Sarum: The Novel of England

I've read every one of Edward Rutherford's books, some several times. This one was a disappointment. I think what bothered me was the lack of continuity. It was like someone had dropped all the chapters and not bothered to put them back again. I lost the feeling of history I usually get with his work, of following the families as they progress (or not) through the centuries. This jumped around so much that I couldn't keep up with them, even with a scorecard in the frontispiece.

I've often stood in old cities and wondered about all the lives lived amongst the cobbled streets for so many centuries. This book does just that. The plots may not be that exciting or revealing, but then I love old movies too so I allowed the author to take me through the thousands of years with innate detail and knowledge of how things worked, scientific innovations and how the big stones at Stone Henge were lifted.

Several years ago, I purchased the paperback and thought it was one of the best historical books I'd ever read and gave it away to a friend. So when I decided I wanted a hard copy and found a fantastic price, I ordered it. Haven't read all of Rutherfurd's books, but have read quite a few. This is definitely the best of those I have read! Thank you the store!

Edward Rutherford weaves a fantastic tale that starts in pre-history and ends in the early 20th century. Using fabulous imagery, he captures the essence of each time period covered - no small feat when you realize the time span. Some liberty was taken with the physical locations, but the author states this in the foreward and should be forgiven for his trespasses. One of the best reads I've had; excellent on long business trips when you want to step out into another world. I'm looking forward to reading London and Russka next.

AS A HISTORY TEACHER, I ENJOY READING BOOKS WITH A MICHNER QUALITY TO THEM. THE CAPIVATING STORIES IN THIS WORK ARE WOVEN THROUGH HISTORY WITH VERY BELIEVABLE CHARACTERS AND POSSIBLE THEORIES AS TO HOW THESE EVENTS HAPPENED WHEN THRERE IS NO WRITTEN EVIDENCE. IT IS WELL RESEARCHED AND MOVES ALONG; KEEPING A PAGE TURNER INTEREST AS YOU READ. IT IS A REAL PLEASURE READ FOR ME AS I OFTEN READ DOCUMENTARIES AND THIS BOOK IS A VACATION. HIGH RECOMMENDATION FOR HISTORY BUFFS.

This was my second attempt to read this book some 15 years later. Well I made it through this time and can't say that this time it was much better. The first half was more enjoyable than the latter half. I enjoy historical fiction and don't believe justice was done to more recent events.

I choose anything that Rutherfurd writes. He is of the Michener genre' and can start a story at the beginning of time and have you fascinated within 3 ages. Authentic history, wonderful stories that bring the ages to life and a cast of characters that you would like to meet in person. His novels are long but if you want fulfillment at the ending of a book, this guy is for you.

Another good book by Edward Rutherford. I understand the evolution of its people and why they were once great. Learned a lot about the Roman Empire as well and why both nations ultimately lost its power in the world. It's as simple as over extending its power in too many places in the world. Colonization does not work when you do not understand other nations culture. Hopefully, America does not do the same thing.

I always enjoy his books because they take you through the centuries of a developing country. I like following the fictitious families. but after a while it gets a little boring. Would like a little more history. I will most likely read more of his books. I really enjoyed the one on Russia and will have to read the one on ireland

Loved the historical aspects: descriptions of landscape, depictions of lifestyle, values, culture. Weaving the story of fictional families added both context and interest. Some storylines were more evolved and characters more interesting, particularly in the first half of the novel, but once you're that far in you are compelled to finish.

A very enjoyable way of bringing history to life. It makes one appreciate the fact
although we have had a tremendous technical revolution, human behavior has changed
little over thousands of years. Women have made some gains, but are not there yet.

Loved this novel. Anyone who enjoys historical fiction will like this book. It was interesting that the author developed these families over several generations then intermingled them throughout the novel. I definitely recommend this novel.

Every new era felt like starting a new book after I was already invested in the previous storyline. I love all his other books so I was surprised and disappointed I didn't get into this one. The jump between eras was just too large to keep my interest.

Wow, a great writer of historical fiction..I loved this novel it takes so much of England early years and put's in into such interesting fiction yet, staying with truth...well researched truth. Many pages yes...but each page is a turner leading to a wonderful story of times often forgotten.

Like one of your earlier reviewers I became hooked on the genre after reading James A. Michener's Chesapeake. I believe Michener and Ken Follett are the only two authors equal to Rutherfurd. Having said that, They are all three a class above the rest. Sarum is delightful, makes you happy, sad, angry and the whole gamut of emotions. I believe it is a first class book of woven fact and fiction in a setting and with characters that the writer paints brilliantly, particularly for those who love social history. Rutherfurd simply can not write fast enough for me.

A blockbuster of a story if you like historic fiction interspersed with true historic description. Very interesting gallery of persons, and history telling at its best. Very well written by a great author. A lot of research must be behind the book. And it's a brick of a book, so it will give you many nights of enjoyable reading!

Not the best historical fiction. Like others by Rutherford, too much description, too many characters. too many pages. My mom wanted to read this title after reading Paris. However, she couldn't maintain interest in it.

Rutherfurd always ties his story lines together showing the links over the centuries. Since I did this reading on my Kindle (which is misbehaving), I was not able to go back to his maps and historical trees. These are always excellent tools in reading his novels. This novel was true to form and an excellent read even without these tools.

book is an excellent read. Most chapters start with to long a narrative on fashion, landscape and generally to much info unrelated to the meat of the story I am currently reading Russia by the same author with the same problems, however having said that the flow of the book is still good and the story is a very believable slice of history
Art

Bought this book, a few years after reading Russka, and am starting to love it even more than Russka. The immense amount of research that he puts into his books, backs them with little gems, that make for great "did you know" conversations.

Having recently visited Stonehenge and Salisbury, this book was so incredibly enlightening that I wish I had read it first. Amazingly informative and entertaining. I discovered it through discussing history with fellow travelers while touring Salisbury Cathedral.

Very good historical book of England. You get involved with many different people and how each evolved. Warning: It is a long book. Almost 1000 pages! It took awhile to read but I always knew were I was in the story line.

Very detailed and historic account of Salisbury England and it's cathedral centerpiece, over 20000 years. Incredible story of 7-8 families and their geographic roots, be they native Islanders, Celtic, Roman, Saxon, Angle, Norman, and the eventual British Empire world expansion. Amazing account of the Salisbury plain and all the people drawn here from post Ice Age to post WWII. And some fascinating storytelling around Stonehenge and how it was almost destroyed during World War I. Rutherford should be required school reading. Much better than history textbooks!

Using history, culture and geography of the Salisbury, England area as his tools, Mr. Rutherford weaves a menagerie of very interesting fictional stories strung together through the ages in distinct family lines.

This book tells the amazing long and rich history of England from the ice age. Each chapter brings new characters that you engage with and hope will stay until the next chapter and then you fall in love withnew characters, and so it goes.

I enjoyed reading about how the island of England became populated and how these people when from Stone age to current. The history was written from the point of view of people from different classes. The was also I lot of information about the changing philosophies and polices of the different classes.

For those who have read not read James Michener, Rutherfurd can be best described as Michenerian. But having read "Russka" some years back, and now making my way through "The Forest," having read "Sarum" and "London," the two authors are better thought of as fraternal, rather than identical twins. Rutherfurd is arch where Michener is wistful, his characters common where Michener's are plain. Rutherfurd exposits as a schoolmaster, while Michener does so as a scientist. Rutherfurd is British and Michener American. I like neither better, but find that where Michener will spin a tale to its relentless conclusion, Rutherfurd will move on to the next chapter, the next decade, even the next century once he has told the story he likes. Michener seems to abhor loose ends, sometimes to the point of boredom. The Rutherfurd narratives seem to be ok with distractibility; tale told, move on. Michener has been enjoyable. Rutherfurd has made me laugh out loud. Sarum is a narrative of England, as is "The Forest" and "London." Other reviewers critiquing his books have objected to his borrowing themes in one book for another. This does not detract for me. I actually look at the 3 books as 3 different views of England. It is certainly true that its history is rich enough to deserve 3 different levels of exploration of the city, "London," the town, "Sarum," and the countryside, "The Forest.". The various population densities of the English culture he portrays has actually led to 3 separate sorts of English cultures each of which truly deserve their own book and deserve the opportunity to borrow from each other where appropriate. I enjoyed this book and all of this looks very much. I recommend reading "London," "The Forest" as well as this. They all bring something slightly different.

Amazing that people rated this as highly as they did. The gimmick is clever: Tracing several thousand years of history by focusing on the same area of England and the same families. The book is a good reminder of all the history we have forgotten or maybe never knew.

But the writing itself is atrocious. Well-known and well-respected earlier English authors would not have believed such ignorance. The reader has to frequently reread a sentence or paragraph, trying to figure out what's happening. For instance, there's no concept of punctuation. Here's an example: "Patricia; too, went about her...." Another major weakness is the mixing of pronouns in the same sentence: "He relayed this to his nephew when he was turning into his...." There are also occasional capitalization lapses and sometimes overly long sentences or run-on sentences.

A fifth grader could do better. Why would an author, and especially a publisher, not have screened this book through a few good editors?

Sarum tells 6000 years of English history by fictionalizing the daily life of people living on the Salisbury Plain. I especially liked the chapters on the formation of the English Channel and the building of Stonehenge. I found most of Sarum very engaging, even though I am not a history buff.