- Paperback: 424 pages
- Publisher: Tempus Publishing Ltd (Dec 1 2007)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0752444670
- ISBN-13: 978-0752444673
- Product Dimensions: 19.6 x 12.4 x 2.6 cm
- Shipping Weight: 299 g
- Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #1,380,904 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Details |
Product Description
Review
"'One of the most distinguished of English women novelists' THE DAILY TELEGRAPH; 'A natural storyteller whose characters are neatly and believably portrayed: whose prose is smooth and readable' THE NEW YORK TIMES; 'Has a deft chroniclers way with her characters' THE EVENING STANDARD."
Product Description
Out of the courts of twelfth-century England strode the legendary figure of Richard of England - leading his knights onto the Saracen battlefields - inspired by a vision of the Holy Land.Here is the story of the Soldier-King and the Third Crusade - of his strange, ill-fated union with Berengaria, Princess of Navarre - of his mother, the She-Wolf, Eleanor of Aquitaine who loved her son with a frantic, possessive pride. And, above all, here is the story of the minstrel whose life was linked with that of the King - the story of Blondel - the Lute Player...It follows the success of "The Concubine", "The King's Pleasure", and "Eleanor the Queen" published by Torque in September 2006, each has sold over 10,000 copies. Norah Lofts was a bestselling author. It has reviews also in women's weekly and monthly magazines, to include "Vogue", "Red", "The Lady", "Glamour" and "Woman's Own".
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Customer Reviews
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Most helpful customer reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars
Very, very slow paced and doesn't pick up (2.5),
By
Ce commentaire est de: The Lute Player (Paperback)
The Lute Player is told in several parts, with each part being told in the first person POV of one of the main characters, Blondel the Lute Player, Anna a fictional half sister of Berengaria and Eleanor of Aquitaine, Richard's mother. The story begins as Blondel finds his way to the Court of Navarre and home to Berengaria and Anna. Berengaria is in love with Richard (who is engaged to the King of France's sister), the hunchbacked Anna is in love with Blondel and Blondel is in love with Berengaria. Richard's engagement is eventually broken and desperate for more funds to finance his crusade, he agrees to marry Berengaria. The rest of the book details known history, the wedding on the way to the crusade, the third crusade itself and Richard's alleged preference for young boys, his being taken hostage on the way home from the crusade and his non-existent relationship with his wife.I love reading medieval fiction and learning of the history of the times, but frankly I found this whole book to be quite boring and by the time it got to the crusade half way through I found myself skimming quite a bit, and the final third covering the last days of Richard and Berengaria were just one big snooze fest, at least for this reader. It could just be me; I've never been that fond of Richard I and Berengaria I found to be bordering on the TSTL category, almost, but not quite. I guess if you're a die hard fan of this ruler and want to learn more about him it might be worth your while, but I would recommend getting this one from the library first (as I did) and then buy it if you like it. 2.5 stars rounded up to three.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta) Amazon.com:
3.7 out of 5 stars (11 customer reviews) 18 of 18 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good Book,
By "kotinca" - Published on Amazon.com
Ce commentaire est de: LUTE PLAYER (Mass Market Paperback)
This book is about Richard I the Lionheart. Its main characters are his Lute Player Blondel, his mother Eleanor of Aquitaine, his wife and her sister. This work of fiction carefully follows the thread of history, explaining actions that Richard was criticized for, and filling in history's blanks. The book plays out during Richard's crusade. The historical information about the troubles faced and the experiences of soldiers on crusade were amazing. I thought that I respected those men before, but I had no idea. When the book ends you are left begging for more. It is a shame that she didn't write a part two.
15 of 16 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Enthralling look at the Crusades,
By A Customer - Published on Amazon.com
Ce commentaire est de: LUTE PLAYER (Mass Market Paperback)
This is the story of Richard the Lion-Hearted and the Third Crusade, but the miracle of it is that you see it not from Richard's viewpoint but from the viewpoint of a princess who loved him, her hunchbacked half-sister, and an ordinary lute player. Much of it is based on old legends and histories which makes it even more fascinating. Yet it is a tale which has a modern resonance because Richard, at least in this telling, was a homosexual.
18 of 20 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Lute Player,
By A Customer - Published on Amazon.com
Ce commentaire est de: LUTE PLAYER (Mass Market Paperback)
When I was a child my aunts and grandmothers loaned this book around in the family and everyone loved it. As an adult I found it, and a box full of other books by Norah Lofts, at a second hand book store. This book is brilliant, as are all of Norah Lofts' books; she is my favorite author. I am shocked at how many are out of print. Other great books: Jassy, Nethergate, Queens of England, Scent of Cloves, The Lost Queen,How Far To Bethleham...they are all great. Please put them back into print.
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