chirson's review against another edition
4.0
Took me a little while to get into the rhythm of this novel, but around 1/3 I became invested, and at 2/3 it was no longer putdownable, despite the somewhat difficult language. Wonderful ending, lovely ventriloquism, and a fitting read for when between coughing fits. Life-affirming, as pandemic novels often are.
tom_f's review against another edition
3.0
Principally an immersive linguistic project, I think this also functions as a refresher on our preconceptions about the personality of the period (certainly there are more surprises to be found in its own literature, but Meek's novel is an accessible and engaging excursion). The cast promises a breadth of analysis that isn't delivered, as the author can too often be heard ventriloquising through his characters' mouths or, particularly, the pen of the proctor Thomas. Occasional naturalistic interactions with voices from outside their retinue point to the missed opportunity of a more piercing, multi-faceted, Eliotian social survey of both their time and ours.
B
B
heritage's review against another edition
3.0
Set in 1348, England, the story features four (not three, like the blurb says) people who join up with a company of archers on their way to fight in Calais, France: a farmhand-cum-archer named Will, a Scottish proctor named Thomas on his way to Avignon, a knight's daughter named Bernadine fleeing her arranged marriage to a much older man, and a fourth person who will remain nameless so as not to spoil the story.
The narrative is by far the most intriguing aspect of the novel. It is written in a made-up form of English which is designed to sound archaic but still be accessible to modern readers. It is much easier to read than, say, Shakespeare, but it does take a little while to get the hang of. I found Wiktionary (https://en.wiktionary.org) to be the best resource for understanding the meaning of the words, but it is possible to just read it as it is and glean the overall gist of what it's talking about. However, if the etymology of English is not of interest to you, this is going to be a very tedious read. On the whole, the narrative works if the dialog is just basic chitchat and the action is routine. In-depth discussions and detailed action fail to be communicated effectively. And the first sex scene is downright hilarious, worthy of the Bad Sex in Fiction Award.
The plot is fairly simple and can be summed up in three words: medieval road trip. Initially, there's nothing of interest to hold the reader's attention, so the enigma of the strange English used in the narrative at least gives us a sense of mystery and discovery. Once they start their journey, though, there's one incredulous event which seems strange that everyone buys into and then a long dry spell of just semi-random events happening on their way. The story doesn't actually get interesting until over the halfway point. I'd say this is one of its major shortcomings, even though it does rally for a relatively strong finish.
The characters are mostly annoying, with the exception of Will and Cess, a Frenchwoman the archers have kidnapped and forced into servitude. The archers are horrible people, the proctor is vain, the knight's daughter is spoiled. Some do change, but the strange narrative hinders the discussion of their personalities and keeps them at a distance. And, I don't know if it was just me or the narrative, but I couldn't keep the different archers straight until well past the halfway point.
The setting is a huge missed opportunity here. While there is a basic description of the time period and the locales, it won't satisfy anyone who picks up the novel wondering about the Middle Ages. Even the Black Death, which features heavily, is given just perfunctory treatment, despite all the people who do succumb to it.
Finally, there are the themes of the novel, which seem at odds with its setting. This kind of story, set in the High Middle Ages, seems to be more of interest to conservative people. However, this novel is very progressive--overtly, but also sometimes contradictorily, so. It deals quite heavily with homosexuality, confession, love, and classism. But then it also discusses feminism and rape, two subjects some people just don't want to hear yet another man writing about. I think the themes will alienate both conservatives and progressives, just for vastly different reasons.
Overall, I'm disappointed with this one, mainly because of weak plotting, annoying characters, and being light on setting. If it were not for my job-related interest in English and personal interest in the High Middle Ages, this would be a one-star read. I also think the themes and pseudo-archaic narrative will give this novel a very, very limited audience.
The narrative is by far the most intriguing aspect of the novel. It is written in a made-up form of English which is designed to sound archaic but still be accessible to modern readers. It is much easier to read than, say, Shakespeare, but it does take a little while to get the hang of. I found Wiktionary (https://en.wiktionary.org) to be the best resource for understanding the meaning of the words, but it is possible to just read it as it is and glean the overall gist of what it's talking about. However, if the etymology of English is not of interest to you, this is going to be a very tedious read. On the whole, the narrative works if the dialog is just basic chitchat and the action is routine. In-depth discussions and detailed action fail to be communicated effectively. And the first sex scene is downright hilarious, worthy of the Bad Sex in Fiction Award.
The plot is fairly simple and can be summed up in three words: medieval road trip. Initially, there's nothing of interest to hold the reader's attention, so the enigma of the strange English used in the narrative at least gives us a sense of mystery and discovery. Once they start their journey, though, there's one incredulous event which seems strange that everyone buys into and then a long dry spell of just semi-random events happening on their way. The story doesn't actually get interesting until over the halfway point. I'd say this is one of its major shortcomings, even though it does rally for a relatively strong finish.
The characters are mostly annoying, with the exception of Will and Cess, a Frenchwoman the archers have kidnapped and forced into servitude. The archers are horrible people, the proctor is vain, the knight's daughter is spoiled. Some do change, but the strange narrative hinders the discussion of their personalities and keeps them at a distance. And, I don't know if it was just me or the narrative, but I couldn't keep the different archers straight until well past the halfway point.
The setting is a huge missed opportunity here. While there is a basic description of the time period and the locales, it won't satisfy anyone who picks up the novel wondering about the Middle Ages. Even the Black Death, which features heavily, is given just perfunctory treatment, despite all the people who do succumb to it.
Finally, there are the themes of the novel, which seem at odds with its setting. This kind of story, set in the High Middle Ages, seems to be more of interest to conservative people. However, this novel is very progressive--overtly, but also sometimes contradictorily, so. It deals quite heavily with homosexuality, confession, love, and classism. But then it also discusses feminism and rape, two subjects some people just don't want to hear yet another man writing about. I think the themes will alienate both conservatives and progressives, just for vastly different reasons.
Overall, I'm disappointed with this one, mainly because of weak plotting, annoying characters, and being light on setting. If it were not for my job-related interest in English and personal interest in the High Middle Ages, this would be a one-star read. I also think the themes and pseudo-archaic narrative will give this novel a very, very limited audience.
seventhswan's review against another edition
5.0
I wouldn't feel right leaving a 5-star review without making it very clear that a lot of this story is about rape. I think it was handled incredibly well, but I definitely wasn't expecting it.
That said, this is the best fiction book I've read in a very long time. Reading about a pandemic during a pandemic won't be for everyone but this story was so much more than that, and proves that it's possible to include realistic representation of people who would now be considered LGBT in historical fiction.
That said, this is the best fiction book I've read in a very long time. Reading about a pandemic during a pandemic won't be for everyone but this story was so much more than that, and proves that it's possible to include realistic representation of people who would now be considered LGBT in historical fiction.
jmatkinson1's review against another edition
4.0
Bernadine is fleeing a marriage that she does not want when she falls in with a band of archers heading to the coast to catch a ship to France. Amongst them are a young man looking to buy his freedom from serfdom and the pig-boys' 'sister'. As they journey from the Cotswolds to the port of Melbury they are unaware that a greater peril is travelling in the opposite direction.
Set at the onset of the Plague in the 1340s this is a book which warrants reading. The language is difficult, written in historical style rather than modern English but the rich cast of characters make this worthwhile. The rough nature of war is prevalent, as is the second class nature of women in the Middle Ages, but the looming terror of the Plague overshadows the tale as life will be changed forever.
Set at the onset of the Plague in the 1340s this is a book which warrants reading. The language is difficult, written in historical style rather than modern English but the rich cast of characters make this worthwhile. The rough nature of war is prevalent, as is the second class nature of women in the Middle Ages, but the looming terror of the Plague overshadows the tale as life will be changed forever.
hannicogood's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Thumbs up for the weird linguistic stuff. Thumbs down because the Hayne vs Softly plot never really clicked into place for me; Will doing an abrupt 180 and deciding he did in fact love Madden/Hab came out of nowhere; and the absurd bdsm/anal thing with the queen mother was just so unnecessary.
There’s a lot here but it’s certainly not all quality.
There’s a lot here but it’s certainly not all quality.
tasmanian_bibliophile's review against another edition
4.5
‘A company of archers pervenes to Malmesbury imminently, on its way to France.’
England, 1348. Three very different people meet on the road to Calais. Bernadine, a gentlewoman, is fleeing an arranged marriage. Thomas Pitkerro, a proctor having finished his work in Malmesbury, is returning home to Avignon, and Will Quate, a young ploughman and skilled bowman, is on his way to volunteer with a company of archers. Heading towards them is the Black Death, the plague which will eventually wipe out half the population of northern Europe.
Having provided three interesting main characters, Mr Meek intensifies the story by using language which would often be more familiar to the 14th century characters than to the 21st century readers. Unfamiliar language slowed me down, enough to appreciate the alien (to me) world in which I found myself but never stopped me following the story. Will the world end, as the clerics claim? Should the archers be concerned about past misdeeds, or simply focus on the present? And what of Lady Bernadine?
There are other characters as well: the language they use reflects their social status, as do their concerns. Thomas Pitkerro does not know what he will find, Will Quate seeks adventure while Lady Bernadine wants the freedom to make her own choices. But as they travel, as the Black Death becomes ever present, I am reminded of present-day uncertainties as the current pandemic commenced its spread a couple of years ago (after this novel was written). And, as in 1348, pandemics know no social boundaries.
I wondered, as I read, what it would be like to be travelling at such a time. I marvelled at the ingenuity and courage of some and at the opportunism of others. This is a challenging and rewarding read.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
_moomin's review against another edition
dark
funny
hopeful
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
For some reason, I cannot stop thinking about this book. I read it about two years ago and it has lived in my mind rent free since. I'm about to read the Roman de la Rose (which this book references and plays off of) for class and I am so excited. This is such a weird but damn brilliant book.
firerosearien's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this, although reading it while a pandemic is raging about the world might not have been my smartest decision.
There is a very, very clever use of language here that feels true to the time period. The plot doesn't have a ton of sudden reveals, and you can more or less guess at what is going to happen from page one - although it does take the Black Death some time to appear.
The book was written before COVID was a pandemic, but a lot of people will be like to compare the two.
There is a very, very clever use of language here that feels true to the time period. The plot doesn't have a ton of sudden reveals, and you can more or less guess at what is going to happen from page one - although it does take the Black Death some time to appear.
The book was written before COVID was a pandemic, but a lot of people will be like to compare the two.
hfnuala's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I found the emphasis on how the other men thought about the woman trying at first but over time I grew to like it. Lots of literary parallels and discussion of the romance of the rose. Some very medieval sudden occurances. This is definitely 2 men and a woman, all setting out on their own journies. Some interesting gender swapping too.
In summary, glad I read it, will probably read more by him but not blown away by this particular book.
In summary, glad I read it, will probably read more by him but not blown away by this particular book.