- Hardcover: 480 pages
- Publisher: Delacorte Press; 1 edition (Sep 30 2008)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0385341695
- ISBN-13: 978-0385341691
- Product Dimensions: 23.1 x 16.3 x 4.1 cm
- Shipping Weight: 680 g
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #408,525 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Details |
Product Description
Review
"[Maitland] brings to life a medieval England of muddy streets and half-naked children fighting each other for pieces of dog dung to sell to the tanners, as sheep-stealers swing purple-faced from the gallows.... She neatly catches the spirit of primitive superstition that governed every aspect of 14th century life and then rolls on with it for her own story-telling ends.... Company of Liars is a richly evocative page-turner which brings to life a lost and terrible period of British history, with a disturbing final twist worthy of a master of the spine-tingler, such as Henry James."–Daily Express, UK
“Transports readers back to the days of the Black Death . . . Paying homage to The Decameron and The Canterbury Tales, this is a gripping read. . . . As a reader you are taken as close to the plague as you would ever wish to go.” —Bookseller
"Darkly deceptive, twisting and turning and pulling you along, Company of Liars will leave you guessing until the end. Maitland creates a world that will both haunt and astonish you."—Shana Ábe
"Mysterious, sinister, and totally enthralling! It's the sort of book where you close the back cover and immediately open it again, hoping to find a few more pages."—Diana Gabaldon, #1 bestselling author of A Breath of Snow and Ashes
"Karen Maitland immerses the modern reader in the daily life of the Middle Ages. Intricately plotted, Company of Liars offers complex characters today's reader can identify with. A dark Canterbury's Tale, this long winter's night of magical storytelling expertly blends history and mystery."—Julia Spencer-Fleming, Edgar Award finalist and author of I Shall Not Want
“Karen Maitland has dug into some obscure corners of medieval history to produce an almost parallel universe: a place where myth, magic, and superstition take over as the established order breaks down, but a world that nevertheless rings true. On top of that, she has fashioned a compelling mystery story that should appeal to a much wider readership than historical fiction fans. . . . Compelling.” —Daily Mail, UK
"Maitland combines the storytelling traditions of The Canterbury Tales with the supernatural suspense of Kate Mosse's Sepulchre in this atmospheric tale of treachery and magic."—Marie Claire
“A Canterbury Tales scenario with an M. Night Shyamalan ghost story…. A harrowing historical.”—Denver Post
"A compelling and highly atmospheric twist on Dan Brown land."—The Mirror, UK
“Executed with stunning skill.”—BookPage
“Transports readers back to the days of the Black Death . . . Paying homage to The Decameron and The Canterbury Tales, this is a gripping read. . . . As a reader you are taken as close to the plague as you would ever wish to go.” —Bookseller
"Darkly deceptive, twisting and turning and pulling you along, Company of Liars will leave you guessing until the end. Maitland creates a world that will both haunt and astonish you."—Shana Ábe
"Mysterious, sinister, and totally enthralling! It's the sort of book where you close the back cover and immediately open it again, hoping to find a few more pages."—Diana Gabaldon, #1 bestselling author of A Breath of Snow and Ashes
"Karen Maitland immerses the modern reader in the daily life of the Middle Ages. Intricately plotted, Company of Liars offers complex characters today's reader can identify with. A dark Canterbury's Tale, this long winter's night of magical storytelling expertly blends history and mystery."—Julia Spencer-Fleming, Edgar Award finalist and author of I Shall Not Want
“Karen Maitland has dug into some obscure corners of medieval history to produce an almost parallel universe: a place where myth, magic, and superstition take over as the established order breaks down, but a world that nevertheless rings true. On top of that, she has fashioned a compelling mystery story that should appeal to a much wider readership than historical fiction fans. . . . Compelling.” —Daily Mail, UK
"Maitland combines the storytelling traditions of The Canterbury Tales with the supernatural suspense of Kate Mosse's Sepulchre in this atmospheric tale of treachery and magic."—Marie Claire
“A Canterbury Tales scenario with an M. Night Shyamalan ghost story…. A harrowing historical.”—Denver Post
"A compelling and highly atmospheric twist on Dan Brown land."—The Mirror, UK
“Executed with stunning skill.”—BookPage
Product Description
In this extraordinary novel, Karen Maitland delivers a dazzling reinterpretation of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales—an ingenious alchemy of history, mystery, and powerful human drama.
The year is 1348. The Black Plague grips the country. In a world ruled by faith and fear, nine desperate strangers, brought together by chance, attempt to outrun the certain death that is running inexorably toward them.
Each member of this motley company has a story to tell. From Camelot, the relic-seller who will become the group’s leader, to Cygnus, the one-armed storyteller . . . from the strange, silent child called Narigorm to a painter and his pregnant wife, each has a secret. None is what they seem. And one among them conceals the darkest secret of all—propelling these liars to a destiny they never saw coming.
Magical, heart-quickening, and raw, Company of Liars is a work of vaulting imagination from a powerful new voice in historical fiction.
The year is 1348. The Black Plague grips the country. In a world ruled by faith and fear, nine desperate strangers, brought together by chance, attempt to outrun the certain death that is running inexorably toward them.
Each member of this motley company has a story to tell. From Camelot, the relic-seller who will become the group’s leader, to Cygnus, the one-armed storyteller . . . from the strange, silent child called Narigorm to a painter and his pregnant wife, each has a secret. None is what they seem. And one among them conceals the darkest secret of all—propelling these liars to a destiny they never saw coming.
Magical, heart-quickening, and raw, Company of Liars is a work of vaulting imagination from a powerful new voice in historical fiction.
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Most helpful customer reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
It ain't over 'til it's over!,
By B. Eitzen (T.O, Canada) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Company of Liars (Hardcover)
Contrary to my usual reviews, this one will be brief. For the usual mystery/adventure readers this book will thwart each attempt you make to figure it all out. You won't have all the answers until the very last paragraph. Karen Maitland is the master of illusion and deception-in my humblest opinion of course.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Intriquing Mystery Novel,
By Clare Vancouver (BC, Canada) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Company of Liars: A Novel (Paperback)
Set in the 14th century England, "Company of Liars" has a motley band of who gather together for safety through 'Black Death' England. However, the pestilence is not the main theme of the novel, and is almost incidental to the emotional journey of Camelot, the main character.
Camelot, a relic peddler, is the reluctant leader; but each member is remarkable and all share their story (not always willingly), but the question is how truthful are their stories (and how truthful are they to themselves.) In the end it is not the pestilence that is the most dire threat, but the lies they are hiding. And the ending is just *stunning*. It is a very literate, epic book. Maitland gives us characters to love and feel for (or be wary of) in the context of a gripping mystery/adventure story. Her clear sense of time and place never screams "author has done research" but instead just sucks you down into the events and seamlessly draws you in. BTW: if you are interested in this period of history you might like to read Connie Willis "Doomsday Book".
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great!,
By
This review is from: Company of Liars: A Novel (Paperback)
I loved the twist ending, which totally surprised me even though it made complete sense. But even without the twist ending, I loved following the characters on their journey through plague infested England. I would happily reccomend this book to everyone.
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