apologies for any inadvertent errors below - I'm away from my desk recovering from a hip replacement op
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| Rachel's Random Resources Book Tours |
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| Welcome to my Blog! Wander through worlds real and fictional, meet interesting people, visit exciting places and find good books to enjoy along the way! |
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| About the Book |
Fields of Glory
1346. France. King Edward III is restless. Despite earlier victories the French crown remains intact. Determined to bring France under his own rule, Edward has devised a new plan of attack – one which he believes will finally bring the French army to its knees: a final, cataclysmic battle ...
Berenger Fripper, Vintener of a pox-ridden mob of sixteen who make up the Vintaine of Sir John de Sully, storms the beaches of Normandy to bring victory to their king. But the French are nowhere to be seen… And so Berenger leads his Vintaine through France and onward to battle - the Battle of Crécy – one which will both bond and break his men and be a decisive turning point in the Hundred Years’ War.
Purchase Link - https://mybook.to/Fieldsof
Author Bio –
Studied actuarial science, then became a computer salesman for 13 years- after the 13th company folded, he turned to writing.
He’s the author of 50 novels, 6 novellas, 4 collaborative books and short stories. His tales are inspired by history and legends, but are all grounded in real life and real people, what motivates them, and why they turn to violence.
Founder of Medieval Murderers, he has served on the committees of: Historical Writers’ Association, CWA and Detection Club. He has judged the Debut Dagger, Ian Fleming Steel Dagger and other prizes, as well as serving as Dagger liaison officer and CWA Chair. He has taught writing at Swanwick and Evesham, and tutored for the Royal Literary Fund. He now runs South West Writers in Devon.
His work has been celebrated by Visconti and Conway Stewart pens; 2014 he was International Guest of Honour at the Bloody Words festival in Toronto, and Grand Master of the first parade in the New Orleans Mardi Gras.
Social Media Links –
Facebook: @Michael.Jecks.author
Twitter: @MichaelJecks
Instagram: @michaeljecks
Newsletter Sign Up:
Bookbub profile: @michaeljecks
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| My Thoughts |
I don't really like appraising historical novels as a 'man's read' or a 'woman's read' as that tends to put books into outdated stereotypical genres - even now when I say I'm an author I get, 'Oh what do you write? Romances?' (I guess the chaps get, 'What do you write? Thrillers?') But for Fields of Glory I do wonder if this is a 'man's read' because it's basically about men on the battlefield - and it's very gritty (as battlefields were - are!). Having said that, if you're a lover of well-researched, detailed - as near as we can get to what really happened historical fiction - regardless of being suitable for male or female readers, then I'd recommend Mr Jeck's novel as an exciting and entertaining read.
I know nothing about this period apart from there were battles during a lot of rain at Crécy and Agincourt, and something about a certain play based around 'We few, we happy few...' by a chap called 'Bill', so it was a pleasure to read a novel where the facts of what went on were apparently reliable. Although there were a couple of minor quibbles which, if I was reading purely for reading, not for writing a review, I would probably not have noticed.
One was at the very opening: gunwale. The word (and an actual gunwale) first came into use soon after 1325ish, this opening chapter is 1346 so the dates are only just right, but I'm assuming this was a transport ship not a warship ... so I'm being very picky, but 'gunwale' doesn't quite sound right for this context. Personally, I'd have used 'bulwark' or plain 'rail'.
But I do emphasise I'm being really pedantic here - mostly because I so enjoyed the rest of the book but this one little thing niggled.
Also, men seemed to recover from wounds pretty quickly - but then, for both observations, this is fiction so does it matter?
I did have to concentrate on getting my head around all the different characters with their unfamiliar names and unfamiliar job descriptions etc, but that's my failing as a reader, not the author's writing ability or style. (At 72 I'm finding remembering even close friends' names not as easy as it used to be - and reading on a Kindle makes the task harder as it isn't as practical to flip back through pages as a reminder.)
All that said, for readers who enjoy a good historical novel that is well written about historical events and the people involved in them, and readers who don't mind the blood, violence, guts and gore of the battlefield ... don't miss this one, it's a good read!
(ARC copy provided by Rachel's Random Resources in exchange for a review)
**** 4 stars
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