What do you think?
Rate this book
The Book of Silence #3
Dunction Stone
Under the cruel leadership of Quail, sectarian Newborns have taken control of the key systems of Moledom. But the loyal followers of the Stone have not given up. In Duncton Wood, home of spiritual truth and liberty, resistance lives on. Its champion is the timid Library aide Pumpkin, while in holy Uffington, Fieldfare inspires revolt. Even in dread Wildenhope, headquarters of the Newborn leadership, the once-evil Thripp, strives to undermine Quail’s position and right the wrongs he originally inspired. Meanwhile, Stone followers everywhere await news of Privet, female scholar and scribemole, and of her quest for the lost Book of Silence. Even if she finds it, will she have the strength to bring it home?
Hardcover
First published January 1, 1993
3 people are currently reading
396 people want to read
About the author
William Horwood
43 books250 followersWilliam Horwood is an English novelist. His first novel, Duncton Wood, an allegorical tale about a community of moles, was published in 1980. It was followed by two sequels, forming The Duncton Chronicles, and also a second trilogy, The Book of Silence. William Horwood has also written two stand-alone novels intertwining the lives of humans and of eagles,
The Stonor Eagles and Callanish
, and The Wolves of Time duology. Skallagrigg, his 1987 novel about disability, love, and trust, was made into a BBC film in 1994. In addition, he has written a number of sequels to
The Wind in the Willows
by Kenneth Grahame.
In 2007, he collaborated with historian Helen Rappaport to produce Dark Hearts of Chicago, a historical mystery and thriller set in nineteenth-century Chicago. It was republished in 2008 as City of Dark Hearts with some significant revisions and cuts under the pen name James Conan.
In 2007, he collaborated with historian Helen Rappaport to produce Dark Hearts of Chicago, a historical mystery and thriller set in nineteenth-century Chicago. It was republished in 2008 as City of Dark Hearts with some significant revisions and cuts under the pen name James Conan.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
April 18, 2012
Gross and obscene. Privet and her companions return to Duncton Wood to find the seventh Book of Silence, and Quail, leader of the newborn moles, is also on his way there. More "religious" and less mole-like than any of the preceding books - Horwood has obviously run out of ideas, and seems to be trying to send a messages to his publishers, "I am sick of writing books about moles, and I am writing this one to make my readers sick of reading books about moles, so please don't ask me to write any more books about moles."
January 15, 2024
Re-read. A beautiful series of books.
October 17, 2025
The heart-warming finale to the tale of the Book of Silence.
Forever changed my opinion on moles.
I will admit I got through the whopping 869 pages rather sluggishly because it is an extensive tale, but I far from regret it.
It might seem curious - but those who get it know exactly what I mean by saying: the darkest stories are also the lightest. Amongst the rape and war, the loneliness and hopelessness, the hate and destruction, there is also an ever greater Light: of bravery, kindness, forgiveness, patience, perseverance and love.
There are some twisted moles groomed and manipulated into loving vile deeds, mistaking it for righteousness- they have my pity, as for those who they counterpart in humanform. Stour, Privet, Rooster, Maple, and Pumpkin hold my heart for knowing where the line ends, where it should not be crossed - lest we curse our very selves as well.
Overall rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Characters ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️4.5
The book is very character driven. And there is a great range of them, yet they all remain distinctive and likeable in their own way.
I was kinda upset that both whillan and Rooster survived, but in the end, it was well explained and paid off.
Dialogue ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
William Horwood made moles seem very poetic and intelligent.
Setting ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
They traverse all the way through Moledom in these books, I must admit I can't remember what is where all the time, but the grandness and feeling of the places was always described very well. He didn't linger any longer than was necessary on setting, but he made sure we were really there with the moles and in the atmosphere, whether that be desolate tunnels, holy clearings, dangerous waters, or cozy nests.
Pacing ⭐️⭐️⭐️
There is so much going on that it does get tedious. Maybe if it was split into more books, it might have been more exciting- but at a cost as well. I can't be too mad at it because I wouldn't change it. It worked. Well, some scenes were drawn out too long but I can't help but still praise it because they are just so well written??
Immersion ⭐️⭐️⭐️3.5
Writing style ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
very pleasant. beautiful.
Depth/complexity ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Re-readability ⭐️⭐️
The chances are quite low. First, I will have to read the other trilogy by W Horwood!
Creativity ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Ending ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Im glad there was a happy ending. I wouldn't have expected anything else. I dont entirely love the way Privet isn't able to finish the book by herself. it is a bit anti climactic since we have been following her journey, and it seems her whole life has been leading up to it, only for her to give up?
Forever changed my opinion on moles.
I will admit I got through the whopping 869 pages rather sluggishly because it is an extensive tale, but I far from regret it.
It might seem curious - but those who get it know exactly what I mean by saying: the darkest stories are also the lightest. Amongst the rape and war, the loneliness and hopelessness, the hate and destruction, there is also an ever greater Light: of bravery, kindness, forgiveness, patience, perseverance and love.
There are some twisted moles groomed and manipulated into loving vile deeds, mistaking it for righteousness- they have my pity, as for those who they counterpart in humanform. Stour, Privet, Rooster, Maple, and Pumpkin hold my heart for knowing where the line ends, where it should not be crossed - lest we curse our very selves as well.
Overall rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Characters ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️4.5
The book is very character driven. And there is a great range of them, yet they all remain distinctive and likeable in their own way.
I was kinda upset that both whillan and Rooster survived, but in the end, it was well explained and paid off.
Dialogue ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
William Horwood made moles seem very poetic and intelligent.
Setting ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
They traverse all the way through Moledom in these books, I must admit I can't remember what is where all the time, but the grandness and feeling of the places was always described very well. He didn't linger any longer than was necessary on setting, but he made sure we were really there with the moles and in the atmosphere, whether that be desolate tunnels, holy clearings, dangerous waters, or cozy nests.
Pacing ⭐️⭐️⭐️
There is so much going on that it does get tedious. Maybe if it was split into more books, it might have been more exciting- but at a cost as well. I can't be too mad at it because I wouldn't change it. It worked. Well, some scenes were drawn out too long but I can't help but still praise it because they are just so well written??
Immersion ⭐️⭐️⭐️3.5
Writing style ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
very pleasant. beautiful.
Depth/complexity ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Re-readability ⭐️⭐️
The chances are quite low. First, I will have to read the other trilogy by W Horwood!
Creativity ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Ending ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Im glad there was a happy ending. I wouldn't have expected anything else. I dont entirely love the way Privet isn't able to finish the book by herself. it is a bit anti climactic since we have been following her journey, and it seems her whole life has been leading up to it, only for her to give up?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 3, 2017
I've spent approximately a year or so reading through all six volumes of Horwood's 'Holy Wars of the Moles' (as I found myself calling it). It's uneven, epic, moving, appalling, harrowing, memorable. Too often, Horwood draws a scene out to almost unbearable lengths, scenes that didn't need drawing out, testing even my patience for detailed description, but he has a gift for creating memorable characters. Not for everyone and certainly not for children, but I'm glad I made the journey. Besides...moles have libraries!
January 7, 2024
I enjoyed this series - long but thoughtful allegory, somewhat a cross between the Wind in the Willows and the Lord of the Rings. May Moles everywhere now have learned to live in peace. Interestingly, Horwood wrote a sequel to Wind in the Willows, which was apparently a favorite of his, so now I'm off to find that one (and to reread Wind in the Willows)!
May 31, 2021
The end goes on a little but I really liked the ultimate conclusion, no loose ends, a fun epic trilogy albeit very long.
October 27, 2022
Incredible. So impactful. Absolutely brilliant. All these Duncton books are, for me, on par with Lord of the Rings. Wow.
July 14, 2010
So here we are - the last of six books chronicling the turbulent lives of moles that live by the Stone and strive to seek Silence. I can't say it's been the most gripping journey, particularly the three books that comprise the 'Book of Silence' but I am pleased to report that this third book at least improves a little on the second, which was the worst kind of religious diatribe to be committed to paper.
In this book, Privet is still in a state of Silence after the supposed death of both Rooster, her mate, and Whillan, her adopted son. The rest of moledom looks to her as an example of how to face the tyranny of the Newborn. Over the course of the novel we watch Quail's progress to a more spiritual state, and finally discover the whereabouts of Glee and Humlock.
I'll deal briefly with the good parts, since the bad still outweighs the good...
Horwood's biggest strength is still being able to produce decent characters on both sides of the conflict: we feel sympathy for Whillan; enjoy Rooster's muddled phraseology; adore Pumpkin and Fieldfare for the faithful and true characters they are. On the Newborn side we can enjoy the discovery of Thripp's true character; and deeply despise the evil characters of Quail and Snyde for their foul and noxious attributes. Thorne and Thripp, in particular, amply illustrate the fact that both good and evil can be found in one mole.
Horwood presents some good discussion on the nature of religion: where opposing sides in a conflict are in essence worshipping the same thing (here, the Stone). Parallels can be drawn with Protestants and Catholics in medieval England.
There is also a decent treatise on wars and how to end them without force and revenge in order to avoid a self-perpetuating cycle of retaliation. Horwood presents the idea that if one side stands down and opposes with silent love and forgiveness it can have a more powerful impact.
Since this is the last book in the Duncton sequence I will finally mention the very beautiful covers drawn by John Barber – they are lovely and sympathetic to the stories within.
And here comes the bad: despite the fact that there is a final battle between the Newborn and the followers; despite the fact that Privet and Rooster are reunited and she discovers the Book of Silence; despite this and much more it feels as though nothing much happens.
There are pages and pages of dull plodding from one place to another; Horwood fills further pages with spiritual mumbo-jumbo. This takes enormous time and effort to plough through.
Considering the enormous part she plays in the novel, Privet is a truly awful character. You end up having little sympathy for a mole who is full of self pity, grouchy, snaps at others, seems to have no warmth or affection for her adopted son. I had little interest in her progress or the resolution to her tale.
God, these moles cry! Seriously, at everything! Weeping, sobbing, tears streaming, watery eyes, sniffling – Horwood plundered the thesaurus for these poor emotional souls.
But my biggest complaint is that Horwood’s descriptions of depraved moles and moles in pain becomes relentless, grotesque and graphic. I give you a few samples to illustrate my point and let you know why I’ll never be revisiting these books:
“Beyond the cell’s walls, Squelch giggled and sighed, and heaved his obese body about excitedly, as below him, Snyde snouted at the dead body he had power over, which could not mock his deformities or threaten him, then savagely began his pleasure.” (Necrophilia)
“Quail panted with the effort of his speech, his stomach palpitating, his odour wafting all about like the stench of death, the strange projecting growth at his rear end stiff and quivering like some pus-filled swollen talon pointing backwards.” (Unnecessary disgusting details of deformity)
“He was maimed in the front right paw and the left hind paw, so that he could only crawl; he was mutilated so that his maleness was all gone; his snout was sheered off at its tip, to cause him agony.” (Torture sequence)
Just not nice.
In this book, Privet is still in a state of Silence after the supposed death of both Rooster, her mate, and Whillan, her adopted son. The rest of moledom looks to her as an example of how to face the tyranny of the Newborn. Over the course of the novel we watch Quail's progress to a more spiritual state, and finally discover the whereabouts of Glee and Humlock.
I'll deal briefly with the good parts, since the bad still outweighs the good...
Horwood's biggest strength is still being able to produce decent characters on both sides of the conflict: we feel sympathy for Whillan; enjoy Rooster's muddled phraseology; adore Pumpkin and Fieldfare for the faithful and true characters they are. On the Newborn side we can enjoy the discovery of Thripp's true character; and deeply despise the evil characters of Quail and Snyde for their foul and noxious attributes. Thorne and Thripp, in particular, amply illustrate the fact that both good and evil can be found in one mole.
Horwood presents some good discussion on the nature of religion: where opposing sides in a conflict are in essence worshipping the same thing (here, the Stone). Parallels can be drawn with Protestants and Catholics in medieval England.
There is also a decent treatise on wars and how to end them without force and revenge in order to avoid a self-perpetuating cycle of retaliation. Horwood presents the idea that if one side stands down and opposes with silent love and forgiveness it can have a more powerful impact.
Since this is the last book in the Duncton sequence I will finally mention the very beautiful covers drawn by John Barber – they are lovely and sympathetic to the stories within.
And here comes the bad: despite the fact that there is a final battle between the Newborn and the followers; despite the fact that Privet and Rooster are reunited and she discovers the Book of Silence; despite this and much more it feels as though nothing much happens.
There are pages and pages of dull plodding from one place to another; Horwood fills further pages with spiritual mumbo-jumbo. This takes enormous time and effort to plough through.
Considering the enormous part she plays in the novel, Privet is a truly awful character. You end up having little sympathy for a mole who is full of self pity, grouchy, snaps at others, seems to have no warmth or affection for her adopted son. I had little interest in her progress or the resolution to her tale.
God, these moles cry! Seriously, at everything! Weeping, sobbing, tears streaming, watery eyes, sniffling – Horwood plundered the thesaurus for these poor emotional souls.
But my biggest complaint is that Horwood’s descriptions of depraved moles and moles in pain becomes relentless, grotesque and graphic. I give you a few samples to illustrate my point and let you know why I’ll never be revisiting these books:
“Beyond the cell’s walls, Squelch giggled and sighed, and heaved his obese body about excitedly, as below him, Snyde snouted at the dead body he had power over, which could not mock his deformities or threaten him, then savagely began his pleasure.” (Necrophilia)
“Quail panted with the effort of his speech, his stomach palpitating, his odour wafting all about like the stench of death, the strange projecting growth at his rear end stiff and quivering like some pus-filled swollen talon pointing backwards.” (Unnecessary disgusting details of deformity)
“He was maimed in the front right paw and the left hind paw, so that he could only crawl; he was mutilated so that his maleness was all gone; his snout was sheered off at its tip, to cause him agony.” (Torture sequence)
Just not nice.
July 15, 2014
Patience and determination along with my unwillingness to leave this series unread have paid off. I take a lot away from this book, about writing, about life, about relationships. The many sections regarding war strategy were mostly boring for me, and in all honestly, I skimmed over some of those parts. Not enough to take away from the whole of the story though. That being said, I must share my opinion: this book was too long, much like the other two in the series. Some sections were just completely unnecessary, characters which could have been left out in my opinion. I wonder how good his editor could have been! Overall, I came away with satisfaction, but it seemed to me like it was all neatly wrapped up in a bow at the end. So many things which got left behind that he really connected at the end. Almost too perfect. I honestly would never recommend this series to anyone. It was a big struggle to complete and I am glad I did, but there were so many references to Jesus it made me uncomfortable. It almost seemed like Horwood combined WW 2 with The Life of Christ and tried to turn them into his own version of The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. Some worthwhile sections, but too much repetition and wordiness for my taste.
February 10, 2017
The sweetest end to the chronicles that are The Book of Silence. The imagination that William Horwood has used to create this whole community of moles with their beliefs and their strengths and weaknesses is amazing. I have loved the travails of the beautiful yet flawed characters.
June 4, 2014
One of the most boring books I've ever read. I often found myself wondering why I was wasting three weeks slogging through a book I fully intended to leave unfinished 1/7th of the way in, instead of using that time to read two or three other books. I guess it proves I am OCD about finishing books, no matter how excruciatingly boring they are. And this one, aside from a 200-or-so-page stretch in the middle, definitely is.
Nice obvious religious allegory, as well. Yuck.
Nice obvious religious allegory, as well. Yuck.
June 10, 2010
A quest tale with a good dose of philosphy thrown in. Fitting conclusion to the series.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews