A story of persecution and poetry, love and war set in 13th-century Southern France. A troubadour, Bertran, witnesses the brutal murder of the Pope's legate, and risks his life to warn others of the war that he knows is certain to follow this act. The lands of the peaceable Cathars - deemed heretics - are now forfeit and under threat from crusaders who have been given authority by the Pope to take the Cathar domains by force. But the Pope is trying to track Bertran down and so is somebody else: Elinor, a young noblewoman, in love with Bertran but facing a loveless arranged marriage, flees her family and becomes a minstrel herself. Soon both Bertan and Elinor find themselves enveloped in a rising tide of bloodshed that threatens the very fabric of their society.
Troubadour
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Review
A wonderfully old-fashioned romance
-- The Telegraph
-- The Telegraph
About the Author
Mary Hoffman is an acclaimed children's author and critic. She is the author of the internationally bestselling picture book Amazing Grace. Her Stravaganza sequence for Bloomsbury has its own fan forum and the latest, Stravaganza - City of Secrets, was shorlisted for the Carnegie Medal and The Falconer's Knot was shortlisted for the Guardian Fiction Award. She has three grown-up children and lives with her husband in West Oxfordshire.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Adam Bourke
Format:Hardcover
Troubadour is an interesting book, that readers of most genres should enjoy. It is written fairly simply, in the sense that it is an easy book to read. The vocabulary isn't particularly difficult, and any period terms are generally explained in the prose (with a handy glossary at the back in case you forget).
In fact there was only one problem that I had with the historical aspects if the book, and that was the definition of France. In my mind, France is as it is defined now. But according to the map in the book, the south of France was a region known as Occitania. Now this in itself isn't a problem, but it would have been nice to have known this at the BEGINNING of the book. Consequently, "the French were attacking" confused me, given that I was under the impression it was a civil war.
But other than this slight confusion, I found myself enjoying learning history while reading a novel. Of course it's not perfectly accurate, it's fiction, but it was an interesting experience, that I'd be happy to repeat. In fact, I really loved the first two parts (of three).
The third part however, feels rushed, sometimes unrealistic and somehow wrong. Obviously the war had to be won by the historical victor, but the fictional main character's end-story seems to disregard many of the threads that began the book, particularly what I would consider the main one, the love interest.
But before this final part, the feelings and emotions of the two main characters, Elinor and Bertran, are acutely described, and they seem to be very real people.
So while this book isn't in my normal reading genre, it has left an impression in my mind that perhaps I should read more historical fiction. The plot weakened towards the end, which was disappointing, but the first two parts, in my mind, more than made up for that. If you can't stand a book with a weak ending, this probably isn't for you, but if you read to appreciate a good writer, then buy/borrow/steal* this book as soon as possible.
*Do NOT steal the book, that was a joke.
In fact there was only one problem that I had with the historical aspects if the book, and that was the definition of France. In my mind, France is as it is defined now. But according to the map in the book, the south of France was a region known as Occitania. Now this in itself isn't a problem, but it would have been nice to have known this at the BEGINNING of the book. Consequently, "the French were attacking" confused me, given that I was under the impression it was a civil war.
But other than this slight confusion, I found myself enjoying learning history while reading a novel. Of course it's not perfectly accurate, it's fiction, but it was an interesting experience, that I'd be happy to repeat. In fact, I really loved the first two parts (of three).
The third part however, feels rushed, sometimes unrealistic and somehow wrong. Obviously the war had to be won by the historical victor, but the fictional main character's end-story seems to disregard many of the threads that began the book, particularly what I would consider the main one, the love interest.
But before this final part, the feelings and emotions of the two main characters, Elinor and Bertran, are acutely described, and they seem to be very real people.
So while this book isn't in my normal reading genre, it has left an impression in my mind that perhaps I should read more historical fiction. The plot weakened towards the end, which was disappointing, but the first two parts, in my mind, more than made up for that. If you can't stand a book with a weak ending, this probably isn't for you, but if you read to appreciate a good writer, then buy/borrow/steal* this book as soon as possible.
*Do NOT steal the book, that was a joke.
Format:Paperback
The thing that impressed me most about Troubadour is the sheer amount of research that the writer obviously put into the book. Hoffman is clearly passionate about her subject matter and it really does show. There are references to so many historical characters and each one is woven seamlessly into the plot and didn't feel forced at any time.
The romance in the book is great as well and I really felt the connection and passion between Elinor and Bertrand. I found myself rooting for them and really wanted things to end happily for both characters - whether they do or not is something you're going to have to find out when you read the book!
Troubadour is an interesting read as well. I felt like I learned a lot while reading the book but without feeling like I was being educated - I just picked up facts and bites of information through the story, which was great.
Troubadour is a well-written, historical love story that I can really imagine seeing on the big screen - I'm expecting Keira Knightley to play Elinor by the way. Oh and Benjamin Barnes to play Bertrand. Ha, good casting there, I think.
The romance in the book is great as well and I really felt the connection and passion between Elinor and Bertrand. I found myself rooting for them and really wanted things to end happily for both characters - whether they do or not is something you're going to have to find out when you read the book!
Troubadour is an interesting read as well. I felt like I learned a lot while reading the book but without feeling like I was being educated - I just picked up facts and bites of information through the story, which was great.
Troubadour is a well-written, historical love story that I can really imagine seeing on the big screen - I'm expecting Keira Knightley to play Elinor by the way. Oh and Benjamin Barnes to play Bertrand. Ha, good casting there, I think.
5 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I found this a fascinating read. I am a huge fan of the Stravaganza series--Troubadour is in a different genre--historical fiction--but is equally as absorbing and well told as Ms Hoffman's tales of a fantasy Italy. If you like a mixture of unrequited love, murder, adventure and a really interesting but so-far underexplored bit of real history, then this is for you. Elinor, the aristocratic heroine-turned-troubabour who loves the much older (but extremely attractive) Bertran was, immediately, someone I warmed to, understood, liked, and wanted to know more of. Her story is woven in and out of the often complex religious politics of the day, which Ms Hoffman brings to life brilliantly--mixing real historical characters with her own creations in an entirely seamless way. The Southern France of the C13th was a brutal place where terrible things happened. But it was also a place of music and poetry and love. I'm looking forward to discovering more about it, but Troubadour was definitely the best place to start. Highly recommended.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
2.0 out of 5 stars
Bland.
From the back of the book: Elinor is in love with Bertran, a troubadour. But her parents will not hear of the match and Elinor is to be married to an elderly nobleman. Read more
Published on 22 Nov 2010 by Miss Victoria Ramage
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Story of Love and War
The story starts in France in 1208 when one of the main characters, Bertran, a troubadour, witnesses the murder of Pierre of Castelnau, one of the Pope's representatives, who has... Read more
Published on 24 Feb 2010 by Mrs. C. Colbert
4.0 out of 5 stars
Not as good as the Stravaganza series
Better than I thought it would be, but still no-where as good as the stravaganza series, perhaps I just prefer a fantasy element, but this just isn't as good to me. Read more
Published on 21 July 2009 by Rubbah
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