HomeGroupsTalkMoreZeitgeist
Search Site
This site uses cookies to deliver our services, improve performance, for analytics, and (if not signed in) for advertising. By using LibraryThing you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Your use of the site and services is subject to these policies and terms.

Results from Google Books

Click on a thumbnail to go to Google Books.

Lionheart: A Novel by Sharon Kay Penman
Loading...

Lionheart: A Novel (edition 2013)

by Sharon Kay Penman

MembersReviewsPopularityAverage ratingMentions
8975523,611 (3.95)106
Richard, the second surviving son of Henry Plantagenet and Eleanor of Aquitaine, inherits the throne from his brother, before embarking on the Third Crusade, a conflict that is complicated by the schemes of his usurping brother, John.
Member:lbalfour
Title:Lionheart: A Novel
Authors:Sharon Kay Penman
Info:Ballantine Books (2013), Paperback, 624 pages
Collections:Your library
Rating:***1/2
Tags:None

Work Information

Lionheart by Sharon Kay Penman

Loading...

Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book.

No current Talk conversations about this book.

» See also 106 mentions

Showing 1-5 of 58 (next | show all)
Another solid historical novel from Penman; it's a very pleasant way to learn history but found some of it (mostly love scenes) too inventive for my taste. Bonus points for the thoroughness of the author's note though; she's wonderfully transparent about what's completely made up. ( )
  fionaanne | Nov 28, 2022 |
It took me a long while to get into this book. I think it was mainly because the research is so thorough, that the author threw in too many names, places, explanations, etc. for me. In the early stages I felt the story did not move on fast enough (it is a very large novel and the font is so small). I really was struggling and had to force myself to keep going.
And then, something changed. More action. More intrigue. More politics, disputes, rivalries, love interest.....
Basically, more of everything. The story took off and I began really enjoying the novel to the extent where I wanted my next fix.
I think, because it was penned by a lady, the characters are explored in more depth. It's not all action through a man's eyes, in a man's world. You see things from the female perspective, and mightily frightening it is too!
If you like accurate yet thought provoking historical fiction, and if you have patience, this book is for you. Well written, engaging, exciting, you can't help but admire, like, hate, despise and empathise with the characters, whilst always keeping in the back of your mind the thought that, 'Holy Cow! This actually happened!'
I gave it 4 stars, but only because in my opinion it took too long to ignite. ( )
  MJWebb | Sep 22, 2022 |
I don't often write reviews, but I had to make an exception for this one. Although I'm an avid fan of Penman's writing (she will be sorely missed!), I was dreading a book entirely about the Crusades. I was expecting endless battle scenes without as much of the personal, human element that I adore in her writing.

I couldn't have been more wrong. In fact, the level of intrigue, interpersonal grievances and grudges, barbed conversations and glorious, glorious banter in "Lionheart" actually made me want to stand up and cheer.

I went into this novel expecting to emerge as I'd entered-- fairly neutral on Richard himself, the titular Lionheart. However, I found myself genuinely cheering him on, sympathising with his plight, and even being somewhat blown away by the sheer audacity, spirit and courage of this (Penman's own words) "medieval rock star".

Bloody brilliant, this book. Easily a 10/10. ( )
  pomquest | Aug 10, 2022 |
I love history, and Historical Fiction is my cotton-candy. However I am a fact checker and if an author takes too much liberty with a character I tend to get turned off. Ms. Penman is a new author for me(lord how did I not know about her?) and she did not disappoint. Her detail and research on King Richard the Lionheart and the Third Crusade was outstanding! Reading about this era of history was also new to me and Penman made it exciting and fun. I definitely plan to read more of her works. I highly recommend this book-there are actually books that come before this one on King Richard that could be read first, however this book works as a stand-alone also ( )
  JBroda | Sep 24, 2021 |
Lionheart by Sharon Kay Peniman was book 4/5 in the Angevin/Plantagenet series. This covers Richard from his marriage to his leaving Jaffa very ill from the Third Crusade. This was the least enjoyable of all the books thus far as most of the story dealt with the Crusade and the maneuvers, cities, defections, etc. A good (but short) storyline about Richard's wife and his sister, Joanna. Also, as Richard commanded armies of French, Cypriots, Sicilians, English, Welsh, etc., it was difficult for me to keep everybody straight. Also, the major battle in the book was for Jaffa, but it's location was not really explained in the book. I had to do some research. There is the Jaffa Gate to the Old City, but Jaffa is also the previous name of Tel Aviv. I'm going out on a limb here and guess the Jaffa in the book is Tel Aviv, as I don't think the crusaders got that close to Jerusalem. 609 pages ( )
  Tess_W | Jun 18, 2021 |
Showing 1-5 of 58 (next | show all)
no reviews | add a review

Belongs to Series

You must log in to edit Common Knowledge data.
For more help see the Common Knowledge help page.
Canonical title
Original title
Alternative titles
Original publication date
People/Characters
Important places
Important events
Related movies
Epigraph
Dedication
To Jill Davies
First words
Theirs was a story that would rival the legend of King Arthur and Guinevere, his faithless queen.
Quotations
Last words
(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)
Disambiguation notice
Publisher's editors
Blurbers
Original language
Canonical DDC/MDS
Canonical LCC

References to this work on external resources.

Wikipedia in English

None

Richard, the second surviving son of Henry Plantagenet and Eleanor of Aquitaine, inherits the throne from his brother, before embarking on the Third Crusade, a conflict that is complicated by the schemes of his usurping brother, John.

No library descriptions found.

Book description
They were called "The Devil's Brood," though never to their faces. They were the four surviving sons of Henry Plantagenet and Eleanor of Aquitaine. With two such extraordinary parents, much was expected of them.

But the eldest-charming yet mercurial-would turn on his father and, like his brother Geoffrey, meet an early death. When Henry died, Richard would take the throne and, almost immediately, set off for the Holy Land. This was the Third Crusade, and it would be characterized by internecine warfare among the Christians and extraordinary campaigns against the Saracens. And, back in England, by the conniving of Richard's youngest brother, John, to steal his crown.

In Lionheart, Sharon Kay Penman displays her remarkable mastery of historical detail and her acute understanding of human foibles. The result is a powerful story of intrigue, war, and- surprisingly-effective diplomacy, played out against the roiling conflicts of love and loyalty, passion and treachery, all set against the rich textures of the Holy Land.
Haiku summary

LibraryThing Early Reviewers Alum

Sharon Kay Penman's book Lionheart was available from LibraryThing Early Reviewers.

LibraryThing Author

Sharon Kay Penman is a LibraryThing Author, an author who lists their personal library on LibraryThing.

profile page | author page

Author Chat

Sharon Kay Penman chatted with LibraryThing members from Aug 10, 2009 to Aug 21, 2009. Read the chat.

Current Discussions

None

Popular covers

Quick Links

Rating

Average: (3.95)
0.5
1 1
1.5
2 2
2.5 6
3 28
3.5 21
4 74
4.5 10
5 41

Recorded Books

An edition of this book was published by Recorded Books.

» Publisher information page

 

About | Contact | Privacy/Terms | Help/FAQs | Blog | Store | APIs | TinyCat | Legacy Libraries | Early Reviewers | Common Knowledge | 203,207,981 books! | Top bar: Always visible