Glastonbury: The Novel of Christian England

by Donna Fletcher Crow

Glastonbury saw it all—armies marched, cultures clashed, kingdoms rose and fell—but through it all Glastonbury remained a place of serenity, prayer and reconciliation. Sweeping through 1500 years of tumultuous Celtic, Roman, Arthurian, Anglo-Saxon, Norman and Tudor history from the first confrontations between druids and Christians to the dissolution of the monasteries, this is a story of faith passed on from generation to generation. Joseph of Arimathea, Saint Patrick, Alfred the Great, Richard the Lionheart, Henry VIII… here in this epic novel of the triumph of Christianity through the darkest moments of history, many will find their own spiritual roots. As Austin Ringwode, last of the Glastonbury monks, searches back through the pages of recorded history in a valiant quest to find meaning in the struggles those broken arches stood witness to—seeking for the Holy Grail itself—so his odyssey becomes every person’s journey for the meaning of life.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Christian Fiction, Christian, Historical, British Literature, Medieval

1134 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 15, 1992

About the author

Donna Fletcher Crow loves to give books away. If you would like a copy of one of her best-selling Lord Danvers Investigates series, go to her website: http://www.DonnaFletcherCrow.com

Donna is the author of 50 books, mostly novels dealing with British history. The award-winning GLASTONBURY, The Novel of Christian England is her best-known work, an Arthurian grail search epic covering 15 centuries of English history.
Donna authors 3 mystery series: The best-selling Lord Danvers Investigates Vitorian true-crime series; The Monastery Murders; and The Elizabeth and Richard Literary Suspense.

Donna and her husband have 4 adult children and 14 grandchildren. She is an inveterate researcher and an enthusiastic gardener. You can see pictures of her research trips and her garden, learn more about her books, subscribe to her monthly newsletter, and read her blog at: www.DonnaFletcherCrow.com

Reviews

[Donna Crow · Rating 5 out of 5]

GLASTONBURY, A Novel of The Holy Grail, is the book I was born to write.

Just as the search for the Holy Grail is the centerpiece of this 820-page novel covering 1500 years of English history, so the stories of King Arthur have been a centering passion for my life.

In 1992 the first edition of GLASTONBURY, The Novel of Christian England, was published by Crossway Books with its cover showing the broken arches of Glastonbury Abbey through a bower of leafy green. And then in 2000 GLASTONBURY was brought back in a fully reedited edition with a beautiful black cover bordered with Celtic knotwork.

And now, after 20 years in print, GLASTONBURY, The Novel of the Holy Grail, has a whole new life with yet another stunning cover in a version fully reedited for ebooks.

And so the saga continues. My new publisher uses the strapline: The Holy Grail lies somewhere in Glastonbury!

See more at: http://www.donnafletchercrow.com/inde...

And I reply, "So does my heart."

[Angie Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

How do you write a single review for an epic like this? And I mean seriously epic in scope and magnitude, since the stories in this book span at least 1500 years of history! In one sense, it's a connected story--the history of Glastonbury--but that story is split into six books, some of which are further split into collections of short stories and novellas. The sheer size and scope of the book make it really hard to give it any kind of in-depth analysis, and of course there were portions of the story I enjoyed more than others. (Along with the fact that there's no way I can remember all the details of all the individual stories...)

So, before I started this book, I'm not sure I had ever heard of Glastonbury, and I found all the history really interesting, even though I had a hard time keeping all the historical details straight in my mind from book to book. I really liked the author's way of showing the possible origins of certain stories and legends, and it was interesting, although sometimes rather frustrating, to see how the stories changed across time. I really liked, for example, her portrayal of the Arthur legends and the way some of the more sordid portions were made into later inventions, rather than facts. Because of the way the stories and history are woven, I found myself correcting things in some of the later stories with, "That wasn't the way it happened!" and then having to remind myself that the earlier stories were also fiction...

Speaking of history, I really loved the way the author infused the historical flavor into her stories! In a book spanning from a few years after Christ's death to the reign of Henry VIII, that in itself is a monumental undertaking. And yet she accomplished it without resorting to King James English or making her pre-Roman Celts sound exactly like a sixteenth-century courtier. And yet none of her characters in any period were stiff or hard to understand, and the progression flowed so smoothly that you felt the gradual change in the names, the speech cadence, and the vocabulary without being jerked around from one period to the next. This whole language and period-flavor aspect was definitely my favorite thing about the book! The only drawback would be that unfamiliar words and terms are sometimes thrown around with no explanation (although I did find a glossary in the back--after I'd finished the book :S), but if you're okay with picking things up from context or looking them up as you go along, it shouldn't be a problem.

As I already stated, there were certain stories that I enjoyed more than others; in particular, I was saddened by the tragic endings of some of them. (Although if I had known more about the history and legends going in, I probably would have been better prepared...) But I did appreciate the way the author kept pointing back to the light of faith that shone even through tragic circumstances and to the persistence and rekindling of the flame even in the darkest times.

The only things that I didn't really enjoy about the book were some references to various sexual sins that never went into detail but that are just hard things for me to read about in general, no matter how gently the author handles them. Some of them were historically unavoidable--for example, Henry VIII's relationships--while others formed part of fictional characters' backstories--for example, a boy is discovered to be an illegitimate son. The only scenes that really came close to the edge for me were one scene where a man takes a girl and "falls into the rushes" with her (the scene immediately closes) and one where a woman comes upon an illicit rendezvous in the forest (no details are given). There are scattered references to fertility rites, infertility, men keeping mistresses, accusations of adultery, etc., but all are handled with a pretty light touch.

Also, the faith element in the book was very pervasive, very strong, and very suited to the times, and although the core Christian elements of God's grace and salvation through faith were stressed, there were also some elements that made my Protestant soul cringe a little--things like prayers to the saints, venerated relics, and people claiming visions of Jesus having dedicated a certain chapel to His mother. Honestly, I feel like the author did an excellent job of balancing historical reality with underlying truth in a way that I don't think would cause offense to either Protestants or Catholics, but still might not make either side entirely comfortable. It was interesting to note some of the church controversies that played into this history, too; I wanted to bang my head on the desk when a certain council was broken up because of a heated disagreement on the shape of the tonsure--and they were really serious! Historical detail, I'll tell you... There were also a couple of places where the "believer marrying an unbeliever" issue was brought up and then solved immediately by the conversion of the unbelieving party. Not that I object to that solution, but it did feel a bit...convenient.

Overall (if there's such a thing as an overall rating for such a huge work), I give it four stars. And even though I know I won't be able to remember all the historical details, I'm sure the stories will pop back into my mind the next time I hear of St. George or the Arthur legends. ;)

Content--see above for sexual and religious content; some mentions of pagan religions and their practices; battle scenes, including wounds, blood, and deaths; mentions of torture and executions; mentions of various superstitions; accusations of witchcraft; one use of "bastard" (in the literal sense), one use of "damned" (in the spiritual sense), a few uses of "deuce" or "devil"

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Given my love of British History and Church History, you might make the leap of faith to conclude that I’ve enjoyed this book. And, you would be right as I’ve loved reading this title!

Ms. Crow has done a fabulous job taking bits of what we know of history and fleshing out stories that bring the different characters to life. Some of the protagonists were familiar (e.g. King Arthur, although in this book he is called Arthurious) and others were not well known to me. But, together their story paints an elegant history of an area in Britain eventually known as Glastonbury which is seen as a holy place for all of known history, even before the coming of Christianity.

This is not a quick read, though, with over 500 pages of text. Nor is it like one continuous novel with one set of characters to track. Glastonbury is almost like a series of novellas strung together as if an ancient historian is retelling each glimpse of time periods along the way. The nice thing about it is that I could easily set aside the book for the night when I reached a new jump in era without having an unsettling feeling about abandoning a favorite character or thread in the story. Yet, the more I read, the more drawn I was to the stories and even a desire to dig deeper into the history myself. (No, I haven’t done that, but the wheels are already spinning about when P should study British Literature and how much history we’ll include with it.)

I would seriously recommend this title for any other lover of British history or even one of Church history who wants to witness the evolution of Christianity in England through the genre of historical fiction. Included in the front of the book (which I wish I’d printed out to have on hand while reading) is both a timeline of Glastonbury through the dissolution of the Abbey in 1539 and a genealogy of the families in Glastonbury from Joseph of Arimathea through the time period covered in this book.

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

An almost perfect blend of history, mythology, and excellent storytelling, Donna Fletcher Crow’s Glastonbury recreates ancient Britain from the time of Druids to the dissolution of the monasteries in the Middle Ages. The story splits into separate books, each complete in itself and each contributing an essential ingredient to the whole. It's a long read, certainly, but a rewarding one with such perfect stopping points you can pick it up again week after week, following tales of slavery and Roman rule with the curious wonders of Camelot and the quest for the Holy Grail.

I’ve always loved English history and this novel satisfies that love as well as intriguing me delightfully with its depiction of early Christianity. Building on legends that Joseph of Arimathea came to England after the death of Christ, carrying the Holy Grail of Arthurian dreams, it invites the reader to wonder what is the grail, and who is Arthur? Is there power in the land?

Donna Fletcher Crow deftly weaves a wealth of well-researched detail into a story that continually astounds with sudden awe and the caught breath of surprised recognition. There are no glaring signposts to remembered characters here; just wise and well-drawn images that bring those characters to life before you've fully recognized who you might be seeing. Glastonbury encompasses the detail and emotional power of a Rosemary Sutcliffe novel (one of my childhood favorites), the honest faith of a Taylor Caldwell book (favorites of my teenage years), and the scope and depth of an Edward Rutherford tome (one of my more recent favorites). It is is hugely satisfying, beautifully researched and convincingly told—a novel to read and reread and happily recommend.



Disclosure: I was lucky enough to by an ecopy when it was free but I’ll have to look out for it in paperback now as I want a copy for my bookshelf.

[Dale Harcombe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fascinating fictional, but based on history, account of the early Christian church in England. The story starts with a light that shone in the sky announcing a special king born, and then moves to the visit of Joseph of Arimathea to England after the death of Jesus Christ to take the gospel to the Celts. From the Celts the story transverses various stages in history such as Roman Britain, Arthurian Britain etc all the way to Tudor England and makes for a fascinating read. The Arthurian story leaves out all the usual elements of magic and Merlin as a Wizard but is no less readable for that.
One thing I did find I a little hard were unfamiliar names that were often times very similar. It was useful to have the Families of Glastonbury listed in the front and the glossary in the back of the book for unfamiliar terms.
At almost 800 ages this is not a quick read but then you would hardly expect t to be given the huge amount of time covered. It is beautifully written and each time I had to put it down I found myself eager to get back to the story. I’d been trying to get hold of this book for a while but it had been unavailable so I was very pleased to see it reprinted. If you want a good look at English History and the beginning of the Christian church with its positive aspects and also its failings, this is an excellent place to start. It is a beautifully presented book and I loved the cover. It is just so rich, in keeping with the story. My one regret was at times I would have liked to stay with certain families and their story a little longer which shows how involved with the characters I was, but that would have made for an even longer story. What is has done is prompt me to investigate further some of the stories that this novel contains and I’m glad Donna gave a few suggestions of source materials to consult. Highly recommended.

[Sherry Sharpnack · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book about the history of Glastonbury Abbey, the holiest site in English Christendom, was HUGE, and I loved every minute of it. If you don’t profess Christianity, you just might after reading this.

The book begins w/ Joseph of Arimathea—supposedly Jesus of Nazareth’s Uncle — taking the gospel to the world by moving to the island of Logres. He established a home at Ynis Withrin w/ its lovely great tor, a very holy place even then.

Then you follow the Tor and it’s association w/ the gospel of Christ through the ages, w/ the book being divided into smaller books which address different time periods and how the gospel was spread or accepted by the main characters of the individual books. In fact, the early books aren’t about “Glastonbury” at all: it doesn’t BECOME Glastonbury for many centuries. I love the author’s use of the languages and place names that would have been used at the time, instead of the modern ones.

The books are connected by being a history of Glastonbury written by one of the monks turned out by Henry VIII’s dissolution of the monasteries. The whole book ends w/ the Abbey being burned to the ground by Cromwell’s emissaries. I had to actually stop to realize that the book from the Norman era was further from Christ than we are now from the Norman era...!

My especial favorite book was about King Arthurius and his Knights and Queen. We all know the story of King Arthur but this version is just wonderful and so touching! I loved how the author wove stories of all the major British saints into the history of the Abbey also. And I actually cried as the Abbey was burning at the end.

Just a wonderful book. I wish I could give it ten out of five stars.

[Loraine Bailor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just when I thought I was making progress, I realized I was at 24%, and a week later, had had enough at around 40%. Lots of great historical details, but too long to keep track of all the characters and after a while, it just plodded along. With the different generations, it just felt like we were going to crawl through another 100 characters without finishing, so I cried "Uncle." Learned a lot, enjoyed the early characters, just had no idea this book was soooooo long and hard to track.

[English · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finished it!

This is a LOOONG book. More than 1100 pages, but its worth it. Really its a series of short stories spanning over 1500 years, all of which tie into Glastonbury Abbey in some way.
The most interesting part was the interpretation of the Holy Grail, and what it really means.

The author wrote a similar book to this about Scotland which has been republished as a series, but this one is well worth reading as well. Don;t be put off by the length: this can be read in smaller chunks. Its well researched too, which is always a plus.

[Maureen D. Hunter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read! Great story!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Having been to Glastonbury, climbed the Tor and drunk from the chalice well, I loved reading about its continuing place in history. I would have liked an afterword about the historical sources employed in writing this novel

[Courtney Carlson · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much of this was amazing!

[Viktor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Donna Fletcher Crow has created an epic historical masterpiece. Her meticulous research into both legendary and documentary evidence brings to life the mystical Glass Isle of Glastonbury with its imposing Tor.

In particular, we follow the often wavering spark of faith in Jesus Christ through the ages, and the icons that assured its continuity.

Historical structure
The book is divided into six periods: Celtic Britain, Roman Britain, Arthurian Britain, Anglo-Saxon England, Norman England, and finally the turbulent reign of Henry VIII. An extract from the journal of Glastonbury’s last surviving monk, Austin Ringwode, sets the scene for each era. Crow then portrays that period through the eyes and experiences of one or more fictitious characters who interact with historic figures.

The mystical site with its profoundly spiritual aura, around which all events in the book take place, has different names. In early days it is Ynys Witrin or Avalon. King Arthur calls it Camelot. Later, variant spellings of Glastonbury appear.

King Henry VIII falls out with Rome over his desire to annul his marriage to Catherine of Aragon. In consequence, he establishes his own, independent Church of England. In one major act he dissolves all the Old Faith monasteries. The last and greatest of these is Glastonbury.

As the final hero, Giles, watches aghast as the magnificent abbey burns, he is joined by the Austin Ringwode. The humble monk relates a mystical experience from his time of prayer. He then prophesies that Glastonbury will someday be reborn and herald a new period of peace and plenty.

Legends brought to life
Jesus’s uncle Joseph of Arimathea, a tin and lead trader, returns to the island in obedience to the commission to carry the Good News to all nations. He brings with him several mementos relating to Jesus’s death on the cross. A cutting of the thorn tree from which the crucifixion crown was made he plants on the hill; it blossoms every Christmastime. An elaborate cross later reveals one of the nails that impaled Jesus on the cross. The Holy Grail, the wooden bowl with which Jesus passed the wine to his disciples at the Last Supper and which Joseph used to catch Christ’s blood at the crucifixion, is lost. But it figures as a mystical symbol with a subtle significance.

Another legendary character who features strongly is King Arthur. He draws Clarent, the Sword of Britain – ‘not a battle sword, but a sword of peace’ – from its stony bracket. Then Merlin blesses him for his duties in the turbulent times. I quote:

Arthurius, whom many called Artos the bear – as much for his size, strength, and thick pelt of hair as for the derivation of his name – carried the blood of the Caesars in his veins. And he had been carefully schooled in war skills as a lieutenant to Ambrosius and schooled in statecraft by Merlinus Dubricius himself.

Conclusion
Crow writes vividly, captivating the reader throughout this lengthy tome. We learn a great deal about the history of the British Isles and are intrigued by the lively characters the author has conjured up alongside historical figures.

The tagline, The Novel of Christian England, leads the reader to expect the story to extend to the present day. But the destruction of Glastonbury Abbey brings the story to a close. Henry’s break with Rome is portrayed as the tragic end of the true Christian faith in England. Indeed, his life was anything but exemplary, and his rash actions often unfounded and disastrous, but this final note comes over as unnecessarily disheartening.

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let this sweep you away, as it did me

I received this book free from one of the book sites. I do not remember which one! This is my honest and voluntary review.
An epic book that overcomes the reader with tears of joy and of despair. Read about the wars, the kings, the legends, and the birth of English religious abbey Glastonbury. Most importantly, read of the faith that imbued the land of Avalon.
Each part of this epic work details historical wars and raids made in the land of the future England. Read of the good and the traitorous. Read of the ebb and flow of the abbey over generations. Read of those who would serve God on earth.
The characters from history are done in an accurate way, but it is the fictional characters that bring emotions to the imagination. This is no small task that the author gave herself. From the time of the Romans to the court of King Henry the VIII, this book spans generations and sweeps the reader out of the present and into a tumultuous past. There was not always war and there was not always peace, but there was always the abbey and faith.
Take the most incredible journey through time and read this book. This is a keeper and I must order one to keep in my home. Yes, the book is long, but it is so full that it seems to read fast. I thank the author for taking the time and effort to write such a marvelous work.
I highly recommend this book to you.

[Madeleine Myers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Panoramic view of Britain's place in Christian history

My favorite historical novels are those which are rooted in fact, but which also skillfully blend the myths and legends surrounding the facts with credible and appealing characters in a richly visualized setting: the kind that take us back in time but leave us curious enough to want to take a trip or two back, and find out what we missed.

I found this novel after having read two others in which some of these characters appeared and in which Glastonbury figured prominently in the enveloping action. Although some of the periods depicted seemed sketchier than others, my reading lingered on a few that I knew very little about, especially the initial story of Joseph of Arimathea, whom I had only heard of in the Biblical account, and since learned he may have been close to Jesus and his family from the beginning, and his story abounds in legends and speculation, yet he comes across as a vivid personality here. I will be looking for more stories and legends surrounding many of the other characters, I am sure. And as long as this novel is, it is so beautifully written I took my time with the reading of it, and read the last chapter wistfully, a bit regretful that it would end.

[Karin Jenkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is similar in concept to Rutherford's books such a London where the history of an area is told through a series of stories in different generations but with a particular focus on the Christian history and legends of England. It starts with Joseph of Arimathea and the legend that he traded with Cornish tin miners and finishes with the dissolution of the monasteries and in between we meet saints and kings and ordinary folk at various times in history. I got a bit lost in the Dark Ages, but that may just have been me, and I wished I had the book in paper rather than digital format as I think it would have been useful to be able to easily flick back and remind myself of things that happened in previous sections. One of the cleverest things to me was the way she showed how stories evolve over time or are subverted by people with agendas, a slightly different version becomes the received wisdom, and it gets much harder to disentangle fact from story the further we get from events. She was also good at showing how there were sincere Christians as well as people hungry for power on all sides of the mess Henry VIII caused.

[Lorraine Shelstad · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book and learning more about the history of England, especially how Christianity came to England and the struggles over the years. It took me a long time to read but then it does cover the time of Joseph of Arimathea coming to England to the destruction of the monasteries by Henry VIII. I found it interesting how the author cleverly wove what are considered legends into the story in a way that made them entirely believable. Donna Crow did a tremendous amount of research and I found it interesting how she presented both sides of the Catholic/Protestant controversy in a non-biased way. I could not tell which side of the fence she is on.

[edith wherton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting

Wonderful book, no doubt. Usually ,I despise the idea of a series and think that story should be told in one go. Sadly in this case,I am wrong. Each section would have made a lovely novel. Please consider rereleasing it as several separate volumes. By the time I got about 3/4 through I was losing the will to live. But.... I found it enjoyable and extremely interesting. It makes the old legends seem quite possible when put into historical context. I would have actually given six stars for writing and content but the length....oh my.

[Cheyenne Langevelde · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the landing Joseph of Arimathea on the shores of Britannia to the persecution under King Henry VIII and disbanding of the monasteries, Donna Fletcher Crow weaves six fascinating narratives that are realistic, moving, and teach so much about British history and Christianity. Truth be told, this is actually six books in one, including the tale of King Arthur, St. Patrick, the Norman Conquest, and so much more. Highly recommend to any historical fiction lover, but especially those who love British history.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Glastonbury. It's actually a collection of books spanning 1500 years. The first books tells of Joseph of Arimethia leaving the Holy Land and settling in Glastonbury with a small group of believers shortly after Christ's crucifixion. The final book takes place during the reign of King Henry VIII. along the way, there was a book centered on St George, one on St Patrick, and one on King Arthur. The books sometimes skipped past great spans of time, but they all took place in the same location and had many threads connecting them.
I really enjoyed reading this.

[Esther Koncyk Mortensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good time to read

I often find myself getting a bit lost with so many different characters but that was not the case here. For the most part, I was able to follow through due to the author's style of writing. It was interesting how she incorporated King Arthur and its many tales told through history. The author also appears to have a good grasp on what people of faith are truly about.

[Charlene Clevenger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating

As a Christian and somewhat of an anglophile, I was very interested to read the history of the place where Christianity first came to England. The balance of history and creative fiction weave a beautiful tapestry in this story. It is long, and with many unfamiliar words, it took me a long time to finish, but overall I was enchanted and inspired by the dedication of the characters to Christ.

[Lo Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

The depth and breadth of the heart of Glastonbury

I bought this treasure because I was going to Glastonbury on a quest. I didn't finish the book until I returned home. I wish I had read it first! The depth and breadth of this story brings to life the spiritual magic Glastonbury that lives in my heart.

[Laura · Rating 1 out of 5]

Too much Christianity for my tastes. The version I downloaded is called ‘A Novel Of The Holy Grail’, but it appears it’s also known as ‘A Novel of Christian England’. Had I known that, I wouldn’t have downloaded it. DNF

[Linda Testerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great

This book is long and I had to take breaks and read something else. A lot of information to digest. I knew some of it, but glad to learn more. Anyone with an interest in how England and Ireland got the Gospel of Jesus, should read this.

[Shirley Procter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful, inspired story

I utterly loved this story, it is inspirational, and filled with God's love for people. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Glastonbury and it's history as the birthplace of faith in England.

[Clarence Day · Rating 2 out of 5]

Finally just gave up. I read historical novels to learn, but the author didn't seem to have researched the history of Christianity so I didn't know that the history of the British Isles would be any better.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

marvelous!

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing work and information!

Thank you for this walk through time.
I have read and felt this moving history.
I will look at my Bible differently.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating!!!

[Erlinda Attwater · Rating 5 out of 5]

A long epic but an excellent novel and historical review of early Christian England

[Jim · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not recommended.