History Buffs United discussion

Welcome to what I hope to be some very interesting discussions about the Plantagenet and Tudor period in British history. If anyone has any interesting facts or can recommend some good reads then this is the place to do it. Remember, keep comments clean and everyone is welcome to their own personal opinion. Now that has been said - enjoy!

Since Richard III is on the agenda this week, I recommend The Sunne in Splendour by Sharon Kay Penman.

The House of York is definitely cooler! ;)

And isn't the ''War of the Roses'' the coolest name for a war ever ?

I am writing a blog on this period. Please check it out. The address is rosestowindsor@blogspot.com hope to see you there.

Margaret,
I'm still looking for one volunteer for the 7/7 blog challenge. Post 7 lines from p. 7 or 77 of your unpublished work, find seven other writers to list, thank the person who listed you (i.e., me), and you get some free publicity for your blog.

Interested?

C.P. I would love to be involved ... However I am not a writer. I only do lots od reading and reviewing on my blog.

Margaret wrote: "C.P. I would love to be involved ... However I am not a writer. I only do lots od reading and reviewing on my blog."

Ah, too bad. I must have confused you with another Margaret who is writing a series. I'll keep you in mind in case I run into a different blog chain (and will check out your blog)!

No probs! Yea there is another Margaret on here - she's just joined and is writing about Scottish history.

One thing that always strikes me about authors who write about this period - they very rarely talk about the health and horrendous smell that would have been about in the streets, even amongst the aristocracy. I know that doesn't make sense but I found it difficult to explain. I suppose what I'm really getting at is, authors always make it sound really romantic. Yes they put across the treacherous court life but ...

I hope you get what I'm saying there.

I understand Magaret, l guess the thing is that if it was the norm it would not be noticed so much.
When l was much younger l had a job in a slaughter house office, after the 3rd day l did not even notice the terrible smell.
Weird what one can get use to.

I suppose you're right.

Margaret wrote: "I suppose you're right."
first time for everything : )

Hi CP, To save confusion here I guess I should be Margaret S. I'm the author who's writing a series, but I'm afraid I did the 7s challenge a couple of weeks ago, and I struggled then to find 7 people who hadn't already been involved. So i don't think I could manage again. It is a fun idea though.

MS

William wrote: "Yes, thought interestingly not all that acurate for the time. From what I've heard, both sides used both emblems at various points. I think the coolest battle of this era was Flodden. I guess I lik..."

I live near Flodden and there are lots of things planned for this anniversary year , which has just given me an idea...

Margaret wrote: "Hi CP, To save confusion here I guess I should be Margaret S. I'm the author who's writing a series, but I'm afraid I did the 7s challenge a couple of weeks ago, and I struggled then to find 7 peop..."

Thans, Margaret (and Margaret):
I'll keep you straight from now on, promise—and thanks for explaining.

I totally understand. Who knew it would be so difficult?! I can't imagine doing this twice....

Margaret wrote: "One thing that always strikes me about authors who write about this period - they very rarely talk about the health and horrendous smell that would have been about in the streets ..."

I don't often read in this period (and I'm not a mystery fan either) but I just read one of C.J. Sansom's Matthew Shardlake mysteries -- Sovereign. It was precisely the realism of the streets, the real-life feel and smell of Tudor England, down and dirty, that sent me to them. I can certainly rec them onwards as unromanticised Tudors, with daily life detail, evocatively written.

Looking back to my childhood in the 60's l remember being very lucky to get one bath per week during the summer.
Our only source of hot water was by lighting the fire to heat the water tank, during the hotter days a fire would never be lit.
I must have been one smelly child : )

John wrote: "I understand Magaret, l guess the thing is that if it was the norm it would not be noticed so much.
When l was much younger l had a job in a slaughter house office, after the 3rd day l did not even..."
Although I can see that I still feel for a reader to be truly taken into the period we need to convey the glaur as well as the glamour, not to wallow in it (excuse the pun) but for authenticity sake. MS

Margaret - I think that's what I was trying to get at but not explaining it very well. I suppose with my little reading project I will find out if this is just this period or whether future periods of writing fall into the same trap or romanticising eras which may not be very realistic.

Bryn - I have actually read all of Sansom's historical mysteries and yes he certainly does show a more realistic version of Tudor times.

Here's a link to a 'new' portrait of Bess. 'Thought y'all would be interested.

http://hamptonroads.com/2008/04/queen...

Wow what a find! Thanks for putting thw link. It was very interesting reading.

Margaret wrote: "Wow what a find! Thanks for putting thw link. It was very interesting reading."

You're very welcome. Nice picture, yes?

Saw this on Twitter and thought it worth a share http://www2.le.ac.uk/offices/press/pr...

New BBC series (ties-in with my subject / period) - thought folk might be interested - hopefully a good series. Part 1 (yesterday) is available on i-player. 3 more parts to come.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/0/21431934

Margaret wrote: "New BBC series (ties-in with my subject / period) - thought folk might be interested - hopefully a good series. Part 1 (yesterday) is available on i-player. 3 more parts to come.
http://www.bbc...."

Oh, my, that sounds familiar. My Tatars would feel right at home.
Thanks for the link!

Nothing new under the sun...