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Sarum: The Novel of England by Edward Rutherfurd
- Thread starter Kida
- Start date
kelstan
Member
Well, yes, it is historically accurate to a point, but it is still a work of fiction. It's great, I loved it, although The Forest is my favorite Rutherford novel. Sarum and/or London probably vie for second.
I'm sure there are much better histories of England - they may not be quite as entertaining, but you will definitely learn more.
I'm sure there are much better histories of England - they may not be quite as entertaining, but you will definitely learn more.
Kida
New Member
Alright, that makes sense. Thank you! I'll definitely have to look into Sarum along with another educational book.
The Forest, huh? Somehow it reminds me of Robin Hood~ Definitely willl check into that one. So would you call yourself a fan of Ruthurford's work? Sounds good! Love a good generational story!~ Thank you for your feedback! ^ ^
Meadow337
Former Moderator
the books are an amazing interweaving of history (the author does an enormous amount of research so all the facts are in fact factual) with a fictionalized account. You might learn more in a real history book, but I promise it won't be half as interesting and you won't remember half as much.
What makes these books so interesting to read is that Rutherford gives the sense of continuity of history - that it flows through time. Often our image / learning of historical events is of discrete events frozen in time when they are not, they are part of an ever evolving tapestry from a beginning point onwards. He places the historical events in a contextual narrative even if fictionalised that gives you a wonderful sense of how one event leads to another, leads to another and onwards through time.
I highly recommend any of his books, especially if like me, learning dates bores the .... out of you.
What makes these books so interesting to read is that Rutherford gives the sense of continuity of history - that it flows through time. Often our image / learning of historical events is of discrete events frozen in time when they are not, they are part of an ever evolving tapestry from a beginning point onwards. He places the historical events in a contextual narrative even if fictionalised that gives you a wonderful sense of how one event leads to another, leads to another and onwards through time.
I highly recommend any of his books, especially if like me, learning dates bores the .... out of you.
Kida
New Member
XD That's awesome!! And yes, can totally relate to the date thing! XD Thank you so much for your opinion!! I'm definitely going to get this book at the library now!
Wow! That's so cool! I'm going to have to look into more of his stuff now!
PrincessFiona60
Member
I love reading Rutherford, as others have stated, fun reads while having a bit if history thrown in. You don't realize you are learning.
Meadow337
Former Moderator
Sarum is about the town of Salisbury, which lies on the Salisbury Plains in England. It covers prehistoric Britain, the building of Stonehenge, the arrival of the Romans, the Saxon, Viking and Norman invasions, the building of Salisbury cathedral, the Black Death and rise of the House of Lancaster.
The Forest is about the New Forest. It starts in Norman England, Mary Queen of Scots vs Queen Elizabeth, Charles II, Spanish war and the armada, intertwined with the issues of creating the forests as preserves of the King, the closing off of forests from the population and the establishment of the forest assizes.
London covers a time period from the Roman invasion to present day. It covers the construction of a Roman amphitheater, London Bridge, the Tower of London, The Globe Theater and St Paul's Cathedral. Political events covered are Norman conquest, the massacre of the Jews, Magna Carta, martyrdom of St Thomas More, the beheading of Charles I, the visit of Pocahontas, and the sailing of the Mayflower, the plague, the fire of London and the Blitz.
The Forest is about the New Forest. It starts in Norman England, Mary Queen of Scots vs Queen Elizabeth, Charles II, Spanish war and the armada, intertwined with the issues of creating the forests as preserves of the King, the closing off of forests from the population and the establishment of the forest assizes.
London covers a time period from the Roman invasion to present day. It covers the construction of a Roman amphitheater, London Bridge, the Tower of London, The Globe Theater and St Paul's Cathedral. Political events covered are Norman conquest, the massacre of the Jews, Magna Carta, martyrdom of St Thomas More, the beheading of Charles I, the visit of Pocahontas, and the sailing of the Mayflower, the plague, the fire of London and the Blitz.