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Devil's Brood

Devil's Brood is a historical novel written by Sharon Kay Penman, published in 2008, and is the third volume in her Plantagenet series, preceded by When Christ and His Saints Slept and Time and Chance, and followed by Lionheart (2011).

Devil's Brood
First edition dustjacket for Devil's Brood
AuthorSharon Kay Penman
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
GenreHistorical fiction
Published2008 Putnam/Marian Wood
Media typePrint (Book)
Pages734
ISBN0-399-15526-0
Preceded byTime and Chance 
Followed byLionheart 

The novel is about the last two decades in Henry II's life, his imprisonment of his wife Eleanor of Aquitaine, and his sons who undertake a decade-long rebellion against their father.[1][2] Penman explores the tensions that built in the royal marriage and the deconstruction of the marriage. The historical details of the 12th century Angevin kings are detailed. Generally the novel received good reviews and became a New York Times bestseller.

Plot summary edit

Devil's Brood continues the story of King Henry II and his Queen Eleanor that began in When Christ and His Saints Slept and continued in Time and Chance. Devil's Brood opens with the conflict between Henry II, his wife Eleanor of Aquitaine, and their four sons, which escalates into a decade of warfare and rebellion pitting the sons against the father and the brothers against each other while the mother spends the period imprisoned by her husband.[1]

The novel opens in 1172 when Henry and Eleanor have been married for decades and have four grown sons: Henry the Young King, Richard the Lionheart, Geoffrey II and John Lackland. During the final 18 years of Henry's life conflict builds with Eleanor, beginning with her desire to choose her successor for Aquitaine. This conflict reaches it peak with the death of Rosamund Clifford, a mistress who he flaunted at court. Rumours abound that Eleanor had her poisoned out of jealousy; in a rage, Henry has her imprisoned, first in France and then in England, while he goes to war against France. The four sons each want to rule a piece of territory and war breaks out among the sons as they plot with their mother and enter into a rebellion against Henry, in the process aligning themselves with France's king Louis VII—England's enemy. The consequences of Henry's sons' rebellion weakens the Angevin empire. At the end, Henry dies with only his household knights at his bedside.

Themes edit

Devil's Brood focuses on the deconstruction of a royal family.[3] The destruction was both personal and spilled over to cause war. In the novel, Penman investigates the role of a strong medieval queen who rebels against her husband.[4] Furthermore, Penman explores the theme of betrayal: Henry II considers the rebellion against him by his sons and wife as personal and political betrayal. Finally, the question of how a man reconciles personal and family needs with the demands of kingship are examined through Henry's actions as father, husband and ruler.[5]

Writing characteristics edit

Set against a backdrop of political tension, power struggles, war, and hardship, the main characters confront personal drama such as conflict in love, conflict between family members, conflict between one's God, and conflict in friendship, as well as conflicted loyalties between family, self, king and country.[1][6][7] A Library Journal review notes Penman's attention to detail in which she "combines an in-depth knowledge of medieval Europe ...re-creating the complex events and emotional drama of the 12th century."[8]

Reception edit

The hardcover edition of the book was a New York Times bestseller.[9] Library Journal gave it a favorable review and recommended the novel. The reviewer writes: "Penman does a remarkable job of depicting passionate, dramatic characters and the perilous times in which they live."[1] The Booklist review was not quite as positive. The reviewer noted the novel is "exhaustive (and exhausting)" and that the "prose tends to lumber along like a medieval oxcart."[2]

Publication history edit

The first edition was published in hardback in the United States in October 2008 at 734 pages by G. P. Putnam's Sons (ISBN 978-0-399-15526-0)[10] The first British edition was released in 2009 published by Michael Josephs at 736 pages (ISBN 0-7181-5465-7).[11]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d Baird, Jane Hendrikson (September 2008). "Devil's Brood". Library Journal. 133 (15): 46–47.
  2. ^ a b Quinn, Mary Ellen (2008). "Devil's Brood". Booklist.[dead link]
  3. ^ Book Overview
  4. ^ Moran, Michelle (October 13, 2008). "Q&A With Historical Fiction Author Sharon Kay Penman". History Buff. Retrieved March 12, 2010.
  5. ^ The British Library Integrated Catalogue Summary
  6. ^ Stoppel, Ellen Kaye. "The Reckoning". Library Journal. 116 (14): 231.
  7. ^ "In Her Own Words By Sharon Kay Penman". Penguin.com. Retrieved July 28, 2009.
  8. ^ Altner, Patricia (2002). "Time and Chance". Library Journal.
  9. ^ "Best Sellers: Hardcover Fiction". The New York Times. October 17, 2008. Retrieved March 11, 2010.
  10. ^ .Library of Congress
  11. ^ British Library Integrated Catalogue


devil, brood, historical, novel, written, sharon, penman, published, 2008, third, volume, plantagenet, series, preceded, when, christ, saints, slept, time, chance, followed, lionheart, 2011, first, edition, dustjacket, authorsharon, penmancountryunited, states. Devil s Brood is a historical novel written by Sharon Kay Penman published in 2008 and is the third volume in her Plantagenet series preceded by When Christ and His Saints Slept and Time and Chance and followed by Lionheart 2011 Devil s BroodFirst edition dustjacket for Devil s BroodAuthorSharon Kay PenmanCountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglishGenreHistorical fictionPublished2008 Putnam Marian WoodMedia typePrint Book Pages734ISBN0 399 15526 0Preceded byTime and Chance Followed byLionheart The novel is about the last two decades in Henry II s life his imprisonment of his wife Eleanor of Aquitaine and his sons who undertake a decade long rebellion against their father 1 2 Penman explores the tensions that built in the royal marriage and the deconstruction of the marriage The historical details of the 12th century Angevin kings are detailed Generally the novel received good reviews and became a New York Times bestseller Contents 1 Plot summary 2 Themes 3 Writing characteristics 4 Reception 5 Publication history 6 See also 7 ReferencesPlot summary editDevil s Brood continues the story of King Henry II and his Queen Eleanor that began in When Christ and His Saints Slept and continued in Time and Chance Devil s Brood opens with the conflict between Henry II his wife Eleanor of Aquitaine and their four sons which escalates into a decade of warfare and rebellion pitting the sons against the father and the brothers against each other while the mother spends the period imprisoned by her husband 1 The novel opens in 1172 when Henry and Eleanor have been married for decades and have four grown sons Henry the Young King Richard the Lionheart Geoffrey II and John Lackland During the final 18 years of Henry s life conflict builds with Eleanor beginning with her desire to choose her successor for Aquitaine This conflict reaches it peak with the death of Rosamund Clifford a mistress who he flaunted at court Rumours abound that Eleanor had her poisoned out of jealousy in a rage Henry has her imprisoned first in France and then in England while he goes to war against France The four sons each want to rule a piece of territory and war breaks out among the sons as they plot with their mother and enter into a rebellion against Henry in the process aligning themselves with France s king Louis VII England s enemy The consequences of Henry s sons rebellion weakens the Angevin empire At the end Henry dies with only his household knights at his bedside Themes editDevil s Brood focuses on the deconstruction of a royal family 3 The destruction was both personal and spilled over to cause war In the novel Penman investigates the role of a strong medieval queen who rebels against her husband 4 Furthermore Penman explores the theme of betrayal Henry II considers the rebellion against him by his sons and wife as personal and political betrayal Finally the question of how a man reconciles personal and family needs with the demands of kingship are examined through Henry s actions as father husband and ruler 5 Writing characteristics editSet against a backdrop of political tension power struggles war and hardship the main characters confront personal drama such as conflict in love conflict between family members conflict between one s God and conflict in friendship as well as conflicted loyalties between family self king and country 1 6 7 A Library Journal review notes Penman s attention to detail in which she combines an in depth knowledge of medieval Europe re creating the complex events and emotional drama of the 12th century 8 Reception editThe hardcover edition of the book was a New York Times bestseller 9 Library Journal gave it a favorable review and recommended the novel The reviewer writes Penman does a remarkable job of depicting passionate dramatic characters and the perilous times in which they live 1 The Booklist review was not quite as positive The reviewer noted the novel is exhaustive and exhausting and that the prose tends to lumber along like a medieval oxcart 2 Publication history editThe first edition was published in hardback in the United States in October 2008 at 734 pages by G P Putnam s Sons ISBN 978 0 399 15526 0 10 The first British edition was released in 2009 published by Michael Josephs at 736 pages ISBN 0 7181 5465 7 11 See also edit nbsp Novels portalHistorical fictionReferences edit a b c d Baird Jane Hendrikson September 2008 Devil s Brood Library Journal 133 15 46 47 a b Quinn Mary Ellen 2008 Devil s Brood Booklist dead link Book Overview Moran Michelle October 13 2008 Q amp A With Historical Fiction Author Sharon Kay Penman History Buff Retrieved March 12 2010 The British Library Integrated Catalogue Summary Stoppel Ellen Kaye The Reckoning Library Journal 116 14 231 In Her Own Words By Sharon Kay Penman Penguin com Retrieved July 28 2009 Altner Patricia 2002 Time and Chance Library Journal Best Sellers Hardcover Fiction The New York Times October 17 2008 Retrieved March 11 2010 Library of Congress British Library Integrated Catalogue Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Devil 27s Brood amp oldid 1203879303, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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