FREE! Click here to Join FunTrivia. Thousands of games, quizzes, and lots more!
Quiz about Novels by Sharon Kay Penman
Quiz about Novels by Sharon Kay Penman

Novels by Sharon Kay Penman Trivia Quiz


In my opinion, Sharon Kay Penman is one of the finest modern writers of historical fiction. She combines extensive research, excellent characterization and fine writing to bring people and historical eras to life. Enjoy the quiz!

A multiple-choice quiz by woboogie. Estimated time: 5 mins.
  1. Home
  2. »
  3. Quizzes
  4. »
  5. Literature Trivia
  6. »
  7. Authors L-P
  8. »
  9. P

Author
woboogie
Time
5 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
282,549
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
7 / 10
Plays
204
Awards
Top 35% Quiz
- -
Question 1 of 10
1. Penman's first book paints a rare, more sympathetic picture of the Duke of Gloucester (later Richard III) and covers the period of English history known as "The Wars of the Roses". What is the name of the book? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. Penman's second novel "Here Be Dragons" is set in the 13th century involving two powerful rulers, King John of England and Llewelyn the Great of Wales. Whom did John marry to Llewelyn for political reasons? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. This historical novel takes place in the 13th century and revolves around the complicated relationship between King Henry III (r. 1216-1272), his favorite, youngest sister Nell and her husband the powerful earl Simon de Montfort. What's the title of this book that ends with the death of de Montfort, but the birth of the English parlimentary system? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. "The Reckoning" (1991), described as "...a novel about a Celtic society on a collision course with a formidable feudal realm ruled by the most predatory of Plantagenet kings." Who were the two powerful men around whom this story unfolds--one victoriously, one in the death of a dream? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. From 1135 to 1154, England was embroiled in a bloody, devastating civil war between two strong-willed individuals who believed they had the right to rule the country. Penman's "When Christ and His Saints Slept" (1995, the title is a reference to how some described this period of strife), paints a vivid picture of this struggle for power and the terrible cost it brought upon the people of England. Who were these two royal combatants? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. "The Queen's Man" is the first in a series of tightly plotted medieval mysteries set in the 12th century. What is the name of "The Queen's Man" who appears in each of these novels? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. What was Penman's profession before she began writing full time? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. One of my favorites of Penman's works, "Time and Chance" (2002) recounts the lustful, tempestuous, politically demanding and fascinating relationship between King Henry II (1133-1189) and Eleanor of Aquitaine (1122-1204). How many children did Henry and Eleanor have? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. As written about in "The Sunne in Splendour", what were the names of Richard III's wife and son? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. In this Penman medieval mystery, King Richard languishes in the prison of the Holy Roman Emperor. Meanwhile, amidst Welsh unrest, Prince John and King Phillipe of France plot to take the throne, leaving Eleanor to entrust 'her man' to sort out a tangled web of intrigue, trickery and deceit. Which mystery is this? Hint



(Optional) Create a Free FunTrivia ID to save the points you are about to earn:

arrow Select a User ID:
arrow Choose a Password:
arrow Your Email:




Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Penman's first book paints a rare, more sympathetic picture of the Duke of Gloucester (later Richard III) and covers the period of English history known as "The Wars of the Roses". What is the name of the book?

Answer: The Sunne in Splendour

The title "The Sunne in Splendour" (1982) is a reference to the heraldic blazing sun emblem used by the first king of the House of York Edward IV (r. 1461-1483, although briefly deposed 1470-71). Richard's emblem was the boar's head.

The Wars of the Roses lasted from 1455 to 1485, when Richard was defeated at Bosworth Field by Henry Tudor.
2. Penman's second novel "Here Be Dragons" is set in the 13th century involving two powerful rulers, King John of England and Llewelyn the Great of Wales. Whom did John marry to Llewelyn for political reasons?

Answer: His illigitimate daughter Joanna

Joanna's mother was an embittered woman who kept the existence of her daughter a secret until after her death. Once at court, John cherished the five-year-old girl, even though he married her to Llewelyn when she was only 15. The marriage turned out to be a good one, leaving Joanna caught between two men she loved who were often enemies.
3. This historical novel takes place in the 13th century and revolves around the complicated relationship between King Henry III (r. 1216-1272), his favorite, youngest sister Nell and her husband the powerful earl Simon de Montfort. What's the title of this book that ends with the death of de Montfort, but the birth of the English parlimentary system?

Answer: Falls the Shadow

A weak King, (and the first child to inherit the throne since the Norman invasion) Henry III (1207-1272), ruled for many years. He accomplished little either politically or otherwise, and spent a great deal of his reign fighting with his barons over rights given them through Magna Carta, which had been signed by his father, King John. This leads to the Second Baron's War led by de Montfort.

"Falls the Shadow" was published in 1988.
4. "The Reckoning" (1991), described as "...a novel about a Celtic society on a collision course with a formidable feudal realm ruled by the most predatory of Plantagenet kings." Who were the two powerful men around whom this story unfolds--one victoriously, one in the death of a dream?

Answer: Edward I and Llewelyn ap Gruffydd

When he ascended the throne following the death of his father, Henry III, Edward I ("Longshanks", b. 1239, d.1307) had an uneasy truce with Llewelyn ap Gruffydd, (generally considered the last Welsh Prince of Wales) former ally of Simon de Montfort, Edward's defeated enemy. The two powerful rulers were destined to come to blows that would forever change the map and history of Britain.

Edward I, known by many nicknames including "Hammer of the Scots", was no friend to the Welsh, either. He built a great many imposing castles there, including Caernavon, Harlech and Conwy.
5. From 1135 to 1154, England was embroiled in a bloody, devastating civil war between two strong-willed individuals who believed they had the right to rule the country. Penman's "When Christ and His Saints Slept" (1995, the title is a reference to how some described this period of strife), paints a vivid picture of this struggle for power and the terrible cost it brought upon the people of England. Who were these two royal combatants?

Answer: Empress Matilda and King Stephen

Henry I's (c. 1069-1135) barons had sworn to accept Henry's only legitimate child, Matilda (widow of Henry V, Holy Roman Emperor), as their sovereign on the king's deathbed. After his death, they instead offered the crown to Stephen of Blois (c. 1108-1154), Henry's nephew. The resulting years of civil war brought great poverty, strife and bloodshed to England.

Geoffrey Plantagenet was Matilda's second husband. Robert of Gloucester was Henry I's illegitimate son and Matilda's staunchest ally. Prince Eustace was Stephen's son whose death helped hasten the end of the civil war.
6. "The Queen's Man" is the first in a series of tightly plotted medieval mysteries set in the 12th century. What is the name of "The Queen's Man" who appears in each of these novels?

Answer: Justin de Quincy

The "Queen" in question is Eleanor of Aquitaine, who uses Justin to keep an eye on intrigues within the kingdom, especially those that might involve her scheming son John, who might try anything during the sudden disappearance of his brother, King Richard I, while on crusade.
7. What was Penman's profession before she began writing full time?

Answer: Tax lawyer

Publication of "The Sunne in Splendour" led the fine author to pursue writing as her sole career. Brilliant career move for a talented storyteller!
8. One of my favorites of Penman's works, "Time and Chance" (2002) recounts the lustful, tempestuous, politically demanding and fascinating relationship between King Henry II (1133-1189) and Eleanor of Aquitaine (1122-1204). How many children did Henry and Eleanor have?

Answer: 8

They were William, Henry (later "The Young King"), Richard, Geoffrey, John, Matilda, Eleanor and Joanna. William died aged three. Henry died of dysentery while waging war against his father in 1183. Geoffrey became Duke of Brittany, Richard, Duke of Aquitaine (and eventually Richard I "The Lionheart") and John (aka "Lackland") Lieutenant of Ireland, and later, King of England. Matilda married Henry the Lion of Saxony, Joanna married William II, King of Naples and Sicily, and Eleanor married Alphonso VIII of Castile. Eleanor had two daughters by her previous husband, Louis VII of France, Marie and Alix.

I'm (as I'm sure are all of her fans) anxiously awaiting the next novel about Henry and Eleanor.
9. As written about in "The Sunne in Splendour", what were the names of Richard III's wife and son?

Answer: Anne Neville and Edward

Anne and Richard were raised together following Richard's father's death at the Battle of Wakefield (1460). Edward was named for Richard's beloved brother Edward IV. By most accounts, the marriage was a love match and a happy one until their son, Edward, died shortly after Richard's coronation. Anne died before Richard's death at Bosworth. She was the daughter of Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick, known as "The Kingmaker".

Margaret of Anjou was the queen of Henry VI, who was deposed by the Yorkist faction. Cecily Neville was Richard's mother. Elizabeth Woodville was the hated wife of Edward IV, Richard's brother.
10. In this Penman medieval mystery, King Richard languishes in the prison of the Holy Roman Emperor. Meanwhile, amidst Welsh unrest, Prince John and King Phillipe of France plot to take the throne, leaving Eleanor to entrust 'her man' to sort out a tangled web of intrigue, trickery and deceit. Which mystery is this?

Answer: Dragon's Lair

Sharon Kay Penman's written four medieval mysteries and, hopefully, will be writing many more about Eleanor and Justin de Quincy!

"Dragon's Lair" hit bookshelves in 2003.
Source: Author woboogie

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor agony before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.
3/28/2024, Copyright 2024 FunTrivia, Inc. - Report an Error / Contact Us