Books : Falls the Shadow

Rating: - This book sweeps you into medieval England and Wales..
This, the second part of Sharon Penman's Welsh/Norman trilogy, focuses mainly on the career of the "greatest soldier in Christendom" and the oft-called father of representative government, Simon de Montfort. The book's other focus is on Wales, particularly the northern principality of Gwynedd, divided and beset by enemies after the death of Llewelyn Fawr. The story of Simon de Montfort is a thrilling one, and Penman brings him to life in these pages with her usual skill. The English monarchy is shown in a far less sympathetic light, and no wonder, since Henry III was one of England's weakest kings, petty, vindictive and vacillating. His greatest achievement was undoubtedly in his offspring, for there were few medieval kings greater than Edward I. His rivalry with Simon dated almost from the time of de Montfort's semi-clandestine marriage to Henry's youngest sister, and relations between the two men were in a constant state of flux, with Henry embracing Simon as a brother one day and turning on him the next. The climax of Simon's career was his astounding political and military victory at Lewes, where he captured not only Henry, but also Prince Edward and Henry's younger brother Richard, Earl of Cornwall. The latter, who was a calculating and practical man, would have made a far better king for England than the brother only a year his senior. De Montfort's triumph after Lewes was relatively short-lived. Edward escaped, and Simon was betrayed by some of his closest allies. Trapped in a curve of the River Severn, he awaited the army of his second son, Simon (known as Bran) - however, Bran, through his own carelessness, had been ambushed by Edward, and the latter advanced on Simon's army at Evesham flying Bran's captured banners. As a result, Simon and his followers were unaware of their danger until too late, and the outcome was a massacre. Simon, as he lay dying, was cut to pieces, and various parts of his body were despatched around the kingdom.
The Welsh side of the story is largely focussed on Llewelyn ap Gruffydd, grandson of Llewelyn Fawr and heir to his dreams of a united Wales. Wales in the 13th Century was a land beset by enemies - not only the immensely larger and more powerful English Crown but also enemies from within, for it was a divided country, with several small principalities generally at odds with one another. The most divisive element was the Welsh law regarding succession - for in Wales all a man's sons could inherit, and the system fostered fratricide and civil war.
Sharon Penman's love for the period shines through in every chapter. The reader is superbly drawn into the medieval world, and will find themselves rooting strongly for certain characters and hating others. The battle scenes are very well depicted (as usual), but Penman's true talent lies in bringing the everyday detail to life. Be prepared for some tear-jerking scenes - I have read this book several times and I still cry!

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Rating: - Penman is a Closet Snob

Having read Elizabeth Chadwick's "The Greatest Knight," I set aside my natural preference for male authors when it comes to novels involving war, and read "Falls the Shadow." While I adored "The Greatest Knight", I find two major problems with S. Penman: she does not do male historical subjects justice, and she is a closet snob.
The first is proven by the fact that fully a third of this novel is set in bed: either in birthing scenes, death scenes or to a lesser degree love-making scenes. These scenes are obsessively drawn-out in relation to the historical sweep the novel purports to compass. The point is even more starkly proven by the fact that death scenes and female gossip scenes pre-empt the pivotal time the supposed main protagonist spends crusading in the Holy Land, a time which made Simon de Montfort's name and reputation are made as "The greatest soldier in Christendom." Not a single scene is set in Outremer where the Crusades took place, nor is any scene even narrated in retrospect. There are a grand total of two battle scenes in a 500-page novel. Considering the epoch-shaping battles that took place during de Montfort's lifetime, this is perhaps unforgiveable.
The proof of the second point, that Penman is a closet snob, is well illustrated by the way she has her heroine, Nell, treat an impoverished country priest when he is brought to minister to her in-law, Ellen, who is dying at childbirth. Prior to the death, Nell threatens the priest with Royal wrath if he doesn't perform sacraments contrary to church doctrine, then, further threateningly exhorts him to lie about the nature of the death, then physical abuses him when he meekly descends the stairs to try to fill his empty stomach in the hall following the death. This scene, and others, bespeaks a rather nasty personality behind the novel. This is not the way a Royal would act towards an unfortunate lesser: it is the way a middle-class author with imaginary pretentions to higher rank might behave.
Penman also has an extremely distracting and irritating habit of conspicuously omitting conjunctions. Example: "I'd have taken them with me if only I could, hope they'll understand one day." Extremely awkward, and distracting. The author is trying too hard to be clever or original and it doesn't work.
All in all, not worth reading when one could have Elizabeth Chadwick instead.

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Rating: - Heartbreaking
Part II of the Welsh trilogy. Much tragedy, heartbreak and courage. I had never heard of Simon DeMontfort before -- and we all have much to be thankful to him for his courage to fight for what is "right" no matter what the cost.

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Rating: - Simon de Montford shines through Ms Penman's writing
1231-1267. I liked this one more even more than the two books which precede this one chronologically. Since my family have strong links with Kenilworth, Simon de Montford’s main castle, he has always been a name bandied around the house but until now I didn’t know anything about him. Ms Penman makes him out to be a man of our time believing in democracy for the people. I thought she might be romanticising her character for the sake of a good read but having surfed the net I find that she has just put her inimitable stamp on what turns out to be the accepted view of Simon de Montford as the “father of Parliament”. I am glad I know more about Simon de Montford and I’m glad it was Sharon Penman who introduced me to him. I too will now read more about him and since my family are still in the locality I shall be visiting Evesham and seeing Kenilworth castle in a new light. I wish I lived in the locality as the Simon de Montford Society based in Evesham seems to have a very interesting programme of monthly events this year!

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Rating: - A Masterpiece Of Medieval Historical Fiction
Sharon Kay Penman is a remarkably gifted writer. Her impeccable historical research, attention to detail and superb storytelling ability make her novels consistently excellent. "Falls The Shadow" is one of her best efforts. It is the third book in her Plantagenet series, which began with "The Sunne In Splendour," followed by "Here Be Dragons," and ending with "The Reckoning."

Simon de Montfort was a nobleman from France, whose family, (originally English-Norman), had been disinherited by King John. A young man in his mid-twenties, he returned to England in 1232 seeking restitution of his family lands from King Henry III, John's son. He wound up marrying Henry's sister, Eleanor Plantagenet and risking the King's and Church's wrath by doing so. De Montfort, who became Earl of Leicester, was a warrior, great leader and politician. He despised Henry III for his incompetence and the favoritism he displayed for the foreigners in his court. Henry was bankrupting England and estranging the peerage. Far ahead of his time, Simon de Montfort also espoused the idea that the common man deserved a voice in government. England was on the verge of civil war as factions split between Henry and his son and heir Edward. The collision of blood ties, politics and war, shifting allegiances, along with the pageantry and drama of life in the Middle Ages, make this novel hard to put down.

Intertwined with the story of Simon de Montfort is that of Welsh Prince Llewelyn Farr, who united the Welsh nobility against the English. Wales was also in a state of civil unrest at the time, as Llewelyn had just died and his sons were fighting for leadership and power, thereby losing everything their father had gained to the English. What makes the Welsh part of the story even more interesting, is that not only is Welsh history linked to that of England's, but the royal families, Kings' John and Henry, and Prince Llewelyn's are linked by blood. Ms. Penman joins the histories and characters of these two countries to give the reader, not just a superb tale but a look at the bigger historical picture also.

I highly recommend this book, and the all the others in the series, as this is some of the best historical fiction I have ever read.