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The Fool's Tale
The Fool's Tale
Author: Nicole Galland
A spellbinding voice in historical fiction makes her remarkable debut in a moving and beautifully rendered tale of love and politics, loyalty and duplicity -- and the extreme lengths to which such forces drive us — The year 1198. All of Wales is in turmoil. King Maelgwyn ap Cadwallon, known to his people as Noble, is struggling to protect his sma...  more »
ISBN-13: 9780060721503
ISBN-10: 0060721502
Publication Date: 1/4/2005
Pages: 544
Rating:
  • Currently 3.3/5 Stars.
 23

3.3 stars, based on 23 ratings
Publisher: William Morrow
Book Type: Hardcover
Other Versions: Paperback
Members Wishing: 0
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

lucky7 avatar reviewed The Fool's Tale on
Helpful Score: 5
Set in twelfth century Wales, there are characaters I both disliked and admired at different times in the story. It also has moments of hilarious comedy and extreme tragedy. The relationships between the Welsh King, his new Norman wife (marriage of convenience), and the castle's resident "fool" (also the Kings best friend and confident through life) transforms and threatens all in this novel of intrigue and love. The author does a good job of character development and although her use of "modern day" "conversation seemed at times unbelievable in this setting I enjoyed the tale. It was difficult through the first few chapters to sort out the many different characters, mainly because of the Welsh names, but the printed cast of characters at the beginning of the book was a helpful resource.
bothrootes avatar reviewed The Fool's Tale on + 207 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 4
The Fool's Tale takes place in 1198 in Wales when a marriage bound lands together rather than love, and Queen's were to be grateful and obedient to their King. The story is full of hummor, tragedy and historical folk lore. The characters grabe you from the begining and it's hard to put down. I was shocked by the ending and went searching for more books by Nicole Galland when I was finished.
reviewed The Fool's Tale on + 114 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
I loved this book!! It is a great story. There is excitement, romance, deceit, war, a very exciting read.
ATraveler avatar reviewed The Fool's Tale on + 193 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
Enjoyable historical fiction. It had the passion and intrigue promised on the back of the book.

The three main characters -- the king, the best friend and the (politically chosen) bride -- are tangled together because of "love & loyalty", and "societal identity & hatred".
reviewed The Fool's Tale on + 27 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
PG-13. Lots of names I didn't even try to pronounce. The story is interesting, but a little far fetched. I didn't care for the ending, but overall a good read. ****
Read All 8 Book Reviews of "The Fools Tale"


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