman has absorbed herself so fully into the heart and mind of her protagonist that an undeniably flawed but refreshingly human Richard virtually walks off the pages. This atmospheric fictional biography showcases the author's mastery of all things medieval while providing some refreshingly new twists on the life and times of a hallowed hero. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Penman has a well-deserved reputation for serving up meaty historical fiction. Lionheart was a huge best-seller; expect no less from this masterful sequel.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)

September 1, 2013

Penman follows up the New York Times best-selling Lionheart with the story of King Richard's imprisonment by the Holy Roman Emperor after the Third Crusade.

Copyright 2013 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 15, 2014

Still stinging from his failure to retake Jerusalem in the Third Crusade, King Richard I finds his pride further assailed in Penman's sequel to Lionheart when he is taken captive while en route back to England to defend his kingdom against enemies closer to home. Shifting alliances and behind-the-scenes manipulations constantly alter the playing field as Richard and his strong-willed mother, Eleanor of Aquitaine, work to bring Richard home and to defeat his rivals, particularly his ambitious younger brother John and the bitter French king Philippe, who is jealous of Richard's charisma and battlefield prowess. VERDICT Popular historical fiction novelist Penman (The Sunne in Splendour) again gives readers a well-researched and impressively detailed narrative displaying a strong commitment to historical accuracy and richly drawn, sympathetic characters. Penman has a rare gift for making the complicated political world of medieval Europe accessible to today's readers, and her many fans will be well rewarded by this latest offering.[See Prepub Alert, 8/12/13.]--Mara Bandy, Champaign P.L., IL

Copyright 2014 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.