What do Camelot and William Wallace have in common?
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This week, Reader, I have a story to tell you about a much-loved author of mine whose craft for story-telling and character development I aspire to match. But if you're in a hurry and just want the free book links, here they are: Summer Stories: Urban Fantasy & Paranormal Romance Paranormal Mystery & Suspense Summer Book Fair: Celtic Connection Reader, have you ever encountered an author whose body of work is so well crafted that you know any book you pick up will be just what you're expecting? Maybe it's their incredible ability to create an amazing imaginary world you wish you could explore in real life. Or maybe it's the deep characters they introduce you to or the twist at the end of each book that you never see coming. I can think of a few authors I would put into this category, but today I want to shine the spotlight on one in particular: the Scottish-Canadian writer, Jack Whyte. (Not to be confused with the legendary musician Jack White) Many years ago (we're talking pre-Y2K), my grade seven teacher was raving about one of his favourite book series. He piqued my interest when he started talking about the legendary sword, Excalibur. This author, he said, had explained how King Arthur and Camelot could have actually existed in English history in a plausible manner, without any magic involved. Now, I love stories with magic in them, but the idea of setting a mythical figure into real history fascinated me. So began a two-year journey where I devoured each of the 6 books in the series plus the 7th book that covers the same time frame from another character's perspective. While each book was around 500 pages, it never felt like a dense or heavy read. Jack Whyte explains history by creating rich settings and complex characters making you wish the story would never end. I read that series a long time ago, and yet I still have fond memories of the experience and can recall many details of the saga that spans three generations. You do need to have an interest in history to enjoy the books, but they are by no means a dry and boring read. There is plenty of action, conflict, romance, and philosophical questions in every tale, which is why they endure as some of my favourite all-time reads. Jump forward to this summer and I found myself unexpectedly reunited with the works of Jack Whyte. The more I research Thomas the Rhymer and the period in which he supposedly lived (1220-1298), the more I've learned about medieval Scotland. Thomas is said to have predicted the death of King Alexander III in 1286, the event that unexpectedly threw Scotland into a precarious state, leading to the rise of William Wallace as a protector of the people and a notorious thorn in the side of the English. Now, I've never seen Braveheart, so I was searching for books to read on William Wallace's life instead and lo and behold, I discovered that Jack Whyte wrote a book on William Wallace: The Forest Laird, which I'm currently listening to on Audible. I feel extremely fortunate to have a Jack Whyte novel that so brilliantly paints the historical time period I need to research, right at the time I need it. Here is the book description from Chapters-Indigo: In the pre-dawn hours of August 24, AD 1305, in London's Smithfield Prison, the outlaw William Wallace, who is to be executed at dawn, is visited by a Scottish priest who has come to hear his last confession. So begins The Forest Laird, the first book in Jack Whyte's masterful new trilogy, The Guardians.
Wallace's story leads us through his many lives—as an outlaw and a fugitive, a hero and a patriot, a rebel and a kingmaker. He is the first heroic figure from the Scottish Wars of Independence brought blazingly to life in Jack Whyte's new trilogy and will be followed by his two compatriots, Robert the Bruce, King of Scots, and Sir James Douglas, known as the Black Douglas. Their exploits and escapades, desperate struggles and medieval savagery, high ideals and fierce patriotism are the stuff of legends, and the soul and substance of these epic novels.
If historical fiction is your thing, I highly recommend The Forest Laird or any book by Jack Whyte. Who are your favourite books or authors, Reader? Click reply and share your story. I'd love to hear about a book that made a lasting impression on you! Until next week, Natalie Guttormsson Read My Other Stories: |