- Paperback: 224 pages
- Publisher: Harper Trophy Canada (Nov 24 1994)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0006479383
- ISBN-13: 978-0006479383
- Product Dimensions: 17.3 x 10.4 x 1.8 cm
- Shipping Weight: 136 g
- Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #225,659 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Publishers Weekly
Accused of being a witch, Ursula joins the People's Crusade to Jerusalem in 1096 to escape burning at the stake. "Focusing on the Crusaders' slaughter of Rhineland Jews, [Bradford] demonstrates that intolerance and savagery toward 'outsiders' was as unconscionable then as it is now," said PW. Ages 12-up.-- demonstrates that intolerance and savagery toward 'outsiders' was as unconscionable then as it is now," said PW. Ages 12-up.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
Grade 6-8?Set in 1096, this light historical novel follows the adventures of Ursula, an apothecary's daughter from Cologne, into, through, and out of the People's Crusade led by Peter the Hermit. Ursula has thoroughly modern sensibilities. She reads, practices healing, saves animals, bathes frequently, talks openly to strange young men, talks back to her father's customers, opposes the aristocracy, and openly supports Jewish families. It is therefore no wonder that she is accused of witchcraft; sent on the Crusade; takes on the medical care of the haughty Count Emil; comes to the aid of an abused mother and her child; "adopts" the child upon the death of her mother; and, with the help of her friend Bruno, gets safely back to Cologne where she reopens the apothecary and marries Bruno. While there is plenty of action, there is little supporting detail. Bradford presents her characters, setting, and historical events by means of direct statements. This moves the story along quickly but gives readers no strong sense of place, time, or emotion. The author's narrative style also contributes to the fast pace of the plot. Sentences tend to be short, dialogue limited and terse, and descriptive passages few and simple. Characters are drawn very sketchily. Mad Peter the Hermit, for instance, is portrayed only as a distant figure who has no real impact on the plot. Ursula, herself, although not entirely believable, is a likable character and will appeal to readers who are content with a surface look at a girl growing to womanhood during this period.?Wendy D. Caldiero, New York Public Library
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
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Customer Reviews
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Most helpful customer reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Marvellous research,
By
This review is from: There Will Be Wolves (Paperback)
Karleen Bradford has recreated the People's Crusade with a careful attention to historicity: her characters are believable and stay true to their medieval sensibilities. Even in the end, Ursula's view of her world remains consistent. It is a monumental achievement on the part of the author; creating believable characters from such a harsh, unforgiving period of history is no easy task. The plot itself skims over much of the actual pilgrimage, focusing on essential points to help the reader understand the changes that occurred in the atmosphere of the Crusade and the attitudes of the People Crusaders. I would recommend this far before Karen Cushman's Catherine, Called Birdy in terms of representation of this period; it lies between the comfort of Cushman's novel and the graphic warfare of John Wilson's Heretic series (also exceptional). For the more sensitive reader, Bradford is perfect: the reality is reflected, the horror is portrayed, but the graphic details are minimized.
4.0 out of 5 stars
..........,
By "_winter_" (A book) - See all my reviews
This review is from: There Will Be Wolves (Hardcover)
I enjoyed this book, but it wasn't the best i've ever read. To me, it seemed more like a first-time author book. Though it did open my eyes about the People's Crusade and the Crusades in general. I always thought about the fighting and killing in Jerusalem, I never thought about the fighting and killing on the way there.All in all, i enjoyed it and recomend it and the other two in the Crusades trilogy-Shadows on and Sword and Lionheart's Scribe-to any lover of midieval books.
3.0 out of 5 stars
Meh.,
By "makeshiftmagic" (Suburbia, Texas) - See all my reviews
This review is from: There Will Be Wolves (Hardcover)
This book did have an interesting topic, something that initially caught my eye when I was looking for a good book to read. One usually finds more generic medieval eras as the setting, rather than the crusades specifically. However, when I began the book, I found it rather disappointing. The main characters were, in a word, flat. There was no real sense of being in the story, and I found a surplus of slightly clichéd supporting characters which was very disheartening, as the plot was fairly original, though still very easy to predict. While this particular work didn't live up to expectations, I do think the author is heading down the right path, and given more time and experience, could create some magnificant writings, though this book was not one.
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