Sunne in Splendour - Come Enthuse With Me!

[BigBoPeep]

Just finished reading this and now feel desperately sad for poor old Richard III! Also amazed at some of the historical facts (the twin suns during Edward's ascendancy, and the eclipse on Richard's wife's death!?). All lent extra excitement by the greyfriars dig of course...

kinda wishing the people who did 'the tudors' on TV would now do this...but who would we pick to play the parts??? muses

[Rhienne]

I read this years ago and loved it. I read my way through everything of hers I could get my hands on! I loved the ones set in Wales most. Was always so disappointed to read the notes at the back, and learn my favourite characters were the fictional additions, of course it's much easier for an honest historical author to flesh them out, but it was still disappointing.

Not sure about the casting...

[DamnDeDoubtance]

It's wonderful isn't it.

Love the Plantagenets.

Now go and read Here be dragons, tis marvelous.

[LadyDamerel]

I've read this loads of times, I absolutely love it but I actually prefer the first part, during Edward's reign because Richard was happy and at Middleham with Anne and Ned. His own reign horribly sad - Ned giving him the protectorship was a real poisoned chalice for everyone involved.

I read an article ages ago about someone who was mooting this is a possible film/TV series script but that there wasn't the budgets or interest for it.

Depending on what the DNA results show, I suppose there could be potential for it to go ahead as the interest would be much greater among the general public.

Is Here Be Dragons the Edward I/Welsh kings saga?

[DamnDeDoubtance]

Indeed it is.

[LadyDamerel]

Better add that to my Christmas list then!

[mimbleandlittlemy]

Ooh, yes, love it though it does have my favourite worst line in an historical novel ever which is the classic "My lord Hastings is without". Cracks me up every time (yes, I'm sad).

I really like Here Be Dragons too and I must read When Christ and His Saints Slept but they don't seem to have converted it to Kindle yet.

[LadyEnglefield]

First read this years ago and fell in 'love' with Richard III. I read it every now & then when I want a really good wallow.

Have been a Ricardian since my university days and have always wanted a TV series to be made based on this book.

Who knows, now that the bones have been discovered..it may happen at last!

[Colyngbourne]

I read this first about 28 years ago (and many many times since) and whilst I now find it slushier in parts than I would wish, it is amongst the very best of Richard III/Yorkist era fiction. Like LadyDamerel, I prefer the early half of the book before the downward trajectory of Edw IV's death and the spiralling doom that wrecks Richard's peace, happiness and ultimately his life.

My daughter recently constructed her own wished-for "casting" of this, and there is an excellent one here although I don't agree with all of the choices.

Richard Armitage has long wished to get a drama made which approaches the time from a pro-Richard angle; what we get instead next year is Philippa Gregory adaptations, with poor historical research and a fixed attitude that Richard usurped the throne, killed the princes, and (in the books at least) was afflicted with the predictable Tudor-born physical disabilities. Repeating them only gives them credence.

It's a toss-up between this and We Speak No Treason as the best RIII fiction of all: this for scope and general historical detail and personalities; Rosemary Hawley Jarman for a sense of personal loyalty and love for this man. The one book inspires interest and fascination, the other 'devotion'.

Of the many other books, I would possibly rate The Killing of Richard III by Robert Farrington and Some Touch of Pity by Rhoda Edwards. Most are laughable romances, or try to plausibly imply Richard killed the princes but regretted it.

[Ruffello]

I'm reading it right now and loving it. I'd always thought the Wars of the Roses were about the counties of Yorkshire vs Lancashire, so it's great to learn history along with a great read! Am planning to read the Daughter of Time next by Josephine Tey, who's also a great Ricardian!

[Colyngbourne]

There you go, somehow I forgot The Daughter of Time - weirdly I don't think of it as fiction, because it's principally a book presenting historical debate -and isn't set in the 1460's/70's/80's - but the Inspector Grant/Marta Hallett dynamic is really good too.

[SoniaGluck]

Ooh, hello fellow Ricardians.

I must confess that I have never read The Sunne in Splendour despite being a Ricardian practically from birth ( my mum was / is an enthusiastic member of the Richard III Society ). Mum does have a copy so I think that I'd better borrow it.

I did try to re-read We Speak No Treason not so long ago and found it a bit OTT for my taste these days. OTOH, I also read The Daughter of Time again and enjoyed that immensely.

It's such a shame that, of all the good WOTR fiction that exists, the book that they've chosen to dramatise should be Philippa Gregory's.

[Clawdy]

Another Ricardian here,can't wait to hear the results of the dna tests.... I loved "We Speak No Treason" but imagine it may seem different if I read it now. Must try "The Sunne in Splendour".

[BigBoPeep]

whats taking them so bloody long with the dna results btw!?

Really disappointed to hear gregory's stuff is what will get adapted and the tudoresque story will be perpetuated...again. But it was inevitable really.... yawn

OK so if one of us wins the lottery we'll just do the sunne in splendour regardless eh?

off to browse those castlists and compile my own not that im sad or anything

[Colyngbourne]

I don't think waiting for five months, after 500 years of wondering, is too long. This means more time allowed for consultation as to the possible final resting place of the bones if it is judged likely to have been Richard.

[BigBoPeep]

i dont really do patience - i havent been wondering for 500years, only maybe 5wks

5mo would be ok, 5yrs would be ok - the trouble is not knowing WHEN!? ....how long would jezza kyle take?

[Clawdy]

I read yesterday the results may be mid-January now. Not sure why it's taking longer than they said.

[BigBoPeep]

just finished here be dragons....not as enthused about it - didn't find joanna likeable.... :S

[elkiedee]

I loved Here Be Dragons.

The Sunne in Splendour is now on sale for Kindle at 74p!

[BigBoPeep]

DNA results to be announced 4th feb!!!!!

meanwhile the white queen is due to be aired spring 2013 i'll be watching though

[LadyDamerel]

There's a whole programme on Channel 4 at 9pm on the 4th that will cover the whole process of researching, digging for and analysing the bones then reveal whether or not they do belong to Richard III.

I'm just rereading Sunne in Splendour on my Kindle for the third time. It's still amazing.

[BigBoPeep]

ohwow thanks for the headsup on that lady damerel!

funnily though im still struggling my way through the welsh books..may even give up :( just doesnt have the pizazz of TSIS....

[ArielThePiraticalMermaid]

This thread caught my eye as I have read The Sunne in Splendour at least five times. I also did Wars of the Roses as my special subject in my degree and my tutor group used to have furious arguments about who who play which character if there was a film. Budget not an object, obviously. That's how we rolled.

However I think it was sadly quite likely that Richard III did kill his nephews. And also he did summarily execute Lord Hastings. Just sayin'

[ArielThePiraticalMermaid]

BigBoPeep, don't give up. The end of the last one will have you howling. I remember reading it on a train. I disgraced myself utterly.

[BigBoPeep]

ok I'll trust you on the welsh books ariel, but what makes you so sure he killed the nephews eh? scratches chin and narrows eyes For me the biggest 'no' argument is that it didnt really serve him, just made everyone think he was the biggest bastard ever...