Good King Harry

By Denise Giardina

Book Overview

Set against the sweeping backdrop of medieval England, Good King Harry brilliantly brings to life one of the most fascinating, conflicted monarchs in history: Henry V. Evoking the sights and sounds of fifteenth-century London, acclaimed author Denise Giardina artfully illuminates the double-edged sword of power--and the momentous events that unfold in the making of a king. . . . A contemplative soul imbued with a compassion and mental agility beyond his years, young Harry, Prince of Wales--the future King Henry V--is marked early as the object of his father's scorn. For in the eyes of Lord Bolingbroke, his son is but a weak link in the House of Lancaster with a dangerous loyalty to the rebellious Welsh that must be broken. As Harry reaches maturity, the battle within his heart grows fierce. Torn between the sensitivities of his soul and the uncompromising king he must become, Harry embarks on an odyssey rife with political agendas, sexual intrigue, and military combat--ultimately transforming into the accomplished monarch a volatile England so urgently demands.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0449005755
• ISBN13: 9780449005750
• Release Date: December 1999
• Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
• Length: 416 Pages
• Weight: 0.74 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.5" x 8.6"

Customer Reviews

Wow!

This was so good I bought an extra copy and gave it to a homeless man. Really, really great!

Great King Harry!

Although historical fiction has always been very popular, I don'tbelieve that this kind of fiction--recreating a real human being'slife--has ever come into vogue as much as it has in the lasttwenty-five years or so. Just in the last year I have read several ofthem, including Margaret George and Nigel Tranter, and I'm surethere are dozens more that I don't even know about. Even RonaldReagan's life has been fictionalized, and he hasn't even had thegood grace to pass on yet! Normally, a writer of historicalfiction will research a particular period of time, create their owncharacters, put them in place, and let them go. This personalizedkind of thing--putting a voice to a known historical figure--seems tome to be a much more difficult task. First of all, you have to stickto the known facts. As much as you think you know, there is alwaysgoing to be somebody out there who knows more than you, and who willgleefully hammer you if you get something wrong. Secondly, you haveto be bold enough to use your imagination when there are gaps, and atthe same time to do so in such a way that these suppositions fit inwith things which are known. For example, Henry was known to frequentwhat were considered to be lower-type establishments in his youth. Itis unlikely that he smoked opium, or engaged in homosexual conduct, togive just a couple of bizarre examples of the way history is oftendistorted. Lastly, while conforming to these strictures, you have todo the normal things that fiction writers do; you know, like creatingcharacter, and sustaining a compelling narrative. Ms. Giardina haschosen to complicate matters for herself further by fictionalizing thelife of no less a personage than Henry V, who must rank very high onthe list of well-known English monarchs. A lot of people know abouthim. Oh, and one other thing: Henry V has already been done. Whatwas the name of that guy? The playwright? Indeed, this is whatthis book appeared to be after the first 100 pages or so: anovelization of the great Shakespeare plays: Richard II, Henry IV partI and II, and HenryV. But no. It is so much more than this.Clearly, Ms. Giardina did her own research, probably utilizing many ofthe sources used by the great one. It is her own project completely,from her recreation of historical events, to her imagination offictional situations, and to the motivations of her characters. Andshe makes them all come delightfully alive. The plot itself ismore than you could want for intrigue and adventure. It starts withHenry, (his nickname is Harry) as a boy. He is held hostage byRichard, and expects to die when his father, Henry Bolingbroke, usurpsthe crown. As prince he serves under his father, who despises him,and spends years in an effort to subdue a rebellion in Wales. Hefinds a girl there, starving and alone in an empty hut with her deadmother. She will become his only true love. As a young man, andunder the care of his father's lieutenant, he discovers a plotagainst h

Wonderful capture of Henry V

I have just completed this book. If not for a rigorous work schedule I would have completed this book in only a few sittings. Giardina does a phenomenal job of capturing the feeling of the language Henry would have spoken without making it unreadable to modern readers. I studied the history of English monarchs and Shakespeare in college and found Henry V to be my favorite. Giardina actually creates a persona for Harry which is unlike most other authors, biographers and historians. Truly a great read and highly recommendable. I would have my English classes read this.

Excellent historical fiction from a wonderful writer.

Good King Harry was Giardina's debut novel but I didn't read it until after I had finished, and fallen in love with, her outstanding second historical novel, Storming Heaven and its sequel, The Unquiet Earth. I'd read that she'd made Henry V the subject of her first novel because she didn't think anyone wanted to read about hillbilly coal miners. I could understand that, but what really puzzled me is what a daughter of the Appalachian coalfields would find so interesting about British royalty.I borrowed Good King Harry from the public library mainly out of curiousity and by the end of the first page, realized that this too was one I needed to acquire for my collection.The answer to my question was of course, that Henry V was the beloved King of the commoners - Good King Harry. As with Giardina's other works, her talent for bringing history to life and her ear for language are flawless.

Reaches deep into the psyche of power

A thoroughly enjoyable visit into the life and times of Henry V. The author brings an intimacy to the throne that others, such as W. Shakespeare, could not reach.(Partly due to proximity in time and possible social repercussions) Enough romance, violence, intrigue and history to delight any reader! I bought it as a Christmas gift for a friend after reading the first few pages in a bookstore. A week later, I had to go buy a copy for myself as I couldn't get those first pages out of my mind