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Chargement... The King's Druid (édition 2020)par G. R. Grove (Auteur)
Information sur l'oeuvreThe King's Druid par G. R. Grove
Books Read in 2022 (1,018) Actuellement, il n'y a pas de discussions au sujet de ce livre. ![]() ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ G.R. Grove sets ‘The King’s Druid’ in the Sixth Century AD, at a time when Druidic influence was fading among the Irish kings as the Catholic Church gained popularity and converts. Mixed through the story are fictional creations, historical characters, and a few that may draw from both camps. It follows the life of Fráechán mac Tenusán, who determines as a very young boy to become a powerful Druid – in fact, “the King’s Druid”, even though the custom was falling into disuse at that point. Fráechán does ultimately achieve his goal, three-quarters of the way through the novel, only to find that the duties he must perform for his king, Díarmait mac Cerbaill, are often contrary to the spirit of the discipline to which he has devoted his life. Grove paints a realistic picture of the land and the daily lives of its people, but the level of detail and quotidian events make for a glacial pace. Perhaps of more concern to the reader, we never really quite understand Fráechán’s drive for the position. At one point, the character says he wants to “ensure that the tales of the land and its heroes and of the gods he served, were not entirely lost and forgotten” – an admirable goal indeed, and one which many would feel he attained by becoming the Archdruid, cross-trained in the healing arts, in Druidic magic, and in the bardic craft. He works hard to master his arcane craft, he makes good friends and suffers deep losses, but we never get to dive beneath the surface. We know more about the horses he rides and the robes he wears than we do about the secrets of his heart. In addition, readers who lack the Gaelic would much appreciate a pronouncing gazeteer in order to keep from being yanked out of the story every time they come across unfamiliar (and essentially unpronounceable) character or place names. This is an exquisitely researched piece of work, but it never manages to engage the heart. ![]() ![]() ![]() aucune critique | ajouter une critique
Appartient à la sérieGwernin's Quests Trilogy (1.5) Est une suite (ne faisant pas partie de la série) de
The Chronicle of Ireland reports that in the mid-sixth century Fráechán mac Tenusán cast the "druidical fence" over the army of High King Díarmait mac Cerbaill at the battle of Cul Dreimne, and that Díarmait lost that battle due to "the prayers of Colum Cille" (Saint Columba). But how could there have been a practicing Druid in the King of Tara's court in the Age of the Saints, a century after Saint Patrick brought Christianity to Ireland? Aucune description trouvée dans une bibliothèque |
Critiques des anciens de LibraryThing en avant-premièreLe livre The King's Druid de G. R. Grove était disponible sur LibraryThing Early Reviewers. Discussion avec l'auteurG. R. Grove a discuté avec les utilisateurs de LibraryThing du Oct 8, 2012 au Oct 26, 2012. Lire la discussion. Discussion en coursAucunCouvertures populaires
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Overall it's not a bad read, but I've read better from this author.