Stonehenge: A Novel of 2000 BC
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Amazon.co.uk Review
From the earliest times, human beings have looked at the sun and the moon, and at life and death, and have imagined gods who control such things, and looked for ways to control those gods. In Stonehenge, Bernard Cornwell, famous for his novels about Rifleman Sharpe's adventures in the Napoleonic wars and for a sequence of brutally realistic Arthurian novels, considers the men and women who built Stonehenge and Avebury. These stone circles are impressive enough today; but all the more so if you imagine shifting stones from Wales to Salisbury Plain by raft and roller, dressing them with burning fat and grindstones, hauling the lintel stones up tiers of platforms.
"The oxen were goaded again, and, finger's breadth by finger's breadth, the huge stone eased forward until half of it was poised and then the oxen tugged once more and Saban was shouting at the beasts' drivers to halt the animals because the stone was tipping at last. For a heartbeat, it seemed to balance on the ramp's edge, then its leading half crashed down onto the timbers, then the great boulder slid down the ramp to lodge against the hole's face."It is the story of Saban, made architect against his will; of his brothers Lengar, the aspiring conqueror and Camaban, the cripple-turned-magician. It is the story of Derrewynn, princess-turned-witch, and Aurenna, sacrifice-turned-priestess queen. Stonehenge is an epic tale of people as smart as us, inventing religion and mythology and forcing their wills on the world and each other. --Roz Kaveney
Review
‘An epic story told with a master’s skill. Bernard Cornwell now burrows into prehistory to suggest an answer to the puzzle of why and by whom Stonehenge was built. The result is an epic story told with a master’s skill, presenting powerful personalities, high dramas and terrific climaxes with colour and pace.’
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First Sentence
The gods talk by signs. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
The gods talk by signs. Read the first page
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
29 of 29 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The only thing harder to research than a historical novel is a pre-historical one. Cornwell has made a serious effort to understand the how the Neolithic looked in southern Britain, then fit plot and characters into that landscape. It's an exciting story, full of duplicity, heroics, deeply held feelings and almost convincing people.
Centred, as the title suggests, on the great stone monument on Salisbury Plain, he builds a narrative suggesting the motivation and labour involved in building this ancient site. He uses two trinities to develop his story. One trinity is comprised of brothers who represent material, mysticism and morality. The other is three who, by stretching your imagination, might be Mother, Maiden and Crone of the slassical witchcraft Sisterhood, although those identities shift drastically as the story progresses. The clash of greedy warlords with messianic figures is like something out of Sir Walter Scott. Cornwell's technique makes thrilling reading while upholding modern standards of justice and rewards for the good. The good, of course, don't come through unblemished or painlessly, but they survive. All the excitement and maneuvering raise this book a step above the modern fantasy novel, but the step is a small one.
If you're looking for adventure with an unusual twist, this is the book for you. You will be taken back in time, through some spatial adjustment, but most importantly, view a society very different from the one you know. Prepare yourself for a harsh existence while remembering that "progress" is a word with many definitions. Perhaps there's some benefit in reading the "Historical note" at the back first, then delving into Cornwell's sources, before returning to this fictional account. All of his resources are at least as readable as this book, and infinitely more informative, if not as imaginative. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I must concur with other reviewers who have expressed disappointment in this novel. Having previously just finished Excalibur by the same author, Stonehenge was not in the same league. I felt the story was far too long with a relatively weak plot.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I devoured the Warlord Chronicles, the characters living on in my mind even after I'd finished the books.
I can't put the Sharpe novels down, attention to detail - brilliant, storylines - less believable but definitely escapism.
Stonehenge - forget it! I always finish a book once begun, sometimes they can improve but this was a chore. Cornwell's usual style of writing and flair that fires the imagination and carries you along with it, in this case is sadly missing. The novel is written in a very simple style, as though for someone who doesn't understand English very well. Many times I felt I was reading a mediocre school essay. Very disappointing, deserves a "Can do better"!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A prehistoric page-turner
In this novel, which is Cornwell's first venture into prehistory, we are offered a story which explains how the great monument at Stonehenge came to be built. Read more
Published 1 month ago by chum440
Fires the imagination
As expected from this distinguished author, well-written and holds your attention throughout. Difficult to describe the genre but, perhaps, 'thriller based on pre-historical... Read more
Published 1 month ago by The GoM
Not up to par
I'll start by saying that I'm not a Cornwell-a-holic. I haven't read every series he's written. I did, however, read the Sharpe series as far as Waterloo and loved and enoyed every... Read more
Published 2 months ago by SJATurney
Page-turner
Cornwell catches us up in a fascinating page turning historical novel with science fantasy elements, in this elecrtic epic set in the Britain of 4000 years ago. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Gary Selikow
A tale of two halves?
This was definitely a book of two halves, for me. I enjoyed the first half of the book much more than the second half. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Isis
Enchanting
I have now read lots of Bernard Cornwell's books, and I love this Author. He is very detailed in places, and this book is no exception. Read more
Published 4 months ago by jakczek
gruesome
I have read this but didn't buy it on Amazon. For me, Bernard Cornwell is a great historical novel writer. Read more
Published 4 months ago by D. Atkinson
How good was this book?
- so good I bought it twice! One of the casualties of a house move, this was one I insisted on re-buying, my collection would not be complete without it. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Rowanna
Under-rated
I rather enjoyed this, but two Cornwell fans I know say its considered below par. Given the rate he bashes them out, I'm impressed by the quality of the story. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Marty
Stonehenge
The book was in good condition , at a good price and exactly as stated. Delivered in a short time span too and much enjoyed.
Published 7 months ago by Alwyn Jackson
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