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. I took so much inspiration from cornwell s tale that it really helped enliven my own setting. This was exactly what i needed, but was a brilliant story as well. Buy a discounted paperback of stonehenge online from australias leading online bookstore. He is best known for his novels about napoleonic wars rifleman richard sharpe. Bernard cornwell is well known and admired for the realism and imagination with which he brings an earlier world to life.
Even hengall, the once tyrannical chief in ratharryn, appears unusually vulnerable, and his oldest son, sensing this, is on the point of challenging his authority. Stonehenge, not unsurprisngly, refers to the building of stonehence, circa 2000 b. The result is an epic story told with a masters skill, presenting powerful personalities, high dramas and terrific climaxes with colour and pace. Bestselling author bernard cornwell received national acclaim for the historical drama of his civil war series, the starbuck chronicles, which includes rebel, copperhead, and battle flag. One summers day, a dying stranger carrying great wealth in gold come.
A novel of 2000 bc ebook written by bernard cornwell. One summers day, a dying stranger carrying great wealth in gold comes to the settlement of ratharryn. A novel by bernard cornwell that follows the enormous success of his arthurian trilogy the winter king, enemy of god, and excalibur tells the tale of three brothers and of their rivalry that creates the great temple. Books go search best sellers gift ideas new releases. Cornwell invents a tribal society and believable customs to go with it. The three sons of ratharryns chief each perceive the great gift in a different way. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read stonehenge. Stonehenge a novel of 2000 bc is first and foremost a great historical novel. In any case, i wasnt convinced about this version of the legend surrounded on stonehenge. Bernard cornwells epic novel stonehenge catapults us into a powerful and vibrant world of. Stonehenge by bernard cornwell 9780060956851 booktopia.
And here he uses all these skills to recreate the world of primitive britain and to solve the mysteries of who built stonehenge, how and why. But it was a temple, and it was built by the folk who lived on what is now salisbury plain four or five thousand years ago. But an epic tale of the construction of stonehenge as the story of three brothers, their wives, and tribes is an enjoyable way to learn more about what little is known about the megalithic culture of britain. Stonehenge which means standing stones was described by cornwell more as a fantasy book than from an historical point of view.
Cornwells epic novel, stonehenge, catapults us into a powerful world of ritual, betrayal, and the neverending pursuit of power, wealth, and spiritual fulfillment. Stonehenge isnt necessarily about absurdist religiose godmatic expressionism. It is rich in detail and presents cornwell s theory about the construction of stonehenge. Summary from goodreads four thousand years ago, a strangers death at the old temple of ratharrynand his ominous gift of goldprecipitates the building of what for centuries to come will be known as one of mankinds most singular and remarkable achievements. And here he uses all these skills to create the world of primitive britain and to solve the mysteries of who built stonehenge and why. Cornwells portrayal of life and death in ancient britain is graphic, gritty and riveting. A recommendation came in to read bernard cornwell s stonehenge so i grabbed it on kindle and started reading. Stonehenge is first and foremost a great historical novel. An acclaimed historical novelist sharpes triumph, 1999, etc.
Stonehenge by bernard cornwell paperback harpercollins. The story is a wonderful blend of archaeology and invention. I was worried about the main character, afraid for. But it was a temple, and it was built by the folk who lived on what is now salisbury plain four.
This is the tale of three brothers and of their rivalry that created this great temple. Bernard cornwell paperback, 448 pages harpercollins publishers december 01, 2004 i just finished bernard cornwells stonehenge and i am impressed and amazed at this piece of work that is part epic historical fiction and part fantasy. Four thousand years ago, a strangers death at the old temple of ratharrynand his ominous gift of goldprecipitates the building of what for centuries to come will be known as one of mankinds most singular and remarkable achievements. He has also written the saxon last kingdom stories about king alfred and the making of england he has written historical novels primarily on english history in five. This historical novel unlocks the mystery of britains most haunting and puzzling structure, and tells a tale of three brothersfierce rivals. It is rich in detail and presents cornwells theory about the construction of stonehenge. He has fitted a detailed picture of neolithic life into a plot full of love, mayhem, and intrigue. According to cornwell, there is an interesting book stonehenge by r.
Bernard cornwell is the author of the acclaimed new york times bestselling saxon tales series, which includes the last kingdom, the pale horseman, lords of the north, sword song, the burning land, death of kings, the pagan lord, and, most recently. I say fantasy because though it takes place four thousand years ago in modern day britain. This book felt so real to me that i kept stopping and walking away while listening. One summers day, a stranger carrying great wealth in gold comes to the settlement of ratharryn.
Bernard cornwells brilliant novel, reissued for fans to find out the story behind the stones. Bernard cornwell, obe born 23 february 1944 is an english author of historical novels and a history of the waterloo campaign. Three brothers, deadly rivals, are precariously united by a shared vision to create a temple to their gods. The original construction of the ancient english monument of stonehenge forms the backdrop of the story of three men, brothers and rivalslengar, a tyrant and patricide. His stories are steeped in an air of reality, and while i read or listen, i forget they are fiction. A novel of 2000 bc bestselling author bernard cornwell takes us back four thousand years, to a vibrant world of ritual and sacrifice that is at once timeless and wholly original. So many people visit stonehenge and come away asking just that question.
Bernard cornwell is well known and admired for the realism and imagination with which he brings earlier worlds to life. From new york times bestselling author bernard cornwell, the tale of three brothers and of their rivalry that created the mysterious stonehenge one summers day, a dying stranger carrying great wealth in gold comes to the settlement of ratharryn. Open library is an initiative of the internet archive, a 501c3 nonprofit, building a digital library of internet sites and other cultural artifacts in digital form. A novel of 2000 bc is first and foremost a great historical novel. However, his detailed descriptions of how stonehenge was constructed utilizing primitive engineering are. A novel of 2000 bc 97800065865 by bernard cornwell and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. It could be termed, an architectural prequel, it being the fictional story of how a place was built. Bernard cornwell is well known and admired for the realism and imagination with which he brings an earlier world to.