In the plague-wracked and devil-haunted darkness of Medieval Europe, an elite few enjoy opulent lives while the majority eke out a miserable existence in abject poverty. Hungry creatures stalk the deep woods and desolate mountains, and both sea and sky teem with unspeakable horrors. For those ill-fated masses not born into wealth, life is but a vicious trial to be endured before the end of days. Hegel and Manfried Grossbart could give a toss. Being of low birth means little, after all, when the riches of the mighty wait just inside the next crypt. The grave-robbing twins know enough about crusading to realise that if one is to make a living from the dead, what better destination than the fabled tomb-cities of Egypt? But the Brothers Grossbart are about to discover that all legends have their truths, and worse fates than death await those who would take the red road of villainy . . .
The Sad Tale of the Brothers Grossbart
and over 1.5 million other books are available for Amazon Kindle . Learn more
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. Special Offer until June 30, 2013: Receive an additional £5 promotional Gift Certificate, when you trade-in at least £10 worth of books. Learn more. |
Book Description
Frequently Bought Together
Product details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, and more.
Product Description
Review
Darkly funny, profane, erudite, bawdy, and wickedly original, Jesse Bullington's The Sad Tale of the Brothers Grossbart marks the debut of an amazing new talent. I loved it (Jeff VanderMeer )
A pair of the vilest, meanest, most murderous thugs ever to grace the pages of a fantasy novel ... This is not for the faint-hearted or the queasy - imagine Tarantino crossed with Rabelais (Guardian ‘This is a tale grimmer than the grimmest of the Grimms, redolent of blood, excrement, vomit and putrefaction … As the antithesis of conventional fantasy, this is a tour de force’ )
Telegraph (‘Raucous, lewd, and grisly’ )
Esquire (‘The mix of grimmer-than-Grimm fairy tale tropes […] and medieval history is striking and often funny’ )
A pair of the vilest, meanest, most murderous thugs ever to grace the pages of a fantasy novel ... This is not for the faint-hearted or the queasy - imagine Tarantino crossed with Rabelais (Guardian ‘This is a tale grimmer than the grimmest of the Grimms, redolent of blood, excrement, vomit and putrefaction … As the antithesis of conventional fantasy, this is a tour de force’ )
Telegraph (‘Raucous, lewd, and grisly’ )
Esquire (‘The mix of grimmer-than-Grimm fairy tale tropes […] and medieval history is striking and often funny’ )
Book Description
A bloody, grim and thoroughly engaging tale of philosophical grave-robbers on the run in Mediaeval Europe.
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
Browse and search another edition of this book.
Browse and search another edition of this book.
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
21 of 22 people found the following review helpful
By Keris Nine
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:Paperback
Written in the form of a medieval folktale compiled from various manuscripts and accounts, The Sad Tale recounts the true fate of the Grossbart Brothers, Manfried and Hegel, two of the meanest villains central Europe has ever seen. Their family background of petty thieves and graverobbers is nothing to be proud of, but having been abandoned by the uncle who brought them up, the brothers remain convinced that their family heritage and fortune lies in the sandy deserts of Gyptland and start their journey. Not without first settling accounts with a local farmer who once beat them in their youth for stealing turnips from his field, but taking revenge a little too far on his family, they end up being pursued by the farmer and other townfolk.
That's the least of their worries as the Grossbarts encounter all sorts of medieval horrors on their journey, both human and supernatural, plague-infested villages, lustful witches, man-eating half-man-half-beasts, devil-possessed hogs and the foulest demons of hell. The foul-mouthed, blasphemous, dim-witted brothers may not be the most pleasant of company throughout this journey, and their conversational skills leave as much to be desired as their manners, but they ain't stupid about knowing when something's a coming to kill 'em, and they make sure to strike first.
A sad tale it is indeed then, one of misfortune compounded by stupidity and self-delusions of near-sainthood to the extent that you almost feel sorry for these two ugly, murderous, heretical scum (though not quite as sorry as for the unfortunates they come into contact with), but it's also frequently amusing, the author taking full advantage of the fantasy-medieval setting to deliver an occasionally grim, brutal and shockingly profane adventure that's highly entertaining.
That's the least of their worries as the Grossbarts encounter all sorts of medieval horrors on their journey, both human and supernatural, plague-infested villages, lustful witches, man-eating half-man-half-beasts, devil-possessed hogs and the foulest demons of hell. The foul-mouthed, blasphemous, dim-witted brothers may not be the most pleasant of company throughout this journey, and their conversational skills leave as much to be desired as their manners, but they ain't stupid about knowing when something's a coming to kill 'em, and they make sure to strike first.
A sad tale it is indeed then, one of misfortune compounded by stupidity and self-delusions of near-sainthood to the extent that you almost feel sorry for these two ugly, murderous, heretical scum (though not quite as sorry as for the unfortunates they come into contact with), but it's also frequently amusing, the author taking full advantage of the fantasy-medieval setting to deliver an occasionally grim, brutal and shockingly profane adventure that's highly entertaining.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Well this book is truly macabre, grotesque and perhaps even a bit sick! I loved it!
Welcome to the brutal and warped world of Hegel and Manfried. The brothers Grossbart.
Somewhat unhappy with their lot they set off to take their profession (grave robbing) to sunnier shores (Gyptland). Of course there is nothing to stop them indulging in a spot of score settling, thievery, murder and thuggary along the way. Not that they let this low down behaviour dissaude them of the view that they are doing the work of the virgin Mary! The explanation of this is best left to the brothers, but trust me it is darkly hilarious!
Along the way they come accross witches, demons, an alcaholic priest and a deranged sea Captain. If you decide to undertake this journey with them be prepared to be amused and horrified by turns or sometimes at the same time. As Manfried and Hegel earn your loathing and begrudging respect!
This is the kind of book where anything can and will happen. It's graphic and at times deeply shocking. I read the first chapter in a series gasps and profanity and most of the books I read are pretty blood splattered. There is ultra violence, sex, religeous sacrilege and the very strongest language. So you might want to avoid this if you are the kind of person who writes outraged letters to the Daily Mail.
The story is a dark comedy/horror that is not without excitement as well as shocks and laughter.
What is more remarkable is that this highly original and brilliant book is a debut novel. I will be awaiting with great interest and quite a lot of impatience for Jesse Bullington's next offering. This a stunning peice of work!
Welcome to the brutal and warped world of Hegel and Manfried. The brothers Grossbart.
Somewhat unhappy with their lot they set off to take their profession (grave robbing) to sunnier shores (Gyptland). Of course there is nothing to stop them indulging in a spot of score settling, thievery, murder and thuggary along the way. Not that they let this low down behaviour dissaude them of the view that they are doing the work of the virgin Mary! The explanation of this is best left to the brothers, but trust me it is darkly hilarious!
Along the way they come accross witches, demons, an alcaholic priest and a deranged sea Captain. If you decide to undertake this journey with them be prepared to be amused and horrified by turns or sometimes at the same time. As Manfried and Hegel earn your loathing and begrudging respect!
This is the kind of book where anything can and will happen. It's graphic and at times deeply shocking. I read the first chapter in a series gasps and profanity and most of the books I read are pretty blood splattered. There is ultra violence, sex, religeous sacrilege and the very strongest language. So you might want to avoid this if you are the kind of person who writes outraged letters to the Daily Mail.
The story is a dark comedy/horror that is not without excitement as well as shocks and laughter.
What is more remarkable is that this highly original and brilliant book is a debut novel. I will be awaiting with great interest and quite a lot of impatience for Jesse Bullington's next offering. This a stunning peice of work!
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Great Book !
A Dark, graphic morbid fictional tale set in plague ridden Europe chronicling the adventures of the brothers Manfried & Hegel Grossbart. It's pretty brutal in some of its descriptions, humorous in places and wildly captivating, I simply could not put it down. I've definitely not read anything like it before.
Let's hope the two brothers somehow make a return
Absolutley worth reading.
A Dark, graphic morbid fictional tale set in plague ridden Europe chronicling the adventures of the brothers Manfried & Hegel Grossbart. It's pretty brutal in some of its descriptions, humorous in places and wildly captivating, I simply could not put it down. I've definitely not read anything like it before.
Let's hope the two brothers somehow make a return
Absolutley worth reading.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Rubbah
Format:Paperback
A medieval horror novel about two brothers Manfried and Hegel who are the heroes/villains of the tale. Grave robbers by trade, they are travelling to 'Gyptland' in order to become rich as kings as they believe they're grandfather and father to have done before them. As they travel across plague ridden Europe they make more enmies than friends and encounter demons, witches and monsters, incurring the undying wrath of sevral of them who seek to follow the brothers on their journey and kill them. Strangely, depite the horrific deeds they do in the name of their twisted form of christianity, I did like the pair by the end of the book and hoped that thier journey would be fruitful. Overall a good read, but loses a star for a flagging in the pace and plot about 3/4s of the way through.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I have just finished this book and have to say it was extremely strange!It follows twins Hegel and Manfreid Grossbart two of the nastiest villans you are ever likely to meet. They are grave robbers who face demons, monsters , adventures and all manner of horrible-ness on their journey from Germany to "Gyptland" where they expect to find the riches of their long lost Gandpa! (from a long line of Grave roobers) They are undoubtedly disgusting and disgracful characters, but you can't help admiring their capacity for self preservation, and their own justification for their brutal and cruel ways, but the harshness of Medieval England, devastated by plague seems to give their behaviour a little credence!! It reads like a grown up fiary tale, a sort of morality tale packed full to bursting with violence, horror, adventure and a lot of religious commentary.
It is very funny in places but there is a lot of nasty stuff in there too with a lot of graphic detail. Not for the faint hearted!
I did enjoy this book in an odd sort of way, its not like anything else I have read.
It is very funny in places but there is a lot of nasty stuff in there too with a lot of graphic detail. Not for the faint hearted!
I did enjoy this book in an odd sort of way, its not like anything else I have read.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
›
Go to Amazon.com to see all 55 reviews
3.9 out of 5 stars
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Like
Very interesting book about very interesting times. Sort of educating adventures in short words. Demons and devils involved altogether with a mermaid.
Published 1 month ago by M. GLOWALA-SLUPINSKI
5.0 out of 5 stars
this is a great story
i got this book not knowing what to really expect.i loved every word. it has everything you could want brotherly love witches dark magic.just read it
Published 4 months ago by tim
1.0 out of 5 stars
A picaresque fantasy folklore tale
This is a kind of picaresque fantasy folklore tale about the brothers Grossbart, who enjoy a gallop across Europe to Gyptland to discover wealth in the pyramids. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Mrs. K. A. Wheatley
3.0 out of 5 stars
What's the fuss all about???
Personally I didn't think this was particularly gross, or for that matter particularly entertaining. Read more
Published 18 months ago by D. W. Gill-collis
3.0 out of 5 stars
Unusual and brave historical fantasy that didn't quite work for me
It's 1364, when life was nasty, brutish and short and Europe was filled with horrors from plague and witchcraft to murder and demon raising. Read more
Published 19 months ago by I Read, Therefore I Blog
2.0 out of 5 stars
Writings of a particularly nasty adolescent
Being a huge fan of Karen Maitlands work and having read reviews comparing this work to Maitlands, I was eager to give it a go. Read more
Published 22 months ago by pigsmayfly
4.0 out of 5 stars
Cruel and unusual!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, strange as it was. The humour was subtle and dark, not often laugh-out-loud but as a concept, a vile medieval fairytale for grownups I thought it... Read more
Published on 2 May 2011 by hyperconformist
4.0 out of 5 stars
A rollercoaster ride through Middle European Folklore
Never lovable, but always compelling, the grave-robbing Brothers Grossbart murder, cheat and rob their way through Central Europe on the way to their promised land, the Pyramids... Read more
Published on 26 Nov 2010 by Mark Stammers
5.0 out of 5 stars
It was the worst of times, it was the darkest of times...
This was one of those rare occasions where I took a punt on a book purely due to its eye-catching front cover - and was utterly glad I did! Read more
Published on 11 Nov 2010 by Sam Woodward
1.0 out of 5 stars
Yuck
I have to agree with Munchkin's review. This was totally awful. The characters were repulsive and the story stumbled along from one gory killing to another. Read more
Published on 26 Oct 2010 by Mr. B. J. Jones
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
- Books > Fantasy > Historical
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
|
