After Flodden

by Rosemary Goring

Patrick Paniter was James IV's right-hand man, a diplomatic genius who was in charge of the guns at the disastrous battle of Flodden in September 1513 in which the English annihilated the Scots. After the death of his king he is tormented by guilt as he relives the events that led to war. When Louise Brenier, daughter of a rogue sea trader, asks his help in finding out if her brother Benoit was killed in action, it is the least he can do to salve his conscience. Not satisfied with the news he brings, Louise sets off to find out the truth herself, and swiftly falls foul of one of the lawless clans that rule the ungovernable borderlands.

After Flodden is a novel about the consequences of the battle of Flodden, as seen through the eyes of several characters who either had a hand in bringing the country to war, or were profoundly affected by the outcome. There have been very few novels about Flodden, despite its significance,and none from this perspective. It's a racy adventure, combining political intrigue and romance, and its readership will be anyone who loves historical fiction, or is interested in the history of Scotland and the turbulent, ungovernable borderlands between Scotland and England.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Scotland, Historical, Mystery

336 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2013

About the author

Rosemary Goring was born in Dunbar and studied at the University of St Andrews. After graduation, she worked at W&R Chambers as a reference editor before becoming literary editor of Scotland on Sunday. She is currently literary editor and columnist for The Herald.

Reviews

[Natalie · Rating 2 out of 5]

After Flodden aims to show the impact of the disastrous Scottish defeat of 1513 on a varied group of interconnected characters. Louise Brennier, daughter of a somewhat dubious merchant/pirate, undertakes a quest to find her brother Benoit, who has not been seen since he rode off to the battlefield. Meanwhile, the late king James IV’s secretary Patrick Panniter mourns the outcome of the battle and reflects on his own role in the military blunders. Multiple viewpoints and an extended series of flashbacks allow us to see events leading up to the battle, and illuminate the feelings and motivations of the protagonists in its aftermath.

The novel’s strength lay in its evocation of landscape and the differing characters of the groups who inhabited it. Descriptions of the wet, chill moors through which Louise rides as she seeks her brother summoned strong visual images, and matched the grimness and mystery inherent in her task. The accents of cultivated courtiers, Edinburgh natives and rough-about-the-edges Borderers were clearly distinguished, although the ‘Frenchisms’ of Louise’s Normandy-born mother were perhaps overplayed. If the role of historical novels is partly didactic, I did learn about a period of history that is rarely covered in fiction, and gained a feel for the lawless border country, torn between England and Scotland and owing no particular loyalty to either.

Louise’s quest held my attention and the third quarter of the novel was the most gripping, as her two male companions risk personal danger to help her locate Benoit. However, the love triangle involving the blonde angelic courtier Gabriel and the blunt, down-to-earth borderer Crozier was far too obvious, and clearly Gabriel was going to turn out not to be quite what he seemed, and Crozier would be a ruffian with a heart of gold. The attraction between Louise and Crozier seemed necessary for the plot, but not heartfelt. The identity of the ‘spy’ was also predictable from early on.

I found the story much less engrossing when we moved away from Louise’s point of view, and the constant switching between viewpoints and timepoints was confusing, especially in the early sections. I often read in short snatches while commuting, and found it hard to keep up with whose head I was in, and in what year. The closing section was particularly disappointing and resulted in a lack of emotional closure for me: rather than staying with Louise and the resolution of her family drama, we move away entirely and sit with Patrick Pannier as he watches the spy meet his end on the scaffold, Panniter’s daydreams revealing at last the whole dark truth of his role in the battle.

There were also some stylistic quirks and inaccuracies that jarred me out of my flow when reading; I was never able to ‘lose myself’ in this novel. Strange and unlikely similes afflicted the first half of the story in particular: a restless character’s bedsheets looked as if they had been stirred by a ‘mischievous spoon.’ I can’t picture tangled sheets as looking like they have been stirred, and in any case, in what way can a spoon (as far as I know, lacking sentience and willpower) be ‘mischievous’? At another point, the English commander Surrey rides from Richmond to Yorkshire via Essex and Herefordshire. Clearly, things were very bad in the days before SatNavs.

At times Louise’s story approached a 3 star rating for me, but overall I found the reading experience a bit of a struggle, and can only mark it 2 out of 5.

[L · Rating 5 out of 5]

A profoundly meaningful and accurately realistic novel that brings the past vibrantly to life…

Amid truth-drawing prose is a thought-provoking tale, capturing the harshness of the times with such candidness and profundity. I was inwardly touched by those individual stories of characters whose lives were impacted by war, thus putting into perspective irrevocable love and great loss. Patrick Paniter is thrust into the heart of the battle of Flodden in 1513, presenting an interesting outlook through the eyes of one who witnesses an emerging war and the beginning of consequential change. Starkly poignant and powerfully dramatic, I was stunned by how keenly felt were those intense emotions of guilt and despair, together with the eagerness to uncover those hidden truths.

Exquisitely told and wonderfully written Rosemary Goring transports you back to the past with such dexterity, as she captures meticulously such intricate detail and vivid ambiance. Swept away by the fast-paced, energetic drama this dynamic story took hold and did not let go throughout. By cleverly combining subtlety with dazzling detail so as to paint a clear picture, the author creates something historically accurate and undeniably convincing.

I was satisfyingly captivated by a refreshingly original take on such a
Significant event within history, which merged military musings with a modern insight and current awareness. This fascinating fictitious romp though Scotland’s past is an unputdownable, addictive read and a truly triumphant accomplishment!

*I was sent a paperback ARC (Advance Reading Copy) of ‘After Flodden by Rosemary Goring’ to read and review, for LoveReading.*

www.lovereading.co.uk

[Jaffareadstoo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eighty miles south of Edinburgh in the devastated village of Flodden, the aftermath of battle can be seen in the ruins of despair. Patrick Paniter, the deceased king’s secretary is a troubled man, hounded by nightmares and memories he would rather forget. Louise Brenier is a feisty young heroine, whose family has been profoundly affected by the consequences of Flodden. Her search for her brother, Benoit, missing since the battle, will lead Louise into the very depths of political danger and will force her to re-evaluate everything she has ever known about love and loss.

After Flodden is an epic adventure on a grand scale, and by combining fact with fiction, the author has skilfully merged the thrill of conspiracy, with a touch of romance. Rich in atmosphere, and alive with intrigue, the unfurling narrative sweeps effortlessly through three months during 1513, with vivid flashbacks to the Scottish preparations for battle, and describes in detail the traumatic consequences of a country in conflict. The utter desolation of the Scottish borderland and the warring factions of clan against clan are fearsomely described within a story of duplicitous deception. By accurately blending factual historical figures within a strong fictitious cast, the authenticity of the story is maintained, and the sights, sounds and smells of sixteenth century Scotland are impressively recreated.
There is no doubt that the political consequences of the Scottish defeat at Flodden would leave a lasting legacy.


My thanks to newbooks mag for my review copy of After Flodden.

[Lucy Shiels · Rating 5 out of 5]

On the last leg of my train journey last week I was eager for a well-written good read after just finishing some mind numbing chick lit and After Flodden proved to be the ticket. The background context of the book has been so well researched and while the first couple of chapters were hard to get into while trying to wrap my head around exactly who the characters were; once the storyline kicked off I couldn't put the book down. After Flodden is a wonderful story about a young girl who tries to find her lost brother after the Battle of Flodden and on her journey encounters spies, clan rivalry and falls in love. The best thing was that it was a gripping read where the ending was not obvious from the get-go. This was one of the best books I've read this year so far and I would definitely read anything else written by this author.

[Theresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

"After Flodden" is a novel that explores the aftermath of the battle of Flodden fields within the lives of historical characters, some true, some fictional. I found it hard to put down! I enjoyed reading about this period of Scottish history and life in post-medieval Europe.

Louise Brenier and her mother are wondering why they have had no word of Louise's brother Benoit (who is fighting on the Scottish side), since the battle of Flodden. After trying to find out from various sources what could have happened, Louise, young, naive, and a bit impetuous, strikes out on her own to discover where her brother could be. With a backstory of generations of revenge and feuding, the novel links the story of the battle of Flodden Field with treachery, suspicion and gallantry all set in the sixteenth century.

" Can we really blame the boy if he took against the crown, and all this grande follie, these family feuds that last for generations? What is war, but our own squabbles on a grand scale? and who is to say what is the right side, and what party deserves to win? English, Scottish, French, they're all as wicked and wrong as each other."

I enjoyed reading about the countryside of Scotland, especially the Borderlands, and referred to the map included in the book often. However I did find the alternating time periods and flashbacks to be a bit confusing at times, and I think the book would have been better written in chronological order. King Henry VIII (a young king at the time), especially with his suspicion of a Scots/French alliance, in this portrayal, is quite well done.

I did not like Patrick Paniter, James IV's 'right hand man' at all, in his manipulation and overbearing influence on King James, but it does credit to the author's writing and is apparent, at least to me, that the reader was meant to take Paniter this way. After the battle, shown in several flashbacks, Paniter is plagued with guilt, partly due to his influencing the Scottish king. Louise Bernier is a character that I came to like, and it is interesting to see her mature throughout the story. Her use of a disguise was a clever device to make the choice to travel at first on her own (especially in this time period), more believable. The last chapter was a bit too 'gory' for me but on the whole, the book was not too graphic.

Although the plot itself was a bit too predictable (I spotted who the English spy was quite early on), I did enjoy this novel and I will be reading the sequel, "Dacre's War", as soon as I can get to it!

Rosemary Goring writes here: "Writing After Flodden was an act of imaginative inquiry. I did not think of myself as writing a historical novel or righting ancient wrongs; rather I was exploring a set of characters and questions that interested me".

You can read another review here:

[Richard Abbott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unsurprisingly, After Flodden is set in the aftermath of the 1513 Battle of Flodden, which was a major disaster for the Scottish cause. The battle itself, and some other background information, is described in flashback scenes, with the main narrative occurring after the event during the closing months of 1513. Each chapter is marked with a date, and since they do not always happen in chronological order it can be important to take note of this.

Rosemary deals with the wider political stage only in passing, and for the most part we follow particular individuals as they try to come to terms with the battle and its aftermath. These individuals each have personal reasons for wanting to know more, ranging from a desperate quest for a family member to the desire to find a scapegoat for the failure. The various threads interact with one another from an early stage of the book, so you are not left wondering how the pieces join up. However, some aspects of motive and personal history are deliberately withheld until near the end.

Rosemary uses dialect a great deal in the book, to distinguish both social class and geographic origin. In particular, characters from Scotland itself speak differently from those on the borders in what is now Northumberland. I am very fond of that county, and it was good to see it being explored in this way. The most likeable characters, and the ones treated most sympathetically, are precisely those from along this turbulent strip of constantly debated land. I cannot say how accurate the dialect is, but it certainly works to help place the characters.

However, I found the story as a whole slightly perplexing. The “whodunit” thread trying to account for the military disaster did not sit very comfortably, to my eyes, with the exploration of personal loyalty and love, and it felt as though too much importance was being put on the shoulders of one rather insignificant family. The fact that the chapters following the main events (ie not the flashback moments) were almost, but not quite, in temporal order did not help here.

A retreat into catatonia is used quite often in the book to basically get a character out of the way. In some cases it is a consequence of battle trauma, in others there is a hereditary factor, and in others it seems to be simply a response to the failure of plans and intentions. I found this repeated refrain, mixed with the diversity of causes, to be rather frustrating. Perhaps Rosemary was trying to mirror something of the condition of Scotland in this, where national trauma and the failure of grand schemes backfired into a turmoil of internal violence and insanity. Since she does not foreground the national dimensions of life, it is hard to tell.

For me, another 4* book. The place and time of After Flodden were interesting, and the use of dialect added considerably to the characters, but I found the story itself a little disjointed. I would have liked some exploration of the national narratives as well as personal. After all, it would be less than 100 years from this point of violent incompatibility between England and Scotland, up until the act of union in which a joint ruler was acknowledged. It is very hard from within the book to see how this would be at all feasible.

[David Kenvyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A rip-roaring swashbuckler of a historical romance very much in the tradition of Robert Louis Stevenson's "Kidnapped". It has everything that you could possibly want as the heroine sets out on a perilous journey through a countryside beset by dangers following a disastrous battle. There is a heroic hero, an engaging heroine, a villainous villain, a desperate fight, treachery, spies, murder, blossoming love, family loyalty, the demands of honour, remorse, guilt and stirring deeds and adventures.

And yet, i could not really bring myself to care about the characters and what was going to happen to them. I am not sure why. All the ingredients are there, even down to the faithful hound. But I suppose that is the reason. It felt a bit like historical fiction written to a formula.

There were parts of the writing that jarred. I am not sure that the Border reiving families referred to themselves as "clans" in the early sixteenth century. I am not sure that they ever referred to themselves as "clans". That is a Gaelic word from the Highlands, and the Borderers did not speak Gaelic. A quick glance at the Oxford English Dictionary suggests that the word "clan" was only applied to the Border reivers during the 19th century Romantic period.

And as for using the term "higher plain" when referring to a metaphysical not a geographical location, I winced. But that is me being pedantic, and I suspect that someone at the publishers decided that the author could not spell.

Having said all that, if you want to relax with a romp of historical fiction, this is the book for you.

[Vanessa Wild · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will start the review by saying that I loved this book and found it a very engrossing read. Set in Scotland just after the battle of Flodden in 1513, during a turbulent time in Scottish history, I thought this was a fascinating and intriguing tale of love, war, espionage and adventure with a good plot at its heart. It cleverly combines historical fact with fiction and is so vividly and beautifully written that I almost felt I was there!

The story centres around five or maybe six main characters who are all suffering from the after effects of the battle, my favourite of whom are Louise Brenier, a young woman searching for her brother who is feared dead, and Hob, an orphaned boy who she befriends when tragedy strikes. All the characters are well drawn and believable, and I enjoyed travelling on their individual journeys.

It's a fast paced tale set during a period in history about which I know little, so I was very pleased to have been given the opportunity to read and review this compelling, atmospheric and exciting book by www.lovereading.co.uk. A real page turner and one I would recommend to all historical fiction fans.

http://www.lovereading.co.uk/book/867...

[Ruth · Rating 2 out of 5]

c2013: FWFTB: English, victorious, clans, borderlands, ungovernable. A period of history and area of Scotland that I am not familiar with at all. The author definitely writes with authority but I am not a huge fan of the story going constantly backwards and forwards in time. The plot felt a bit clunky to me - no real difficulty on working out what was going to happen (or what had happened) but a well-told story nevertheless. Unable to recommend to the normal crew, though. Being the philistine that I am, I do not know Andrew Miller nor James Robertson both of whom have provided glowing reviews on the front and back cover. Strangely, both say 'fast-paced' which I can't agree with nor did I find it a 'stimulating and satisfying read'. 'He gave a great smile, and raised his cup. And now, a toast. To Courage. To Victory. To Scotland!'

[Alistair Dunlop · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Like to think I know a fair bit about Scottish history having studied it at the University of Glasgow but the characters in this novel put flesh and blood on the bare bones. The timeline moved from the present, after the Battle, to the past, the lead up to the Battle, and the Battle itself. This could have been distracting but the author did it in such a manner that the story moved effortlessly backwards and forward as the characters interacted.
How much was fact and how much was fiction was of little importance. These were real people in a real situation, a situation that was terrible for all who lived through it. Flodden was a disaster, the future unthinkable, but people survived.
I strongly recommend 'After Flodden' and hope this is not Rosemary Goring's only novel.

[Vivienne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book, but had some big issues with it. On the plus side it conjured up the Borders in the period around and particularly after Flodden really nicely. The sense of grief and loss was also palpable and well described. On the downside I found it too predictable, particularly in terms of how the love story would pan out, and the identity of the traiter - which I worked out right at the start. As a result the latter half of the book became more a question for me of getting from A to B, rather than something exciting and unexpected. I also found the constant chronology shifting, especially at the start of the book, frustrating. But I enjoyed it, and am glad I read it, albeit somewhat disappointed too.

[Willowgreen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set in 1513 in Scotland after the battle of Flodden , Louise Brenier searches for her brother Benoit lost in action. She seeks help from Patrick Paniter James IV advisor who was also at Flodden & is now a broken man & is accompanied on her quest by the dashing Gilbert Torrance. Her journey brings her into contact with the rough & ready clans of the borderlands when she is taken captive by them.

This is in essence a romance story in a historical setting. I would have preferred a bit more history & a lot less romance as you could tell how it was going to pan out right from the beginning, so no real surprises there . But it was an easy & quite enjoyable read a good holiday book & i did enjoy the ending where you find out why Paniter is such a tormented soul.

[Carole-Ann · Rating 2 out of 5]

No need to doubt the historical accuracy of this book since the author is an acknowledged historian, but the pacing of the story-telling is all over the place - as is the timing.

Choosing to head chapters with a date is a recipe for disaster - especially when there's no continuity. We go backwards and forwards on a whim, and there is no real connection between ensuing chapters. Sometimes it's only days before the battle, and other times years before; and even after the battle, we go back and forth between days (not consecutively!), and it difficult to suss out who is speaking, or even what is (supposedly) happening.

The characterisations are slightly wooden and I felt no connection to anyone. So, although I bought the next book in the series (?) I won't be bothering to read it.

[Dorcas Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book bought at a talk given by Rosemary Goring. The love story was predictable and I personally would have liked to know what happened when Louise and her brother returned home; instead of the ending being all about the execution of the traitor.

I found the switching of chronology confusing - having two or three chapters concerning the same day but from a different perspective was hard to follow as was having the people referred to by their title then by their name.

A good read and I would read another book by Rosemary Goring.

[Inge Van Delft · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the second book I've read recently that was written by an historian who made an attempt at novel writing. The author knows her facts and historic characters, she also painted a clear picture of what daily life was like around the time of Flodden. However, knowing all that doesn't necessarily make a good storyteller. I was disappointed by the story itself. The characters were not well developed at all, and the story, with the historic events of Flodden as the backdrop, was flimsy. I love historic novels generally, but this didn't grip me.

[Sara G · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a decent fictional account of the Battle of Flodden and its aftermath. Unfortunately this book suffers from too much historical detail and not enough plot/character development. I felt like it jumped all over the place for the first third of the book, and I just wasn't interested in any of the characters. I really liked the setting and sense of place, though, and would recommend it to anyone interested in Scotland in this time period.

[Katy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was ok for a holiday read, but it's not great. Perhaps I've been spoiled by reading Philippa Gregory and Alison Weir but this felt under-researched with lots of modern touches in the way the characters speak, dress and act. I didn't particularly warm to any of the characters and there was no real character development. The love story was so predictable it was boring and the rest of the plot felt a bit flat. I'd expect better from a literary critic.

[Sandra]

Did not finish. Book was slow, dull and the characters uninteresting. The story leapt from one date to the next with each chapter and because of this there was no flow to it whatsoever. Doubt I will be reading more by this author.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

bit disappointed with this book found it confusing the way it kept changing times so you didn't know where you were some bits were quite gripping but it didn't hold my interest as much as I would have liked

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[Harry Nicholson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A heartening story, well balanced.

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me a little while to get into this book, probably because of the distractions called life. Once I figured out who was who I loved it.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read with a lot of history thrown in.

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

2013 marked the 500th anniversary of the Battle of Flodden and this recent novel centres on events around that time period. This was a steady work of fiction, nothing special but satisfying enough.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed here:

http://aberdeenvoice.com/2013/09/rose...

[Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written and researched. Very evocative of the period.

[Susan Spilsbury · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn’t know much about this period in Scottish history so for that reason alone I’m glad I read it. The writing style was over florid and the characters one dimensional. I want to know more about James IV though!

[Carl Nicholas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good. I’m a fan of Scottish historical fiction, and this fits the bill. It was odd at first jumping between the characters, with seeming emphasis on the wrong characters in the first half of the book. All became clear and the story was good. Borrowed from Elgin Library.

[Tracey · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not a great fan of historical fiction at the best of times, I found this overwritten more in the style of children's fiction.

[M · Rating 3 out of 5]

Held my interest well enough and I will be reading the sequel soon.