Interview with David Pilling -December 2019
David Pilling
It was a pleasure to interview author David Pilling via email last month. His novellas and novels take in many different historical eras. David has also written some fantasy novels and historical works. David's medieval fiction has an emphasis on conflict, breakdown of order, realistic to the point of being brutal, and displays a great knowledge of the era, along with the history of different regions of England, along with Wales , Scotland, and parts of France. This interview focuses more on David's writing that relates to the 13th and 14th centuries, rather than attempts to be some sort of overview of his work.
Predictable question : How important is your connection with Wales in writing Medieval fiction? Am particularly thinking of the 'Lions of Gwynedd' series?
I was born in England but raised on a smallholding in West Wales, so Wales and Welsh history is very important to me. My passion for medieval castles stems from exploring the ruins of castles and abbeys as a child, in particular the remains of the 'Iron Ring of strongholds built by Edward I. As an adult the subject interests me both in terms of the source material- which is extensive- and the divisive nature of the subject, along with all the differing interpretations.
I started writing the 'Lions of Gwynedd' series as an alternative fictional take on the life of Prince Llywelen ap Gruffudd to the like of Sharon Penman, Edith Pargeter, etc. In my opinion those authors ( among others) have painted a far too rosy view of Llwelyn and his career, and I wanted to present a more balanced or 'realistic' view. At the same time I had no intention to demonise Llywelyn or portray him in a bad light. Unfortunately I have got involved in other projects and don't know when or if the 'Lions' series will continue.
Your books seem to show how central authority often broke down in the past. The ;Longsword' series feature the Disinherited -Simon de Montfort supporters who fought on after the Battle of Evesham in 1265. The 'Robin Hood' series re-sets the Robin Hood tales in the reign of Henry III. Do you thing that maintaining authority was a struggle for a medieval king. Or do you think fiction readers find concept of rebellion more exciting ?
I would say a bit of both. Every medieval king that I can think of- certainly kings of England-struggled to maintain authority at times. This was probably inevitable, since society in medieval Europe was essentially martial and masculine, dominated by a wealthy militarised elite that owned all the power, wealth and castles etc. At the same time they jockeyed for power, as humans will due to our tribalist nature, with the inevitable impact on efforts to maintain a semblance of peace and law. At the same time periods of rebellion and civil war are naturally full of interest, and very fertile ground for an author who wishes to spin a yarn.
With regard to your interest in Edward I, notice in your (non fiction) book 'The Leopard 1255-74' part of a series titled 'The Wars of Edward I', you seem to be neither wanting to disparage his historical reputation or to act as his modern day advocate. Any reason for this more neutral approach?
Because it is badly needed. Edward I is a hugely divisive figure these days, thanks to all sorts of influences; these range from the influence of novels and movies and modern politicised nationalist movements. None of which has much to do with the man himself, who was ( in my view) a fairly typical product of his times. His efforts to unite the whole of Britain occupy intention, but his peers elsewhere in Western Europe ( and further afield) were doing much the same thing. Edward is also a complex figure, almost as inscrutable as his cousin Philip le Bel, and one could debate his motives and actions endlessly. That in turn makes him interesting.
You seem to be active online in promoting interest in Edward I reign. Do you want to say more about this?
Only to say that I run a Facebook page focused on the king and his reign. People are free to join and to interact if they wish https://www.facebook.com/Nedlongshanks/
To go back to 'The Leopard', fascinated by the appendix dealing with the relationship between Edward I and the Mongols. Do you think that England seemed quite unaware of what a dangerous threat the Mongol invasion was to Europe?
No I think the English were aware to an extent. Certainly the government was; from the 1250's onward Henry III was in talks with the King of Hungary to send troops to help repel the Mongol invasion. Some terrifying stories circulated around England in this era of the brutality of Mongol armies. Interestingly this was all very quickly replaced by a greater fear of the Egyptian Mamluks and the threat they poised to the remaining Crusader states in the Holy Land.
Just reading 'Invasion at the moment, which opens in 1323. Interested to see Hugh le Despenser the Younger portrayed in fiction. Curious to know if you can find other novels in which he appears. Edward II 'favourite' before Hugh , Piers Gaveston, seems to have had a lot more fictional attention.
I'm not aware of any other novels in which Hugh the Younger features, though there probably are a few. The 'Folville's Law' series is my only venture ( to date) into the reign of Edward II, which isn't one of my preferred eras in English history. You would be better of asking some like Kathryn Warner for recommendations!
What are your latest writing projects at present, medieval related and otherwise?
At the moment I am doing some last bits and pieces of proofreading for a textbook on the war of the Disinherited Montfortians in England from 1265-1274 after the Battle of Evesham and death of Simon de Montfort. This will be published in March 2020 by 'Pen and Sword'. Otherwise I have another 'Longsword' novella in the works, though at some point I would like to try something different. The British & Irish Civil Wars, perhaps.
Another obvious question, but needs raising. What advice do you give to any new writer of medieval fiction? What pitfalls are there?
Don't impose your own opinions and prejudices onto a bygone era- or at least be conscious of doing so, and seek to minimise it. And write plain dialogue, without faux-medieval expressions. Otherwise your characters end up speaking like bad actors at a Renaissance fair, which is fine for comedy but not if you want to write something in a more serious vein.
I enjoy your work but have one or two pressing concerns. Feel that your portrayal of the Medieval era is quite centred round the more chaotic and brutal aspects of the time. No emphasis on cathedrals being built, nothing cultural or literary being accomplished. No innovations in the field of technology. Do you want to comment?
My novels are genre fiction and meant to appeal to a specific audience' those who are drawn to authors such as Bernard Cornwell, Simon Scarrow, George MacDonald Fraser etc. As such they are meant to be fast paced and concentrate on action and politics, rather than the more refined aspects of the medieval world. It would be nice to introduce some more 'artistic' elements, but it would be very easy to fall into indulgence and forget who or what one is writing for. I write to make a living, not to please aesthetic sensibilities.
Finally must just ask-what to you think of medieval 'detective' fiction? Characters such as Brother Cadfael, Hugh Corbett, Matthew Bartholomew?
I'm aware of the characters and authors, but almost totally unfamiliar with the material. I last read half a 'Cadfael' novel about twenty years ago, and have dim memories of Derek Jacobi in the TV series. That's about it I'm afraid! I did enjoy 'The Name of the Rose' by Umberto Eco-both movie and book version, thought I didn't see much of the new televised version-which I suppose could be described as the more intellectual godfather of medieval crime fiction.
ENDS
I wish to thank David Pilling for his time. And looking forward to his book , 'Rebellion Against Henry III- The Disinherited Montfortians' 1265- 1274 , to be published by 'Pen and Sword' in March 2020. Looking over the interview again, it is probably worth mentioning that David's fiction is fast moving, whilst plot lines unravel swiftly. There is no attempt to write an epic romantic medieval novel in the style of the aforementioned Sharon Penman. Neither is there are attempts to cover debates amongst the scholars that one finds in Brother Cadfael or Susanah Gregory's 'Matthew Bartholomew' series. But David Pilling's work is certainly a form of fiction that is rooted in a serous knowledge of history.
David 's blog is regularly updated and well worth a look PillingsWritingCorner
His Amazon UK page contains an extensive list of his work
It was a pleasure to interview author David Pilling via email last month. His novellas and novels take in many different historical eras. David has also written some fantasy novels and historical works. David's medieval fiction has an emphasis on conflict, breakdown of order, realistic to the point of being brutal, and displays a great knowledge of the era, along with the history of different regions of England, along with Wales , Scotland, and parts of France. This interview focuses more on David's writing that relates to the 13th and 14th centuries, rather than attempts to be some sort of overview of his work.
Predictable question : How important is your connection with Wales in writing Medieval fiction? Am particularly thinking of the 'Lions of Gwynedd' series?
I was born in England but raised on a smallholding in West Wales, so Wales and Welsh history is very important to me. My passion for medieval castles stems from exploring the ruins of castles and abbeys as a child, in particular the remains of the 'Iron Ring of strongholds built by Edward I. As an adult the subject interests me both in terms of the source material- which is extensive- and the divisive nature of the subject, along with all the differing interpretations.
I started writing the 'Lions of Gwynedd' series as an alternative fictional take on the life of Prince Llywelen ap Gruffudd to the like of Sharon Penman, Edith Pargeter, etc. In my opinion those authors ( among others) have painted a far too rosy view of Llwelyn and his career, and I wanted to present a more balanced or 'realistic' view. At the same time I had no intention to demonise Llywelyn or portray him in a bad light. Unfortunately I have got involved in other projects and don't know when or if the 'Lions' series will continue.
Your books seem to show how central authority often broke down in the past. The ;Longsword' series feature the Disinherited -Simon de Montfort supporters who fought on after the Battle of Evesham in 1265. The 'Robin Hood' series re-sets the Robin Hood tales in the reign of Henry III. Do you thing that maintaining authority was a struggle for a medieval king. Or do you think fiction readers find concept of rebellion more exciting ?
I would say a bit of both. Every medieval king that I can think of- certainly kings of England-struggled to maintain authority at times. This was probably inevitable, since society in medieval Europe was essentially martial and masculine, dominated by a wealthy militarised elite that owned all the power, wealth and castles etc. At the same time they jockeyed for power, as humans will due to our tribalist nature, with the inevitable impact on efforts to maintain a semblance of peace and law. At the same time periods of rebellion and civil war are naturally full of interest, and very fertile ground for an author who wishes to spin a yarn.
With regard to your interest in Edward I, notice in your (non fiction) book 'The Leopard 1255-74' part of a series titled 'The Wars of Edward I', you seem to be neither wanting to disparage his historical reputation or to act as his modern day advocate. Any reason for this more neutral approach?
Because it is badly needed. Edward I is a hugely divisive figure these days, thanks to all sorts of influences; these range from the influence of novels and movies and modern politicised nationalist movements. None of which has much to do with the man himself, who was ( in my view) a fairly typical product of his times. His efforts to unite the whole of Britain occupy intention, but his peers elsewhere in Western Europe ( and further afield) were doing much the same thing. Edward is also a complex figure, almost as inscrutable as his cousin Philip le Bel, and one could debate his motives and actions endlessly. That in turn makes him interesting.
You seem to be active online in promoting interest in Edward I reign. Do you want to say more about this?
Only to say that I run a Facebook page focused on the king and his reign. People are free to join and to interact if they wish https://www.facebook.com/Nedlongshanks/
To go back to 'The Leopard', fascinated by the appendix dealing with the relationship between Edward I and the Mongols. Do you think that England seemed quite unaware of what a dangerous threat the Mongol invasion was to Europe?
No I think the English were aware to an extent. Certainly the government was; from the 1250's onward Henry III was in talks with the King of Hungary to send troops to help repel the Mongol invasion. Some terrifying stories circulated around England in this era of the brutality of Mongol armies. Interestingly this was all very quickly replaced by a greater fear of the Egyptian Mamluks and the threat they poised to the remaining Crusader states in the Holy Land.
Just reading 'Invasion at the moment, which opens in 1323. Interested to see Hugh le Despenser the Younger portrayed in fiction. Curious to know if you can find other novels in which he appears. Edward II 'favourite' before Hugh , Piers Gaveston, seems to have had a lot more fictional attention.
I'm not aware of any other novels in which Hugh the Younger features, though there probably are a few. The 'Folville's Law' series is my only venture ( to date) into the reign of Edward II, which isn't one of my preferred eras in English history. You would be better of asking some like Kathryn Warner for recommendations!
What are your latest writing projects at present, medieval related and otherwise?
At the moment I am doing some last bits and pieces of proofreading for a textbook on the war of the Disinherited Montfortians in England from 1265-1274 after the Battle of Evesham and death of Simon de Montfort. This will be published in March 2020 by 'Pen and Sword'. Otherwise I have another 'Longsword' novella in the works, though at some point I would like to try something different. The British & Irish Civil Wars, perhaps.
Another obvious question, but needs raising. What advice do you give to any new writer of medieval fiction? What pitfalls are there?
Don't impose your own opinions and prejudices onto a bygone era- or at least be conscious of doing so, and seek to minimise it. And write plain dialogue, without faux-medieval expressions. Otherwise your characters end up speaking like bad actors at a Renaissance fair, which is fine for comedy but not if you want to write something in a more serious vein.
I enjoy your work but have one or two pressing concerns. Feel that your portrayal of the Medieval era is quite centred round the more chaotic and brutal aspects of the time. No emphasis on cathedrals being built, nothing cultural or literary being accomplished. No innovations in the field of technology. Do you want to comment?
My novels are genre fiction and meant to appeal to a specific audience' those who are drawn to authors such as Bernard Cornwell, Simon Scarrow, George MacDonald Fraser etc. As such they are meant to be fast paced and concentrate on action and politics, rather than the more refined aspects of the medieval world. It would be nice to introduce some more 'artistic' elements, but it would be very easy to fall into indulgence and forget who or what one is writing for. I write to make a living, not to please aesthetic sensibilities.
Finally must just ask-what to you think of medieval 'detective' fiction? Characters such as Brother Cadfael, Hugh Corbett, Matthew Bartholomew?
I'm aware of the characters and authors, but almost totally unfamiliar with the material. I last read half a 'Cadfael' novel about twenty years ago, and have dim memories of Derek Jacobi in the TV series. That's about it I'm afraid! I did enjoy 'The Name of the Rose' by Umberto Eco-both movie and book version, thought I didn't see much of the new televised version-which I suppose could be described as the more intellectual godfather of medieval crime fiction.
ENDS
I wish to thank David Pilling for his time. And looking forward to his book , 'Rebellion Against Henry III- The Disinherited Montfortians' 1265- 1274 , to be published by 'Pen and Sword' in March 2020. Looking over the interview again, it is probably worth mentioning that David's fiction is fast moving, whilst plot lines unravel swiftly. There is no attempt to write an epic romantic medieval novel in the style of the aforementioned Sharon Penman. Neither is there are attempts to cover debates amongst the scholars that one finds in Brother Cadfael or Susanah Gregory's 'Matthew Bartholomew' series. But David Pilling's work is certainly a form of fiction that is rooted in a serous knowledge of history.
David 's blog is regularly updated and well worth a look PillingsWritingCorner
His Amazon UK page contains an extensive list of his work
Wonderful...I enjoy David's books. At the present, I am reading his Caesar's Sword trilogy, brilliant writing.
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