OH MY GOD, this is just stunning -- dear author, thank you SO much! Everything about it is perfect! I absolutely LOVE them conversing as children, and Henry's thoughts are so HIM. Richard would totally tell Henry to call him 'your Highness'. Oh, RICHARD.
And then A SECTION ON THE LORDS APPELLANT. Just, wow. I adore anything that talks about the Lords Appellant! There's so much of Richard and Anne's relationship packed in there, I really got a sense of the public and private sides. I loved Richard remembering his sparring tactics, and the lurking fear of ass-pokering... It's incredibly Richard to twist up the love of God and the love of him, I'm not surprised that that recurs to Henry in part 3. Also, I think it's wonderful how uncertain the power balance is -- Richard is definitely dangerous to Henry even when Henry seems to have the upper hand.
The 1399 section is amazing too! I know this will sound weird, but -- I LOVE THE STONE THROWING AND THE BLOOD. And the link into Henry remembering the PR -- it's so strange to think of it being nearly twenty years later... I guess that's the king with monarchs who accede as children, the actual span of the reign is longer than it feels, somehow. MIRROR IMAGERY YAY. Always a winner! I love Henry inverting it and wondering if really he's the one who's not seen aright.
And I absolutely adore the end. It's wonderful. He shouldn't always have to end with sinking downwards, and of course just because he says it we don't have to believe that's the last thing he feels. The image of the blood washing away the oil is amazing, that sort of... more sacramental reworking (so appropriate to Richard's way of thinking, esp. in 4.1 and 5.5!) of "With mine own tears".
Basically this just enthralled me. Thank you again, so, SO much: I was expecting to enjoy my story a lot, whatever it was like, but this surpassed my expectations! You are an incredible writer.
no subject
And then A SECTION ON THE LORDS APPELLANT. Just, wow. I adore anything that talks about the Lords Appellant! There's so much of Richard and Anne's relationship packed in there, I really got a sense of the public and private sides. I loved Richard remembering his sparring tactics, and the lurking fear of ass-pokering... It's incredibly Richard to twist up the love of God and the love of him, I'm not surprised that that recurs to Henry in part 3. Also, I think it's wonderful how uncertain the power balance is -- Richard is definitely dangerous to Henry even when Henry seems to have the upper hand.
The 1399 section is amazing too! I know this will sound weird, but -- I LOVE THE STONE THROWING AND THE BLOOD. And the link into Henry remembering the PR -- it's so strange to think of it being nearly twenty years later... I guess that's the king with monarchs who accede as children, the actual span of the reign is longer than it feels, somehow. MIRROR IMAGERY YAY. Always a winner! I love Henry inverting it and wondering if really he's the one who's not seen aright.
And I absolutely adore the end. It's wonderful. He shouldn't always have to end with sinking downwards, and of course just because he says it we don't have to believe that's the last thing he feels. The image of the blood washing away the oil is amazing, that sort of... more sacramental reworking (so appropriate to Richard's way of thinking, esp. in 4.1 and 5.5!) of "With mine own tears".
Basically this just enthralled me. Thank you again, so, SO much: I was expecting to enjoy my story a lot, whatever it was like, but this surpassed my expectations! You are an incredible writer.