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No Man's Land
From the slums of London to the riches of an Edwardian country house; from the hot, dark seams of a Yorkshire coalmine to the exposed terrors of the trenches, Adam Raine’s journey from boy to man is set against the backdrop of a society violently entering the modern world.
Adam Raine is a boy cursed by misfortune. His impoverished childhood in the slums of Islington is brought to an end by a tragedy that sends him north to Scarsdale, a hard-living coalmining town where his father finds work as a union organizer. But it isn’t long before the escalating tensions between the miners and their employer, Sir John Scarsdale, explode with terrible consequences.
In the aftermath, Adam meets Miriam, the Rector’s beautiful daughter, and moves into Scarsdale Hall, an opulent paradise compared with the life he has been used to before. But he makes an enemy of Sir John’s son, Brice, who subjects him to endless petty cruelties for daring to step above his station.
When love and an Oxford education beckon, Adam feels that his life is finally starting to come together – until the outbreak of war threatens to tear everything apart.
Adam Raine is a boy cursed by misfortune. His impoverished childhood in the slums of Islington is brought to an end by a tragedy that sends him north to Scarsdale, a hard-living coalmining town where his father finds work as a union organizer. But it isn’t long before the escalating tensions between the miners and their employer, Sir John Scarsdale, explode with terrible consequences.
In the aftermath, Adam meets Miriam, the Rector’s beautiful daughter, and moves into Scarsdale Hall, an opulent paradise compared with the life he has been used to before. But he makes an enemy of Sir John’s son, Brice, who subjects him to endless petty cruelties for daring to step above his station.
When love and an Oxford education beckon, Adam feels that his life is finally starting to come together – until the outbreak of war threatens to tear everything apart.
566 pages, Hardcover
First published June 30, 2016
260 people are currently reading
5895 people want to read
About the author
Simon Tolkien
16 books251 followersSimon Tolkien is the author of No Man’s Land , Orders from Berlin, The King of Diamonds, The Inheritance, and Final Witness. He studied modern history at Trinity College, Oxford, and went on to become a London barrister specializing in criminal defense. Simon is the grandson of J.R.R. Tolkien and is a director of the Tolkien Estate. In 2022 he was named as series consultant to the Amazon TV series The Rings of Power. He lives with his wife, vintage fashion author Tracy Tolkien, and their two children, Nicholas and Anna, in Southern California. Follow Simon at https://www.simontolkien.com/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 245 reviews
March 16, 2019
While reading No Man’s Land I kept thinking that this novel would generate various reactions among its readers as it is easy to read and there is no big effort on the side of the reader. The novel simply offers a good story. Having said that, I must confess I enjoyed it because I came to like Adam. I liked the way he manages to achieve education offered to him by a man of means who recognizes Adam’s integrity and abilities. The part concerning atrocities and soldiers’ plight during WW1 is meticulous in its description, and the Author must have drawn on memoirs of that period. I admit that I found this most interesting. This is not a modern novel in the sense of writing or narration, in fact it is traditional, reminding me of great 19th classics. If you are into HF and look for a solid novel, easy to follow and with insightful information, then I do recommend it.
April 12, 2017
4.5 What a beautifully written, but devastating book, this journey into a man's life. Following Adam from his youth in London, to the coal mines in Scarsdale, and to the trench warfare and the Battle of the Somme, this is an epic tale on a grand level. The details, the prose, the characters, their struggles, their hopes and their dreams are all revealed with a personal touch. We come to know some of them so well, it felt as if at times I was right with them, though I was often glad I was not.
The class divide, the struggle of the working men trying to improve their personal and working lives, and in many cases the obtuseness of the landowners. Loved Seaton who was not representative of his class, and attempted to make his father and his mother understand exactly what the working men were facing, and did his best to protect them during battle.. The minister, his grasping and self centered wife, and their daughter are all important characters. The story is related in chronological order, which made me so happy, and served to heighten the impact of what they went through, how they lived.
The Battle of the Somme, so horrible and the author does not flinch from relating many of these horror. The loss of life, terrible conditions, Generals who had no clue, the high cost these men paid, but also the way the men looked out for each other, the loyalty and the friendships. A horrible time, those who made it had difficulty adjusting back into their lives and this too would cost the dearly. There are revelations, and secrets exposed that propel the book forward.
A wonderful read with an interesting and a mixed group of characters. Book's end does wrap up the story but is open ended enough to allow a sequel. Never have been a fantasy reader, but did have to read Lord of the Rings in school, I actually liked this book much better.
The class divide, the struggle of the working men trying to improve their personal and working lives, and in many cases the obtuseness of the landowners. Loved Seaton who was not representative of his class, and attempted to make his father and his mother understand exactly what the working men were facing, and did his best to protect them during battle.. The minister, his grasping and self centered wife, and their daughter are all important characters. The story is related in chronological order, which made me so happy, and served to heighten the impact of what they went through, how they lived.
The Battle of the Somme, so horrible and the author does not flinch from relating many of these horror. The loss of life, terrible conditions, Generals who had no clue, the high cost these men paid, but also the way the men looked out for each other, the loyalty and the friendships. A horrible time, those who made it had difficulty adjusting back into their lives and this too would cost the dearly. There are revelations, and secrets exposed that propel the book forward.
A wonderful read with an interesting and a mixed group of characters. Book's end does wrap up the story but is open ended enough to allow a sequel. Never have been a fantasy reader, but did have to read Lord of the Rings in school, I actually liked this book much better.
March 9, 2017
Adam Raine is a poor London boy who moves north to the coal mining district with his father after his mother is killed in an accident during a workers' strike. More tragedy awaits Adam but because others see a certain spark in him, good fortunate comes to him as well, and he is offered a better life and a chance for an education. That is all derailed as WWI begins and nearly all the young men of the town enlist. Those who survive the battle of the Somme (July 1-November 18, 1916), one of the bloodiest battles in human history, will find their lives changed forever.
There are excellent depictions of Edwardian society and the class struggles of the time (such a huge dichotomy between rich and poor!) But most unforgettable are Tolkien's depictions of what the soldiers went through on the battlefields and trenches of the Western front--days of intense boredom, followed by days of unimaginable fear when the battle commenced. Yet they had the courage to do their duty and follow orders, sometimes performing great acts of courage and bravery, sometimes committing abominable acts.
One could make the case that Tolkien's characters are stereotypical--the fainting maiden, the brave officer, the foppish younger son, the invalid mother, the callous lord of the manor--but I loved them all and they are stereotypes because they are so true to life!
For those who enjoy historical fiction about WWI, this book is for you! I kept remembering All Quiet on the Western Front as I read, told from the German soldier's point of view.
Perhaps this novel will take its place with this and other classic war stories.
I was fortunate to win this fine book in the Keep Turning Pages group's monthly giveaway. Thank you, Doubleday! Simon Tolkien is the grandson of the famous J.R.R. Tolkien. Obviously, great writing talent runs in the family.
There are excellent depictions of Edwardian society and the class struggles of the time (such a huge dichotomy between rich and poor!) But most unforgettable are Tolkien's depictions of what the soldiers went through on the battlefields and trenches of the Western front--days of intense boredom, followed by days of unimaginable fear when the battle commenced. Yet they had the courage to do their duty and follow orders, sometimes performing great acts of courage and bravery, sometimes committing abominable acts.
One could make the case that Tolkien's characters are stereotypical--the fainting maiden, the brave officer, the foppish younger son, the invalid mother, the callous lord of the manor--but I loved them all and they are stereotypes because they are so true to life!
For those who enjoy historical fiction about WWI, this book is for you! I kept remembering All Quiet on the Western Front as I read, told from the German soldier's point of view.
Perhaps this novel will take its place with this and other classic war stories.
I was fortunate to win this fine book in the Keep Turning Pages group's monthly giveaway. Thank you, Doubleday! Simon Tolkien is the grandson of the famous J.R.R. Tolkien. Obviously, great writing talent runs in the family.
April 11, 2022
I must admit I only picked this audiobook book up because of the authors last name. But I ended up liking the story overall. It was a well written and the audiobook was great narrated. Perhaps not my usual kind of book but I'm glad I picked it up
April 20, 2017
I did not enjoy reading this, so I cannot give it anything but one star. Seriously, I groaned every time I picked it up.
I in no way take the lofty stance that my review is a judgment of the book; it just expresses my personal reaction to it. I will try and explain what I was looking for and what it gave. The two did not fit.
First of all, I thought I would be given a fictional retelling of J.R.R. Tolkien's life, the acclaimed author of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. I thought I would come to understand how it came to be that J.R.R. Tolkien wrote books of fantasy. Simon Tolkien, the author of this book, is J.R.R. Tolkien's grandson. The grandson's book is NOT a retelling of his grandfather's life, not by any means. After completing the book I read about J.R.R. Tolkien on Wiki. Adam Raine, the central character of this novel, was said to be J.R.R. Tolkien's surrogate, but the two have different dates of birth, different places of birth and the parents' lives don't match up at all. This book can say nothing about why the grandfather felt drawn to fantasy. It says nothing about J.R.R. Tolkien. Don't make the mistake I made.
I admire the grandfather's ability to create an imaginary world and to bring that world alive. The story Simon tells has been told by others many, many times before. It has nothing new. C'mon now, you cannot tell me you haven't already read other books about the gruesome fighting of the First World War, about the life of poor coal miner families, about the conditions in London slums at the beginning of the 20th century or about workers' fight for better working conditions by means of trade unions. The themes covered are not new. Sure, you can read all of this again if the author's writing is exceptional or if the characters’ lives pull you in. Unfortunately, in Simon’s book the prose is ordinary. The plot line is predictable. The characters are stereotypes. I was not pulled in.
So why do so many like this book? I cannot but ask myself this question. I think it will appeal to those readers who like action, adventure stories, books made for the movies. Fast paced, exciting tales. We are given a mine explosion, a fire, attempted murder and suicide as well as WW1 trench warfare. And of course there is a thwarted love affair too.
Very many readers love books set up as series. This one is that too. I’d bet my last dollar that this book will be have a sequel. Many threads are left open; another book has to follow.
It took me halfway through the novel before I came to feel anything for the characters. The friendship that grows between the soldiers fighting in the trenches, this I did like. The fighting is at the Battle of the Somme. I appreciate how the novel highlights the difficulties soldiers experience at home on leave. In the trenches the book focuses, again, on action; we follow an expedition behind German lines. The author does not shy away from explicit renditions of body parts flying in different directions, of blood and gore. The descriptions are not for the fainthearted. Much less attention is drawn to the never-ending waiting and monotony of trench warfare. Such is just not all that exciting even if it too is part of war. This book is a book of action, and it is cinematically told.
If you are looking for a book that instead focuses on complicated characters or a book that gives food for thought, this is not that book.
The audiobook is very, very well narrated by Christian Coulson. You hear clear differences in the speech of the lower and upper class characters. It is easy to follow. I didn’t think he had to make Brice, , sound quite so despicable. The author’s words made this clear; the exaggerated intonation was just not necessary.
This book was not for me. I don’t enjoy cinematic writing. I prefer books that focus on characterizations rather than action. So many other better books tell the same story as that told here, and finally, you learn nothing about the author’s grandfather.
Read these books instead:
How Green Was My Valley
All Quiet on the Western Front
I in no way take the lofty stance that my review is a judgment of the book; it just expresses my personal reaction to it. I will try and explain what I was looking for and what it gave. The two did not fit.
First of all, I thought I would be given a fictional retelling of J.R.R. Tolkien's life, the acclaimed author of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. I thought I would come to understand how it came to be that J.R.R. Tolkien wrote books of fantasy. Simon Tolkien, the author of this book, is J.R.R. Tolkien's grandson. The grandson's book is NOT a retelling of his grandfather's life, not by any means. After completing the book I read about J.R.R. Tolkien on Wiki. Adam Raine, the central character of this novel, was said to be J.R.R. Tolkien's surrogate, but the two have different dates of birth, different places of birth and the parents' lives don't match up at all. This book can say nothing about why the grandfather felt drawn to fantasy. It says nothing about J.R.R. Tolkien. Don't make the mistake I made.
I admire the grandfather's ability to create an imaginary world and to bring that world alive. The story Simon tells has been told by others many, many times before. It has nothing new. C'mon now, you cannot tell me you haven't already read other books about the gruesome fighting of the First World War, about the life of poor coal miner families, about the conditions in London slums at the beginning of the 20th century or about workers' fight for better working conditions by means of trade unions. The themes covered are not new. Sure, you can read all of this again if the author's writing is exceptional or if the characters’ lives pull you in. Unfortunately, in Simon’s book the prose is ordinary. The plot line is predictable. The characters are stereotypes. I was not pulled in.
So why do so many like this book? I cannot but ask myself this question. I think it will appeal to those readers who like action, adventure stories, books made for the movies. Fast paced, exciting tales. We are given a mine explosion, a fire, attempted murder and suicide as well as WW1 trench warfare. And of course there is a thwarted love affair too.
Very many readers love books set up as series. This one is that too. I’d bet my last dollar that this book will be have a sequel. Many threads are left open; another book has to follow.
It took me halfway through the novel before I came to feel anything for the characters. The friendship that grows between the soldiers fighting in the trenches, this I did like. The fighting is at the Battle of the Somme. I appreciate how the novel highlights the difficulties soldiers experience at home on leave. In the trenches the book focuses, again, on action; we follow an expedition behind German lines. The author does not shy away from explicit renditions of body parts flying in different directions, of blood and gore. The descriptions are not for the fainthearted. Much less attention is drawn to the never-ending waiting and monotony of trench warfare. Such is just not all that exciting even if it too is part of war. This book is a book of action, and it is cinematically told.
If you are looking for a book that instead focuses on complicated characters or a book that gives food for thought, this is not that book.
The audiobook is very, very well narrated by Christian Coulson. You hear clear differences in the speech of the lower and upper class characters. It is easy to follow. I didn’t think he had to make Brice, , sound quite so despicable. The author’s words made this clear; the exaggerated intonation was just not necessary.
This book was not for me. I don’t enjoy cinematic writing. I prefer books that focus on characterizations rather than action. So many other better books tell the same story as that told here, and finally, you learn nothing about the author’s grandfather.
Read these books instead:
How Green Was My Valley
All Quiet on the Western Front
March 16, 2019
I find this a difficult book to rate. Perhaps I had too high expectations because of the author's surname, which isn't fair.
It's a good story, but nothing out of the ordinary. I've read more books with such story lines. I would also have liked it to be shorter, it would have given it more speed and sparkle. But I will remember the story because of the detailed happenings the mines and in the trenches in Picardie.
It's a good story, but nothing out of the ordinary. I've read more books with such story lines. I would also have liked it to be shorter, it would have given it more speed and sparkle. But I will remember the story because of the detailed happenings the mines and in the trenches in Picardie.
November 3, 2017
Thank you to Doubleday and Keep Turning Pages for this novel.
Adam Raine goes from poverty to wealth. Poverty in all it's forms and barrenness, but to the wealth of friendship, love, honor, and respect. Although his life has always been a very hard road to travel, he has always remained his own man. Through the death of both parents, moving into a strange new situation that is way out of his league, the wrath and cunning of a person who should love him like a brother, meddling women of the upper social class, the loss of the woman he loves and also the man who gives him every benefit in this life that he humanly can. Adam goes through the war and loses people very close to him and comes out of that sealed in his own empty tomb. His misfortune is always around him. But not all is lost. Adam maintains his good outlook, his friends and his sense of self after all is said and done. He is eternally thankful for what he has been given and the education he was provided. He can finally see a future and leave his past behind.
I think this book is exceptionally well written. I became involved with all the characters on one level or another. I laughed and I cried in this book. It did not read as an over 500 page novel, but one of much fewer pages.
Adam Raine goes from poverty to wealth. Poverty in all it's forms and barrenness, but to the wealth of friendship, love, honor, and respect. Although his life has always been a very hard road to travel, he has always remained his own man. Through the death of both parents, moving into a strange new situation that is way out of his league, the wrath and cunning of a person who should love him like a brother, meddling women of the upper social class, the loss of the woman he loves and also the man who gives him every benefit in this life that he humanly can. Adam goes through the war and loses people very close to him and comes out of that sealed in his own empty tomb. His misfortune is always around him. But not all is lost. Adam maintains his good outlook, his friends and his sense of self after all is said and done. He is eternally thankful for what he has been given and the education he was provided. He can finally see a future and leave his past behind.
I think this book is exceptionally well written. I became involved with all the characters on one level or another. I laughed and I cried in this book. It did not read as an over 500 page novel, but one of much fewer pages.
February 7, 2017
So an embarrassing full literary disclosure….I have never read any of The Lord of the Rings books so I have no first hand knowledge of JRR Tolkien’s writing abilities but the popularity of the series speaks for itself. Many have praised this debut novel by Simon Tolkien (JRR’s grandson), as worthy of the Tolkien name in the literary world.
When this novel came across my desk for review, the last name of course immediately captured my attention and I was eager to see what the novel was about. Obviously the Tolkien name carries a lot of clout in the literary world but I wondered if this new author would be able to live up to the famous family name?
The title and cover imply that it’s a WWI period novel so right there it was an easy ‘yes I’ll review the novel’ response! Edwardian era and WWI England are a sure way to my literary heart.
This novel has so much to offer readers! I was certainly impressed with Tolkien’s ability to compose a well written and historically detailed novel! To me, writing a war time novel is sometime the most difficult because war is often a depressing subject. There needs to be a balanced mixture of historical facts and authenticity with a little bit of hope within the story as well. Tolkien nailed it!
This book was inspiring but yet echoed not just the tragedy of the era but the cruelty of life but yet there was still hope because it is a rags to riches story set against the Great War. I absolutely loved following Adam’s story.
While it took a little time for me to get into the book, after an accident that changes Adam’s life happens. Then things really started to pick up for me and once I was into the book I couldn’t put it down. This is one of those books that will make you cry and cheer all at the same time. Tolkien’s attention to detail, especially when it comes to character development and historic detail was superb.
I cannot say enough good things about this book. Well written, moving, powerful, and memorable. I have no doubt Simon Tolkien has done Tolkien name justice! His writing and story telling abilities are wonderful and this historic details are well researched with an echo of truth. What a great way to kick off my 2017 reading!
See my full review here
When this novel came across my desk for review, the last name of course immediately captured my attention and I was eager to see what the novel was about. Obviously the Tolkien name carries a lot of clout in the literary world but I wondered if this new author would be able to live up to the famous family name?
The title and cover imply that it’s a WWI period novel so right there it was an easy ‘yes I’ll review the novel’ response! Edwardian era and WWI England are a sure way to my literary heart.
This novel has so much to offer readers! I was certainly impressed with Tolkien’s ability to compose a well written and historically detailed novel! To me, writing a war time novel is sometime the most difficult because war is often a depressing subject. There needs to be a balanced mixture of historical facts and authenticity with a little bit of hope within the story as well. Tolkien nailed it!
This book was inspiring but yet echoed not just the tragedy of the era but the cruelty of life but yet there was still hope because it is a rags to riches story set against the Great War. I absolutely loved following Adam’s story.
While it took a little time for me to get into the book, after an accident that changes Adam’s life happens. Then things really started to pick up for me and once I was into the book I couldn’t put it down. This is one of those books that will make you cry and cheer all at the same time. Tolkien’s attention to detail, especially when it comes to character development and historic detail was superb.
I cannot say enough good things about this book. Well written, moving, powerful, and memorable. I have no doubt Simon Tolkien has done Tolkien name justice! His writing and story telling abilities are wonderful and this historic details are well researched with an echo of truth. What a great way to kick off my 2017 reading!
See my full review here
November 13, 2016
No Man’s Land is a novel that I can only describe as a beautifully written but devastating book to read. It follows the life of Adam Raine, from his childhood poverty in Islington, a move to a mining community in Yorkshire and then to the trauma at the Somme.
It did take me some time to get into it but I was prepared for this after seeing a handful of reviews that said the same. I found it picked up after a serious accident at the mine that changed Adam’s life completely. He adapted to his life quite well, even though he still felt like an outsider much of the time. Luckily he had some good friends in the village and with Seaton, his benefactor’s son.
When war broke out Adam was initially reluctant to join up but after being in Scarborough when it came under attack he realized that he had no other option. The parts of the novel that covered the war was the most upsetting piece of fiction that I have ever read. There were times that everything I was reading had me in tears and I was constantly processing it even when I wasn’t reading it.
Simon Tolkien does a fantastic job of portraying the fear experienced by the soldiers. The ineptitude of the generals along with the sights, smell and noise of the battle. Certain descriptions of the trenches will probably stay with me for years.
But amongst all of this was the friendship between Adam, Ernest, Rawdon, Luke, Seaton, Harry, Davy, and the ones who were left at home that gave strength and odd touches of humour to the novel.
This is a novel that at times I struggled to read but only because of how it made me feel emotionally. It’s one that I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend, brilliant.
It did take me some time to get into it but I was prepared for this after seeing a handful of reviews that said the same. I found it picked up after a serious accident at the mine that changed Adam’s life completely. He adapted to his life quite well, even though he still felt like an outsider much of the time. Luckily he had some good friends in the village and with Seaton, his benefactor’s son.
When war broke out Adam was initially reluctant to join up but after being in Scarborough when it came under attack he realized that he had no other option. The parts of the novel that covered the war was the most upsetting piece of fiction that I have ever read. There were times that everything I was reading had me in tears and I was constantly processing it even when I wasn’t reading it.
Simon Tolkien does a fantastic job of portraying the fear experienced by the soldiers. The ineptitude of the generals along with the sights, smell and noise of the battle. Certain descriptions of the trenches will probably stay with me for years.
But amongst all of this was the friendship between Adam, Ernest, Rawdon, Luke, Seaton, Harry, Davy, and the ones who were left at home that gave strength and odd touches of humour to the novel.
This is a novel that at times I struggled to read but only because of how it made me feel emotionally. It’s one that I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend, brilliant.
November 14, 2016
An epic work of master storytelling! Thank you to @Netgalley and @Harperfiction for providing e-ARC. I read this as a Remembrance Day read. Like Findley's The Wars it was a remarkable and moving feat of storytelling honouring those that fought in the Great War.
April 18, 2021
Ich war neugierig, ob er Enkel J. R. R. Tolkiens und der Sohn des ebenso von mir verehrten Christopher Tolkien, auch für mich als Autor bestehen kann. Er kann es, ziemlich gut sogar. Das Buch hat für mich nur zu viele unnötige Längen, die mich manchmal genervt haben.
February 15, 2017
No Man's Land
By Simon Tolkien
Synopsis
From the slums of London to the riches of an Edwardian country house; from the hot, dark seams of a Yorkshire coalmine to the exposed terrors of the trenches, Adam Raine’s journey from boy to man is set against the backdrop of a society violently entering the modern world.
Adam Raine is a boy cursed by misfortune. His impoverished childhood in the slums of Islington is brought to an end by a tragedy that sends him north to Scarsdale, a hard-living coalmining town where his father finds work as a union organizer. But it isn’t long before the escalating tensions between the miners and their employer, Sir John Scarsdale, explode with terrible consequences.
In the aftermath, Adam meets Miriam, the Rector’s beautiful daughter, and moves into Scarsdale Hall, an opulent paradise compared with the life he has been used to before. But he makes an enemy of Sir John’s son, Brice, who subjects him to endless petty cruelties for daring to step above his station.
When love and an Oxford education beckon, Adam feels that his life is finally starting to come together – until the outbreak of war threatens to tear everything apart.
Review
The scenes in this book are like candid photographs,Simon Tolkien has obviously inherited his grandfathers talent for the written word. No Man's Land is a beautifully written book about the the hardships of life, prior to the first world war. Adam Raine is a young boy living in London with his parents, his father is an out of work builder who is constantly fighting to improve the rights or the workers, unfortunately Daniel has no prospects for ever finding work. Times are hard and when Adam;s mother is killed in a accident the family move to Scarsdale in the hopes of having a new life.
As Adam grows up, he settles into life in Scarsdale, he becomes an excellent student and makes friends and a dangerous enemy. However hardship is never far from Adam's door and his life is forever changed again, when Adam and his friends join up to fight for king and country and are sent to the Somme.
Tolkien did a wonderful job of describing the hardships and horrors of war. Adam's story was captivating, Tolkien managed to capture a feeling of tension and fear that I'm sure young soldiers would have felt. This book seemed very real to me, which is a testament to Simon Tolkien's immense talent. I had a great grandfather who fought at the Somme and felt like I was listening to his story. This is a historically accurate account that makes for a fascinating read. Highly recommended 4.5 stars
By Simon Tolkien
Synopsis
From the slums of London to the riches of an Edwardian country house; from the hot, dark seams of a Yorkshire coalmine to the exposed terrors of the trenches, Adam Raine’s journey from boy to man is set against the backdrop of a society violently entering the modern world.
Adam Raine is a boy cursed by misfortune. His impoverished childhood in the slums of Islington is brought to an end by a tragedy that sends him north to Scarsdale, a hard-living coalmining town where his father finds work as a union organizer. But it isn’t long before the escalating tensions between the miners and their employer, Sir John Scarsdale, explode with terrible consequences.
In the aftermath, Adam meets Miriam, the Rector’s beautiful daughter, and moves into Scarsdale Hall, an opulent paradise compared with the life he has been used to before. But he makes an enemy of Sir John’s son, Brice, who subjects him to endless petty cruelties for daring to step above his station.
When love and an Oxford education beckon, Adam feels that his life is finally starting to come together – until the outbreak of war threatens to tear everything apart.
Review
The scenes in this book are like candid photographs,Simon Tolkien has obviously inherited his grandfathers talent for the written word. No Man's Land is a beautifully written book about the the hardships of life, prior to the first world war. Adam Raine is a young boy living in London with his parents, his father is an out of work builder who is constantly fighting to improve the rights or the workers, unfortunately Daniel has no prospects for ever finding work. Times are hard and when Adam;s mother is killed in a accident the family move to Scarsdale in the hopes of having a new life.
As Adam grows up, he settles into life in Scarsdale, he becomes an excellent student and makes friends and a dangerous enemy. However hardship is never far from Adam's door and his life is forever changed again, when Adam and his friends join up to fight for king and country and are sent to the Somme.
Tolkien did a wonderful job of describing the hardships and horrors of war. Adam's story was captivating, Tolkien managed to capture a feeling of tension and fear that I'm sure young soldiers would have felt. This book seemed very real to me, which is a testament to Simon Tolkien's immense talent. I had a great grandfather who fought at the Somme and felt like I was listening to his story. This is a historically accurate account that makes for a fascinating read. Highly recommended 4.5 stars
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 9, 2017
Adam Raine's life begins in a poor neighborhood in London. From there he moves to a coal mining town where his father becomes involved in the negotiations between the workers and the local nobleman who owns the mine. Here Adam comes in contact with the people who will influence his life, for good and bad, from the mines to the trenches of World War 1 and back again.
Adam and other characters are convincing, in that each of them has their strengths and weaknesses. Even the villains have their sympathetic moments as we learn how their life experiences mold them into the adults they become.
The descriptions of life in the mines and the trenches are vivid, sometimes to a disturbing degree, but that was the reality so it is appropriate.
Thanks to Doubleday and Nan Talese for sending this book to me as part of the Keep Turning Pages group giveaway. As a big fan of historical fiction this was a real treat.
Adam and other characters are convincing, in that each of them has their strengths and weaknesses. Even the villains have their sympathetic moments as we learn how their life experiences mold them into the adults they become.
The descriptions of life in the mines and the trenches are vivid, sometimes to a disturbing degree, but that was the reality so it is appropriate.
Thanks to Doubleday and Nan Talese for sending this book to me as part of the Keep Turning Pages group giveaway. As a big fan of historical fiction this was a real treat.
May 19, 2017
Vannacht uitgelezen, het tweede gedeelte was zodanig spannend/goed dat ik het verhaal gewoon moest uitlezen.
Bij dit boek blijkt helaas dat de dikte niet altijd iets zegt over de kwaliteit. De eerste 350 pagina's hadden naar mijn mening ingekort mogen worden. Dit gedeelte van het verhaal hoort zeker thuis in het geheel, maar het was erg beschrijvend en dit deed niet goed aan de vaart van het verhaal. Vanaf het punt dat hoofdpersoon Adam aan de Somme vecht, doet het boek denken aan "Offer voor een verloren zaak".
RECENSIE:
3,5 ster
Het boek verhaalt van het leven van Adam in de eerste twintig jaar van de twintigste eeuw. In zijn vroege jeugd in Londen overlijdt zijn moeder waardoor zijn vader zich genoodzaakt ziet te verhuizen naar Scarsdale, een mijndorpje waar zijn neef woont. Daar ontmoet Adam zijn eerste vriend, achterneef Ernest.
In een arme omgeving waarin iedere familie afhankelijk is van de mijn en zijn beheerder Sir John mag Adam bijzonder genoeg naar de kostschool. Hier ontwikkelt hij zich geestelijk tot op grotere hoogtes dan zijn mededorpsgenoten.
Door enkele noodlottige ontwikkelingen worden Adam en Rawdon, de zoon van de grootste oproerkraaier in de mijn, vrienden voor het leven en verliest Adam tegelijk ook zijn vader.
Hierbij leert hij wel Miriam, de domineesdochter, kennen en wordt verliefd op haar.
Op een gegeven moment melden de jongens uit Scarsdale zich aan voor de oorlog die in 1914 uitbreekt.
De auteur heeft me positief verrast vanwege het neerzetten van een volledig verhaal met meerdere personen in verschillende milieus. Vele thema’s zijn goed verwerkt in het verhaal:
Standenverschil; opvoeding en de band tussen kinderen en ouders; ratio tegenover emotie; opstand als in arbeiders en werkgevers en kinderen tegen hun ouders.
In mooie zinnen met veel bijvoeglijk naamwoorden beschrijft Tolkien het leven van Adam en de omgevingen waarin hij verkeert.
Bovenstaande had voor mij ook een negatief effect, in casu de leesbaarheid en lengte van het boek. De eerste 350 pagina’s hadden voor mij ingekort mogen worden, voor mij zat er weinig vaart in.
Vanaf het oorlogsgedeelte aan de Somme werd de schrijfstijl beter, omdat deze beter paste bij gebeurtenissen en omgeving. Door de staccato-achtige taal (en hier nog steeds goede beschrijvingen) leek de oorlog voor mij levensecht omdat ik het heb kunnen vergelijken met andere boeken of films.
Ondanks dat het hele boek rond Adam draait, met in vertelperspectief uitstapjes naar Miriam en Brice, zoon van Sir John, krijg ik niet goed inzicht in de personages. Als lezer word je (onbewust?) op een afstand gehouden waardoor de personen flat characters blijven. Hier is de schrijver in gebreke gebleven.
Ook plotwendingen kwamen voor mij niet als een verrassing, ze voelden eerder plichtsmatig aan, net als de liefdeslijn tussen Adam en Miriam. Misschien komt het enerzijds doordat ik vele andere Eerstewereldoorlogsboeken heb gelezen, anderzijds doordat Tolkien de spanning niet optimaal kan opbouwen.
Vermeld moet worden dat de titel Niemandsland op verschillende soorten niemandslanden slaat, naast de bekendste variant van de lege strook tussen twee frontlinies. Als je als lezer daar meer over nadenkt, valt er nog best wat uit te halen.
Via uitgeverij en de kaft van het boek word je als lezer op de hoogte gesteld van het feit dat Simon Tolkien zijn verhaal heeft laten inspireren op het oorlogsverleden van zijn opa, dé Tolkien. Ik had hier zeer graag in een nawoord over gelezen, helaas ontbrak dit.
De vergelijking met Charles Dickens wat betreft het Londengedeelte is al meerdere malen gemaakt en ik kan daarmee instemmen.
Voor wie verder wil lezen over de Oorlog, moet ik denken aan John Boyne met “De witte veer”, Stefan Brijs met “Post voor mevrouw Bromley”, Hugo Luijten met “Offer voor een verloren zaak” en Michael Morpurgo met “Soldaat Peaceful” of “War Horse”.
Bovenstaande boeken staan voor mij op nummer één, Niemandsland op een goede tweede.
Bij dit boek blijkt helaas dat de dikte niet altijd iets zegt over de kwaliteit. De eerste 350 pagina's hadden naar mijn mening ingekort mogen worden. Dit gedeelte van het verhaal hoort zeker thuis in het geheel, maar het was erg beschrijvend en dit deed niet goed aan de vaart van het verhaal. Vanaf het punt dat hoofdpersoon Adam aan de Somme vecht, doet het boek denken aan "Offer voor een verloren zaak".
RECENSIE:
3,5 ster
Het boek verhaalt van het leven van Adam in de eerste twintig jaar van de twintigste eeuw. In zijn vroege jeugd in Londen overlijdt zijn moeder waardoor zijn vader zich genoodzaakt ziet te verhuizen naar Scarsdale, een mijndorpje waar zijn neef woont. Daar ontmoet Adam zijn eerste vriend, achterneef Ernest.
In een arme omgeving waarin iedere familie afhankelijk is van de mijn en zijn beheerder Sir John mag Adam bijzonder genoeg naar de kostschool. Hier ontwikkelt hij zich geestelijk tot op grotere hoogtes dan zijn mededorpsgenoten.
Door enkele noodlottige ontwikkelingen worden Adam en Rawdon, de zoon van de grootste oproerkraaier in de mijn, vrienden voor het leven en verliest Adam tegelijk ook zijn vader.
Hierbij leert hij wel Miriam, de domineesdochter, kennen en wordt verliefd op haar.
Op een gegeven moment melden de jongens uit Scarsdale zich aan voor de oorlog die in 1914 uitbreekt.
De auteur heeft me positief verrast vanwege het neerzetten van een volledig verhaal met meerdere personen in verschillende milieus. Vele thema’s zijn goed verwerkt in het verhaal:
Standenverschil; opvoeding en de band tussen kinderen en ouders; ratio tegenover emotie; opstand als in arbeiders en werkgevers en kinderen tegen hun ouders.
In mooie zinnen met veel bijvoeglijk naamwoorden beschrijft Tolkien het leven van Adam en de omgevingen waarin hij verkeert.
Bovenstaande had voor mij ook een negatief effect, in casu de leesbaarheid en lengte van het boek. De eerste 350 pagina’s hadden voor mij ingekort mogen worden, voor mij zat er weinig vaart in.
Vanaf het oorlogsgedeelte aan de Somme werd de schrijfstijl beter, omdat deze beter paste bij gebeurtenissen en omgeving. Door de staccato-achtige taal (en hier nog steeds goede beschrijvingen) leek de oorlog voor mij levensecht omdat ik het heb kunnen vergelijken met andere boeken of films.
Ondanks dat het hele boek rond Adam draait, met in vertelperspectief uitstapjes naar Miriam en Brice, zoon van Sir John, krijg ik niet goed inzicht in de personages. Als lezer word je (onbewust?) op een afstand gehouden waardoor de personen flat characters blijven. Hier is de schrijver in gebreke gebleven.
Ook plotwendingen kwamen voor mij niet als een verrassing, ze voelden eerder plichtsmatig aan, net als de liefdeslijn tussen Adam en Miriam. Misschien komt het enerzijds doordat ik vele andere Eerstewereldoorlogsboeken heb gelezen, anderzijds doordat Tolkien de spanning niet optimaal kan opbouwen.
Vermeld moet worden dat de titel Niemandsland op verschillende soorten niemandslanden slaat, naast de bekendste variant van de lege strook tussen twee frontlinies. Als je als lezer daar meer over nadenkt, valt er nog best wat uit te halen.
Via uitgeverij en de kaft van het boek word je als lezer op de hoogte gesteld van het feit dat Simon Tolkien zijn verhaal heeft laten inspireren op het oorlogsverleden van zijn opa, dé Tolkien. Ik had hier zeer graag in een nawoord over gelezen, helaas ontbrak dit.
De vergelijking met Charles Dickens wat betreft het Londengedeelte is al meerdere malen gemaakt en ik kan daarmee instemmen.
Voor wie verder wil lezen over de Oorlog, moet ik denken aan John Boyne met “De witte veer”, Stefan Brijs met “Post voor mevrouw Bromley”, Hugo Luijten met “Offer voor een verloren zaak” en Michael Morpurgo met “Soldaat Peaceful” of “War Horse”.
Bovenstaande boeken staan voor mij op nummer één, Niemandsland op een goede tweede.
February 4, 2017
An immersive, broad-canvas story, a coming-of-age against the backdrop of England in the first decades of the 20th Century. The main character, Adam Raine, goes through childhood, youth and young manhood through all the crucibles of the time: a London slum, a gritty north England coal-mine town, a rural country estate, and finally the cauldron of the Western Front. Through this, he has to navigate the tensions of class, labor struggle, social inequality and a collection of well-characterized rivals and companions.
Simon Tolkien has clearly done good research; all of the settings and locales seem true and the local societies' workings are well-described. He evokes his grandfather -- J.R.R. Tolkien -- in his descriptions of the English countryside and its jarring transitions from factory town to lush green landscapes to grey mining towns. The hellish landscapes of WWI France, particularly the battle of the Somme, in which his grandfather fought and young Adam suffers, are the central part of the book and evoke much of the horror. (In this one setting it does parallel his grandfather's life).
Young Adam has to endure loss of family and comrades, deal with personal rivals in his own class and his betters, cope with romantic yearning and disappointment. His only flaw is that he seems to be a blameless, likeable character with little in the way of real flaws, unlike those around him. Still, the book is a sweeping evocation of Britain in a momentous time, but doesn't lose the humanity, the individuality of those caught up in it.
Simon Tolkien has clearly done good research; all of the settings and locales seem true and the local societies' workings are well-described. He evokes his grandfather -- J.R.R. Tolkien -- in his descriptions of the English countryside and its jarring transitions from factory town to lush green landscapes to grey mining towns. The hellish landscapes of WWI France, particularly the battle of the Somme, in which his grandfather fought and young Adam suffers, are the central part of the book and evoke much of the horror. (In this one setting it does parallel his grandfather's life).
Young Adam has to endure loss of family and comrades, deal with personal rivals in his own class and his betters, cope with romantic yearning and disappointment. His only flaw is that he seems to be a blameless, likeable character with little in the way of real flaws, unlike those around him. Still, the book is a sweeping evocation of Britain in a momentous time, but doesn't lose the humanity, the individuality of those caught up in it.
September 20, 2016
There is a sequence in this book when war is declared and all hell breaks loose as the angry mob set upon a German baker who has lived in London for years. A timely reminder of how prevailing attitudes can change almost instantaneously and events take on an alarming life of their own sweeping all in its wake.
This is great historical fiction following the life of one young man from the streets of Islington to the collieries of northern England and, by a twist of fate, taking up residence in a stately home and ending up at Oxford University as World War breaks out.
The storytelling draws you into the England of the end of the nineteenth century and the beginning of the twentieth. The sights, the sounds, the smells of the streets and down in the pits contrasted with the gentility of upper class life.
Tolkien writes with warmth and empathy allowing the reader insights into life on both sides of the divide. The struggle for a decent wage to exist on and the trials of the indebted rich whose life is not as rosy and privileged as it might first appear at the outset.
All this with the backdrop of the birth of the labour and suffragette movements combined with the darkening skies of the looming threat of war.
This is highly readable, thought-provoking and entertaining historical fiction at it’s best.
I received this book in a Goodreads first reads draw.
This is great historical fiction following the life of one young man from the streets of Islington to the collieries of northern England and, by a twist of fate, taking up residence in a stately home and ending up at Oxford University as World War breaks out.
The storytelling draws you into the England of the end of the nineteenth century and the beginning of the twentieth. The sights, the sounds, the smells of the streets and down in the pits contrasted with the gentility of upper class life.
Tolkien writes with warmth and empathy allowing the reader insights into life on both sides of the divide. The struggle for a decent wage to exist on and the trials of the indebted rich whose life is not as rosy and privileged as it might first appear at the outset.
All this with the backdrop of the birth of the labour and suffragette movements combined with the darkening skies of the looming threat of war.
This is highly readable, thought-provoking and entertaining historical fiction at it’s best.
I received this book in a Goodreads first reads draw.
February 28, 2018
Poor boy makes good in this pedestrian tale that wanders from the London slums to a mining community to a country house and the trenches of the Somme. It didn’t hold my interest as I found it far too predictable, sentimental and at times melodramatic, with one-dimensional characters and a good smattering of clichés and purple prose. Conventional and formulaic and far too long.
Read
September 26, 2021Gave up. I'm too old to read books that bore me.
September 3, 2018
“They’re the salt of the earth and we are being told to send them over the top to walk across no man’s land with their packs on their backs. It breaks my heart, or what’s left of it.”
Horror and humanity collide. A window into life in London, Yorkshire, and the trenches a hundred years ago. Tolkien writes like an amalgam of his grandfather and Charles Dickens, but his characters don’t engage the reader. The protagonist offers insights to his situation and feelings, but sounds too modern.
“It’s like I looked at the sun too long and what I’ve seen has burnt away the meaning of everything. It’s left me hollow inside.”
Lingered too long in building his world and protagonist. Dickensian detailed descriptions of events tangential to the story. The character of Seaton Scardale seems hagiographic of Tolkien’s grandfather, wounded at the battle of the Somme, though J. R. R. Tolkien’s background paralleled protagonist more closely.
“No [morphine]. The pain is better and this is really not an event I want to miss.”
Poignant thoughts about the nature of war and what it’s like to the men who actually fight it. With World War One fading into legend, Tolkien brings us back to how difficult men in the ditches found fighting the twentieth century’s first mechanized wars while the generals clung to tactics dating back to eighteenth century.
“Without laughter none of them would have survived the trenches.”
Quibbles: Some awkward sentence structure: “… turned away in disgust and walked quickly away.”
The Brodie helmets issued British soldiers in World War One were anything but “tight-fitting steel helmets.” Perhaps Tolkien referred to their lack of padding on the crown, which caused the steel shell to rest directly, if loosely on the soldier’s head.
“The guns win in the end and they always will. Not us, not the Germans--the guns.”
Horror and humanity collide. A window into life in London, Yorkshire, and the trenches a hundred years ago. Tolkien writes like an amalgam of his grandfather and Charles Dickens, but his characters don’t engage the reader. The protagonist offers insights to his situation and feelings, but sounds too modern.
“It’s like I looked at the sun too long and what I’ve seen has burnt away the meaning of everything. It’s left me hollow inside.”
Lingered too long in building his world and protagonist. Dickensian detailed descriptions of events tangential to the story. The character of Seaton Scardale seems hagiographic of Tolkien’s grandfather, wounded at the battle of the Somme, though J. R. R. Tolkien’s background paralleled protagonist more closely.
“No [morphine]. The pain is better and this is really not an event I want to miss.”
Poignant thoughts about the nature of war and what it’s like to the men who actually fight it. With World War One fading into legend, Tolkien brings us back to how difficult men in the ditches found fighting the twentieth century’s first mechanized wars while the generals clung to tactics dating back to eighteenth century.
“Without laughter none of them would have survived the trenches.”
Quibbles: Some awkward sentence structure: “… turned away in disgust and walked quickly away.”
The Brodie helmets issued British soldiers in World War One were anything but “tight-fitting steel helmets.” Perhaps Tolkien referred to their lack of padding on the crown, which caused the steel shell to rest directly, if loosely on the soldier’s head.
“The guns win in the end and they always will. Not us, not the Germans--the guns.”
October 19, 2025
Adam Raine is a teenage boy who lives an impoverished life in the early 1900’s.
He has a great sense of right and wrong and this gets him into trouble but also gains him lifelong friends. When he is sent to the front during the First World War he needs all his courage to try and survive.
This story is a wonderful telling of the years leading up to and during the war, that had me enthralled from the first page.
I can’t wait for the next book by this author.
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
He has a great sense of right and wrong and this gets him into trouble but also gains him lifelong friends. When he is sent to the front during the First World War he needs all his courage to try and survive.
This story is a wonderful telling of the years leading up to and during the war, that had me enthralled from the first page.
I can’t wait for the next book by this author.
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 14, 2023
I picked this book up because it’s JRR Tolkien’s grandson…but was disappointed in his writing.
The main disappointment was the swearing. Tolkien never added vulgar language in his books and his books are world renown, so why must vulgar language be added at all?
I honestly can’t place my finger on why I wasn’t overly thrilled with this story but I enjoyed it enough to keep it in my library and recommend it as a decent Edwardian/Dickensian WWI story.
“London, 1910: young Adam Raine’s impoverished childhood becomes even darker when his mother is killed in a workers’ protest march. His grieving father, Daniel, seeks a second chance for them in a coal mining town, where he begins working for the miners’ union. But tensions escalate between the miners and their employer, Sir John Scarsdale, and finally explode with tragic consequences.
In the aftermath, Adam is brought into the opulent Scarsdale family home where Sir John’s son subjects Adam to a succession of petty cruelties for daring to step above his station. When, despite everything, Adam finds love with the beautiful parson’s daughter and wins a scholarship to Oxford, he starts to feel that his life is finally coming together—until the outbreak of war threatens to tear everything apart.” - per the back of the book.
The main disappointment was the swearing. Tolkien never added vulgar language in his books and his books are world renown, so why must vulgar language be added at all?
I honestly can’t place my finger on why I wasn’t overly thrilled with this story but I enjoyed it enough to keep it in my library and recommend it as a decent Edwardian/Dickensian WWI story.
“London, 1910: young Adam Raine’s impoverished childhood becomes even darker when his mother is killed in a workers’ protest march. His grieving father, Daniel, seeks a second chance for them in a coal mining town, where he begins working for the miners’ union. But tensions escalate between the miners and their employer, Sir John Scarsdale, and finally explode with tragic consequences.
In the aftermath, Adam is brought into the opulent Scarsdale family home where Sir John’s son subjects Adam to a succession of petty cruelties for daring to step above his station. When, despite everything, Adam finds love with the beautiful parson’s daughter and wins a scholarship to Oxford, he starts to feel that his life is finally coming together—until the outbreak of war threatens to tear everything apart.” - per the back of the book.
April 13, 2020
Simon Tolkien, grandson of J.R.R. Tolkien, has created a masterpiece of historical fiction, loosely based upon his grandfather’s World War I experiences. The book begins in 1900 London with 12-year-old Adam Raine’s mother being killed at a workers’ protest march and he and his father packing up and moving to the coal mining town of Scarsdale. There Adam will make friendships that will last throughout his life along with an enemy, Brice Scarsdale, son of the local mine owner. They will both compete for the affection of Miriam, the local parson’s daughter.
It’s not until about halfway through the book that the young men are enlisted and sent to the trenches of World War I. Tolkien has let you get to know these young men and deeply care for them which makes it even harder to read about the horrors they endure.
The rear cover of my book has a blurb that describes No Man’s Land as a “blend of Dickensian epic and Downton Abbey” and that is a perfect description. If you were a fan of the movies They Shall Not Grow Old or 1917, you will love this book. You will root for Adam to survive the war and win the girl. I would love to see this as a mini-series!
It’s not until about halfway through the book that the young men are enlisted and sent to the trenches of World War I. Tolkien has let you get to know these young men and deeply care for them which makes it even harder to read about the horrors they endure.
The rear cover of my book has a blurb that describes No Man’s Land as a “blend of Dickensian epic and Downton Abbey” and that is a perfect description. If you were a fan of the movies They Shall Not Grow Old or 1917, you will love this book. You will root for Adam to survive the war and win the girl. I would love to see this as a mini-series!
January 3, 2018
This is a wonderful book, that completely immerses you in the difficult years of the early 20th century, culminating in the Battle of the Somme and its aftermath. The chapters set at war and in the Yorkshire mine particularly stand out for their power and horror, I cried several times - the writing is so good. I've given this 4 and not 5 stars because of the less successful romance and rivalry strand. An excellent novel nonetheless.
May 15, 2017
4.5/5
I had to adjust my expectations about No Man's Land because I thought it was a WWI book and the protagonist doesn't go off to war until you're at least 40% into the book, but that was not a bad thing. Adam is the hero. Born in London, Adam lives a life of poverty that becomes increasingly desperate when the laborers at his father's workplace go on strike.
After tragedy strikes, his father moves the family to Yorkshire to work at a coal mine. Adam is an excellent student and is bullied, first for his father getting a job that the other miners believe should have been given to a local and then for continuing to go to school rather than working in the mine. He also falls for the parson's beautiful daughter Miriam, but he has competition and the other fellow has money. When war breaks out, Adam ends up fighting on the front lines of the Somme with friends from Yorkshire. While the bonds of friendship tighten between Adam and his buddies he finds it increasingly difficult to connect with the girl he loves. Will Adam end up with the love of his life or will Miriam's mother convince her to marry for money rather than love? Who will live and who will die in France?
I read a couple low-rating reviews because I loved this book so much that I was curious why anyone would give it only 1 or 2 stars and I'm going to address one issue because I think it's worth mentioning. The book jacket says No Man's Land is based on J. R. R. Tolkien's experience and I noted that one person was expecting a fictionalized bio of the Lord of the Rings novelist. There's not enough description on the jacket to prevent that kind of confusion, but I went into the reading with the expectation of a tribute to Tolkien, rather than a biographical novel so I didn't have that problem, although I can certainly understand that reader's disappointment.
Sometimes, I found the book a little predictable and that was the reason I took off a half point. The predictability was only a factor of certain situations, though, (as opposed to the general plot being wholly predictable) and a lot happens in No Man's Land so there are plenty of surprises. In general, the book is plotty enough for fans of plot-driven books but also descriptive enough and with enough depth of characterization to satisfy those who prefer character-driven novels.
Adam is a nice, strong character but he has a bit less personality than some of the other characters, so he was not actually my favorite. I adored Seaton, the eldest of the coal mine owner's sons, and came to love several of the friends who ended up together on the front lines. I've noticed sometimes an author will do a slightly better job of giving personality to the secondary characters, to the detriment of the hero or heroine, and I did think Adam suffered by comparison with some of the more vibrant personalities. But he's a good egg, he grows and changes throughout the novel, and he's very courageous. I liked him and desperately wanted him to survive the war.
At close to 600 pages, No Man's Land is an immersive read, great for those who like a book you can sink your teeth into, and with an ending I found satisfying.
I had to adjust my expectations about No Man's Land because I thought it was a WWI book and the protagonist doesn't go off to war until you're at least 40% into the book, but that was not a bad thing. Adam is the hero. Born in London, Adam lives a life of poverty that becomes increasingly desperate when the laborers at his father's workplace go on strike.
After tragedy strikes, his father moves the family to Yorkshire to work at a coal mine. Adam is an excellent student and is bullied, first for his father getting a job that the other miners believe should have been given to a local and then for continuing to go to school rather than working in the mine. He also falls for the parson's beautiful daughter Miriam, but he has competition and the other fellow has money. When war breaks out, Adam ends up fighting on the front lines of the Somme with friends from Yorkshire. While the bonds of friendship tighten between Adam and his buddies he finds it increasingly difficult to connect with the girl he loves. Will Adam end up with the love of his life or will Miriam's mother convince her to marry for money rather than love? Who will live and who will die in France?
I read a couple low-rating reviews because I loved this book so much that I was curious why anyone would give it only 1 or 2 stars and I'm going to address one issue because I think it's worth mentioning. The book jacket says No Man's Land is based on J. R. R. Tolkien's experience and I noted that one person was expecting a fictionalized bio of the Lord of the Rings novelist. There's not enough description on the jacket to prevent that kind of confusion, but I went into the reading with the expectation of a tribute to Tolkien, rather than a biographical novel so I didn't have that problem, although I can certainly understand that reader's disappointment.
Sometimes, I found the book a little predictable and that was the reason I took off a half point. The predictability was only a factor of certain situations, though, (as opposed to the general plot being wholly predictable) and a lot happens in No Man's Land so there are plenty of surprises. In general, the book is plotty enough for fans of plot-driven books but also descriptive enough and with enough depth of characterization to satisfy those who prefer character-driven novels.
Adam is a nice, strong character but he has a bit less personality than some of the other characters, so he was not actually my favorite. I adored Seaton, the eldest of the coal mine owner's sons, and came to love several of the friends who ended up together on the front lines. I've noticed sometimes an author will do a slightly better job of giving personality to the secondary characters, to the detriment of the hero or heroine, and I did think Adam suffered by comparison with some of the more vibrant personalities. But he's a good egg, he grows and changes throughout the novel, and he's very courageous. I liked him and desperately wanted him to survive the war.
At close to 600 pages, No Man's Land is an immersive read, great for those who like a book you can sink your teeth into, and with an ending I found satisfying.
November 23, 2025
Wow! Simon Tolkien the Author of “No Man’s Land” has written a literary masterpiece and thought-provoking saga that explores the devastation of war, the disparity of class, and both good and evil in human beings. The Genres for this novel are Historical Fiction, Coming of Age, Military Historical Fiction, Friendship Fiction, Family Fiction with a touch of Romance. I am most fascinated by Simon Tolkien’s vivid descriptions of conditions in London 1910, and World War One, and the dramatic, colorful, complicated and complex characters. I appreciate the author’s extensive historical research and details in the various characters during the timely tragic events.
The Protagonist of the story Adam Raines, has been dealt a cruel hand from his childhood, when his mother was killed in an accident. Adam’s father believes in worker’s rights, and unions, and they move to a mining town, where the mines prove to be unsafe, dangerous and deadly. When Adam’s father is killed, Adam is given the opportunity to escape the poverty he has experienced, and is invited into the home of an Aristocrat, Sir John Scarsdale, who he helped during an uprising. Adam is able to attend a university, but there is danger and jealousy lurking at Sir John’s residence. Adam has some friends and relatives that he is close to from the time he was in the mine. His new benefactor is not at all pleased.
The author has woven a tapestry that connects emotional feeling such as betrayals, jealousy, greed, lies, deception, manipulation, hopelessness, and murder. I was left flabbergasted by the author’s description of how despair colored many of the soldiers’ actions during the war. I appreciate that the author discusses the importance of loyalty, communication, friends, family, love and hope. I highly recommend this memorable and thought-provoking novel.
The Protagonist of the story Adam Raines, has been dealt a cruel hand from his childhood, when his mother was killed in an accident. Adam’s father believes in worker’s rights, and unions, and they move to a mining town, where the mines prove to be unsafe, dangerous and deadly. When Adam’s father is killed, Adam is given the opportunity to escape the poverty he has experienced, and is invited into the home of an Aristocrat, Sir John Scarsdale, who he helped during an uprising. Adam is able to attend a university, but there is danger and jealousy lurking at Sir John’s residence. Adam has some friends and relatives that he is close to from the time he was in the mine. His new benefactor is not at all pleased.
The author has woven a tapestry that connects emotional feeling such as betrayals, jealousy, greed, lies, deception, manipulation, hopelessness, and murder. I was left flabbergasted by the author’s description of how despair colored many of the soldiers’ actions during the war. I appreciate that the author discusses the importance of loyalty, communication, friends, family, love and hope. I highly recommend this memorable and thought-provoking novel.
November 26, 2025
The blurb says it’s a story set against coal mines and the trenches of WWI. The cover, however, focuses on soldiers rather than mines. The book opens with a dedication to the great J.R.R. Tolkien, who fought in the Battle of the Somme “and survived to tell the tale.” The author happens to be Tolkien’s grandson, so naturally I assumed this would be a fictionalized biography of the creator of The Hobbit. I was wrong.
It’s not a story about Tolkien at all—perhaps inspired by him, but certainly not about him. The narrative begins in London among the poorest layers of society. This forms an important backdrop to the entire novel, in which we watch Adam’s life rise from the very bottom to the middle class, with all the good and bad that come with such a climb. It’s a sad story that, in many ways, illustrates where socialism came from—and why.
Adam grows up, he changes, and so does the world around him. Then disaster arrives in the form of WWI, and it’s not pretty. The descriptions of life in the trenches and of the Battle of the Somme are solid, but they lack much of the gore and horror. Snowflakes may appreciate this, but for those who know the history or have read Rilke, it may feel disappointing, as if the war “wasn’t too bad.” It absolutely was.
Overall, it’s a good novel—well written and well structured. Six hundred pages that don’t drag and don’t bore. However, it isn’t innovative; it’s just another story. A good one, yes, but I’ve read many very similar.
It’s not a story about Tolkien at all—perhaps inspired by him, but certainly not about him. The narrative begins in London among the poorest layers of society. This forms an important backdrop to the entire novel, in which we watch Adam’s life rise from the very bottom to the middle class, with all the good and bad that come with such a climb. It’s a sad story that, in many ways, illustrates where socialism came from—and why.
Adam grows up, he changes, and so does the world around him. Then disaster arrives in the form of WWI, and it’s not pretty. The descriptions of life in the trenches and of the Battle of the Somme are solid, but they lack much of the gore and horror. Snowflakes may appreciate this, but for those who know the history or have read Rilke, it may feel disappointing, as if the war “wasn’t too bad.” It absolutely was.
Overall, it’s a good novel—well written and well structured. Six hundred pages that don’t drag and don’t bore. However, it isn’t innovative; it’s just another story. A good one, yes, but I’ve read many very similar.
November 16, 2025
A sweeping novel about life, love, work, and sacrifice around and including WWI in England and France. Adam loses his mother at a young age. His father is a bit thrown by the effort of raising his son, putting him in a workhouse for a few years. When reunited, they decamp for Scarsdale, a coal-mining town. Adam is the typical Tolkien hero: hard-working, steadfast, smart, and handsome. The book presents many obstacles to Adam's finding his way in the world, including lengthy sections about what it was really like during the war. He reminds us of body lice, trench foot, and other afflictions for those who were lucky to survive. It's well written, and the audiobook is well narrated. Tolkien is an engaging storyteller, and I enjoyed it despite the tough subject matter.
My thanks to the author, publisher, @BrillianceAudio, and #NetGalley for access to the now-available audiobook of #NoMansLand.
My thanks to the author, publisher, @BrillianceAudio, and #NetGalley for access to the now-available audiobook of #NoMansLand.
February 8, 2017
"No Man's Land" is historical fiction set in 1909 to 1919 in England and France. Though the novel is lengthy, the author wasn't wordy. He brought the time period alive with vivid descriptions, and these details didn't slow the story but served to move the story forward. Every scene served to develop the characters into complex, realistic people with a wide range of personalities.
I didn't intend to read this book because the WWI scenes take up nearly half of the book and I knew those scenes would be hard to read. But I give every book a chance, and I was so drawn into the story that I ended up reading the whole thing. Many bad things happen, but I didn't feel forced to "live" the emotions with the characters even though I sympathized with the pain and struggles that they went through.
Trench warfare wasn't pretty, and the horrors of it are described. Yet there was just enough distance that I didn't feel like I was living it with the characters; it just inspired great sympathy for those who lived through it. There were no sex scenes. There was some bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this well-written historical novel.
I received this book as an (unrequested) review copy from the publisher.
I didn't intend to read this book because the WWI scenes take up nearly half of the book and I knew those scenes would be hard to read. But I give every book a chance, and I was so drawn into the story that I ended up reading the whole thing. Many bad things happen, but I didn't feel forced to "live" the emotions with the characters even though I sympathized with the pain and struggles that they went through.
Trench warfare wasn't pretty, and the horrors of it are described. Yet there was just enough distance that I didn't feel like I was living it with the characters; it just inspired great sympathy for those who lived through it. There were no sex scenes. There was some bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this well-written historical novel.
I received this book as an (unrequested) review copy from the publisher.
April 7, 2017
good tale. flowed well and the ending was all wrapped up neatly
November 22, 2025
This is the third book by Simon Tolkein I have read. I thoughoughly enjoy his style of writing and how he brings history to life. His depiction of being in the trenches of WW, and going over the top, made me feel as though I were there. And the story revolving around the main character, his extended family and friends that he was involved with were believable and kept me wanting to see what happened. Very, very good book!!
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