The Jester
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
In The Jester James Patterson and his occasional collaborator Andrew Cross step across genre boundaries and produce a hectic historical adventure of distinctly mixed merit. This is a revenge story, mystery and love story across insuperable class barriers--the mixture is rich and the ingredients sometimes ill-combined. Part of the trouble is that the book wears its research too lightly. The inn-keeper hero Hugh reads a little too like a modern Californian time shifted into the eleventh century while the book's inventive plotting plays fast and loose with historical fact to a worrying extent: Hugh's life disguised as a jester combines elements from about five different centuries.
The account of the First Crusade is convincing enough and there are moments--Hugh's first sight of Byzantium--that are genuinely moving. The plot depends a little on Hugh's being obtuse--he takes forever to work out why the relic-hunting, sinister Tafurs (Christian shock troops with a taste for atrocity) destroy everything he loves. At the same time, the plot is genuinely exciting as Hugh is driven to take revenge for specific crimes and the general offence that feudalism often was; there is a real sense here of what medieval warfare might have looked and felt like that often makes up for specific inaccuracies. --Roz Kaveney --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
‘Anyone who reads one page will be hooked’ (Publisher’s Weekly )
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Not one from the usual Alex Cross or Murder Club genre which goes to show how talented this man is.
From start to finish you are drawn in and immediately fall on the side of the hero "Hugh de Luc", the innkeeper from Veille du Pere, as he witnesses the brutality of his Liege's justice.
I don't want to spoil the book for other readers but would highly recommend it to any James Patterson fans. This book will make you laugh, possibly cry and most definitely side over right from wrong.
Enjoy
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
James Patterson has taken on a huge challenge in "The Jester" by writing a medieval epic, considering he is most famous for his taut Alex Cross thrillers. However, he has raised his game somewhat and created an adventure story which will open his writing to a whole new audience.
He writes in short, sharp chapters which gives the reader the feeling of a fast paced narrative. James Patterson isn't well known for hanging around when telling a story, by page 20 our hero is knee deep in the Crusades:-)
Many of his Alex Cross novels have become films (Kiss the girls, Along came a spider) but I think this is the one that needs to be made into a film. It has everything, strong hero, funny supporting characters, revenge, love, adventure. A medieval Indiana Jones story, which moves at such a pace that you'll have trouble putting it down.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I bought this book without even having the faintest idea of the subject matter. I am an avid James Patterson fan and was eager to pick up his new novel. I particularly like the fact that his novels are based in the present era. I find this helps to easily relate to his characters and visualise the scenery at hand.
Imagine my dismay when I began The Jester and discovered that it was based in mideval times! I was utterly disappointed and perplexed with Patterson.
Where had the slick characters of Alex Cross and Gary Soneji disappeared too? In their place instead a peasant from rural France in the 11th Century? I could not toss the book to one side fast enough.
Still, I decided to listen to the tiny voice of reason in my head urging me to not write the book off before I had given it chance. I took the plunge and boy am I glad that I did. In true Patterson style the book masterfully seduced me from the beginning. Before I could resist any further I was hooked! As I read on I began to love the historical factor in the book. It only added to more suspense and mystery. By the time I had finished there was not doubt in my mind that Patterson had done it again. The Jester is a winner and belongs right up there with the best. Thank you Mr Patterson and Mr Gross.
Imagine my dismay when I began The Jester and discovered that it was based in mideval times! I was utterly disappointed and perplexed with Patterson.
Where had the slick characters of Alex Cross and Gary Soneji disappeared too? In their place instead a peasant from rural France in the 11th Century? I could not toss the book to one side fast enough.
Still, I decided to listen to the tiny voice of reason in my head urging me to not write the book off before I had given it chance. I took the plunge and boy am I glad that I did. In true Patterson style the book masterfully seduced me from the beginning. Before I could resist any further I was hooked! As I read on I began to love the historical factor in the book. It only added to more suspense and mystery. By the time I had finished there was not doubt in my mind that Patterson had done it again. The Jester is a winner and belongs right up there with the best. Thank you Mr Patterson and Mr Gross.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Great read
When you read a book and you find yourself immersed in the story, you know its a good book. The Jester is just that!
Published 5 months ago by PS
The Jester
Having read "Pillars of the Earth" by Ken Follett & "Agincourt" by Bernard Cornwell, I happening to hear this book reviewed to TV, so added it to my reading list and have not been... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Big Tone
Review
The book arrived in good time and in excellent condition. The book took sometime to get into the story but it was a good story although not as good as the James Patterson... Read more
Published 7 months ago by paulr
The Jester
Not the usual type of novel I expected from Patterson. Prefer his detective thrillers more. Novel ok and readable, but not the page turner for me that the others I've read. Read more
Published 8 months ago by SHP
One of the best books I have read
This is simply one of the best books I have read, not wanting to spoil the plot for people who haven't read it, it is one of those books that I couldn't put down. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Ebonyuk
good fun, quite engaging
I liked this book, a simple life story of a poor serf and his dreams, sort of rags to riches with a heavy dose of righteousness. Read more
Published on 8 Feb 2010 by T.
How much more can poor Hugh take?
This book is amazing. I couldn't put it down and read it in two days!
The story is pacy. exciting and heartbreaking in places. Read more
The story is pacy. exciting and heartbreaking in places. Read more
Published on 17 Jun 2008 by ManicLady
My least favourite book ever.
Structurally inept, appalling prose, everything rushed and shallow. I honestly can't believe how any one can actually read this drivel.
Published on 26 April 2008 by J. C. Dorney
Laughing All The Way To The Bank...At Our Expense
Once every 1,000 years, a truly preposterous adventure comes along...
Fortunately, I picked this book up at a bargain price - purely on a whim - and reckon that I got... Read more
Fortunately, I picked this book up at a bargain price - purely on a whim - and reckon that I got... Read more
Published on 22 Jun 2007 by ESP
AMAZING AUTHOR....
I ABSOLUTELY LOVE JAMES PATTERSON BOOKS, THE FIRST I READ WAS 'ALONG CAME A SPIDER' (WHICH I BORROWED FROM A FRIEND) AND I HAVE NEVER LOOKED BACK. Read more
Published on 25 May 2007 by emma
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