Hatrack River Forum: Bernard Cornwell and the Historical Adventure Novel

This is topic Bernard Cornwell and the Historical Adventure Novel in forum Books, Films, Food and Culture at Hatrack River Forum.

To visit this topic, use this URL:
http://www.hatrack.com/ubb/main/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=034786

Posted by Scott R (Member # 567) on :

All right, so I finished Cornwell's Grail adventure, 'Vagabond' a couple weeks ago (audio book), and am about to finish 'Sharpe's Trafalgar.' I don't know if the history is valid, but both books are pretty high adventure; I'd recommend 'Trafalgar' for anyone over the age of twelve or so (some sex-- nothing graphic), but 'Vagabond' was vulgar enough to make me want to wash my ears out. There is also some pretty violent imagery in 'Vagabond,' though 'Trafalgar' is much more tame.

Has anyone else read Cornwell?

[ May 13, 2005, 08:57 AM: Message edited by: Scott R ]

Posted by plaid (Member # 2393) on :

I read (listened to) the first book of his Arthur books -- think the first one was called The Winter King? I read his books at George R. R. Martin's recommendation. I liked the first book well enough -- good characters, good period detail, interesting to see how he treated the Arthurian characters.

What I liked about the first book was the anthropological detail, and I was curious to see how he'd adapt the traditional fantasy version of the Arthurian characters to a more historical milieu. Once I'd gotten a sense of that from the first book, there wasn't any urgency to read the other books in the series to find out how the series ends. Arthur books always end in betrayal and tragedy, and while they all get there in different ways, finding out just which way they get there isn't that important to me.

Posted by King of Men (Member # 6684) on :

Surely that should be 'wash my eyes out'? Anyway, I've read most of the Sharpe books, and I think the history is pretty accurate. I do wonder at his tendency to kill off a 12-year-old, cheeky lad who becomes Sharpe's servant, in every last book. Apart from that, they're good enough reading, if a little repetitive. A B-list author, good enough for library loans and airports.

Posted by Scott R (Member # 567) on :

>> Surely that should be 'wash my eyes out'?<<

Audio book. [Smile]

Posted by Teshi (Member # 5024) on :

I've seen the Sharpe movie series...? The Sharpe stories work well on screen...? (I highly recommend this series, it's very good)

I've been tempted to buy or borrow a Bernard Cornwell book, but I'm too busy ploughing through 'high-and-mighty' novels. Perhaps I'll borrow one on my next trip to the library.