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Search - The Heirs of the Kingdom

The Heirs of the Kingdom
Author: Zoe Oldenbourg

Translated from the French by Anne Carter. — A novel of the Middle Ages and the trek to Jerusalem during the First Crusade. A group of French weavers follow Peter the Hermit on the First Crusade. — Zoe Oldenbourg's work is consistently good, but this one is a masterpiece. Taking the reader along the path of the First Crusade and beyond, this novel... more » fills in the blanks that history books often leave. While Oldenbourg insists in her introduction that this isn't a historical novel, but a picture of the human condition, the wealth of historical detail keeps the reader engrossed so deeply that it is difficult to concentrate on anything else until the book is finished. With regards to the human condition, she paints the poor masses of medieval Europe with deep empathy, making the reader understand the religious hysteria of the time, the deep but superstitious and misguided devotion to their faith, and ultimately, why they thought that it was indeed, the will of God that imspired them to do it. Despite the gruesome carnage of war (and, true to her style, Oldenbourg does not hold back in describing carnage), the reader sees the hand of God in these events when viewed through the eyes of these poverty-stricken, illiterate, dismal people. Because of Oldenbourg's craftsmanship as a writer, the reader does not see them as ignorant, bigoted, hateful people (as many modern scholars would paint them), but people who you can like and relate to and understand. As a historical piece, it provides much-needed context to otherwise inexplicable events, and as a 'portrayal of the human condition' (in her own words), the context is found in the drama of these characters' lives.

Despite its length and density, this is a page-turner, full of adventure and action. The description of the battle at Dorylaeum in 1097 made me sweat with its intensity, while the final seige of Jerusalem made me feel sick with horror. As with her other works, Oldenbourg puts you right there, in the midst of history, making you feel as if you've lived through the events she describes.

Because of some of the characters (including murderers and unrepentant prostitutes), and especially because of the graphic depictions of violence and rape, I cannot recommend this book to anyone but adults. But for someone interested in the time period, in understanding the inevitable clash between worldviews, or just in a good story, this is one of the best.

ISBN-13: 9780394468358
ISBN-10: 039446835X
Pages: 563
Rating:

Currently 2.3/5 Stars.

2.3 stars, based on 2 ratings

Publisher: Random House Inc
Book Type: Hardcover
Reviews: Amazon | Write a Review

Genres:

Literature & Fiction >> General

TagsHistorical Fiction

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