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'The Candlemass Road' is a simple tale, beautifully told; and very moving withal! It's an afternoon's reading that'll stick in the memory for long afterwards. Hooray for George Macdonald Fraser!' SPECTATOR 'It's George MacDonald Fraser is top form on the Borders, juggling lairds and outlaws in bitter battling over disputed territory.' MAIL ON SUNDAY, 'Books of the Year' 'A bravura performance! fine, taut, sinewy! Meat never came redder.' DAILY TELEGRAPH 'George MacDonald Fraser is such a good storyteller! we get bowled along in the twists and scrapes of the action.' GLASGOW HERALD
Product Description
This is a beautiful, moving tale from the bestselling author of the "Flashman Papers". To the young Lady Margaret Dacre, raised in the rich security of Queen Elizabeth's court, the Scottish border was a land of blood and brutal violence, where raid and murder were commonplace, and her broad inheritance lay at the mercy of the outlaw riders and feuding tribes of England's last frontier. Beyond the law's protection, alone but for her house servants and an elderly priest, she could wait helpless in her lonely manor, or somehow find the means to fight the terror approaching from the northern night!
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
George MacDonald Fraser has given us, in "The Candlemass Road", an intriguing little book. There is certainly interest attached to the story as it's a working of somebody's historical diaries from a fascinating period of turmoil, not simply a straight novel.
The book is a worthwhile buy for a number of reasons, not least because it's very well written (although one could argue 'too well written', as it's presented in period style and quite a jar when you first get into it). Also, it turns out to be one of those books that linger in the memory long afer you've put them down. The only real downside I can tell you about is that the 'climax' of the story happens way before the end - I suppose this is the way with true-life accounts - and the final sections of the novel do little more than tidy the story up.
Still, it's a brilliantly-written piece, nicely paced for the most part, and extremely atmospheric. The characters are brought to life beautifully and the sense of time-and-place are conjured wonderfully.
This is certainly not a 'must', but you won't regret buying it if you're interested in historical fiction.
The book is a worthwhile buy for a number of reasons, not least because it's very well written (although one could argue 'too well written', as it's presented in period style and quite a jar when you first get into it). Also, it turns out to be one of those books that linger in the memory long afer you've put them down. The only real downside I can tell you about is that the 'climax' of the story happens way before the end - I suppose this is the way with true-life accounts - and the final sections of the novel do little more than tidy the story up.
Still, it's a brilliantly-written piece, nicely paced for the most part, and extremely atmospheric. The characters are brought to life beautifully and the sense of time-and-place are conjured wonderfully.
This is certainly not a 'must', but you won't regret buying it if you're interested in historical fiction.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Brilliant! This is the absolute best type of historical fiction (sometimes called 'faction') and really is an answer to critics who complain about the blurring, as they see it, between fact and fiction. In the first instance, history is often simply opinion (and is usually written by the winners so cannot necessarily be relied upon). The greatest advantage though is that by creating characters (sometimes a mix of fact & fiction) the reader can identify with the impact of history on these characters rather than the cold 'facts' or dates attested to by historians, thereby bringing the times to life. But GMF was a historian and knows as much about the times of the 'Border Reiver' as anyone (see 'The Steel Bonnets'), but mix this with his skills as a writer (The Great 'Flashman' diaries are an example as well as screenwriting credits for 'Octupussy the James Bond movie)the 'Borders' are brought to life.
This is not a complex story, based on what it seems was a true but under-documented minor episode in the history of the time, it breathes life into the every day struggles of people trying to 'get by' in a lawless and harsh environment, with nothing but themselves and their 'clan' or 'surname' to rely upon. There was no law to turn to with any surety of outcome, and what there was was as likely to side with the offender as the aggrieved dependant upon pragmatism, their own allegiances or straighforward corruption.
His use of the arcane language, whilst making it tougher to read, it does sit the reader plumb in the middle of the times and thereby brings the whole period to life and explains how, when law is absent or corrupt, then people will, understandably take the law into their own hands.
The story of the 'Border Reiver' is as relevant today as it has ever been, as our current day politicians distance themselves further from a growing underclass - who will ultimately fight to protect their own.
A great read for anyone who is interested in this turbulent period of history.
This is not a complex story, based on what it seems was a true but under-documented minor episode in the history of the time, it breathes life into the every day struggles of people trying to 'get by' in a lawless and harsh environment, with nothing but themselves and their 'clan' or 'surname' to rely upon. There was no law to turn to with any surety of outcome, and what there was was as likely to side with the offender as the aggrieved dependant upon pragmatism, their own allegiances or straighforward corruption.
His use of the arcane language, whilst making it tougher to read, it does sit the reader plumb in the middle of the times and thereby brings the whole period to life and explains how, when law is absent or corrupt, then people will, understandably take the law into their own hands.
The story of the 'Border Reiver' is as relevant today as it has ever been, as our current day politicians distance themselves further from a growing underclass - who will ultimately fight to protect their own.
A great read for anyone who is interested in this turbulent period of history.
Format:Paperback
This is really just a long short story and the telling is certainly leisurely but once you get into it then it's exciting. As another reviewer pointed out, it is oddly structured but that didn't trouble me. The main flaw, I felt, was the narrator's voice, that of a rather grumbly, unlikeable Catholic priest, which never rang true for me. In fact it struck me as slightly bigotted anti-Catholicism, and I'm not a Catholic. Further, I would wager Mr Fraser is not either. However, the story and the setting were utterly compelling and, as one would expect with Mr Fraser, very believable despite the high drama.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
History brought to life
Once again, George Macdonald Frazer has shown us what a master of the historical novel he is.
The setting, in the 18th century Border country, is perfectly drawn and the sense... Read more
The setting, in the 18th century Border country, is perfectly drawn and the sense... Read more
Published on 31 July 2005 by longdog
Disappointed...sorry about that
I don't like admitting that I was disappointed in this book.
I travel fairly regularly through the area, which I find beautiful and distinctive. Read more
I travel fairly regularly through the area, which I find beautiful and distinctive. Read more
Published on 22 Dec 2002 by "dougarmitage"
Disappointed...sorry about that
I don't like admitting that I was disappointed in this book.
I travel fairly regularly through the area, which I find beautiful and distinctive. Read more
I travel fairly regularly through the area, which I find beautiful and distinctive. Read more
Published on 22 Dec 2002 by "dougarmitage"
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