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Shardlake Series
Shardlake Series
Has anyone read the Shardlake series by Sansom and is it recommended?
Where is human nature so weak as in a bookstore?" - Henry Ward Beecher
I love this series-- it's dark, atmospheric and the characterisation is great. I'm hanging out for the fifth book in the series, though I haven't seen an advance mention of it as yet.
At one stage there was word of a BBC TV series based on the books and starring Kenneth Branagh as Shardlake, but that seems to have put to one side at this stage.
At one stage there was word of a BBC TV series based on the books and starring Kenneth Branagh as Shardlake, but that seems to have put to one side at this stage.
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- Bibliophile
- Posts: 1667
- Joined: April 2009
- Location: New York
[quote=""annis""]
At one stage there was word of a BBC TV series based on the books and starring Kenneth Branagh as Shardlake, but that seems to have put to one side at this stage.[/quote]
Yes he went off to play Wallander instead.
I love these books too. Sansom managed to do the impossible and make me interested in the Tudors! He really captures the atmosphere of social and political turmoil that must have characterised the Reformation, without making it either worthy and boring or lapsing into royal soap opera.
They are all good, but my favourite of the series so far is Sovereign. I'll never forget that scene where Henry VIII's massive procession advances towards Shardlake and his friends, and then the King humiliates him in front of everyone. Brilliant!
At one stage there was word of a BBC TV series based on the books and starring Kenneth Branagh as Shardlake, but that seems to have put to one side at this stage.[/quote]
Yes he went off to play Wallander instead.
I love these books too. Sansom managed to do the impossible and make me interested in the Tudors! He really captures the atmosphere of social and political turmoil that must have characterised the Reformation, without making it either worthy and boring or lapsing into royal soap opera.
They are all good, but my favourite of the series so far is Sovereign. I'll never forget that scene where Henry VIII's massive procession advances towards Shardlake and his friends, and then the King humiliates him in front of everyone. Brilliant!
Self and dh read the first one and both enjoyed it but with certain meh moments. I've read book 2 now though and thought it was a fine improvement. Went up from a four star to a five in my estimation. Dh has read both 2 and 3 and is now hooked.
Verdict from this end is that it's a good series that only gets better. Well worth buying.
Verdict from this end is that it's a good series that only gets better. Well worth buying.
Les proz e les vassals
Souvent entre piez de chevals
Kar ja li coard nI chasront
'The Brave and the valiant
Are always to be found between the hooves of horses
For never will cowards fall down there.'
Histoire de Guillaume le Mareschal
www.elizabethchadwick.com
Souvent entre piez de chevals
Kar ja li coard nI chasront
'The Brave and the valiant
Are always to be found between the hooves of horses
For never will cowards fall down there.'
Histoire de Guillaume le Mareschal
www.elizabethchadwick.com
- cw gortner
- Bibliophile
- Posts: 1288
- Joined: September 2008
- Location: San Francisco,CA
- Contact:
Wanted to add in my four cents: I love this series. The second one, Dark Fire, is my overall favorite so far but the most recent one, Revelation, is creepy and had me on the edge of my seat. Well worth the investment; Shardlake is a conflicted and flawed lead, and the mysteries aren't just throwaway complements to enhance ambiance. These books are the type that remind me that, yes, we are very fortunate to be living in the 21st century. Sansom's Tudor England is claustrophobic and dangerous; and he doesn't glamour it up for the nobility, either.
Last edited by cw gortner on Wed August 5th, 2009, 5:23 am, edited 1 time in total.
THE QUEEN'S VOW available on June 12, 2012!
THE TUDOR SECRET, Book I in the Elizabeth I Spymaster Chronicles
THE CONFESSIONS OF CATHERINE DE MEDICI
THE LAST QUEEN
www.cwgortner.com
THE TUDOR SECRET, Book I in the Elizabeth I Spymaster Chronicles
THE CONFESSIONS OF CATHERINE DE MEDICI
THE LAST QUEEN
www.cwgortner.com
For those of you in the UK, Sansom was on Bookclub on the Radio on Sunday. You can catch his question and answer session with an audience on the BBC iPLAYER. I think he mentioned what happened with the proposed series, but I've forgotten what he said . It's only been a few days, so that's a bit worrying .