Medieval History
This month in the Ancient & Medieval Historical Fiction Group on Goodreads, the Ancient Group Read book is Stonehenge by Bernard Cornwell.
I read this book a couple years back and loved it. Gave it five stars.
Inspired by that Stonehenge book of the month read, I decided to post my review (written in September 2010).
It really has me baffled that some people don't like this book. I found it enthralling and captivating.
There was something about Bernard Cornwell's version of these bronze age people and their mystical and monolithic Stonehenge, that captured my imagination and I felt stirred by both them and their pristine, unpolluted environment.
They were innocent and gullible, ignorant and sweet, yes, even at their deadliest or maddest. They are unblemished by a modern world. Their existence is aligned in every way with nature and the elements. Everything was an omen or an augury. If a bird lit from a tree, they watched it to see where it headed, if a swan lifts from the waterway into the sky, they stop to watch it's direction in hopes of anticipating the future. They wear 'sea monsters' teeth on sinew around their necks, and dress their ring ditches with animal and human skulls to ward off people and spirits alike. They are a deep and cerebral people.
While this life may sound restrictive to you and I, everything has a meaning and a meaning in everything, I think it was beautiful to read about and I felt more connected to pre history than I have ever been before.
And all this due to the wizened hand of a master author?
I had some trepidation going into this book because of the mixed reviews on Goodreads, but I should have known Cornwell would not let me down, *he hasn't yet after all, why should he now?
Reading this book was an experience for me and I wish I had not put it off for as long as I had.
Thankyou Bernard Cornwell.
***
*NB: When I said in the review that 'he hasn't yet after all, why should he now' well, if only that were still true. I have since read a couple Cornwell books that I did not like, but that comment in that review of 2010, was true at that time.
- MM
- 34th Annual Harvard Celtic Colloquium
10, 11 and 12 October 2014 The Thompson Room (Room 110) Barker Center, 12 Quincy Street ~ Call For Papers The organizers of the 34th Annual Harvard Celtic Colloquium acknowledge with thanks the support of The Provostial Funds Committee for the Arts and...
- Upcoming Assc Event
The Anglo Saxon Studies Colloquiumannouncesa lecture and seminar *Joshua Davies* *(KIng's College, The University of London)* ??Visions...
- The Day Medieval Mayhem Interviewed Bernard Cornwell
I was lucky enough recently to be asked by Richard Lee over at the Historical Novel Society, to interview Bernard Cornwell for the September/October releases of the latest book in the Warrior Chronicles/Saxon Stories - The Pagan Lord. This...
- Author Interviews Coming To Ancient & Medieval Mayhem Blog In June
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- Transitional
Martin church near Horncastle in Lincolnshire, has a fabulous chancel arch. This narrow arch is a text book example of the Transitional style, the moment when Norman architecture gradually gave way to Early English Gothic. ...
Medieval History
Earth, Water, Wind & Fire: STONEHENGE by Bernard Corwell
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| Stonehenge by Bernard Cornwell |
I read this book a couple years back and loved it. Gave it five stars.
Inspired by that Stonehenge book of the month read, I decided to post my review (written in September 2010).
***
It really has me baffled that some people don't like this book. I found it enthralling and captivating.
There was something about Bernard Cornwell's version of these bronze age people and their mystical and monolithic Stonehenge, that captured my imagination and I felt stirred by both them and their pristine, unpolluted environment.
They were innocent and gullible, ignorant and sweet, yes, even at their deadliest or maddest. They are unblemished by a modern world. Their existence is aligned in every way with nature and the elements. Everything was an omen or an augury. If a bird lit from a tree, they watched it to see where it headed, if a swan lifts from the waterway into the sky, they stop to watch it's direction in hopes of anticipating the future. They wear 'sea monsters' teeth on sinew around their necks, and dress their ring ditches with animal and human skulls to ward off people and spirits alike. They are a deep and cerebral people.
While this life may sound restrictive to you and I, everything has a meaning and a meaning in everything, I think it was beautiful to read about and I felt more connected to pre history than I have ever been before.
And all this due to the wizened hand of a master author?
I had some trepidation going into this book because of the mixed reviews on Goodreads, but I should have known Cornwell would not let me down, *he hasn't yet after all, why should he now?
Reading this book was an experience for me and I wish I had not put it off for as long as I had.
Thankyou Bernard Cornwell.
***
*NB: When I said in the review that 'he hasn't yet after all, why should he now' well, if only that were still true. I have since read a couple Cornwell books that I did not like, but that comment in that review of 2010, was true at that time.
- MM
- 34th Annual Harvard Celtic Colloquium
10, 11 and 12 October 2014 The Thompson Room (Room 110) Barker Center, 12 Quincy Street ~ Call For Papers The organizers of the 34th Annual Harvard Celtic Colloquium acknowledge with thanks the support of The Provostial Funds Committee for the Arts and...
- Upcoming Assc Event
The Anglo Saxon Studies Colloquiumannouncesa lecture and seminar *Joshua Davies* *(KIng's College, The University of London)* ??Visions...
- The Day Medieval Mayhem Interviewed Bernard Cornwell
I was lucky enough recently to be asked by Richard Lee over at the Historical Novel Society, to interview Bernard Cornwell for the September/October releases of the latest book in the Warrior Chronicles/Saxon Stories - The Pagan Lord. This...
- Author Interviews Coming To Ancient & Medieval Mayhem Blog In June
ROBYN YOUNGInterview with Author, Robyn Young. In early June to kick off the Ancient & Medieval Historical Fiction Group's Medieval Group Read of Insurrection. ...
- Transitional
Martin church near Horncastle in Lincolnshire, has a fabulous chancel arch. This narrow arch is a text book example of the Transitional style, the moment when Norman architecture gradually gave way to Early English Gothic. ...