Stonehenge

[mongrel]

I have raved (I know, I'm always raving, but this is in a good sense) about Bernard Cornwell's "Saxon Tales", a series of novels set in ninth-century England before it actually WAS England. I've read one or two other of Cornwell's books -- liked them much. But when Rev sent me a copy of Cornwell's "Stonehenge", set in a 2000 BC Britain that pre-dates not only England but even the arrival of the Celts who would ultimately be displaced or absorbed by Anglo-Saxon pagans, I realized about two paragraphs in that Bernard Cornwell is a great writer, and that regardless of subject matter he can make it interesting -- to the point that I finished the 460-some-odd pages within a single 24-hour period.

Obviously this isn't a novel set in any time or place relevant to black powder shooting, but if you acquire and start reading it -- you won't care.

Set in a span of time where the New Stone and Bronze Ages were overlapping, "Stonehenge" devotes much time to the conflicts and maturing of three brothers who hate one another with that special passion people almost have to be family members to feel. One will become a murderous chieftain, one a half-crazed priest of a Sun-Worshipping religion, and another, ultimately, the builder of that fairly famous ring of stones.

At times I found myself giggling at recollection of the movie "This Is Spinal Tap", which as those who have seen it will recall has a hilarious sequence involving an on-stage Stonehenge at a Spinal Tap concert, and stressing how important it is to get straight the symbols for "inch" and "foot" when giving directions to the manager and road crew of the band.... But the novel "Stonehenge" isn't amusing at all, and it makes a fascinating tale of the process of people with one foot still in the Stone Age not only envisioning a temple intended to bring God to Earth and force order upon the sun, the stars, and the seasons, but working out the staggering logistics of moving, shaping, and placing stones that tower more than twice the height of a human being and weigh dozens or hundreds of tons apiece.

A great read by a great author. Acquire "Stonehenge" and enjoy!

[Dogshirt]

I'll definitely have to check ALL these books out!