The Shardlake historical (Tudor) whodunnits are as “compulsively gripping” (Sunday Times), “superb” (Independent), “thrilling” (Sunday Telegraph) and “compelling” (Observer) as these plaudits on the cover of Revelation (the fourth in the series) attest.
Films often attract similar praise or just five stars but usually from dubious publications with which I am unfamiliar – and then the film turns out to be, excuse me, crap. But back to CJ Sansom’s creation, Shardlake. The novels, so far, are set in a tight time frame: Henry VIII”s dissolution of the monasteries and the aftermath. Gosh, it makes Brexit seem like a walk in the park; total upheaval as monks are out on the street, all the vast monastic lands are re-allocated to those in favour with the king and buildings and their contents destroyed or dispersed. (Likewise, Patrick O’Brian’s naval adventures are set in the Napoleonic era.) At the end of each, satisfyingly long, Shardlake story Sansom explains the historical background; an essential final ingredient.
The Mistra Chronicles by James Heneage tick the same boxes. They (four of them) are set in the Byzantine-Ottoman war in the late fourteenth and early fifteenth centuries. The first, The Walls of Byzantium, takes place from 1392 – 1396. Do not judge this book by its cover.
It gives a thoroughly misleading impression. Only the most desperate browser in an airport bookshop would buy it and then if partially sighted. I can only suppose James was not involved in its design. The genre is historical adventure/romance and at the end, again satisfyingly long, there is an historical note. So that’s your winter reading sorted, although I advise against reading them, or Shardlake, back to back.
It’s carnival time in Notting Hill this weekend.