About the Author
Sharon Kay Penman is an American historical novelist best known for her epic medieval sagas. Born in 1945, she studied history at the University of California, Berkeley, and worked as a stockbroker before pursuing writing full-time. Penman's breakthrough came with "The Sunne in Splendour" (1982), the first book in her Plantagenet series. The series received widespread critical acclaim for its meticulously researched historical accuracy and vivid storytelling. Notable works include "The Lion in Winter" (1990), which won the Romantic Times Lifetime Achievement Award, and "When Christ and His Saints Slept" (1994), a Pulitzer Prize finalist. Penman's attention to detail and mastery of period dialogue have earned her a reputation as one of the foremost historical novelists of our time. Her works have been translated into several languages and enjoyed worldwide success. She has received numerous awards and honors, including the Golden Pen Award from the Historical Novel Society.