The Grove of Eagles

by Winston Graham

In 1588 the Spanish Armada had been defeated in the English Channel and the whole of Elizabethan England was alert for the revenge that surely had to follow. Men like John Killigrew, commanding a key position on the Cornish coast, were vital to the survival of the country, and it is through the eyes of his eldest son, Maugan, that the story unfolds. Rich in action, it is also crowded with unforgettable characters, many of them based on actual historical figures. Maugan Killigrew himself emerges, through his loneliness and his love, his physical suffering in a Spanish gaol, as a touchingly honest and believable character who is, above all things, a man of his time.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, 16th Century, Adventure, British Literature

644 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1963

About the author

Winston Graham was an English novelist best known for the Poldark series of historical novels set in Cornwall, though he also wrote contemporary thrillers, period novels, short stories, non-fiction, and plays. Born in Victoria Park, Manchester, he moved to Perranporth, Cornwall in 1925 and lived there for 34 years. Graham published his first novel, The House with the Stained Glass Windows, in 1934 and married Jean Williamson in 1939, who inspired the character Demelza in Poldark. During World War II, he joined the Auxiliary Coastguard Service. Graham became a member of the Society of Authors in 1945, serving as chairman from 1967 to 1969, and was a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, receiving an OBE in 1983. His Poldark series began with Ross Poldark in 1945 and concluded with Bella Poldark in 2002. He wrote 30 additional novels, short stories, and non-fiction works, including the acclaimed thriller Marnie, adapted by Alfred Hitchcock in 1964. Several other novels, including The Walking Stick and Fortune Is a Woman, were adapted for film. Graham also wrote plays, some adapted from his novels. His works have been translated into 31 languages, and his autobiography, Memoirs of a Private Man, was published posthumously in 2003.

Reviews

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another excellent story by Winston Graham. A novel of Elizabethan England in the Days of the Second Spanish Armada (1597). Detailed story of the Killigrew family and how history happened to them. Real people: Sir Walter Raleigh, Essex,and Queen Elizabeth all have a part.

[Hugh Owens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Winston Graham excels in the historical fiction genre. Witness the Poldark series, in my opinion the best British historical fiction collection ever written. This novel takes place in Cornwall 200 years before the Poldark novels and concerns the fortunes of the Killebrew family, one of the most dominant and early settlers of Southwest England. This is a novel but it is anything but fiction and resembles a work of history in that the names and dates and events are accurate. The principal character is Maugan Killebrew, the bastard son of John Killebrew who was born in 1578 and the novel deals with real life events centering around the Spanish Armada debacle of 1588. In fact there were three Spanish Armada debacles in the late sixteenth century when Spain made attempts to defeat the British Fleet and restore Catholicism to renegade Protestant England. Fortunately for the English, it was ocean gales which defeated Spain scattering and sinking their ships with some help from the outgunned but intrepid galleons of Elizabeth.
The book follows the amazing adventures of Maugan Killebrew growing up in the remote Cornwall countryside around Falmouth and offers an accurate glimpse of rural country life. Maugan ends up as a secretary to Sir Walter Raleigh and accompanies the British Fleet when it sacked and burned Cadiz. He ends up being captured by the Spanish, escaping and then recaptured and eventually ending up in the ocean off his native Cornwall shore where he was picked up . He made his way back to Sue Reskymer his childhood sweetheart, only to find that she married in his absence. Will true love win out and will Maugan ever find out the identity of his real mother?
You'll have to wait for the ending to find out. The book does start slow and is laden with names and characters which can be confusing and slowing the action of the narrative but the book does pick up the pace and gather momentum and the ending is well done.
Winston Graham like Elizabeth George is fascinated with Cornwall and while this book doesn't have the oomph and gravity of the Poldarks, it provides a great introduction to Cornwall during the momentous events of the Spanish Armada in Elizabethan England in the late sixteenth century.

[Leela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall I really enjoyed this. It has lots of historical details and always fun to read even a fictionalised account of what life might have been like where you live 400 odd years ago. Interesting characters though, which could have benefited from more focus imo. I am intrigued to read some other Winston Graham books

[Sylvie · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Oh... Ambitious. Ambition is the loadstone that leads us all."

Winston Graham's The Grove of Eagles is the best book I've read all year. Ambition, as Walter Raleigh above alludes to, is the driving force behind protagonist Maugan Killigrew. Willing to do almost anything to survive, and possessing a hindsight that adds intelligence and understanding to his decision making, Maugan is a character who permanently aspires to more. This made for a particular interesting reading experience, as the novel is told as a first-person recount, so one often question's the reliability of his narration.

The novel is split into five 'books', roughly following this structure:
1. Childhood
2. Spain
3. Love
4. Armada and Imprisonment
5. Homecoming

Whilst Maugan is an interesting character, the events that occur around him, and the other individuals who surround him are perhaps the most enticing aspects of the novel. Graham's attention to historical detail, despite what he claims in the postscript, is immaculate. One feels as though they are learning about the Spanish Armada despite reading a work of fiction. Details as to contemporary disease, naval battalions, and the Cornish landscape are both engaging and accurate for the history enthusiast.

Most notably, I particularly liked the mentions of so many real-life historical figures. I have become fascinated with Walter Raleigh after reading this novel, and believe Graham's description that "There were many Walter Raleghs: the vigorous enthusiast, the thinker, the subtle politician, the unpretentious friend, the ambitious statesman, the poet, the strategist, the man of affairs," is both entirely accurate and requires further investigation. Mentions of Miguel de Cervantes, Christopher Marlowe and Matthew Royden were also particularly exciting. In some ways these details are similar to Deborah Harkness' A Discovery of Witches.

Overall, an incredibly detailed and enjoyable read, if a little slow at times. Makes me want to return the Graham's Poldark series, and see how he wields his historical knowledge at a greater scope.

[N · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this entertaining and easy to read. It was the first time in ages I had attempted anything in this genre, and I wondered given the length if I'd make it through, but I could barely put it down. The historical content, action and interactions helped hold my interest and the descriptive writing style brought the challenges of the era to life.

[Tracy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Winston Graham's historical novel of Elizabethan England is not his best, but is still better than most contemporary historical fiction. The male protagonist in this novel did not engage my imagination as well as other novels. Graham seems better at female characters, for whatever reason. I skimmed the third quarter of the novel, but the early part of the story and the conclusion were good reading. Plenty of historical figures including Walter Raleigh, the Earl of Essex, the Cecils, and the Howards. 3 1/2 stars.

[Eugenea Pollock · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disappointing. Given the combination of Winston Graham (author of the excellent Poldark series) and the 1590’s timeframe (Queen Elizabeth I, Sir Walter Raleigh et al.), expectations were high for this car book choice. Unfortunately, the pace of the narrative often slowed to a halt in periods of imprisonment for the main character. Further, that character, Maughan Killigrew, was poorly defined. All in all, I cannot recommend this book.

[William · Rating 3 out of 5]

Winston Graham is a wonderful writer and I do love to read his novels, especially his masterpiece, "Poldark," but I have to say that this novel was a bit tedious and at times hard to get through. As a historical novel taking place in the last part of the 16th Century toward the end of Elizabeth's I reign, many might find it engrossing, but I did not.

[Tracey Warr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superior historical fiction writing. Highly recommended. The Spanish Armada threatens the Cornish coast of Elizabeth I's England.

[Adam Keller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love stories are one of the most common forms of literature. In general they fall into two kinds - the ones which end well, and the ones which end badly. In general, literary love stories end well when the lovers eventually get married and live happily ever after. They end badly when one or both die, or both remain alive but something prevents them from consumating their love. It is very rare for a love story to end as "Grove of Eagles" ends. The protagonist had fallen in love at a young age, loyally carried a torch for his girl over many years, and finally gets to marry her - but it is not a happy end, because he had discovered her to be a nasty character, fallen out of love for her, and still could not stop himself from marrying her and feeling trapped and miserable in this marriage. Such things in fact happen quite often in real life - but I can hardly think of another book depicting it. in a literary way. This by the way is an element quite independent of historical setting. Graham could have also placed this hopeful love and disappointing marriage in a modern setting with hardly any change in the text. In fact, some of the dialogue seemed a bit too modern.Would a 16 Century woman have really said "Perhaps I am not the right woman for you?"

[Deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an absolute cracker of a book, in some ways all the better for being a bit old-fashioned. It's delightfully understated, and modern cliches are virtually absent. I certainly didn't foresee the plot twist, if you can call it a twist. I was expecting either a happy or a tragic ending; what I got was neither of those, it's more to do with Maugan's cynical acceptance of the world as it is, abandoning the ideals of youth. The characters are rounded and believable, many with a deceitful side overlaid by surface charm. The battle sections, fights and escapes are hugely exciting even though some of the events are far-fetched, and the research is impeccable.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this novel very much. As a fan of the Horatio Hornblower novels, I was thrilled to find Maugan Killegrew, the main character, has several seafaring adventures. It's a coming-of-age story, along with a history lesson of the Spanish Armadas, and of the last years of Queen Elizabeth's reign and the people of her inner circle. Beautifully written. I cannot, for the life of me, understand why Winston Graham is not more well known! I had never even heard of him until the Poldark series appeared on my television screen. He's amazing and I am ever so grateful to have made his acquaintance through the pages of his novels.

[Sally Channing · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one was difficult for me to get through, as much as I like Winstin Graham. The Spanish Armada and battles did not interest me that much, but that it was a true story did. Graham really does his research.

[Carole Baldie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The setting is during the Elizabethan period in Cornwall. The history is brought to life and one gets a true feel of life during those times. Real characters and places are used in the narrative a very good read

[Susan]

1578-1599 Cornwall and Spain

[Lindaslangdon]

Abandoned 16/2. Persevered because I so enjoy the Poldark novels and have read them many times since I was a teenager. I found this tedious and boring. The characters are poorly drawn so I wasn’t interested in their stories. And, although I understand that opinions and times have changed since the book was published in 1963, I couldn’t accept the double standards shown by the main character when pursuing his love interests. Especially his bullying of Sue when she refuses to leave her husband.

[Excel Lifestyle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mr. Graham takes his readers back in time to the era of the second Spanish armada to tell the story of Maughan Killigrew.

The Killigrews are an ancient family that’s slowly been decaying due to a lack of funds and an excess of vices. Maughan is the illegitimate son of the latest Killigrew patriarch. The novel chronicles the many mistakes of John Killigrew and his path to ruin. Personally I found this the most compelling aspect of the novel. Graham reveals in the postscript that one of his primary motivations for writing the novel was to cover this infamous family.

The reader also sees the English assault on Cadiz and the attempted invasion of the second Spanish armada. I went in knowing nothing about this period and the figures such as Walter Raleigh that populated it. As usual, Graham does a fine job painting the period and intertwining fact with fiction.

Where Graham uncharacteristically falls short is in our protagonist. Similar to Graham’s Ross Poldark, Maughan causes quite a bit of trouble in his youth. Unlike Ross however, he does not have many redeeming qualities. Maughan narrates his tale as an older and wiser man. He often shows remorse for the actions he’s describing but he doesn’t perform any sort of redemptive act.

Overall this is a very cynical and dark novel. Maughan starts out as a good hearted lad but by the end was not someone I wanted to follow. Graham was planning sequels so most likely his redemption was to follow, but I don’t know if I’d want to read more of the character. I think he is interestingly flawed but his actions were just too villainous for my liking.

At the end of the day I’d say this is only worth reading if you are interested in the specific time period covered.

[Sarah Dunsbee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent family story,love story and adventure stories; on land ,sea,in prison etc .
The characters are good, and you live with the main character Maughan, you feel joy hope betrayal ...
Apart from a few pages on battles,I was quite agog to know what was going to happen, and hoping for a happy ending....I was rather disappointed in the end...more true to life I guess....
What a pity there was no second story tracing more of this families story..

[Lili · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good historical novel fro the Elizabethan era, the time of the Spanish Armada the story is interspersed with real historical characters.