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thebobsphere's review against another edition
5.0
Generally, I am not a huge fan of historical novels. There are exceptions but out of the books I never manage to finish (there’s a lot of those) the historical novels are usually are the ones which lay in the DNF pile. My problem is that I have trouble relating to them. True that a king during Tudor times may experience the same passions as I but I still have difficulty trying to understand an era I have not lived in.
I am a fan of Benjamin Myers, though, and I knew that if he was going to tackle historical fiction, I would be ok with it.
The Gallows Pole is based on an actual period of 18th century Yorkshire where a group of men forged counterfeit coins. Their leader, the self professed king, David Hartley rules these men by intimidation and violence. Despite the strong façade, he is prone to visions of the mystical variety and tends to put his faith in magic, which actually works in his favour.
Due to Hartley’s aggressive demeanour, one of his own workers betrays him to a taxperson sent by the actual King to investigate the the counterfeiting. Hartley is arrested but there are consequences to this, which does affect a lot of protagonists in the book.
The book is divided into two narratives. One consists of Hartley’s story being told and the other is a series of badly spelt scribblings by Hartley himself in prison (whether these actually existed, I’m not sure) I am a fan of the unreliable narrator and the comparison between the narratives is an interesting one.
The Gallows Pole is a multi-faceted story. On one hand hand it’s about how a bunch of working class men managed to create utter chaos to an organised system. While not admirable it is a pretty brash thing to do, especially when everyone knew the consequences would be hanging. As this is a Benjamin Myers book, there are beautiful descriptions of nature but also contrasts between nature’s balance with the cruelty of humankind. It is said that we, as a race. are little better than animals but I think pure brutal savagery lies within our race. I also loved the pagan and mystical sections involving alchemy and stagmen. I have said many times that British pagan rituals and beliefs are topics I like to read about and that curiosity was satisfied.
This is a disturbing dark work but it is also a fascinating look at an era of history that I never knew about. Once again Benjamin Myers has managed to write a novel which keeps me hooked. This is my fourth book by him and I keep on being impressed.
I am a fan of Benjamin Myers, though, and I knew that if he was going to tackle historical fiction, I would be ok with it.
The Gallows Pole is based on an actual period of 18th century Yorkshire where a group of men forged counterfeit coins. Their leader, the self professed king, David Hartley rules these men by intimidation and violence. Despite the strong façade, he is prone to visions of the mystical variety and tends to put his faith in magic, which actually works in his favour.
Due to Hartley’s aggressive demeanour, one of his own workers betrays him to a taxperson sent by the actual King to investigate the the counterfeiting. Hartley is arrested but there are consequences to this, which does affect a lot of protagonists in the book.
The book is divided into two narratives. One consists of Hartley’s story being told and the other is a series of badly spelt scribblings by Hartley himself in prison (whether these actually existed, I’m not sure) I am a fan of the unreliable narrator and the comparison between the narratives is an interesting one.
The Gallows Pole is a multi-faceted story. On one hand hand it’s about how a bunch of working class men managed to create utter chaos to an organised system. While not admirable it is a pretty brash thing to do, especially when everyone knew the consequences would be hanging. As this is a Benjamin Myers book, there are beautiful descriptions of nature but also contrasts between nature’s balance with the cruelty of humankind. It is said that we, as a race. are little better than animals but I think pure brutal savagery lies within our race. I also loved the pagan and mystical sections involving alchemy and stagmen. I have said many times that British pagan rituals and beliefs are topics I like to read about and that curiosity was satisfied.
This is a disturbing dark work but it is also a fascinating look at an era of history that I never knew about. Once again Benjamin Myers has managed to write a novel which keeps me hooked. This is my fourth book by him and I keep on being impressed.
joelleco's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
patrickhaines's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
cator_and_bliss's review against another edition
4.0
An earthy, evocative novel rich with the texture of the Yorkshire (or Jorvikshire) landscape. Set at the dawn of the industrial era, when craft work was giving way to machinery and that windswept landscape was on the cusp of permanent change, the novel pits a band of 'coiners' (themselves representatives of a type of artisanship) against the businesslike and legalistic forces of the Crown, represented by exciseman William Deighton.
This is an enjoyable story that blends landscape writing with the conventions of the crime thriller and which examines philosophical questions of resistance, independence, social change and greed.
This is an enjoyable story that blends landscape writing with the conventions of the crime thriller and which examines philosophical questions of resistance, independence, social change and greed.
karen_antw's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
arranjc's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
bigbizliz1991's review against another edition
dark
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
amber_ray's review against another edition
4.0
Benjamin Myers’ historical novel follows the rise and fall of real-life Yorkshire clan, the Cragg Vale Coiners, during the late 1700s. It’s a brutal yet beautiful tale of rich against poor and progress against meagre livelihoods. David Hartley reigns over the Coiners and brings the poor some respite until excise officer William Deighton falls hot on their tails. He vows to bring down the Coiners and when one of their own turns, Hartley's empire begins to crumble. But don’t be fooled into thinking this is a Robin Hood story. The Yorkshire moors are unforgiving and threats loom on all sides. In fact, fear seems to be the only king here - fear from the gallows, hunger, “duty,” modernisation or sheer muscle.
Myers obviously knows the landscape well. The tale he weaves is as much tied to the bleak, damp, windswept hills and valleys as it is to his characters. That’s what makes it SO GOOD, that mood that I could feel in the very back of my teeth, the grit and the cold ache of it all.
I also loved David Hartley’s “memoir,” written in strong old Yorkshire dialect and interspersed throughout the novel. Leaning on local mythology and dreams, these are the snippets that really brought the King of the Coiners to life for me. In fact, the local mythology is a recurring presence in the novel, along with an eerie use of repetition that evokes a pervading dark and dreamlike state not unlike the fog of a bleak winter morning.
My only qualm with this book - David Hartley’s wife was mentioned just enough to feel like more than a side character, and yet she felt very flat. I was left wondering so much about her, and I wish more time would have been spent on her.
At any rate, fantastic read - although not for the squeamish!
Myers obviously knows the landscape well. The tale he weaves is as much tied to the bleak, damp, windswept hills and valleys as it is to his characters. That’s what makes it SO GOOD, that mood that I could feel in the very back of my teeth, the grit and the cold ache of it all.
I also loved David Hartley’s “memoir,” written in strong old Yorkshire dialect and interspersed throughout the novel. Leaning on local mythology and dreams, these are the snippets that really brought the King of the Coiners to life for me. In fact, the local mythology is a recurring presence in the novel, along with an eerie use of repetition that evokes a pervading dark and dreamlike state not unlike the fog of a bleak winter morning.
My only qualm with this book - David Hartley’s wife was mentioned just enough to feel like more than a side character, and yet she felt very flat. I was left wondering so much about her, and I wish more time would have been spent on her.
At any rate, fantastic read - although not for the squeamish!
clmbmb's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0