Synopses & Reviews
“Penmans characters are so shrewdly imagined, so full of resonant human feeling that they seem to breathe on the page.” —San Francisco Chronicle
“Never forget, Llewelyn, that the worlds greatest fool is a Welshman who trusts an English king.”
His fathers words haunt Llewelyn ap Gruffydd, Prince of Wales, who has been ruling uneasily over his fractious countrymen. Above all else, Llewelyn fears that his life and his own dream—of an independent, united Wales—might be lost to Edward Is desire to expand his English empire.
Alive from the pages of history, this is the hauntingly beautiful and compelling tale of a game poised to play itself out to its bloody finale as English and Welsh cross swords in a reckoning that must mean disaster for one side or the other.
For anyone who has ever wanted to experience the rich tapestry of British history and lore, this bold and romantic adventure must be read.
Review
“A first-rate historical novel.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“Packed with bold adventure, high romance, and large characters whose acts of bravery, self-sacrifice, brutality and treachery are part of history.” —James Goldman, author of The Lion in Winter
“Full of brawling and plotting, murder and revenge and betrayal. . . . Another triumph for Penman.” —The Seattle Times
Synopsis
Penman's characters are so shrewdly imagined, so full of resonant human feeling that they seem to breathe on the page. --San Francisco Chronicle
Never forget, Llewelyn, that the world's greatest fool is a Welshman who trusts an English king.
His father's words haunt Llewelyn ap Gruffydd, Prince of Wales, who has been ruling uneasily over his fractious countrymen. Above all else, Llewelyn fears that his life and his own dream--of an independent, united Wales--might be lost to Edward I's desire to expand his English empire.
Alive from the pages of history, this is the hauntingly beautiful and compelling tale of a game poised to play itself out to its bloody finale as English and Welsh cross swords in a reckoning that must mean disaster for one side or the other.
For anyone who has ever wanted to experience the rich tapestry of British history and lore, this bold and romantic adventure must be read.
Synopsis
Penmans characters are so shrewdly imagined, so full of resonant human feeling that they seem to breathe on the page.” San Francisco Chronicle
Never forget, Llewelyn, that the worlds greatest fool is a Welshman who trusts an English king.”
About the Author
Sharon Kay Penman is the author of seven critically acclaimed historical novels, including the New York Times bestseller Devils Brood, and four medieval mysteries, including the Edgar-finalist The Queens Man.
Reading Group Guide
1) Most historians judge Edward I to be a great king. Do you agree? Why or why not?
2) Do you believe that Llewelyn ap Gruffydds death doomed Welsh independence? Had he lived, do you think he could have staved off defeat? Or was Edwards victory inevitable?
3) In The Reckoning, Sharon Kay Penman created two fictional characters in Hugh and Caitlin. Ms. Penman has said that this decision stemmed from a desire to soften the blow of the bleak conclusion. Do you agree with creating “survivors”, or would you rather Penman had not offered this fictional glimmer of hope?
4) What does the book say about the trustworthiness of history? Should we retain a healthy degree of skepticism about accounts of bygone eras?
5) Knowing that Englands kings had been trying to subdue Welsh princes for generations in order to create a “united” Britain, was it prudent for Llewelyn ap Gruffydd and his brothers to remain enemies with Edward I, or should they have attempted to find a way to work with the English king in the hopes of retaining some independence? Or do you think such an effort would have been futile
6) Why do you think Llewelyn waited as long as he did to get married and have children? How did this decision effect his reign, and ultimately, his legacy?
7) Do you think that Edward was motivated more by the belief that he was doing Gods work, or by his implacable hatred of Davydd?
8) How large a part did Davydd play in the irrevocable breakdown in the relationship between Edward and Llewelyn?
9) After spending some time in the fifteenth-century, do you think that human nature has changed much over the centuries? Can you identify with the characters in The Reckoning? What were the most striking similarities between that society and ours? The greatest differences?