The title of
Sharon Kay Penman’s highly anticipated new novel, Lionheart, says it all: This
is the story of Richard Plantagenet: king, soldier, count, mother’s favorite,
crusader. Yet it hardly comes close to actually describing the depth and
breadth of this chronicle and the lyrical way Penman brings this legend vividly
to life.
Lionheart
encompasses the time immediately after Richard and his fellow king, Philippe of
France, embark on a crusade to free Jerusalem from Saladin’s rule until
Richard’s ultimate decision to return to rescue his kingdom from the
machinations of younger brother John. Richard is portrayed as headstrong and
arrogant, yet justifiably so since his military prowess was ferocious. Penman
writes Richard with all his faults yet also his strengths, but the story is at
its best when Richard’s sister Joanna takes the stage. Joanna is truly her
mother’s daughter and her scenes ripple with conviction and personality. She,
along with other secondary characters, both real and fictional, serves to give
us the most intimate look at the Lion who is equal parts myth and truth.
Lionheart is
not an easy book to read, as it is filled with an author’s nightmare of
similarly named people and a good deal of information building necessary to
illuminate the story. The beautifully described settings and the character
interactions are simply outstanding, however, and this reader was enthralled by
Penman’s gift of placing you directly inside the story to experience all of the
grittiness of war. Richard was a complex man who often polarized those who knew
him into two camps: you either loved him or you hated him, but there was no
middle ground. With Lionheart, I predict that there will be many more who will
feel the enigmatic pull of Richard’s personality; Penman has written a tour de
force that has me ready for the sequel right this minute. Highly recommended.
~taminator40
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