Author: Georgette Heyer
ISBN: 0330258303 DDC: 823.912
See also: LibraryThing | Dusty Pages |

He came walking from Bedford into Cambridge one May morning when the sun was still young and the dew scarce gone from the grass

According to the introduction to this by Heyer’s son this novel was one of the 5 or 6 that Heyer wished never to be printed again. But her son didn’t think it was all that bad, so she republished it. It tells the story of Simon, the illegitimate son of Geoffrey of Malvallet, as he makes his way in the world. He enters the service of Malvallet’s enemy, Fulk of Montlice, as it is said that Montlice is the harder man. And Simon is never one to take the easy route.

Everything he sets out to do he accomplishes. Along the way coming to the king’s attention, gaining a title for himself, and making friends with his half-brother, Geoffrey. But he also gains the nickname, the Coldheart, as he is unfeeling and logical. Stern, but fair. Although children do manage to worm their way into his affections, but never a woman. Not until he goes to France and meets the Lady Margaret, “spitfire of Belremy”. The results are, of course, predictable. This is a romance after all.

It isn’t a terrible book, not by a long stretch, but in comparison to some of the other Heyer’s I’ve read I can see why the author wasn’t as fond of it. The characters are quite flat; there is little of the sparkle that other books have. But still, it is readable and entertaining, just not as good as her others.

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Author: Sharon K. Penman
ISBN: 0140067647 DDC: 813.54
Read with HistoricalFavorites
See also: Library Thing ; Wikipedia ; The Richard III Society ;

Richard did not become frightened until darkness began to settle over the woods. In the fading light, the trees began to take on unfamiliar and menacing shapes.

We all know the myth of the “princes in the tower” and their evil uncle, Richard, who murdered them. Mainly because of Shakespeare’s play. This novel attempts to recreate the life of Richard of Gloucester, and the times in which he lived and died. And it does a great job of bringing the era to life. It also does an excellent job in dispelling many of the rumours about Richard and his rule. But more importantly than that Penman creates real characters that are entertaining and believable. The one huge problem with historical fiction, especially those novels written about real people is that you know how it the story is going to end.

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Author: Irving Stone
ISBN: 0099416271
DDC: 813.54
See also: LibraryThing; Wikipedia on Michelangelo; Michelangelo.com; Art of Florence
Read with Historical Favorites - group site

He sat before the mirror of the second-floor bedroom sketching his lean cheeks with their high bone ridges, the flat broad forehead, and ears too far back on the head, the dark hair curling forward in thatches, the amber-coloured eyes well-set but heavy-lidded.

This is a big book; over 750 pages of small print and crowded pages. So when I began to read and wasn’t all that impressed I thought I’d end up tossing it. The prose felt forced, stilted and somewhat boring. But as I read on I did get more and more interested. At the same time however, the style of prose doesn’t really improve. I enjoyed the book while reading it, but it was never a case that I simply couldn’t put the book down. In fact on a few occasions I wasn’t all that bothered to pick it up.

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ISBN: none
DDC: 823.914

Author: Martin Woodhouse & Robert Ross

All day long, under a yellow and smoking Tuscan sky, the two huge guns vomitied fire.

The Medici Guns is set in the 1400’s in Italy, mostly centred on Florence, as you may have guessed by the title, and it focuses on a few months in the life of a 25 year old Leonardo da Vinci.

A lot of research has gone into producing this book, there are many extracts from Leonardo’s notebooks and it seems to be historically very accurate. Some people may think that means the story may be lacking, but it isn’t. This is a very easy read, with plenty to keep you entertained, whether you are interested in the development of the new type of cannon of the title, or simply the personalities of Renaissance Italy.

And it is also nice to come across a young Leonardo da Vinci, all too often we tend to see him as nothing but an old painter with a beard. This book shows how great an artist he was, as well as how much of a genius he must have been.

The characters are all entertaining, and many are quite likeable. Some are less likeable, but then again, assassins and murderers are rarely intended to by lovable.

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