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This is my review of the book Lamentation by C J Sansom which I read recently. It is the ongoing saga of Master Shardlake during the year of 1546. Shardlake is called upon again to help the Queen Catherine Parr in her time of trouble. She has written a secret book “Lamentation of a Sinner”. Whilst there is nothing wrong in writing a book, with the rapidly changing religious ideas and consequences of not being in line with the Kings views – death., it is more serious. Especially as the book has gone missing. Shardlake is employed to act as an undercover agent to try and find the book. His investigations take him on a trail across the back streets of London. To a print-shop that has been printing now banned materials which have come over from the content. As his investigations continue they lead to the labyrinthine world of politics and the Royal court. The Catholic enemies, view to bring down the Queen and are looking for any crack in the armour. As such they are snapping at Shardlakes heals. Sadly as the story progresses it is revealed that the theft is linked to the terrible death of Anne Askew, who was burnt at the stake. Will this be the end of Shardlake too? Though the story is long and very detailed it needs to be to bring the complexities of the time to life. It was an enjoyable read, and had several unexpected twists that came out of the blue. Without giving too much away in the plot I wonder if this is the last Shardlake or will there be more? I will record this as book 26 week 22 fiction 24 (audio books 4) non fiction 2
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Friends
This is my review of the book Dominion by C J Sansom. I have been keeping this book for a while as I have been looking forward to reading it, and it did not disappoint. It being quite a large book, over 400 pages of small type it has taken some reading. The theme of the story, is that instead of defeating the Nazis in the 1940's Britain, under prime minister Lord Halifax sues for peace, and Churchill becomes leader of the resistance. C J Sansom then manages to create a series of believable characters set in the 1950's and an alternative history that goes along with this. The book is not only a very believable, intriguing thriller, but also an exploration of an alternative British life – what Britain could have been like if Britain had not one the war. This includes rounding up British Jews for transportation to the gas camps. It is fascinating how he explores all aspects of society, form trade unions, along with strikes to the civil service. Of course the SS comes into the story along with an Auxiliary Police force, that seems to be modeled on the SS. As the Literary Review has said about the story - The chase is exciting and the action thrilling, but the really absorbing part of this excellent book is the detailed creation of a society that could so easily have existed’ So what is the story, well it is set in smog torn Britain in 1952, when the fogs were so thick that one could not see the end of ones arm. Our hero a civil servant David Fitzgerald, secretly acting as a spy for the Resistance, is given the mission by them to rescue his old friend Frank and get him out of the country. Before long he, together with a disparate group of Resistance activists, will find themselves fugitives. Hard on their heels is Gestapo Sturmbannfuhrer Gunther Hoth, brilliant, implacable hunter of men. Can they escape and stop Frank being captured.... A very enjoyable original book, and thoroughly recommended. This was book 1 week 1 of my new list. |
Tim Fuller
Dyslexic doodles on photography, food (growing, cooking & of course eating), faith and other fascinating things. This is a personal blog expressing my views. Archives
November 2015
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