The Forest: A Novel

This is a wonderful historical/fiction story of real life in early England up to the early twentieth century. Tense at times, not graphic but full of suspense, Edward Rutherford is a wonderful example of this type of writing.

After Sarum I needed another book to love. The forest was just as amazeing! I really dont care alot for history, but wow !! The way Mr Rutherford writes a story makes history very enjoyable !Can't wait to read Ireland next.

I have read many of the early Edward Rutherford's books. Pillars of the Earth is my all-time favorite. The Forest was a great book...with one caveat. Mr. Rutherford gets too bogged down in minute details some times. I think he could have knocked off 100 pages from this book and kept the storyline going without any harm to the book. The storyline is fascinating but I found the first half of the book a bit slow. The second half of the book, in my opinion, was a page-turner..I couldn't wait to get back to the book. All in all I'm still in love with his books!

What a great author Edward Rutherford is. I have read all of his books, and like all the others.It will make you feel like you are there.This book will not make you feel like you live in early England. It is easy to see these people as your friends and neighbors.
Can't wait for his next book.

The Forest didnt seem to me to match up with Alaska, London or Sarum, three other books I have read written by Mr Rutherford. The other three, particularly Sarum, kept me engrossed and I did not want to put them down. The Forest didn't quite have the same attention grabbing script. Still, very good book and would recommend to readers.

I am currently reading this book. I have read other Rutherford
Novels And am a fan. Although I prefer some of the others, but need to finish it before I can come to a more complete recommendation.

Not as good as Rutherford's Sarum, London and New York, but way better than Paris. My two main objections: the deer sex scene early on and the over use of the word "saturnine". Editors should have broken out the thesaurus a bit more for this one. Otherwise, it was fine. It remained in chronological order, focused on some aspects of English history that I did not know much about, causing me to do a little online research as I read. A few of the love stories were rather sweet.

The Forest is my 4 book by Edward Rutherfurd. This one is an exellent source of information about history and keep of one of alldest region in England . As always in his writing, narrative is gripping and characters well developed. I enjoyed it very much and looking forward to the next of his books.

Well up to the usual high standard, an absorbing read, the only down side is I have now read all the series. I particularly like the way the author intertwines his narrative with real history and as such educates and entertains.

The first few hundred pages were a bit of a struggle, but like Rutherfurd books the family interactions over the centuries gave the reader a real insight into the way of life and history in the New Forest. an area uf the United Kingdom I knew very little about

What can I say, another fantastic book by Edward Rutherfurd. History is my favourite type of reading but he writes in a way that a none history buff can learn lots and actually enjoy the story you are carried along with

I read the entire book, although I did not look forward to picking it up again at times. I am spoiled by my historical fiction faves such as Philippa Gregory, Diana Gabaldon, Sharon Kay Peman, Elizabeth Chadwick and many others, Because of my love for this genre, I was determined to get through this read. At times I found the book to be rambling not sure where the author was taking me. I did like knowing the history of the forest in England and what it enventually became through the centuries. My aunt has read all the books of this author, therefore, I may give another one of Edward Rutherfurd's novels a try. However, not for awhile.

E. R. is simply great, you really feel in the middle of the forest with all its intrigues, and its particular way of life...
Highly recomndable for everyone, easy to read, and the storys end well, its a happy book.

I really like this book and I am looking forward to reading some more by Edward Rutherfurd. I enjoy the time period and the characters. If you like Pillars of the Earth I think you would enjoy this too. I actually like this book better.

I've read two Edward Rutherfurd historical novels (London and The Princes of Ireland), so I was really looking forward to reading The Forest. I wish I could say that I love it, but I'm having trouble sticking with it. The plot lines are interesting, but the overwhelming detail and disjointed sentence structure makes the book very difficult to read, at least for me. Although I applaud the author's research and devotion to accuracy, The Forest simply is not holding my interest like the author's previous books did.

This is a very intricate novel that spans many centuries. The stories are very well imagined and well written. Some are lovely puzzles that are fun to put together. The book also gives an insight about the constant difficulties people lived in so many centuries ago. Well written too. E. Azar

I love the sweeping sagas that cover centuries, yet keep the same families over time. They seem personal even though encompassing a lot of history. This is the third Rutherfurd novel I have read and each one leaves me wanting more.

Love all Rutherford's novels!! Love learning about various places with the history tossed in through a good, full-bodied narrative. Just wish this one was available on Audible in full format rather than "abridged".

I very much enjoy the Saga genre. I have read most of the titles by James Michener, as well as, Mr.Rutherfurd's Sarum, and Russka, I enjoy the history of the families and the landscape descriptions, even though I have to turn to the geneology chart and maps frequently. The Princes of Ireland and The Rebels of Ireland are shipping at present.

I read the initial synopsis of the book and it sounded interesting. However after receiving the book and reading a few chapters I feel very disappointed. It is very vanilla and the author gets bogged down in his effort in the huge amount scope of the book and his penchant for describing things in minute detail. I consider myself to be a history buff and I was sorely disappointed in this book.

Written by wife: I really tried to like this book as I've enjoyed many other Rutherfurd's books in the past. But this one was so boring! Endless descriptions of nature reminded me of torterous literature classic books they made me read in school. I got thru about 30% and decided that life was too short and this book was too long...

Forest pertains to an area on the southern coast of England at its central point with Lymington in the south and Lyndhurst in the north. The story begins in 1099 with introduction of Forest’s harsh laws and “the ancient common right of the Forest folk.” It is during the time of Rufus, the Norman King and upon his death, his quiet brother Henry succeeds him.

The colorful characters bring the story alive, such as a Godwin Pride trying to regain the land by moving fence at night. Adela de la Roche, a Norman girl of impoverished but noble class dreams about a rich noble man, however at the end she marries Edgar, a man of defeated Saxon class. “She would lose a little face, but not too much.” Edgar comes from family of foresters who have intimate knowledge of the Forest.

Within the Forest a sanctuary is erected, the abbey of Beaulieu. It follows the Cistercians order where monks are to “lead a communal life of constant prayer balanced by physical labor, and they must take vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. Obedience and even chastity, more or less, had usually been achieved. But poverty was always a problem. No matter how simply they began, monasteries always finished up rich.” The white monks are quite interesting characters themselves. Luke a free-spirited character enjoys working at the abbey, but at the same time cherishes his freedom of the Forest. However, this peacefulness is disrupted by an event, which puts him on a run.

The story continues until modern era through the rule of King James of Scotland; a religiously tolerant King for whom Europe was not ready. Through the time of Restoration of merry monarch, King Charles II, “…whatever his faults, he had no appetite for vengeance. (…) He was a tolerant man and, unlike his father, his tolerance seemed to extend to religion. (…) The merry monarch was always on the lookout for extra income and, like his father before his father, he had realized after a time that the royal forests might be a useful asset. The second King Charles was going about things in a much jollier manner; but he was just as thorough.”

18th century England sees progress towards religious tolerance. “Catholics and dissenters might practice their religion, but they could not attend university or hold any public office.” It also sees a development in a quite different area. With the ships bringing goods a new business develops – Free Trade, which is a name for smuggling. “The tax imposed on tea was so high that ordinary folk would not afford to pay it.” So they find a way with Free Trade.

19th century England and its industrial era bring a steam engine smoking its way even through the Forest. “But as well as paying compensation to the Forest for this intrusion, the director of the line, had agreed to follow a winding route that would inflict minimum damage on the woodlands so that his line was known as Castleman’s Corkscrew.”

In 1851, with the Deer Removal Act, all deer “were to die to make way for more trees.” Since, “it was calculated that each deer killed actually cost the Crown the astonishing sum of a hundred pounds! (…) Surely it was time to create tidy plantations in the Forest’s unreformed wilderness.”

“The New Forest Act of 1877 was to settle the shape of the New Forest for generations to come. The ancient trees were to be protected and not pull down. The commoners (…) were explicitly to have their year-round grazing on the Forest.”

If you read any of E.R. books and you liked it, then you most likely would like this book. I haven’t read all of his books yet, but it seems as he carries exactly the same style of writing in all his books. If you haven’t read any of his books, it’s worth giving it a try if you enjoy colorful characters set against the history.

This author’s forte is historical fiction located in a particular place spanning multiple centuries. The Forest is about the New Forest in southern England dating from the year 1099 to 2000. Knights in shining armour and peasants collecting fire wood vie for a place on these pages. What I like about Rutherfurd’s writing is that it flows and keeps me reading. I always look forward to reading his works. This story is a collection of short stories representing the human emotional drama. Loses and victories are all depicted in the various characters. These stories are connected by place and by relations. Characters return inter-generationally and take up the various feuds and concerns of the history. Towards the end I felt as if the story was being wrapped up to fast and short work was done to tidying up all the various relations to bring the story full circle. You have to like history or even relationships to like this book.

I've read Edward Rutherfurd before and was mightily impressed with that previous tome. This one, while still meticulously researched, was just not quite as good. It still had a lot of details, but unfortunately it also had a lot of chances for allowing the reader to get lost in those details.

The Forest deals with a period of almost a thousand years in the history of the New Forest of England. Through these times, Rutherfurd weaves the tale of several inhabitants of the area and their descendants. The Pride family, and the Albions, in particular saw a lot of time in the book with different branches of their family appearing quite often through the different ages. It also explored the different ways that the people lived in each of these eras and the feuds that were sometimes between families carried down as an intense dislike for certain names. But the book too was about the actual Forest and how it was preserved and taken up through the different times. Always a preserve it showed how people desired a piece of it.

None of the family lines particularly jumped out at me. Well, none of the human lines that is. In the first part there was a story about some deer and I was deeply disappointed to see that it wasn't continued throughout the whole novel. I thought it would have added a nice contrast to the continuing stories of the human elements. There was quite a detail provided about certain families, but with the exception of a few I was a bit muddled on how the names changed and who was actually related to who as the years passed. There were some like the Pride's that were clearly there from the beginning. But others, while I know there was something I missed, I just couldn't figure out which line of family they were descended from.

The whole novel was a bit confusing with all the detail. Which it was rich and obviously well researched, it was also very tedious to read. Rutherfurd's previous works, while having the same amount of detail, did not have nearly that much confusion associated with them. Most of the aspects were interesting and some time periods were definitely more enchanting to read than others. I especially liked the earlier periods of history within the book.

Not one of his better ones but still an interesting to read. I like Sarum more, but if you like historical fiction that rings with truth, this would probably be right up your alley.

The Forest
Copyright 2005
784 pages

Review by M. Reynard 2011

I started to think after awarding this book only 3 stars that maybe my enjoyment of Rutherfurd's earlier works, Sarum: The Novel of England,Russka: The Novel of Russia, and London: The Novel, had unfairly biased me. Ultimately, though, it was my favorable response to those excellent books that allowed me, I hope, to consider this work objectively.

The history in this novel is, as far as I am qualified to have an opinion, is accurate and researched, but the characters and the fictional details of their lives are not nearly as entertaining as those Rutherfurd has so expertly provided in his earliest works. The narrative was nowhere near as compelling as in 'Sarum' or 'London' and was, I have to say, unmemorable. I read this book from start to finish but, to be honest, I came close to putting it down before I finished.

The book might be good as a scholarly history, had Rutherfurd decided to produce a non-fiction, but as an entertaining novel it failed. I was sad to reach this conclusion but I don't think any other would have been fair ....

C.J Thompson

With THE FOREST, author Edward Rutherford continues his love affair with England begun with SARUM and LONDON. (His other book, RUSSKA, was apparently an aberrational dalliance.) In all of his novels, Rutherford goes back in time and selects fictional families living in a specific geographical area, then visits members of each family at key points down through history as they interact with each other and the environment of the chosen area. In SARUM, it was the land surrounding the English town of Salisbury, including Stonehenge. In LONDON, it was ... well, London. In THE FOREST, it's the New Forest in the English county of Hampshire, a triangular patch of land approximately anchored by Salisbury, Christchurch and Southampton, and on the mainland immediately northwest of the Isle of Wight. "Forest", a French term, originally meant "reservation", and the New Forest was such a place set aside by Duke William of Normandy as a royal hunting preserve after becoming William I, King of England, in 1066 by defeating King Harold at Hastings.
Rutherford begins his narrative in 1099, and continues in chapters headed 1294, 1480, 1587, 1635, 1794, 1868 and 2000 respectively. From previous exposure to the author's style, I've found it convenient to consider each chapter a short story more or less independent from the overall chronology. That way, I don't get too confused by the intersecting genealogical lines of the featured families as they thread through the centuries.
This is a collection of vignettes portraying the human dramas encountered in the everyday lives of ordinary people, both gentry and commoners, as influenced by the time and place of their life spans. Thus, one becomes acquainted with Adela, a Norman noblewoman in search of a husband soon after the Conquest, and Brother Adam, an abbey monk suffering a crisis of faith after being seduced by a local housewife. Then there's Jonathan, a young boy living in the port of Lymington, caught in a storm at sea during a boat race, and Clement, a young gentleman threatened by his crazy mother's treasonous behavior as the Spanish Armada seemed poised to invade. And Alice, caught in the turbulent and dangerous times of Cromwell's Civil War and the subsequent Restoration. Or Fanny, an heiress pulled in opposite directions by love and an age-old family vendetta, on trial for shoplifting a piece of lace. Finally, Colonel Albion, fighting to save the forest he loves from the depredations of the London politicians.
If you're looking for a thriller, or epic conflicts between a series of protagonists and antagonists, then THE FOREST is not for you. However, if you love England - especially that - and you enjoy vicariously immersing yourself in the everyday joys, heartaches, triumphs and defeats of others, then you'll love this book. Moreover, THE FOREST contains interesting information about non-human elements of the region: the mating rituals of the local deer population, the life cycles of the forest's oak trees, the method for harvesting salt from seawater, the formation of bogs, the proper use of timber in the art of building wooden sailing ships. Additionally, England's southern coast was once a hotbed of smuggling (oh, sorry ... "free trade"), and Rutherford gives some insight into its economics and methods as practiced there.
If, by serendipity or design, you should find yourself on the A31 between Southampton and Ringwood, perhaps leave the main route onto the B3078 or A337, and explore the villages and landscape of the New Forest. I've been on the A31 several times, yet have never taken the time to explore this small corner of England. Now, I wish I had.

If you have not read this author's other books, London and Sarum please do so for they are as outstanding as is this newest book by a wonderful author and historian.
I don't know when I have enjoyed history as much for Rutherfurd tells it in the most beguiling ways through stories of real people, their trials, loves and losses. At times one can find tears flowing because they are so poignant and heartbreaking yet one is left with a marvellous sense of seeing history and tradition so revered by our British friends lovingly revealed here. It is difficult to put this book down for many reasons. Each story in each period of time that he writes of has so many nuances that one may want to race through the pages, yet, it is not the best course for a lot of information relevant to the foundation of the early settlement of America by British colonists becomes increasingly clear and a new respect for the traditions our own American land are wonderful to recognize.
What is especially delightful is the story of those early forest dwellers, both human and animal. The reader is brought to a keen awareness of how deeply Britians revere their land and their ancestral roots that trace backwards into antiquity and are still present throughout countless descendants who carry on a reverent legacy of respect and love for their great forests. From shipbuilding timber to charcoal to wood for heating and cooking,to acorns and other benefice for the animals, the forest is an everlasting symbol of nurturance and as an invaluable resource for their life and livelihood.
This book is a marvellous Christmas, Birthday, or general gift to a person whom you love and know is an avid book reader, and a guarantee that the recepient will be well pleased. You may find that you may want to read it yourself. And then read his other books for a continuation of his vast knowledge and delicious storytelling vignettes of life as we can only imagine it was in the British Islands over the past thousand or so years. A wonderful journey.

It's been slow going with 'The Forest', but some of it could be intentional. Edward Rutherfurd's latest offering is truly something to read and savor. This book (there's no other way to describe it) is composed of eight stories (and an epilouge) that vary in length and follow generations of families--everyone from gentry to poor commoners who've been on the land since the beginning.
Contrary to some of his other work, I was captivated in all of the stories. Most are no more than 50 or 60 pages long, so the form of the plot is quick-paced and literal. Longer stories (the longest being 'Albion Park') cover larger blocks of time and can be excruciatingly slow. You keep waiting to come upon some action, while Rutherfurd is sweetly biding his time with his wonderful descriptions. However, if you try to hurry through any of the stories, you'll find yourself lost and confused because you missed a precious detail.
Rutherfurd's storytelling is unmatched. The climax of the plot can fill your stomach with butterflies. He also manages to skirt the "big" events in England's history, never directly putting his characters in a traumatic and dramatic period. (The closest he comes is the Spanish Armada.) He effectively describes everyday life for people and animals of the New Forest.
'The Forest' is most similar to 'Russka: The Story of Russia' to me. Both use a more saga-like form, careful to show the outcomes of the families as well as the setting. It is also the only English book of his I've been able to read (I couldn't bear trudging through 'London', which has been prasied as his best work).
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes Rutherfurd's work or is interested in a historical fiction/saga-like epic.

This is the first of the Rutherfurd novels I have read but won't be the last.

Actually even though this covers nearly a millennium it can be read as several novellas. The stories are interesting, original and filled with history. They cover both the elite and impoverished who lived in this area at different times.

This is very reminiscent of the Michener novels in that it covers an expansive time in a small area while sharing history and tales of many generations.

I wish that in some cases the stories would have been a bit more in depth on some of the more interesting characters. Also the descriptions of the frost itself became a bit repetitive at times.

Overall a very good book and since this is seen as one of his weaker novels I look forward to reading others.

There are several ways to write an historical novel; you could pick a famous figure and provide a narrative for their life, or you could create a fictional character and involve them in a famous historical event. Or you could do what Edward Rutherford does, and make up a series of stories based around an historical city, landscape or country. It is what he has done in previous novels, such as London and Sarum: The Novel of England (his most famous works), continuing the trend in "The Forest". Stretching from 1099 to 2000, the novel incorporates elements such as the assassination of King William Rufus, the threat of the Spanish Armada, the trial of Alice Lisle, the Protestant Reformation and the saving of the New Forest from development.

The novel is incredibly dense, following the ancestry of several families throughout the time periods (the noble Albions, the cheerful Prides, the cunning Furzeys, the charismatic Martells and the mysterious woodland Puckles) and several components are placed in the earlier stories which are discovered by descendants as time goes on (such as an engraved letter on a monastery wall, a tree planted by a fugitive and a family heirloom passed down throughout the ages). As is to be expected, some of the stories are more interesting than others, and there is plenty of historical detail throughout which (given Rutherford's background) is presumably both accurate and fascinating. Maps of the area and a genealogy of the families involved, as well as a preface that mentions some of the sources are included.

"The Hunt" concerns the mysterious death of King Rufus, as told predominantly through the point of view of Lady Adela, a young noble woman on the hunt for a husband. Unfortunately, because the details on the death of the King are sketchy, Rutherford leaves much of the story ambiguous and several subplots uncompleted. However, the story fares better in "Beaulieu" in which a monastery monk finds love with a married woman when investigating an attack on one of the brothers.

Unfortunately, there's another slip in quality with "Lymington", a story that involves the estranged relationship between a man and his young son, and the boat race that brings them together, yet Rutherford makes up for this with "The Armada Tree" and "Alice", two stories set in the reigns of Queen Elizabeth and Oliver Cromwell, and with plenty of political intrigue connected to these eras to keep things tense. The trend continues into "Albion Park", in which young Fanny Albion discovers her heritage, searches for a husband and is accused of a crime (apparently based on a real accusation made against Jane Austen's aunt) in the upper-class society of late 18th century Bath.

Finally, "Pride of the Forest" deals with the philandering, but surprisingly likeable Minimus Furzey and his attempts to save the Forest from development; furthermore, the novel is framed by the contemporary journey of Dottie Pride and her research into the history of the Forest. These however are just brief outlines of the main storylines, there are subplots that concern love affairs, stolen ponies, smuggling, practical jokes and other aspects of day to day life of past time periods.

The major issue I had with the novel was Rutherford's technique of conveying historical information. Rather than integrating it within the narrative, Rutherford uses long paragraphs of exposition to explain to the reader what's going on, a technique that is glaringly at odds with the storytelling. This is particularly obvious considering the author usually uses past tense for the narrative, and present tense for the explanations, which effectively pulls the reader out of the story as they digest the info-dump. It doesn't help matters that Rutherford uses contemporary language to explain much of the historical detail, for example, when describing the life-cycle of trees the words "chlorophyll" and "mycelium" are used, words that stick out like a sore thumb in the time period in which they appear.

Because there are so many of these expository segments (which are often not particularly interesting or relevant, such as the aforementioned tree, and the mating habits of deer) the story can often drag. Several times I skim-read, or even page-skipped these sections, which in all honesty, don't really add much to the flow of the story. Rutherford is obviously passionate about the subject material, but I can't help but feel (judging by this book alone) that he could use some work at incorporating his research within the context of an actual story.

This is an amazing collection of individual stories all tied together with a "running" thread. There are several families whose lives become woven together and a location that changes and yet remains the same. Each story in the book could stand on its own and yet read together, you feel as if you have watched time develop and change.

The characters are of all ages and sizes have unique personalities, and the author uses their different perspectives to tell the stories. The background of each character is given in a way to not detract from the plot and yet it ties the individual stories together.

I particularly liked that the author also took the time to describe the Forest itself and its flora and fauna. This really helped pull me into what I felt was the purpose of this book - the love for a group of people to a certain place.

I cannot image the research it took to write of so many time periods and to do it so well. If you like a grand story and historical fiction, I greatly recommend this book.

I'm rarely moved enough by a novel to write an the store review on it (maybe that's because I read a lot of formulaic authors!)
But, this one was something special. It's my first Rutherfurd. I know readers of his previous works were a bit disappointed in this one. But being my first and having no frame of reference . . .let's just say, I can't wait to read more of Rutherfurd! I normally read popular authors like Grisham and King, while I like them, this was a welcome change.
It's labeled a "novel" but I'm sure most people would agree it reads like a series of short stories with a common thread, that being the settings, and the generations of the same eight or ten families that keep showing up as characters.
While I didn't find all eight stories to be great, most of them were at least four star stories. My favorites were Beauliu, Lymington, and Pride of the Forest. Least favorite The Hunt.
The characters were just so human . .from Brother Adam's moral dilemnas in Beaulieu, to the beautiful realization of father-son love in Lymington, to Fanny Albion's rollercoaster ride of emotions and problems in Albion Park, the plots and characters are very down to earth. I love some of the comic relief as well . . .for example The Grockletons in Albion Park, and more.
One might wonder with such rave reviews, why didn't I give it five stars? Well, my only minor complaints were that on occasion it got a little hard to follow the political happenings and royal families. But . . .overall the stories were easy to follow.
Highly recommended!

Having read "Russka," "London," and "Sarum" and enjoyed them all, I was eager to read "The Forest"--and I wasn't disappointed, overall. Some people might complain that the New Forest area of England is hardly worthy of such a long novel, but Rutherfurd's interest in and portrayal of the "small people" of the forest make fascinating reading. In fact, I'd have much preferred more about the forest dwellers and somewhat less about the "society types" who dominate so much of the book. Give me more Puckle and Seagull any day! Even so, the book is well worth the time for anyone who has ever entertained an interest in England and English history. Rutherfurd's literary strength lies in his wonderful descriptions of the natural world in which his characters move and I often found myself rereading paragraphs in order to soak in that description. As for his characters, I enjoyed them, but the copy I read would have benefitted from a family tree similar to the one found in "London," although Rutherfurd throws in enough physical similarities and references to ancestors to help his readers keep the characters quite distinct. I also have a couple of nitpicks about the book. In one spot, the owl is said to be able to turn its head 360 degrees, which is incorrect. Also, the mark of the arrow in the Rufus tree is said to have grown higher with the passing decades. This also is incorrect, as trees grow from the ends of the branches out and a mark in the trunk never gets any higher. These are quibbles with a wonderfully readable story which I am otherwise happy to recommend.

Edward Rutherfurd has done it again: take a location and describe crucial episodes in its history using the fictitious characters of a few local families through the ages. What remains is a very bulky, entertaining though not earth shattering book. After his "histories" of Salisbury, London and Russia he has now chosen the Forest, an extensive woodland area south of Salisbury. The book is well written and reads fast despite its 800+ pages.
The book starts in 1099, when King Rufus is killed during a hunt in his royal Forest. Edward Rutherfurd gives an alternative description of this killing. In this first chapter the author is quite keen on venting facts: a bit boring and interruptive to the story. Luckily this is less so in the remaining 6 stories which describe such events as the life in a medieval monastery, the Spanish Armada, a witch process, the time of the Puritans, the business of the smugglers which have always been active on the southern shores of England, and finally the way in which the Forest became a national protected area. I look forward to reading his next novel on Dublin...

Of the first four books in the Edward Rutherford series, this fourth entry, The Forest, is the weakest one. It covers little new ground historically than the previous two English books, Sarum and London, already did. Thankfully, the book is also a third of the size of its predecessors. As far as characters, though, the book is just as excellent. It brings to life many interesting characters both fictional and historical, dating back from the Norman conquest to the present day. The ones who stood out the most were the characters from the time of Queen Elizabeth I's reign. A mother who wants England restored to Catholicism more than anything is the most memorable. Otherwise, though, it is a welcome relief that the next three books in the Rutherford series finally move away from England and explore new territory and history.

Another intriguing novel by Edward Rutherfurd Through the eyes of the ancient forest near Bath, Rutherfurd takes us through the generations, exploring the great conflicts in English history such as Norman vs. Saxon, Merchant vs. Nobleman, Catholic vs. Protestant, Royalist vs. Cromwellian and Industrialist vs. Conservationist.
He does this through sympathetically tracing the lives people down the generations of seven families: The Albions, the Martells, the Prides, the Seagulls, the Puckles, the Furzeys and the Grockletons.
We read about waxing and waning fortunes and about ongoing family feuds, but always the main interest is through the people themselves of who's trials and tribulations we read about: The experiences of a young Norman noblewoman, Adela De La Roche in `The Hunt', the Monk, Brother Adam, struggling with the love of a woman, Mary Furzey, in Beuleau. The tragic tale of Alice Lisle, caught up in the political turbulence of the 17 th. Century England of the Stuarts and Cromwell, in Alice , and the pain and redemption of the young lady , Fanny Albion , in `Albion Park'.
Always to the backdrop of The Forest, and its varied life, it celebrates nature and the irrepressible strength of humanity.
An exciting and interesting read.

Well, Edward Rutherfurd has done it again! Somehow, he is able to take an area of land and give us a history lesson about it--without boring us to death. He also has an incredible talent for covering a large span of time, yet he is still able to be detailed in his telling and make us care about his characters. "The Forest" is no exception. He teaches us English history while giving us stories that intertwine throughout the timeline. We learn the background of both obscure and well-known relics, and are shown ways that people earned their surnames. One of the things I really appreciate about this author is that he's realistic--sometimes the good guys don't win, and every once in a while, a bad guy gets away with an evil deed. Be sure though, that in Rutherfurd's books, the ancestors will pay! If you liked "Sarum" and "London," be sure that you won't be disappointed with this one. I don't often buy hardback books, but I was confident that Edward Rutherfurd wouldn't let me down, and he didn't.

Edward Rutherfurd specialises in "Michener"-style books. Even tho he did not originate this type of novel, I personally feel he is the best at writing them for 2 reasons: 1) Instead of dealing with a very large area (Hawaii, South Africa, etc) as Michener does, Rutherfurd picks a small geographical area such as London or England's New Forest. This makes the focus of the story more manageable. 2) Rutherfurd is much better at characterisation & plot developement than Michener.
"The Forest" is Rutherfurd's latest 1000 year geographical epic, & altho not his best work, is eminently readable. Unlike his previous (& better) work, "London", "The Forest" deals with an area few people outside of the UK will be familiar with. This of course means the historical events he fictionalises will also be unfamiliar to the average American reader, thus adding some freshness to tales of Cavaliers vs. Roundheads, peasants relating to their feudal lords etc. In the chapter entitled "Albion Park" Rutherfurd even tries to adapt Jane Austen's "Pride & Prejudice" to his multi-generational narrative!
Does it work? For the most part, yes. Rutherfurd's novels are an excellent way for a reader to get a handle on history, & he makes large events personal to the reader. My main problem with his writings is his tendency to make family members thru the generations have the same appearance & mannerisms over hundreds of years. They never seem to inherit anything from their mothers; a Furzey is a Furzey whether in the 11th or the 19th century. This seems especially strange in "The Forest" as he has the same families marrying each other for the entire book without ever starting to share characteristics! I assume this is the author's way of making a protagonist instantly identifiable & not confusing the reader with too many different people to keep track of. The other fault I found with "The Forest" was starting the story at the end of the 11th century. Although the Roman period & Anglo-Saxon eras are mentioned, there is no narrative covering them as there was in "London". Personally, I would have welcomed the inclusion.
If not quite as good as "London", fans of Edward Rutherfurd will not be disappointed with "The Forest".

The Forest is a rich, vivid historical read ~~ with fiction intertwined with history of England's most lush forest. If you are a history buff, this book is a good read. It seems long but unlike "London", this book didn't drag in some places. Keeping track of the families were easier this time for some reason. Maybe it's because after reading all of his books, you tend to get an idea of how he writes.
In my opinion, Rutherford gets better with every book, though "Russka" is still my favorite Rutherford book. Rutherford goes out of his way to find the little historical facts as well as the well-known ones. The characters are vividly drawn in their periods of time. The scenery is terrific ~~ the whole time I was reading this, it was below zero outside and all I could think of was hiding in the woods in the middle of summer to feel the breeze going through the treetops.
If you are looking for a long read during these cold winter nights, this book is a great bet. Just grab your glass of wine, a blanket and light the logs in your fireplace and settle down for a nice winter read. It's worth it.

"The Forest" offers the reader bulk without satisfaction. Like Michener's before him, Rutherfurd's books have become formulaic. His technique is to string a series short tales upon the thread of the history of a common locus -- in this case the "New Forest" in SW England. Perhaps because we are familiar with the formula, it becomes easier to be critical of the components.
His tracing of certain physical and intellectual chracter- istics down through the generations of the families that figure in "The Forest" stikes me as clumsier and more objectionable than when he did the same thing in "Sarum" or "London". Must the Grockletons forever be claw-handed and clench-minded and the Prides always fast-walking, fairminded and upstanding? It beggars belief. The gentry seems to play a more central roll -- or is it just a more boring roll? -- in "The Forest" than in earlier Rutherfurd books. In the "Albion Park" story we are asked to believe that a wealthy young gentlewomen in Georgian Bath would be brought to trial for stealing a piece of lace and worry that she will be transported because she is too lovelorn to defend herself. As that story ends, the aristocratic, remote, intellecutal man she has married rises in the night and pens a "confession" to her. We learn at the end of the book that it was only a love letter. Maybe the Brontes could have carried it off, but Rutherfurd can't. I also found Rutherfurd's coy toying with the theme of witchcraft in the New Forest uninformed. At time of the Conquest, where the book begins, many of the inhabitants of the New Forest probably belonged to pre-Christian religions. In Rutherurd's forest you are either a christian or a witch.

This is an extremely rich body of work. I hesitate to say 'novel' since there are eight parts to this book of equal stature. Is it then a collection of novellas? Well, no not quite, since all of these stories have a tendency to refer to each other. For instance, there is the little wooden cross that is handed down the generations of families whose paths we follow. Of no great monetary value in itself, this ornament, whose origin is more or less forgotten, still signifies a great deal to whomever happens to be wearing it at the time. The author concentrates his attention of a handful of fictional families, from the Albions of the gentry, to the coarser tribe of Seagulls. The one great thing which binds all these families is the New Forest. The author takes great pains to also bring the forest alive, from the mighty oak, to the fallow deer. Anyone who's in love with English history will find much richness here. What the author has done is to realise a great empathy for the English peoples of the last thousand years, and even beyond, if you include the Prehistory of the Saxon Prides. Also mentioned are modern day forest disputes, which are rooted in the past.
The prose is light and easy to follow. The author has a few old storyteller tricks here: such as employing loose ends. A character will do something in one story that will resound greatly in another. Those who dislike such loose fragments left unresolved will be relieved to find that this author is extremely tidy. However, I did spot a few typos, but these hardly spoil the impact of such great tales. This author is also very aware of the literary conventions concerning the historical periods of which he writes. You groan when the section set in Beaulieu Abbey starts off with the murder of a monk, and suspect that Cadfael is not far behind with his herbal remedies. However, the author is very clever here, for he plays delightfully with your expectations - he does not provide mere homage to the past - he always brings something new and unique to such fictions. The tale of 'Albion Park' is very much Jane Austen, and as the author admits, he derived this story from something which really happened to Austen's aunt at Bath. The heroine, like that of 'Mansfield Park', is called Fanny. During the latter parts of the book, we also get a delicious portrait of a Victorian Pre-Raphaelite artist, who is inspired by the forest of his ancestors. But all is not sweetness and light: perhaps the grimmest chapter features the plight of Alice Lisle, caught within Judge Jeffries' notorious Assizes. There are accounts of famous rebels, such as Penruddock and Monmouth: the author really does bring the history alive. He reveals how place names and surnames change over time, due to historical events.
However, there was one family that I was particularly interested in concerning this novel, but whom I found to be only obliquely mentioned: the Rutherfurds. I first became intrigued because of the peculiar spelling - trying to search for this author's surname in online bookshop search boxes provides a variety, so much so that it's highly tempting to believe that the internet will have impact on this ancient name. Rutherfurd begins his novel by going back just under a thousand years to the murder of King William 'Rufus' (so-named because he had red hair). 'Ruther' is also derived from the Celtic word for 'red'. One of the stories concerning the origins of the Rutherfurd name is that it relates to a ford. The Rutherfords first seem to appear around this era as inhabitants of the Scottish borders. There is an account of them beating back an invading English force across a ford before the time of William Wallace, and it's romantic to believe that the name could derive from this incident. Is it just a coincidence that Walter Tyrell has a ford named after him in the New Forest (as Rutherfurd writes in the opening novella), due to his flight after the death of Rufus?
Rutherford also briefly mentions Wallace, and the Scottish Rutherfords certainly fought for him and Robert the Bruce against the English. Rutherfurd writes of the protestant dissenters: Samuel Rutherfurd may have been one such historical ancestor. There is also a strong branch of Rutherfurds in America, possibly related to the Pilgrim Fathers or others like them. Certainly the American heiress Consuelo Vanderbilt had a distant relation to the Rutherfurds, and may even have been in love with Winthrop Rutherfurd before she married the Duke of Marlborough, whose Blenheim Palace is mentioned in the novel (along with, I think I recall, a cheeky comment about the Marlboroughs marrying into the best families). Sir Walter Scott was related to a branch of Rutherfurds, one of whom is mentioned in his 'The Bride of Lammermoor'. However, all this might be baloney or coincidence, except for one thing: Edward Rutherfurd keeps mentioning the Royal Navy ship, the Swiftsure, which was at the battle of Trafalgar as part of Nelson's forces: it's captain? - Why, none other than William Gordon Rutherfurd! I therefore think that the author has derived a great deal from a rich family history, as his characters do also.

I've just finished reading this wonderful book and feel as though I've just gorged myself on the whole of a very large block of chocolate--sated but VERY satisfied ! The story of The Forest begins shortly after the closure of these acres by William the Conqueror ,to create a natural hunting reserve for the benefit of himself and the nobles of his court. The saga continues through the major periods of English history and involves both the more aristocratic of the forests inhabitants as well as the local peasantry.The family lines of both of these classes of the forests inhabitants,weave their ways down through the years, occasionally intertwining and always maintaining the forest as an entity in it's own right. This is a fascinating glimpse of history through the ages and an equally fascinating look at the lives and customs of the forest dwellers over the centuries. Can't wait for Mr.Rutherfurds next offering , "Dublin".

A novel that spans a period of 1000 years in a small region of England? The premise sounded original and I was willing to rely on my love of history carrying me through. And you know what? I got more that I expected out of this book.
Having not read any other titles by Rutherfurd, I had no previous experience of his style and though curiosity led me at first, I was soon hooked.
Following the fortunes of six families through the years, most notably the Albions, Rutherfurd not only relates a series of great stories, he also tells the history and politics of England's New Forest, and the life of its deer and famous oaks.
The characterisation is strong, both heros and heroines are well drawn, from the Norman noblewoman Adela de la Roche to the mysterious Puckle and his many equally mysterious descendents.
All in all, a pretty damn good book. The chapter 'Albion Park' left me with a craving for Jane Austen again and as a whole leaving me with a strong inclination to read some more of Edward Rutherfurd's work some time soon.

As I neared the end of "The Forest", a sadness moved over me as I realized that the wonderful journey through time in the forest was coming to an end. This is not just a book, it is an adventure into moments in history in a region of England not often covered. Rutherford has perfected the ability to tell stories of ancestry while incorporating beautifully described periods of English history into his tales. There are chapters in this book that are profound. The story of Alice, her heirs and ancestors, is a personal favorite. However, each chapter brings new twists and complications to the evolving families.
For me,"Sarum" is still my favorite of Rutherfor's books but "The Forest" is very close. It is another brilliant effort and worthy of the highest praise.

.....and I found this fact very disappointing! I read Rutherfurd's "Rebels of Ireland" and really liked that, and was hoping to love and devour "The Forest." It isn't bad, or lacking in interesting settings, or poorly written -- quite the contrary, it is beautifully written for the most part, especially the physical descriptions of the Forest, but I did not find the characters compelling. Again, not bad, just didn't make me want to pick it back up once I had set it down. I think I was having difficulty mentally and emotionally connecting the different sections and finding interesting continuity in the character families from section to section. As I have stated in other reviews, I was brought up in a family where one NEVER began a book and did not finish, but this one I just did not want to spend further time on once I got about 250 pages in. I have replaced this on the shelf and will give it another go at some future time. I have "London" and "Russka" on my shelf and still look forward to reading, and hopefully loving, those.

The New Forest has played a central role in the history of England starting with William using it as a hunting "spa". It is in the New Forest where William's son Rufus is killed under strange circumstances. Throughout the remainder of the millennium, this area has been on center stage almost as much as London has. Even in the present, the locale serves as an example of the modern day debate between development with easy access vs. environmental protection by pushing to name it a national park. In between much happens to members of the English Who's Who to include Austen, Drake, and Nelson, etc.
Edward Rutherfurd is considered one of the giants of fictionalized history that provides a story telling account centering on real events and people. His latest work THE FOREST will show his talent to educate his audience with a well-written account that spans a thousand years of English history. Though some sections will overwhelm the reader with its vast historical tidbits, sub-genre fans will enjoy this book as much as Mr. Rutherfurd's previous works, LONDON and SARUM.

Harriet Klausner

i thought it was a very good book and would have given it 4.5 stars but that wasn't an option. It was very informative to me who lives in the states about a part of England that I never looked at. I liked the continual thread that ran through the years of the families that inhabited the forest. Like many novels it slows a bit in over detail that would make the average reader not give it it 5 stars.

I't obvious from Rutherford's earlier works what he feels passionate about... and "London" ain't it, although it's a great book, too.
In "Sarum", his first book, he is personally involved with the landscape of what he writes about (as he was born and raised there), and in "Russka" (his second) it is obvious he has a passion for the Russian people. Later, in "London" it seems as though he feels compelled to write about this colorful city, but has no real passion for the place, as he borrows from previously published works (as he does with "Russka"- but with a preordained zeal that one must have to really write about the area in question.)
In "The Forest", Rutherfurd once again captures the passion he once held as an historical fictionist in "Sarum", and places himself foremost among the "greats" of historical literature. "The Forest" is full of original characters and complex motives, together with original plots and great stories.
Apparent as with all other Rutherfurd works is the detailed family tree at the begining of the book, as well as informtive maps as to the region.
Readers of historical fiction will find this book to be Rutherfurd at his high peak of form. It is engrossing, addictive and entertaining.
Highly recommended! Two thumbs up!

This was my favorite Rutherfurd novel. I enjoyed the characters even more than in the previous books, and there seemed to be more depth to the stories. I often find myself reading additional books to learn more about a person or event that intrigues me when I am done reading one of Rutherford's books, and after reading "The Forest" I re-read Jane Austin because of the memories stirred up by one section of the book. Of special interest in "The Forest" also are wonderful stories about how the royal forests were developed and managed, village smugglers and revenue agents, and the effects of machines and steam engines on the development of rural England. I had a lot of fun reading this book, and learned a lot too.

In this book the author has taken the existence of the Crown Forest in Central South England and has used it as his background to present different lifes throughout England's history and how they are all interconnected through because of this Forest.
The description of the scenery and the people, all faithfully following history is very interesting. The stories are fun and easy to read and keep you interested in thier individual plots. I also really enjoyed the description of the Forest in itself, all the lives that are connected to trees: insects, etc.
This is certainly the result of some incredible research and I congratulate the author on his book. Good read.

Spanning centuries of British history, The Forest keeps the reader engrossed with the lives and emotions of its characters. Not only does Rutherfurd offer a continuing saga of the various families who inhabit the area, but also a natural history, detailing the behavior of the deer and the cycle of the trees, which form a constant backdrop for the human drama. The author's command of the language and of interesting tidbits of knowledge, such as the process of charcoal production, make this a very satisfying read. It was a great book to settle in with for the summer.

I love all books written by Edward Rutherford.
And I am wondering if it would be possible to have them on audio CD.
That would really enhance his popularity and my listening pleasure.
Thanks for looking into that.

This is the first Rutherford I've read. It is almost as if the focus is on time... generations of people pass and the forest remains a sort of constant. Very interesting to read how the forest influenced the area and history. Some of the snippets need a little more... action....but generally when interest began to wan something would happen, even if it was at times predictable. I learned a lot and understand a lot more relevant history now. A slower read, but definitely of interest.

Mr Rutherford has given us another story rich with delightful characters and vivid scenery. If you are a fan of James A Michener's books, you will enjoy the rich tapestry that is woven here. The story line covers an area within the catchment of his masterpiece "Sarum", but there is no duplication, and this book stands alone as a work of art.
Also of interest is the fact that this book looks at great moments in English history, but almost skirts around them, giving us an insight into what it must have been like to be common folk, in the midst of great events. It is also very entertaining to read. I recommend it highly.

In one of his stronger efforts, Edward Rutherfurd sets his historical fiction in the New Forest of southern England. The New Forest in Hampshire, England was originally commandeered in 1079 as a deer hunting area by the king, William the Conqueror.

Rutherfurd tells the history of the area from William's establishment of the royal forest to modern times through the fortunes of half a dozen families. Special laws, courts, offices and traditions developed over the centuries whereby commoners gained certain limited rights to use of the forest.

Vintage Rutherfurd. Highly recommended.

I very much enjoyed Rutherfurd's latest work, but find he is relying more and more on formula rather than strong character development. In his previous books, the locale has played a strong role in the book, as the history of a city and the buildings in it has been woven into the narrative; unfortunately, the changes within the New Forest over time are less concrete and so some richness is lost. One thing missing in this book that I enjoyed in his other works was watching the rise and ebb of family fortunes; in this book, the gentry more or less stay gentry and the yeomanry stay yeomanry throughout the book, which stretches credibility. Rutherfurd needs to develop the individual characters a little more and to allow the families to evolve through time, rather than establishing a few immutable family characteristics and overrelying on them. Still, his work is well-researched and quite entertaining--the reader comes away with a little knowledge about history as a bonus. As much as I love English history, I'm hoping he'll move on to a different area next time, which might inject a little more freshness into his work.

Rutherfurd's blend of history and fiction draws me into other eras and cultures as no one else does. Like James Michener, he is able to create real people and family sagas that give insight into the hardships and dramas of life in bygone days. An excellent read.

I am generally fond of this author's novels but for some reason I just wasn't able to get far into The Forest. The setting seemed sound, the stories seemed good, his descriptions of the vast, vibrant forest and its creatures were interesting, but underneath everything there was a plodding drabness in the tales themselves that didn't grab my interest the way Sarum and London did. Maybe someday I'll finish The Forest but after nearly a decade it's still sitting on my shelf with the same bookmark where I left it about a third of the way in.

"The New Forest," set aside as a royal game preserve (or to be more accurate, as a royal deer farm) by William the Conqueror, comes to life through six of the families inhabiting it in Edward Rutherfurd's fourth novel. Opening and closing with a framing story set in 2000, the book's seven intervening chapters span the years from 1099 until then. Each chapter is a self-contained tale that covers a generation or two, telling the lives of the principal families - and the changes that time, technology, and politics bring to their beloved Forest.
I'm fascinated, after finishing this book, to go back to its preface and discover that the Austen-like feel of "Albion Park" may be partly due to the author's use of a real-life incident to craft its turning point. That incident, it seems, happened to Jane Austen's aunt! Both "Albion Park" and the chapter following it, "Pride of the Forest," show Rutherfurd's characters acting within the tight cultural boundaries of their time and place - and yet, like Austen's people, they manage to transcend those boundaries. To show themselves fully, and timelessly - *human.* Even the women!
After reading all four of Rutherfurd's novels, I don't hesitate to call this one his best. My one criticism is that I found the end of its framing story something of an anticlimax. However, that's nowhere near sufficient to keep me from giving it the top rating it otherwise richly deserves.

Mr. Rutherford writes in a style that keeps you absorbed at all times . I liked the way each section was a story in itself . The ending was just what you hoped for , tying all the pieces into a satisfying whole.

It seemed a little trodding to me, but still had some very good writing, as in the mind of the deer being hunted. I actually adore Rutherfurd and have recommended to him to many fellow readers. I think I would recomend London, Russia and Sarem be read first to see what a truly excellent writer he is.

This is a sweeping epic novel set in England's New Forest. If you've read any other Rutherford novels, you'll be familiar with his storytelling methods, and those methods remain true in this novel. For those not familiar, Rutherford writers in a very Michener-esque manner, following a few families through centuries of history and tying that history to a place. It was an interesting read, but, in the end...I think I'm over Rutherford and his style.

I was a little wary the first time I picked up this book. I was hooked just a few pages in, and finished the entire novel in less than a week, thirsting for more. Rutherford does a great job of making you care and love (or loathe) his characters. A must for anyone who enjoys reading.

What can be better than to have a long train ride and have a huge, highly entertaining book to read. Mr. Rutherford has not let me down yet. As much as I loved Sarum and London that's how much I absolutely love The Forest. In every book he focuses on a few families and takes us up through history with them and you wonder about the origins of your own family.

I very much enjoyed Sarum and London and looked forward to reading The Forest, but I was disappointed. The book is eight or nine loosely connected short stories. There's no overall page-turning plot, and Mother Nature seems to get more ink than the characters. I gave up midway through and moved on to better reading.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Forest by Edward Rutherford. I was born and raised in Southampton and as children we hiked the paths, rode our bicycles and picnicked in the New Forest. My grandparents lived in Pennington and now my parents live in Lymington and my youngest brother in Hale. The authors descriptions of the places came alive in my mind as I read. It was a happy read back to the origins of my childhood trips. Also a wonderful historical and fictional account of the people and background of The New Forest.

Even though Michener died four years ago, Mr. Rutherfurd has picked up his spirit and has done a great job. I recommend the Forest to anyone who is a fan of Michener, and to anyone who loves to get lost in great stories.

I enjoyed this book very much. I enjoyed Sarum a little more because I thought he got you closer to the characters. The history was extended back further in Sarum, also. This book however was very interesting from the point of view of each time that the people lived. I enjoyed hearing about their customs and their class structure. It was fun to see how they managed their daily lives too.It could almost be a survival manual. They hung the meat in the chimney to keep the flies off of it. How neat. I do hope that he has another book in the works since I can't wait...

I like this sort of really big book with lots of historical flavor, but of all Rutherfords books only "Russka" was worse. Both "London" and "Sarum" started much earlier in time and this gave the books a more satisfying sense of time and continuity. The different types and classes of people are well covered and interesting. It is not possible in a book like this to give each story a lot of depth but that is to be expected. Still I wish they had been less predictable.

This monumental book keeps you guessing until the last minute just how its all going to pan out. What a wonderful journey it all was! I really felt that I didn't want it to come to the end. You often find yourself thinking about this book many years later. I would recommend it to anyone for a really good read.

Toda la obra de Rutherfurd es espléndida, producto del trabajo arduo de un escritor que penetra en el tiempo y en el espacio, a traves de una indagación histórica bien documentada. La consulta de libros, documentos, cartas y mapas sobre los lugares y los sujetos de cada época, constituyen sus fuentes principales de inspiración. El bosque es uno de sus libros mejor logrados desde el punto de vista estético-literario. Sus personajes están bien cuidados, a fin de resaltar los rasgos que le dan vida a cada uno de ellos. El comienzo de la historia es de por sí singular, pues inicia precisamente con un animal típico del bosque ingles cuando olfatea el peligro y alcanza a escapar de sus cazadores. Esta novela me gustó mucho, pues es una exaltación de las virtudes del bosque, de la importancia de su preservación en su estado natural y de como el hombre, a través de su cultura y sus habitus, transforma el entorno natural, rivaliza con otros grupos sociales y establece una percepción sobre el bosque que varia con el tiempo histórico. Mil años de la historia de un bosque no pueden sustraerse a la vida cotidiana y a las relaciones que sus pobladores han mantenido con éste ( y entre ellos mismos) a través del tiempo.
En nuestro país, México, los bosques se agotan, se extinguen por la implacable acción de grandes expoliadores de la madera y sus derivados. "The Forest" resulta entonces una lectura no sólo agradable, entretenida y provechosa, sino al mismo tiempo, ofrece la oportunidad de reflexionar sobre la vinculación entre el hombre, el espacio y el medio natural, respecto a lo cual las visiones más chatas de la ideología dominante han distorsionado y aún obscurecido durante el último siglo. Obras como las de Rutherfurd son aún más encomiables, dadas la escasez de trabajos literarios de esta naturaleza en nuestro país y supongo, en buena parte del orbe.
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Rutherfurd's style makes English history come alive for me! In "The Forest", we follow inhabitants on a timeline spanning centuries, with interwoven ancestries and fascinating insights. My only regret is that Mr. Rutherfurd was not able to expand on each character; I would love to hear more!

Having read all of the authers works, I am not suprised by the wonderful depth of this one. Sarum used to be my favorite book now the forest has surpassed it in my mind. Of course I recomend it to everyone!

... in the style of London and Sarum. Will begin reading Russka later this summer. I write this review in the hope that the author will read this. Being somewhat of a Francophile, I hope one of his next efforts might be centered somewhere in France, perhaps Paris or an alternative region.

I've read Sarum, Russka, London, and now The Forest. Although Sarum is still my favorite, I have thoroughly enjoyed The Forest. Rutherfurd has a way of making history live through multi-dimensional characters ... in a very Micheneresque way. I highly recommend The Forest, as well as his other works.

Most everything I order from the store.com comes in a timely manner and with few exceptions, in respectable condition. Rutherford's The Forest is pretty darn good read. It's an entertaining way to spend an afternoon.

A very very tough read. This could be condensed into about 5o pages and still have the same result. I was tempted to just stop, but I always finish even though the going is sometimes difficult. Some wheat within the chaff. But I won't be reading the rest of his series.