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The Book of Thornhold
Have you ever picked up an ancient artefact; a flint arrowhead perhaps, or a jewel and wondered how it reached the present day intact? You may have wondered about the many stories it silently witnessed on its journey through history.
This novel opens in the 8th century when The Book of Thornhold, penned by monks, is in its infancy. The narrative then follows the book’s journey from the hands of marauding Vikings to the safe keeping of the Thornbury family.
As the pages of the story turn, the book encounters conquest, pestilence and civil war. The legend of the house unfolds, revealing family secrets, and releasing skeletons from long-sealed closets.
The Book of Thornhold leads the reader from the dawn of Christianity in England to the twenty-first century and reveals the story of a family, a manor house, and an illuminated manuscript.
Compiled of eight short stories, The Book of Thornhold illustrates the growth of a small Anglo-Saxon holding into an impressive stately home, and the social evolution of the family who guarded the book.
From the back catalogue of Judith Arnopp; author of The Beaufort Chronicle
This novel opens in the 8th century when The Book of Thornhold, penned by monks, is in its infancy. The narrative then follows the book’s journey from the hands of marauding Vikings to the safe keeping of the Thornbury family.
As the pages of the story turn, the book encounters conquest, pestilence and civil war. The legend of the house unfolds, revealing family secrets, and releasing skeletons from long-sealed closets.
The Book of Thornhold leads the reader from the dawn of Christianity in England to the twenty-first century and reveals the story of a family, a manor house, and an illuminated manuscript.
Compiled of eight short stories, The Book of Thornhold illustrates the growth of a small Anglo-Saxon holding into an impressive stately home, and the social evolution of the family who guarded the book.
From the back catalogue of Judith Arnopp; author of The Beaufort Chronicle
254 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 7, 2024
3 people are currently reading
18 people want to read
About the author
Judith Arnopp
49 books228 followers.A lifelong history enthusiast and avid reader, Judith holds a BA in English/Creative writing and an MA in Medieval Studies.
She lives on the coast of West Wales where she writes both fiction and non-fiction based in the Medieval and Tudor period. Her main focus is on the perspective of historical women but she is currently writing a novel from a male perspective, that of Henry VIII himself.
Her novels include:
A Matter of Conscience: Henry VIII, the Aragon Years
A Matter of Faith: Henry VIII, the Days of the Phoenix
The Heretic Wind: the life of Mary Tudor, Queen of England
Sisters of Arden: on the Pilgrimage of Grace
The Beaufort Bride: Book one of The Beaufort Chronicle
The Beaufort Woman: Book two of The Beaufort Chronicle
The King’s Mother: Book three of The Beaufort Chronicle
The Winchester Goose: at the Court of Henry VIII
A Song of Sixpence: the story of Elizabeth of York
Intractable Heart: the story of Katheryn Parr
The Kiss of the Concubine: a story of Anne Boleyn
The Song of Heledd
The Forest Dwellers
Peaceweaver
Judith is also a founder member of a re-enactment group called The Fyne Companye of Cambria, and makes historical garments both for the group and others. She is not professionally trained but through trial, error and determination has learned how to make authentic looking, if not strictly HA, clothing.
Her non-fiction book, How to Dress Like a Tudor will be published by Pen and Sword in 2023,
You can find her group Tudor Handmaid on Facebook. You can also find her on Twitter and Instagram.
Webpage: www.judithmarnopp.com
Author page: author.to/juditharnoppbooks
Blog: http://juditharnoppnovelist.blogspot....
For more information please visit my website: www.judithmarnopp.com
author.to/juditharnoppbooks
She lives on the coast of West Wales where she writes both fiction and non-fiction based in the Medieval and Tudor period. Her main focus is on the perspective of historical women but she is currently writing a novel from a male perspective, that of Henry VIII himself.
Her novels include:
A Matter of Conscience: Henry VIII, the Aragon Years
A Matter of Faith: Henry VIII, the Days of the Phoenix
The Heretic Wind: the life of Mary Tudor, Queen of England
Sisters of Arden: on the Pilgrimage of Grace
The Beaufort Bride: Book one of The Beaufort Chronicle
The Beaufort Woman: Book two of The Beaufort Chronicle
The King’s Mother: Book three of The Beaufort Chronicle
The Winchester Goose: at the Court of Henry VIII
A Song of Sixpence: the story of Elizabeth of York
Intractable Heart: the story of Katheryn Parr
The Kiss of the Concubine: a story of Anne Boleyn
The Song of Heledd
The Forest Dwellers
Peaceweaver
Judith is also a founder member of a re-enactment group called The Fyne Companye of Cambria, and makes historical garments both for the group and others. She is not professionally trained but through trial, error and determination has learned how to make authentic looking, if not strictly HA, clothing.
Her non-fiction book, How to Dress Like a Tudor will be published by Pen and Sword in 2023,
You can find her group Tudor Handmaid on Facebook. You can also find her on Twitter and Instagram.
Webpage: www.judithmarnopp.com
Author page: author.to/juditharnoppbooks
Blog: http://juditharnoppnovelist.blogspot....
For more information please visit my website: www.judithmarnopp.com
author.to/juditharnoppbooks
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 13, 2025
This is one of the best books I've read in ages. The Book of the title was originally written by a priest in the 8th Century; it is passed down the centuries, with additions made by the generations who are fortunate to be its keeper in the place for which it is named. Thornhold begins as a Saxon smallholding, and becomes a fine manor house.
It's a novel in the form of eight stories that are independent of each other but are held together by the same threads. I loved them all, though I think my favourites were the chapter in the 14th Century, when the Thorn family weathered the Black Death, another about monks in a nearby abbey during the dissolution of the monasteries in the 16th Century, and a long one that centred around the Monmouth Rebellion of 1685 and its after-effects on the family. I was actually reading that one in the early hours of this morning, and had to tear myself away from it.
The book reminded me of Norah Lofts' The House at Old Vine and A Wayside Tavern, and I was just as engrossed in Thornhold as I am when I read those novels. I'm also quite relieved because I've been vaguely thinking of doing something similar for quite some time, but I know I could never write anything as good as this, so I can now shelve that project indefinitely!
In the introduction Ms Arnopp apologises for any flaws that have resulted from the re-hashing of this earlier work of hers, and I did notice the odd name with two different spellings and some erroneous punctuation; I mention this for two reasons. Firstly, in case you're someone whose whole reading experience is spoiled by an ill-placed semicolon, and secondly (most importantly!) to illustrate how good this book is. I am beyond picky about punctuation, but I loved this book so much that I didn't care if the character was called Dorcas or Dorcus or if an unnecessary comma popped up.
I am happy to say that if you love beautifully written and well-researched historical sagas, I guarantee you will enjoy this as much as I did.
It's a novel in the form of eight stories that are independent of each other but are held together by the same threads. I loved them all, though I think my favourites were the chapter in the 14th Century, when the Thorn family weathered the Black Death, another about monks in a nearby abbey during the dissolution of the monasteries in the 16th Century, and a long one that centred around the Monmouth Rebellion of 1685 and its after-effects on the family. I was actually reading that one in the early hours of this morning, and had to tear myself away from it.
The book reminded me of Norah Lofts' The House at Old Vine and A Wayside Tavern, and I was just as engrossed in Thornhold as I am when I read those novels. I'm also quite relieved because I've been vaguely thinking of doing something similar for quite some time, but I know I could never write anything as good as this, so I can now shelve that project indefinitely!
In the introduction Ms Arnopp apologises for any flaws that have resulted from the re-hashing of this earlier work of hers, and I did notice the odd name with two different spellings and some erroneous punctuation; I mention this for two reasons. Firstly, in case you're someone whose whole reading experience is spoiled by an ill-placed semicolon, and secondly (most importantly!) to illustrate how good this book is. I am beyond picky about punctuation, but I loved this book so much that I didn't care if the character was called Dorcas or Dorcus or if an unnecessary comma popped up.
I am happy to say that if you love beautifully written and well-researched historical sagas, I guarantee you will enjoy this as much as I did.
February 12, 2024
What can be better than a beautiful, illuminated book dating back to the 8th century and the story of the people who have treasured it across time. As a journey through English history dipping into some of its significant events, we experience how they affected a family who owned a manor house. The Thornbury family and those who married into it exhibit qualities of kindness, anger, determination and impatience. Like all families, circumstances and experience mould their characters so as readers we have different responses to each generation.
For me it is the women who stand out. Byrtha, a Saxon noblewoman has to accept Rainald of Caen, a Norman as her Lord and husband and despite her bravery she comes to realise that this partnership can begin a dynasty where love and family life bring back order. Joanna Thornbury, an embittered wife whose 8 babies had died receives no sympathy from her unpleasant husband and she is caught up in the consequences of the Monmouth rebellion, but her character change and devotion to her garden finally lead her to love and happiness.
The turbulent history of this lively family who seem to find meaning in the precious book which started its life with the monks at Lindisfarne, gives hope to the community even in this century. A unique story which tells us so much about futile conflict.
For me it is the women who stand out. Byrtha, a Saxon noblewoman has to accept Rainald of Caen, a Norman as her Lord and husband and despite her bravery she comes to realise that this partnership can begin a dynasty where love and family life bring back order. Joanna Thornbury, an embittered wife whose 8 babies had died receives no sympathy from her unpleasant husband and she is caught up in the consequences of the Monmouth rebellion, but her character change and devotion to her garden finally lead her to love and happiness.
The turbulent history of this lively family who seem to find meaning in the precious book which started its life with the monks at Lindisfarne, gives hope to the community even in this century. A unique story which tells us so much about futile conflict.
February 1, 2024
Such a good idea to have published this early novel of yours, Judith!
The Book Of Thornhold, by Judith Arnopp.
I really enjoyed this novel! The storyline was original. I found it an excellent idea of introducing numerous interesting historical events of England through the story of a book belonging to a family (and its many secrets !) over centuries (starting in the VIIIth century till nowadays). A very pleasant history lesson!
As always, very well researched, one of the first novels written by the author shows how promising her writing talent already was! I love all her later books as well, and am always on the lookout for her next one!
The Book Of Thornhold, by Judith Arnopp.
I really enjoyed this novel! The storyline was original. I found it an excellent idea of introducing numerous interesting historical events of England through the story of a book belonging to a family (and its many secrets !) over centuries (starting in the VIIIth century till nowadays). A very pleasant history lesson!
As always, very well researched, one of the first novels written by the author shows how promising her writing talent already was! I love all her later books as well, and am always on the lookout for her next one!
February 8, 2026
The story of a family linked by a book
I keep forgetting what a good writer Judith Arnopp is, because she isn't famous. She hasn't sold 1,000s of books. She's not on TV being interviewed or in the newspapers being reviewed. But she should be. Her writing takes you there. It's evocative and fresh and the stories she tells are of people you care about. I must read more of her books this year.
I keep forgetting what a good writer Judith Arnopp is, because she isn't famous. She hasn't sold 1,000s of books. She's not on TV being interviewed or in the newspapers being reviewed. But she should be. Her writing takes you there. It's evocative and fresh and the stories she tells are of people you care about. I must read more of her books this year.
February 28, 2024
What a fantastic book and worth 5 Stars 🌟
April 13, 2024
I can honestly say this is one of the best book I have ever read. Almost the whole of English history, told through the eyes of generations and generations of the same family.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews