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lermreads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
minor historical inaccuracies but an incredible and sweeping chronicle
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence and Antisemitism
aegagrus's review against another edition
3.75
Cathedral is a strong example of historical fiction which finds credibility not in meticulously-documented particulars (a la Hilary Mantel) but in a well-rounded understanding of its milieu -- in this case, 13th century Alsace. Hopkins' world-building is evidently rooted in an engagement with rigorous academic histories, making his depiction of the medieval world much richer and more compelling than many authors'. Over the course of a sprawling and interwoven saga, he effectively develops themes including the gradual shift in power from the agrarian aristocracy to the urban mercantile elite and the subtly pernicious ways in which Western European Jews were dispossessed of their livelihoods (at times without personal malice) and forced to migrate eastward, especially to modern-day Poland. The crass, insouciant Baron Volmar von Kronthal and the brooding, disillusioned cleric Eugenius von Zabern are particularly strong characters, respectively revealing much about the mindsets and habits of petty noblemen and clerical administrators. There were only a few points at which I doubted the historical vision on which the story was based. One early sequence involved a historically contentious depiction of Catharism . More notably, characters occasionally gave voice to sentiments which seemed a little on the nose in an anachronistic way. Unfortunately, this was most often true of Grete Gerber, the only woman among our principal characters, a dynamic which weakened the book somewhat.
Hopkins' writing is dramatic and fluid, belying his history as a filmmaker. He is especially good at montage-like scenes depicting complex social machinery -- I was quite moved by his description of the elaborate ecosystem of stonework and other architectural craft involved in the building of the Cathedral, and again by his description of the ever-changing world of merchants and pilgrims and those claiming sanctuary and priests and schoolboys and tradesmen and countless others who flow through the cathedral or congregate in its courtyards.
I did find most of the epilogue/flash-forward sections somewhat unnecessary and emotionally cheap (excepting theflash-forward interludes describing a 14th century pogrom , which make an important point about the long-term ramifications of the some of what occurs in the main story). On the whole, though, the emotional note on which the book ends is perfect -- we are reminded of the extraordinary long process of building and establishing a great cathedral, a process which drags on over many generations and comprises the life's work of many who knew that neither they nor their children nor their children's children would see the work's fruition. In the end, all of our characters exit the tale in an emotionally ambivalent fashion, leaving behind unfinished business. The only sense of resolution and finality is provided by the iconic structure itself -- the monumental, enduring cathedral.
Hopkins' writing is dramatic and fluid, belying his history as a filmmaker. He is especially good at montage-like scenes depicting complex social machinery -- I was quite moved by his description of the elaborate ecosystem of stonework and other architectural craft involved in the building of the Cathedral, and again by his description of the ever-changing world of merchants and pilgrims and those claiming sanctuary and priests and schoolboys and tradesmen and countless others who flow through the cathedral or congregate in its courtyards.
I did find most of the epilogue/flash-forward sections somewhat unnecessary and emotionally cheap (excepting the
emi_sinclair's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
testaroscia's review against another edition
4.0
This is no Pillars of the Earth, It is much better on many levels save one.PofE was a good page turner, but its nature was that of a thriller writer turning their hand at Historical Novel. Ben Hopkins, instead is less plot driven and more a collection of lives that revolve, but are not centered on the Cathedral. The most interesting aspect was the Jews and how they were viewed and treated in the 14c. I will definitely read his future books.
candacesiegle_greedyreader's review against another edition
3.0
"It's a story he likes to tell, how he first came to Hagenburg, how he bought his freedom, how he started as a stonecutters' apprentice, working at the Cathedral." I loved the first line of this novel, which not only fills you in on who is building this cathedral in 1229 Germany, but how they did it. Being involved in cathedral construction was a boon to the workers involved because it would take centuries and could guarantee employment for several generations.
"Cathedral" will make you grateful that you did not live in the 13th century, where life was "nasty, brutish, and short," to quote Thomas Hobbes. But people didn't realize that, as they find amazement in the soaring arches of the growing building, joy in the glory of God, happiness in some good grog and warmth with loved ones. If they are very very lucky, they will avoid getting tangled in the many political plots and dark plans of their betters.
I find Ben Hopkins a better writer than Ken Follett and his characters seem more genuine to their period. But Cathedral is a lot of book and requires attention and patience. If you are in a medieval frame of mind, this novel is perfect.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for digital access to this compelling title.
"Cathedral" will make you grateful that you did not live in the 13th century, where life was "nasty, brutish, and short," to quote Thomas Hobbes. But people didn't realize that, as they find amazement in the soaring arches of the growing building, joy in the glory of God, happiness in some good grog and warmth with loved ones. If they are very very lucky, they will avoid getting tangled in the many political plots and dark plans of their betters.
I find Ben Hopkins a better writer than Ken Follett and his characters seem more genuine to their period. But Cathedral is a lot of book and requires attention and patience. If you are in a medieval frame of mind, this novel is perfect.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for digital access to this compelling title.
noella_t's review against another edition
1.0
I tried reading this and gave up after about 120 pages. I began to scan forward, hoping that several pages down the line, it would get more interesting. It didn't.
It looks like this had been published in parts earlier, but I received a large hardback book of over 800 pages. The book was bulky, very difficult to hold long enough to read, and to be honest, for me, just not all that interesting.
I do note that many people gave it five stars, so I suppose their experience was vastly different.
It looks like this had been published in parts earlier, but I received a large hardback book of over 800 pages. The book was bulky, very difficult to hold long enough to read, and to be honest, for me, just not all that interesting.
I do note that many people gave it five stars, so I suppose their experience was vastly different.
lauratoline's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.25
knittyreader's review against another edition
2.0
DNF at about 75%
Perhaps it is because I am tired, but enough is enough.
This book is interesting in a way. It tells about people, all positioned around building a cathedral, all in their own way. It is about squabbles and money mostly, and about how the money uses the people instead of the other way around.
There are too many characters and too many points of view though. This makes everything seem hasty. Never is there time to get to really know a character and get invested in their story, and on we go. Starting to get interested in this point of view? And on we go, next! And back to the first, and on to the fourth, and ... where were we again? I can take so much before I just give up. 75% in, and I still am not invested in any of the characters enough to care how this book will end.
Perhaps it is because I am tired, but enough is enough.
This book is interesting in a way. It tells about people, all positioned around building a cathedral, all in their own way. It is about squabbles and money mostly, and about how the money uses the people instead of the other way around.
There are too many characters and too many points of view though. This makes everything seem hasty. Never is there time to get to really know a character and get invested in their story, and on we go. Starting to get interested in this point of view? And on we go, next! And back to the first, and on to the fourth, and ... where were we again? I can take so much before I just give up. 75% in, and I still am not invested in any of the characters enough to care how this book will end.