Genre: Historical Fiction
Hugh de Luc was raised by a traveling band of entertainers called goliards. In one village he meets the love of his life. He marries and settles down with Sophie. Then one day an army of crusaders passes through the town. The leader promises freedom for all those who join his crusade.
To win freedom for himself and Sophie, Hugh joins the crusaders. Two years later, he becomes disillusioned with the violence and misery of the crusades. Hugh returns home with a few meager possessions to find that his home has been destroyed, Sophie has been taken, and the son he didn't know he had has been murdered by knights of the local lord.
Hugh vows to find Sophie and avenge his son.
In the process he becomes a court jester. He also learns that he supposedly possesses a valuable relic. (Not the Holy Grail - whew!) But he does not know what it could be.
As the tale unfolds the authors portray interesting characters: commoners, knights and nobles. Hugh undergoes incredible sorrow and fantastic joy. And the reader experiences a nice entertaining story.
This book was a nice easy read. The authors' style was to use numerous short chapters. Most chapters were only three or four pages long. For me, it made the book easy to read because I like to finish chapters when I put my books down.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Friday, March 18, 2011
Dragon's Lair by Sharon Kay Penman
Genre: Historical Mystery
The year is 1193. King Richard the Lionheart has been captured while returning from the crusades by the Emperor of Germany. His Mother, Eleanor of Aquitaine, struggles to amass Richard's ransom. In Wales, a large ransom payment disappears. Eleanor dispatches her man, Justin de Quincy to investigate.
In Wales, Justin becomes immersed in the political intrigues of the Welsh court. As he slowly uncovers the clues to solve the mystery, he also discovers treachery that even includes Richard's deceitful brother, Prince John.
The author, Sharon Kay Penman, is a prolific author of historical novels of England and Wales. This novel is the third in her "Queen's Man Mysteries" series. I enjoyed her writing style which made this novel a nice easy read.
The year is 1193. King Richard the Lionheart has been captured while returning from the crusades by the Emperor of Germany. His Mother, Eleanor of Aquitaine, struggles to amass Richard's ransom. In Wales, a large ransom payment disappears. Eleanor dispatches her man, Justin de Quincy to investigate.
In Wales, Justin becomes immersed in the political intrigues of the Welsh court. As he slowly uncovers the clues to solve the mystery, he also discovers treachery that even includes Richard's deceitful brother, Prince John.
The author, Sharon Kay Penman, is a prolific author of historical novels of England and Wales. This novel is the third in her "Queen's Man Mysteries" series. I enjoyed her writing style which made this novel a nice easy read.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
The Nomad of Time by Michael Moorcock
Genre: Science Fiction, Time Travel, Alternate History
This book contains three short novels about the main character Oswald Bastable. Bastable is a soldier in the British army serving in India in 1903. He mysteriously gets transported into the future: the year 1973. But his 1973 is not our 1973. There are steam powered cars, and gigantic airships.
Bastable survives his first time traveling experience, and travels to two other twentieth century "futures". In each, he finds many differences, but he finds some similarities. The world seems to always be at war, although the countries and reasons are varied. In each future time, someone invents nuclear weapons.
I enjoy science fiction. I find the sub-genre of alternate history very enjoyable. In these novels, the author presents a "what-if?" version of the past. Moorcock's vision of Bastable's future makes for an enjoyable, yet somewhat pessimistic view of the future and human nature.
This book contains three short novels about the main character Oswald Bastable. Bastable is a soldier in the British army serving in India in 1903. He mysteriously gets transported into the future: the year 1973. But his 1973 is not our 1973. There are steam powered cars, and gigantic airships.
Bastable survives his first time traveling experience, and travels to two other twentieth century "futures". In each, he finds many differences, but he finds some similarities. The world seems to always be at war, although the countries and reasons are varied. In each future time, someone invents nuclear weapons.
I enjoy science fiction. I find the sub-genre of alternate history very enjoyable. In these novels, the author presents a "what-if?" version of the past. Moorcock's vision of Bastable's future makes for an enjoyable, yet somewhat pessimistic view of the future and human nature.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Gallows Thief by Bernard Cornwell
Genre: Historical Fiction
Setting: London, 1817
The main character, Rider Sandman, has just returned to England after the defeat of Napoleon. His family is in disgrace due to his father's suicide. His family's finances in ruins, Rider has sold his commission to raise money to support his mother and sister. Additionally, Rider's engagement to the daughter of a wealthy London banker has been ended due to Rider's poor financial prospects.
Rider is summoned to the office of the Home Secretary. It seems that the Queen has taken an interest in the case of a young artist who is condemned to the gallows for murder. Rider is given temporary employment investigating the crime to determine if there is proof that the artist should not be hanged.
What follows is a page turning story in which the author describes London in 1817 as Rider investigates the crime: the injustice of the gallows, the snobbery of the upper classes, and the plight of the common people.
Bernard Cornwell is one of my favorite authors. He has authored several historical fiction series. What I like about Cornwell's writing style is that he moves the plot forward with each page and chapter. He includes enough description so that the reader understands the action and setting without attempting to impress the reader with the depth of his research.
He is perhaps best known for his Sharpe novels, which follow a soldier during the Napoleonic Wars.
Cornwell's other series are:
The Nathanial Starbuck Chronicles set during the Civil War.
The Grail Quest series in which the main character searches for the Holy Grail.
The Saxon Tales set during the time of King Alfred - the king who united the country of England.
Setting: London, 1817
The main character, Rider Sandman, has just returned to England after the defeat of Napoleon. His family is in disgrace due to his father's suicide. His family's finances in ruins, Rider has sold his commission to raise money to support his mother and sister. Additionally, Rider's engagement to the daughter of a wealthy London banker has been ended due to Rider's poor financial prospects.
Rider is summoned to the office of the Home Secretary. It seems that the Queen has taken an interest in the case of a young artist who is condemned to the gallows for murder. Rider is given temporary employment investigating the crime to determine if there is proof that the artist should not be hanged.
What follows is a page turning story in which the author describes London in 1817 as Rider investigates the crime: the injustice of the gallows, the snobbery of the upper classes, and the plight of the common people.
Bernard Cornwell is one of my favorite authors. He has authored several historical fiction series. What I like about Cornwell's writing style is that he moves the plot forward with each page and chapter. He includes enough description so that the reader understands the action and setting without attempting to impress the reader with the depth of his research.
He is perhaps best known for his Sharpe novels, which follow a soldier during the Napoleonic Wars.
Cornwell's other series are:
The Nathanial Starbuck Chronicles set during the Civil War.
The Grail Quest series in which the main character searches for the Holy Grail.
The Saxon Tales set during the time of King Alfred - the king who united the country of England.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Historical Mysteries
One of my favorite genres of fiction is historical mysteries. These novels have becomes quite popular in the last few years. The best examples of this genre are well written historical novels which happen to contain a mystery. I really enjoy reading these novels because of their historical settings. I have read historical mysteries set in ancient Egypt and Rome, seventh century Ireland, medieval England and France, and China.
Some of my favorite historical sleuths are:
Brother Cadfael - a monk in medieval England, by Ellis Peters
Sister Frevisse - a nun in medieval England, by Margaret Frazer
Sister Fidelma - a religieuse in seventh century Ireland, by Peter Tremayne
Marcus Didius Falco - a Roman detective, by Lindsey Davis
Some of my favorite historical sleuths are:
Brother Cadfael - a monk in medieval England, by Ellis Peters
Sister Frevisse - a nun in medieval England, by Margaret Frazer
Sister Fidelma - a religieuse in seventh century Ireland, by Peter Tremayne
Marcus Didius Falco - a Roman detective, by Lindsey Davis
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