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Vainglory by Geraldine McCaughrean

(see under "By Era" for French Revolution fiction)
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Misfit
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Vainglory by Geraldine McCaughrean

Post by Misfit » Wed September 2nd, 2009, 6:08 pm

Anyone read this one? I'm not sure where it popped up on my radar but I put in an ILL request and it just showed up on my hold list. Just this bit on Goodreads,
A saga which traces the fortunes of four families in 15th-century France, centering on the beautiful chateau Gloriole and spanning five turbulent generations.
And Amazon UK,
Product Description
A tale of obsessive love, chivalry and ambition, set in Renaissance France. It centres on the Chateau Gloriole and five turbulent generations of its aristocratic occupants, evoking a century and a half of war, romance and obsession through the changing fortunes of the Comtes de Gloriole.
Sounds like my kinda book :)
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...is the only place I want to be

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EC2
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Post by EC2 » Wed September 2nd, 2009, 7:38 pm

It's on my keeper shelf Misfit - wrote about it on my blog not so long ago.
If you like Dorothy Dunnett you will love Vainglory. It very much reminds me of one of those richly coloured highly illuminated books of hours from the novel's period, but told in words. One of my all time best reads.
Les proz e les vassals
Souvent entre piez de chevals
Kar ja li coard n’I 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

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Misfit
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Post by Misfit » Wed September 2nd, 2009, 8:05 pm

That's how the book ended up on my wish list. Glad Amazon has note options now so I can track that stuff.
At home with a good book and the cat...
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Leo62
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Post by Leo62 » Wed September 2nd, 2009, 11:03 pm

I loved this one too and would agree with EC's Dunnett comparison. It also has a Susan Howatch-y multi-generational thing going on. Good luck on getting hold of it - I was lucky enough to get a copy for 20p in my local library sale. :D
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of a good universe next door;let's go
ee cummings

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Post by Ash » Wed September 2nd, 2009, 11:34 pm

Misfit, I have it on my reading table (as opposed to my TBR shelf) so I'll probably get to it soon. Lemme know when you start it, maybe we can do book buddies.

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Misfit
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Post by Misfit » Thu September 3rd, 2009, 12:29 am

[quote=""Ash""]Misfit, I have it on my reading table (as opposed to my TBR shelf) so I'll probably get to it soon. Lemme know when you start it, maybe we can do book buddies.[/quote]

Ash, very cool. My guess from looking at the hold status it should land by Saturday/Monday at the earliest and ILL's are three weeks and no renewals so it will get fast-tracked as soon as I finish my current read.
At home with a good book and the cat...
...is the only place I want to be

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Misfit
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Post by Misfit » Thu September 3rd, 2009, 12:37 am

[quote=""Leo62""]I loved this one too and would agree with EC's Dunnett comparison. It also has a Susan Howatch-y multi-generational thing going on. Good luck on getting hold of it - I was lucky enough to get a copy for 20p in my local library sale. :D [/quote]

Susan Howatchy thing - now I'm fired up.
At home with a good book and the cat...
...is the only place I want to be

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Post by Margaret » Thu September 3rd, 2009, 1:21 am

Annis reviewed this for HistoricalNovels.info recently. Her review certainly made me want to read it!
Browse over 5000 historical novel listings (probably well over 5000 by now, but I haven't re-counted lately) and over 700 reviews at www.HistoricalNovels.info

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Misfit
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Post by Misfit » Thu September 3rd, 2009, 2:27 am

[quote=""Margaret""]Annis reviewed this for HistoricalNovels.info recently. Her review certainly made me want to read it![/quote]

Thank you Margaret and Annis, you have thoroughly whetted my appetite now. Hopefully it's finished before Gabaldon's book arrives.
At home with a good book and the cat...
...is the only place I want to be

Ash
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Post by Ash » Thu September 3rd, 2009, 4:02 am

[quote=""Misfit""]Ash, very cool. My guess from looking at the hold status it should land by Saturday/Monday at the earliest and ILL's are three weeks and no renewals so it will get fast-tracked as soon as I finish my current read.[/quote]

Ok, I am working on a book that will take me probably through Fri to finish, then there's another I've been wanting to get to for the weekend. Monday sounds good.

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