From Library Journal
As the publicity stresses, Norton editor-in-chief Lawrence edits Patrick O'Brien, so it's not surprising that he has written a first novel of historical adventure. But this excellent work is much, much more than that. Set on the eve of World War I, it features Englishman Auberon Harwell, who consents to travel to Montenegro for the supercilious Lord Polgrove to assess Britain's opportunities in the Balkans as the Ottoman Empire disintegrates. On his first day there, he encounters the gruesome handiwork of a partisan and loses his packhorse on the rocks, but he pushes on to the interior and takes up residence with the family of Danilo Pekocevic, freedom-fighting hero of the Montenegrin Serbs and now an old man. Inevitably, Harwell is drawn into conflicts both political and personal?conflicts that he soon realizes will explode, regardless of his (or Britain's) interest in trying to set things right. Lawrence writes assuredly, with great attention to both character and historical detail, helping us feel the underlying conflict that, of course, is still present in the Balkans today. At first, we are seduced by the wonderful storytelling, but eventually we are humbled by the story's moral dimensions. Highly recommended.
-?Barbara Hoffert, "Library Journal"Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Booklist
Lawrence demonstrated his writing talent in his short story collection
Legacies (1996); his moving first novel confirms his abilities. With splendid evocation of place and time, fine writing, and a compelling mixture of adventure, tragedy, and romance,
Montenegro transcends the historical fiction genre. The hero, naively enthusiastic Englishman Auberon Harwell, travels to Montenegro at the turn of the century under the pretext of studying local plants. Actually, he is on a fact-finding mission at the behest of an English politician who is eager to turn the region's conflicts to his own advantage. In a small border village, Harwell's host is Daniel Pekocevic, renowned among the Montenegrin Serbs as a great warrior and patriot. Harwell tutors Daniel's son, Toma, and falls in love with Pekocevic's wife. In the shadow of the growing tension among the various ethnic groups and the competing Austrian and Ottoman Empires, each character in the novel is forced to make painfully difficult decisions; that we care deeply about them is a tribute to Lawrence's skill.
Nancy Pearl
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
