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Here Be Dragons | 
 enlarge | Author: Sharon Kay Penman
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Category: Book
List Price: $16.95
Buy New: $9.58
You Save: $7.37 (43%)
New (16) Used (13) from $5.99
Avg. Customer Rating:  155 reviews
Sales Rank: 27567
Media: Paperback
Edition: 1st
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 720
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.3
Dimensions (in): 8.2 x 5.5 x 1.3
ISBN: 0312382456
Dewey Decimal Number: 813
EAN: 9780312382452
ASIN: 0312382456
Publication Date: May 27, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Thirteenth-century Wales is a divided country, ever at the mercy of England’s ruthless, power-hungry King John. Llewelyn, Prince of North Wales, secures an uneasy truce by marrying the English king’s beloved illegitimate daughter, Joanna, who slowly grows to love her charismatic and courageous husband. But as John’s attentions turn again and again to subduing Wales---and Llewelyn---Joanna must decide where her love and loyalties truly lie. The turbulent clashes of two disparate worlds and the destinies of the individuals caught between them spring to life in this magnificent novel of power and passion, loyalty and lies. The book that began the trilogy that includes Falls the Shadow and The Reckoning, Here Be Dragons brings thirteenth-century England, France, and Wales to tangled, tempestuous life.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 150 more reviews...
Really enjoyed December 31, 2008
I got exactly what I was looking for when I bought this book: a compelling story, a fairly accurate portrayal of historical events, characters and circumstances, and an author with a vivid writing style. Ms. Penman truly is one of the best in her genre, as so many other reviewers have said.
There is fair bit of "romance," in Dragons. If you were hoping for a scholarly dissertation on King John and the Plantagenet's you're shopping in the wrong section. On the other hand, if you are looking for an entertaining read with a healthy respect for the historical period in which it's set, you've found your book.
I have a background in history, but am fairly ignorant about the Norman conquest and 11th/12th/13th century Britain. Thus, I found this book peaked my interest in a whole new direction and will likely be following this up with some non-fiction research on the period.
As some others have mentioned, Penman does employ stilted grammar and gratuitous use of the word "Jesu" in an attempt to authenticate her dialogue. I found this annoying at first, but eventually came to accept it as one of the few flaws in an otherwise solid work.
Overall, my highest recommendations!
Thoroughly Enjoyable December 24, 2008
I usually don't read period novels but I've got to say that this book was one of my favorite books I've read. Ms Penman is a master of story writing and her historical knowledge of the period is second to none. You better get Falls The Shadow and The Reckoning while your at it because you WILL want to read them.
Welsh storytelling at its most beautiful November 15, 2008
Here be Dragons is a fautless interweaving of Welsh and English history at it's very best done by none other then Sharon Penman.
thirteenth century Wales is unbalanced to say the least and Kinh John is as power hungry as ever. Llewelyn is prince of wales in all but name trying to unite the people and hold King John at bay. Marrying Joanna creates a truce between Wales and England for Llewelyn. In the back ground King John is always constant causing rifts in their relationship. Thier story is beautiful and humbling as they go through life, betrayal, and forgivness together.
It's amazing how Penman is able to put into words the emotions of people from so long ago and yet as a reader you feel as if they are a part of you. Everytime I put the book down I felt like a peice of myself was put aside with it.
what can i say? November 2, 2008
this book is one of my favorite. there is a sadness and untrustworthiness that keeps bringing itself out in this book, as soon as you think things are going to start to get better someone does something to mess it up. as far as the relevance to history, it keeps up pretty good. i had to look it up and double check because i almost didnt believe everything that happened. this book got me interested in welsh history.
WOW! What a Book! October 30, 2008
Having just discovered Sharon Kay Penman, I decided to start with Here Be Dragons. On a cold and rainy autumn day in front of a cozy fire, I was transported back in time to 13th Century England and Wales and I never wanted to leave! I literally could not put this book down and I finished it in one 16-hour sitting. I have not been able to stop thinking about it since and find myself picking it up again and again to re-read my favorite scenes. I went right back to the library and picked up the other two books in the trilogy and I can't wait to start reading them.
At the heart of this book is the most compelling love story I have ever read. A young woman torn between her love for her husband and her love for her father, who are bitter enemies. (SKP also does a great job of humanizing King John, by the way.) Joanna and Llewelyn are so vivid, their triumphs and defeats are so touching and SKP does a terrific job in conveying all of their emotions and placing the reader inside the intimacies of their relationship. Every scene between them, whether it be sex, love, arguments, reconcilliation, childbirth, child-rearing, politics or betrayal, teems with the undercurrent of a passion between two lovers facing seemingly insurmountable obstacles, who by all odds should not be together, but who cannot stay apart. And to top it all off, it takes place amidst the rugged beauty and fascinating history of two countries struggling to assert their place and power in the world. I loved learning about Wales, and found myself going online afterwards and researching everything from Llewelyn's castles to the types of clothes they wore and the food they ate!
This book is beautifully written and has earned a permanent place on my list of all-time favorites.
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