We Speak No Treason: Book 1

by Rosemary Hawley Jarman

Book Overview

A superb novel, as spell-binding as any tale of high adventure, but firmly based upon contemporary records. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0552090336
• ISBN13: 9780552090339
• Release Date: January 1972
• Publisher: Corgi Books
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Very much enjoyed it because of the narrators

I purchased this used on the basis of a recommendation and am very glad that I did. It took me a while to get into the Maiden's story, but once I did I was completely hooked. The switch to the Fool's story was a bit disconcerting (and disappointing because I was at that point captivated by the Maiden), but within a few pages I was hooked by him as well. My only other complain is that I had a really hard time keeping the minor characters straight in my head. Every other character is named Richard or Ann or Elizabeth or Henry. I had to look at the pedigree chart every few pages to figure out who was who. If I hadn't just read a book about John of Gaunt and had a basic idea of the preceding family situation, I think it would have been much, much harder. Still I enjoyed the journey and am off to find a copy of the second book.

A favourite

I'm glad to see "We speak no treason" being re-released. I enjoyed all of Rosemary Hawley Jarman's historical novels, but this one has always been my favourite. I read it when it first came out, in, I think 1971, and have re-read it many times. When I first read it I'd just encountered Josephine Tey's "The daughter of time", and the two books together got me permanently hooked on Richard III and the Yorkist period of history. Without them I would never have embarked on years of historical study, or, probably, my eventual degree, and I would not have written my own Ricardian novel "Treason". I therefore owe Ms Jarman a considerable debt -- but aside from that I'm glad to see this grand and very touching novel reissued. I recommend it to anyone who wants a really good historical novel, and I recommend all Ms Jarman's other books, and hope they too will soon be available again. What a beautiful cover this re-issue has been given.

Unforgettable History of a Brave Ruler

I can't say enough about this amazing novel. So revisionist in its telling of the story of Richard III, this novel will forever change the way you look at historical fact and the shaping of historical prejudices (thank you very much, Thomas More). Sensible brother of King Edward and rapturous lover of Anne, Richard Plantagenet comes off as potentially the greatest ruler of Britain, a mind-spinningly different portrait of the humpless hunchback pilloried by Shakespeare. Rosemary Hawley Jarman catapulted to the top of my list of favorite authors after I read this matchless book.

one of the all-time great reads of my life

This book reads like the gorgeous, fevered dream of someone who really lived in Richard's time. Although I knew Richard's story already, I was cared so much for the characters that I was literally shaking as I approached the end of this book. I can't recommend it highly enough.

We Speak No Treason - My All Time Favorite Book

Rosemary Hawley Jarman's masterpiece is "We Speak No Treason". This book is undoubtedly one of the best fictional accounts of the controversial King Richard III ever written. The characterizations are superb,and the protagonists' intertwining stories each offer different facets of a complex story which combine to round out the plot from many points of view. The fictional and non-fictional characters blend seamlessly and believably.Ms. Jarman's knack for historical detail and her well-developed and fascinating storylines result in a book that is impossible to put down and one that leaves the reader feeling as if he or she has lived in the Middle Ages ! I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in English History, The Wars of the Roses,and especially King Richard III. A word of warning to those who accept Shakespeare's villainous portrayal of Richard III: This book may very well change your mind!