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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A most unusual ghost story..., 2 July 1999
By A Customer
When orphaned Peggy Grahame goes to live with her Uncle Enos in the old Grahame ancestral home, the past comes alive. The ghosts of her ancestors come and tell her about their lives in the Revolution, while actual current events mirror those of their pasts. Barbara Grahame, the most frequent ghostly visitor, is an independent and intelligent young woman living in the American Revolution. Her interaction with the extraordinarily clever British officer, Peaceable Sherwood is very enjoyable to read...particularly as Peaceable is nemesis of Barbara's brother, Dick (a young captain fighting for American independence). At the same time, serving to frame the story, Peggy uncovers mysteries of the past, and is led to her own romance with a young man from England. A very unusual and thoughtful Revolution story with possibly the best ghosts I've ever read about.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Not Pope's best, but worth your time, 19 May 1999
By A Customer
The Sherwood Ring was written earlier than Pope's only other book, The Perilous Gard, and it shows. Her style is not quite as developed or consistent, but is still very good. The narrative dances from one character to another, which is both interesting and distracting. The modern narrator adds nothing to the plot, and serves only as a device for the unfolding of the real story, set back in the days of the American Revolution. (Pope fans: anyone see any similarity here between Thorn and Christopher from The Perilous Gard?) However, the book still shows that Pope magic and charm, with poetic phrases and witty dialogue. Most of the book ranges from very good to mediocre, but there are about two pages smack dab in the middle that are INCREDIBLE, and make the whole book worth reading.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Enchanting historical fantasy: Read it! (Doctor's Orders!), 10 Mar 1999
By A Customer
I had never heard of 'The Sherwood Ring' until a US penfriend, who had read it as a child, recommended it to me! I wish I'd known about it when I was young! This hardback reprint has all the original illustrations by Evaline Ness. It's an enchanting mixture of ghosts, romance, and modern intrigue over missing historical documents. The last makes it a particularly entertaining read for a historical researcher! If anything, 'Pat' Thorne's career as a poorly paid junior academic is even more realistic, 40 years after his debut! As a Scottish/UK reader, I was especially delighted to find an American historical novel with a redcoat officer as romantic hero! This made a refreshing and welcome change from the negative stereotypes which prove so tiresome in RevWar-set movies. Captain Sherwood is a delectable young charmer, in command of Loyal Americans: I can think of one or 2 real-life originals, whom I wonder if the author had in mind...! The only false notes were exceedingly small: the 'identifiable scraps of tartan' bit doesn't ring true in the 18C, before setts were so heavily identified with individual families, and certainly not among Lowlanders called Grahame. But once the main story is under way, this detail fades into the background. The hill after which the house is named, 'Rest and Be Thankful', is nowhere near Edinburgh - but then, Peggy's Father wasn't the historian in the family! I'm sure old Uncle Enos knew it's near Arrochar in Argyll! This Doctor's Orders are: GET THIS BOOK WHILE IT'S BACK IN PRINT!!!
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