Poetry of Reading

"The Saxon Tales" immerses us in the story of how Alfred the Great's vision of a united England came to be. It is narrated by Uhtred of Bebbanburg, a character who embodies the complex historical, cultural, linguistic, economic, warrior, and chivalric aspects of his time. Mr. Cornwell has us see through Uhtred's eyes as he navigates these often conflicting forces from his early years to his reflections as an elderly man, a seasoned participant in Alfred's frequently threatened but never-conquered vision.

We have had few authors with Cornwell's imaginative reach. He is a scholar of historical detail, possessing a deep and nuanced understanding of human nature and what drives us to achieve great things. He comprehends how human relationships develop over time, for better or for worse, and how the technologies of an era are often used by human beings to significantly impact the outcome of events.

Cornwell combines all of this in a masterful storytelling style that sweeps the reader's imagination up into the epic and carries them along the tumultuous, racing tide of consequential history.

“Sword of Kings” is the 12th novel in this saga. It is as rich and viscerally engaging as the previous eleven. Mr. Cornwell never disappoints.

In "Hearthstone", C.J. Sansom presents an intricate mystery set in Tudor England during the reign of Henry VIII. The story follows Matthew Shardlake as he takes on Queen Catherine Parr's request to investigate the death of Michael, a tutor to two children who are now Wards of the Crown. It is revealed that the children's guardian, Nicholas Hobbey, had terminated Michael's tutoring to serve his interests. Before his death, Michael left a note pleading for help for one of the children, Hugh, who was being mistreated by Hobbey.

Matthew had already planned to journey to the same area in his quest for the truth. He had set for himself the task of learning what had happened to Ellen Fetti-Place nineteen years ago that had driven her to madness and to become an inmate at Bedlam. Matthew had met her two years ago while visiting a young boy who was also an inmate at Bedlam. Although Ellen had seemed to be the sanest inmate there, she was too terrified of the outside world to set foot out of Bedlam's protective doors.

Samson intertwines these tales with the historical events of the time, providing an enjoyable read for lovers of historical fiction.