The classic, magnificent bestselling novel about Richard III, now in a special thirtieth anniversary edition with a new preface by the author In this triumphant combination of scholarship and storytelling, Sharon Kay Penman redeems Richard III–vilified as the bitter, twisted, scheming hunchback who murdered his nephews, the princes in the Tower–from his maligned place in history. Born into the … history.
Born into the treacherous courts of fifteenth-century England, in the midst of what history has called The War of the Roses, Richard was raised in the shadow of his charismatic brother, King Edward IV. Loyal to his friends and passionately in love with the one woman who was denied him, Richard emerges as a gifted man far more sinned against than sinning.
With revisions throughout and a new author’s preface discussing the astonishing discovery of Richard’s remains five centuries after his death, Sharon Kay Penman’s brilliant classic is more powerful and glorious than ever.
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I’ve always been a huge fan of history and historical fiction. I’ve probably read hundreds of books in the genre, but my favorite is hands down Sharon Kay Penman’s The Sunne in Splendor. This is a story about the War of the Roses in Fifteenth Century England where the Houses of York and Lancaster fought for the throne. The book is also about Richard III who has been vilified by history. Penman actually conducted a great deal of research on this period before writing the book and determined that Richard III was the victim of history being written by the victors. He is most famously portrayed as an evil hunchback by Shakespeare in the play that bears his name. Most of Shakespeare’s material was obtained from Lancaster writers after the war. Penman’s portrayal of the man as noble, wise and courageous is generally accepted by historians as the more accurate and actually spawned greater interest in the period.
The background of the book itself is also interesting. Penman supposedly wrote the original manuscript for the book while researching Richard III as a student. When the 400 page original manuscript was stolen from her car (before the age of computers or backup copies), she was devastated and didn’t write for five years. She eventually returned to the story and wrote it again from scratch over the next twelve years while working as a lawyer. The 936 page The Sunne in Splendor was eventually completed and published in 1982 and birthed a wonderful and successful writing career in English historical fiction for Penman (her other works are also excellent).
The Sunne in Splendor is one of those rare historical fiction books that is based on accurate historical background and evidence, yet reads like a novel. Penman has a knack for fleshing out real-life historical characters so that they nearly leap off the page and make it difficult to stop reading.
If you are a fan of historical fiction, this is a must read and once you have read it, I believe, like me you will read it again and again.
My favorite book ever.
Where do I begin? Once again, finding this book in the late ’80’s was, like most of the books I really treasure, a happy accident. In this case, it was better than happy and actually a wonderful accident. The Sunne in Splendour is, quite simply, the best historical novel about Richard III written thus far. Sharon Kay Penman, a former attorney, has the mind and the training to conduct appropriate research, and so the research conducted on the life and times of Richard, his brothers and the friends and foes of the Yorkists is superb. There are obviously gaps in some of the background, as Henry VII did his very best to eradicate pertinent documents of Richard’s reign, but Ms. Penman has written an extraordinary book. The writing is excellent, the novel is lengthy but riveting, the characters are believable and the ending, which we all know, still manages to break one’s heart. A 30th anniversary edition was published several years ago, available only in the UK I believe, and it tweaked a couple of minor errors in the original. It’s worth a periodic re-read as well, and I highly recommend this book.
Awesome awesome awesome. I’ve read all Ms. Penman’s books and hate when they end. If you like historical fiction, she’s your author.
A fabulous and entertaining historical novel. Fascinating people in turbulent medieval times during the War of the Roses. And at over 900 pages, it’s a good read for people locked inside their homes right now!
Loved it!
Absolutely epic. This book is an absolute must for every historical fiction fan.
I loved this book. It is the first one I read by Sharon Kay Penman, who became one of my all-time favorite historical novel writers. This is a book about the War of the Roses. Penman totally involves you in the life of its characters, and it is extremely informative of the life in England during that time period. I could not put it down.
Well written. Provides a well balanced view of Richard III, not Shakespeare’s view.
My favorite historical fiction author
good read
Big fan of Sharon Kay Penman’s books and this is one of my favorites.
As a die hard Richard III fan, this was well worth my time.
A fantastic story about Richard II. I hated for it to end. Just wanted the story to continue.
All of Sharon Kay Penman’s books are FANTASTIC!!! She takes you into the world of Medieval England and it is totally like living there with her characters. If you anyone likes medieval history, SKP is THE BEST!!!
My first introduction to the non-Shakespearean Richard III…
One of my all time favorite books
I came across this book by happy coincidence, and have been a devoted fan of hers ever since. Excellent writing, she brings historical events to new life and makes readers care deeply for the characters.
Historical fiction at its best