The lovely and talented romance author Nicole Hurley-Moore gets all the thanks for this post.
I was stuck on what to write for this post and her brief was talk about books and movies that helped inspire my latest story, Warrior’s Surrender which is to be published by Etopia Press.
When I first told my husband who is my crit partner and proofreader that my second novel was going to be set in the 11th Century he was unsure.
“I can relate to the Regency era, I can even relate to the Roman era, but I’m not sure about Medieval time. It is just so foreign to me.”
I love history (what, you didn’t guess? ;) ) and one thing that I hold true is whether people lived 2000 BC or 2000 AD – they loved, laughed, worked, sang, played and reacted just the same way we do – the only differences are cultural and technological.
As a writer understanding that principle should make it easy to describe a world that the modern day reader can relate to.
So I’d like to showcase two books, two TV series and two films that have shaped and influenced Warrior’s Surrender.
The books
Lineage of Grace
Highly recommended – great storytelling. Francine Rivers’ ability to bring alien, ancient world to life is outstanding
One source I went to is an anthology by American author called Francine Rivers called Lineage of Grace. It is fictionalised biography of five women from the Bible – Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba and Mary.
What really makes the book wonderful is the author’s way of explaining and navigating arcane Ancient Near East and Hebrew customs and bringing to life the stories of five remarkable women had the courage and strength to buck societal norms.
And yet they were very much women of their time – shaped and informed by the times and culture they lived in.
I knew I wanted to do the same for my heroine Lady Alfreya of Tyrswick.
Rose of Rapture
You always remember your first…
I know I’ve spoken about this book several times. It was the first major historical romance I read. I was 17 and it was passed around by a group of friends in high school – notorious for a certain chapter.
But it was more than that. It was the way Rose of Rapture brought the Plantagenet era to life bringing both historical and fictional characters that heavily influenced what and how I read. Oh I rejoiced when they found the body of poor maligned Richard III. Rose of Rapture presented a new perspective to the evil king depicted in Shakespeare’s play.
The TV series
Cadfael
Derek Jacobi as Brother Cadfael an inspiration for the character of Friar Dominic
The outstanding actor Derek Jacobi is a classically trained actor. He was brilliant in the Roman era epic I, Claudius and he was equal to the task as the medieval monk Cadfael, in the eponymous series about the former Crusader and detective.
In Warrior’s Surrender, I have Friar Dominic a no-nonsense, practical and very devout man of God who proves his worth as a confidante to the hero Baron Sebastian de la Croix and also drives the investigation into the mysterious serial killer dubbed The Beast of the North.
I love this particular secondary character. In addition to modelling Friar Dominic on Cadfael, I have also drawn inspiration from the minister – a former boxer, champion body-builder and bricklayer – who married my husband and me.
The Adventures of Robin Hood
Maid Marian played by Bernadette O’Farrell in the 1950s series
Oh this 1950s TV series is glorious. Plenty of fun with a great cast. The Lady Marian was not a passive bystander in this series, she was in the thick of the action – she could ride and shoot a bow with the best of them. Marian, played by Bernadette O’Farrell and Patricia Driscoll was an able spy, frequently partnering with Friar Tuck to get into places where Robin and his Merry Men could not.
Even in times that Marian was in peril, she was resourceful, brave and level-headed – what a marvelous role model for young girls who watched the show with their brothers.
The Films
Gorgeous romantic adventure – although I did feel sorry for Elizabeth Taylor’s character.
Ivanhoe
Robert Taylor, Elizabeth Taylor, Joan Fontaine – what’s not to love? Sir Walter Scott’s romantic triangle and chivalric adventure is pure Hollywood – and that’s a complement, not a complaint.
The Name of the Rose
Dark and atmospheric, Umberto Eco’s book and its subsequent 1986 screen adaptation with Sean Connery, Christian Slater and F Murray Abraham is a fabulous drama.
In Warrior’s Surrender, I use a schematic I found of Eco’s monastery and adapted it for St Cuthbert’s Abbey where Sebastian learns the truth about Alfreya and her brother.
Sean Connery has done a few Medieval epics – Robin and Marian being one which directly comes to mind.
I finished Warrior’s Surrender and after hubby had been through it he thanked me for bringing the Medieval period to life. It’s the best complement to have received and when it is released, I hope you will enjoy it too.
I’d love to hear from you – what books, films and TV series about our near and ancient past intrigue you?