tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post1773079719285774411..comments2024-03-27T22:25:42.129-05:00Comments on Reading the Past: An interview with Cecelia Holland, author of The Secret EleanorSarah Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13340312953393474963noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-74503734711942298542014-09-28T15:28:25.800-05:002014-09-28T15:28:25.800-05:00I haven't had the pleasure of reading Celia Ho...I haven't had the pleasure of reading Celia Holland's novels yet, but I did just receive "The Secret Eleanor" as a gift. After reading this interview, I can't wait to dive into the world the Holland has put down in print!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-38872133024198959302010-08-29T13:25:36.906-05:002010-08-29T13:25:36.906-05:00I love Ms. Holland's books, and searched long ...I love Ms. Holland's books, and searched long and hard to collect all of them in hardback. I am excited to see she has released some new books for me to devour. One of the things I love is the atmosphere she creates--I feel as though I am "there" admidst the scenery, can feel the air and country about me. I am always transported.<br />MarieDana Marie Kisernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-64129781836441649192010-08-07T00:02:23.632-05:002010-08-07T00:02:23.632-05:00Thank you for the interview. I look forward to rea...Thank you for the interview. I look forward to reading Holland's new book.mariaghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10512289009214074359noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-36884069831989944772010-08-04T00:29:33.798-05:002010-08-04T00:29:33.798-05:00I'm delighted to see a cover with a historical...I'm delighted to see a cover with a historical woman on it--that has a face! Please let this be a new trend!<br /><br />And yes, I really enjoyed the interview. Saved it for later so I could sit down and take my time reading it. Thank you, Cecilia and Sarah.Lucynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-87131400437328005872010-08-03T18:26:15.769-05:002010-08-03T18:26:15.769-05:00Great interview, Sarah. As a longtime fan of Ms Ho...Great interview, Sarah. As a longtime fan of Ms Holland's work, it's fascinating to hear her talk about it. Thank you!C.W. Gortnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11881402758065602605noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-35514764804620123122010-08-03T14:31:53.180-05:002010-08-03T14:31:53.180-05:00Thanks, Annis! It's been a long time since I ...Thanks, Annis! It's been a long time since I read Firedrake and I've yet to read Kings in Winter. Rakossy is another favorite of mine. The setting is utterly brutal and hopeless but heroic and very real.Sarah Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13340312953393474963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-28060160851345391012010-08-02T22:54:23.459-05:002010-08-02T22:54:23.459-05:00Wonderful interview, Sarah, and i found the discus...Wonderful interview, Sarah, and i found the discussion about the place of the natural world in CH's stories very interesting. Like many others, I hadn't really registered the existence of Eleanor's sister.<br /><br />I have trouble believing that the novels of a historical novelist of Cecelia Holland's stature have ever been allowed to go out of print. She is one of my favourites. Her wonderfully nuanced, spare and dynamic prose perfectly captures the complex personalties of her characters, who are quite often talented but stubborn cusses :) I have a special weakness for her Irishmen; Muirtagh from "The Kings in Winter", and "Firedrake"'s Laeghaire.Annishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02367569632016734415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-67149488221022903662010-08-02T15:38:40.664-05:002010-08-02T15:38:40.664-05:00Thanks to everyone for commenting!
Of the novels ...Thanks to everyone for commenting!<br /><br />Of the novels about Eleanor of Aquitaine that I've read, SKP's Time and Chance, Margaret Ball's Duchess of Aquitaine, and this one rank most highly on my list, and they're all very different. It is interesting how so many novels about the same characters come out in close succession, independently of one another.Sarah Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13340312953393474963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-22860263798059685912010-08-02T12:41:02.456-05:002010-08-02T12:41:02.456-05:00Alison Weir also has a new novel out about Eleanor...Alison Weir also has a new novel out about Eleanor. There have also been three novels on Catherine de Medici in the past year (including Mr. Gortner's, which I am in the process of reading). "Trends" are always interesting . . . Sarah other librarianAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-78776200127277228302010-08-02T12:12:32.631-05:002010-08-02T12:12:32.631-05:00Great interview! I finished The Secret Eleanor re...Great interview! I finished The Secret Eleanor recently and liked it quite a bit - using Petra as one of the main characters was a nice change of pace!Daphnehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12838072651419264066noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-44597474783665636592010-08-02T11:02:28.877-05:002010-08-02T11:02:28.877-05:00Wonderful interview and how cool that she focuses ...Wonderful interview and how cool that she focuses on Eleanor's younger sister as well. I will have to pick up this book.Elizabeth Kerri Mahonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07763642809052430107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-15758964641562208072010-08-02T10:38:47.258-05:002010-08-02T10:38:47.258-05:00Sarah, Thank you for this lovely interview...Cecel...Sarah, Thank you for this lovely interview...Cecelia Holland's Eleanor and Petra are women I can not wait to read about...ChristyEnglishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14621188801635359333noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-14693714921570175442010-08-01T20:48:04.323-05:002010-08-01T20:48:04.323-05:00Fantastic interview -- I've never read Ms Holl...Fantastic interview -- I've never read Ms Holland but I'm putting The Secret Eleanor at the top of my TBR!Audrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07511122937603890352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-26878999200196843002010-08-01T19:15:39.938-05:002010-08-01T19:15:39.938-05:00The Middle Ages were the childhood of our own time...<i>The Middle Ages were the childhood of our own time.</i><br /><br />Love that!<br /><br />I haven't read any Cecelia Holland before. Great Maria is my next book to read, and I can't wait to get to it now.<br /><br />Thanks for the interview!Marghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13508430635744720721noreply@blogger.com