What do you think?
Rate this book
The Black Rose
As stated by the author, this story "grows out of a legend, a most beguiling and romantic legened which is found in a very few old English histories".
"Solid in its facts, colorful and romantic...a rich and remarkable historical tapestry." —Christian Science Monitor
"Solid in its facts, colorful and romantic...a rich and remarkable historical tapestry." —Christian Science Monitor
401 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1945
119 people are currently reading
1580 people want to read
About the author
Thomas B. Costain
128 books185 followersCostain was born in Brantford, Ontario to John Herbert Costain and Mary Schultz. He attended high school there at the Brantford Collegiate Institute. Before graduating from high school he had written four novels, one of which was a 70,000 word romance about Maurice of Nassau, Prince of Orange. These early novels were rejected by publishers.
His first writing success came in 1902 when the Brantford Courier accepted a mystery story from him, and he became a reporter there (for five dollars a week). He was an editor at the Guelph Daily Mercury between 1908 and 1910. He married Ida Randolph Spragge (1888–1975) in York, Ontario on January 12, 1910. The couple had two children, Molly (Mrs. Howard Haycraft) and Dora (Mrs. Henry Darlington Steinmetz). Also in 1910, Costain joined the Maclean Publishing Group where he edited three trade journals. Beginning in 1914, he was a staff writer for and, from 1917, editor of Toronto-based Maclean's magazine. His success there brought him to the attention of The Saturday Evening Post in New York City where he was fiction editor for fourteen years.
In 1920 he became a naturalized U.S. citizen. He also worked for Doubleday Books as an editor 1939-1946. He was the head of 20th Century Fox’s bureau of literary development (story department) from 1934 to 1942.
In 1940, he wrote four short novels but was “enough of an editor not to send them out”. He next planned to write six books in a series he called “The Stepchildren of History”. He would write about six interesting but unknown historical figures. For his first, he wrote about the seventeenth-century pirate John Ward aka Jack Ward. In 1942, he realized his longtime dream when this first novel For My Great Folly was published, and it became a bestseller with over 132,000 copies sold. The New York Times reviewer stated at the end of the review "there will be no romantic-adventure lover left unsatisfied." In January 1946 he "retired" to spend the rest of his life writing, at a rate of about 3,000 words a day.
Raised as a Baptist, he was reported in the 1953 Current Biography to be an attendant of the Protestant Episcopal Church. He was described as a handsome, tall, broad-shouldered man with a pink and white complexion, clear blue eyes, and a slight Canadian accent. He was white-haired by the time he began to write novels. He loved animals and could not even kill a bug (but he also loved bridge, and he did not extend the same policy to his partners). He also loved movies and the theatre (he met his future wife when she was performing Ruth in the The Pirates of Penzance).
Costain's work is a mixture of commercial history (such as The White and The Gold, a history of New France to around 1720) and fiction that relies heavily on historic events (one review stated it was hard to tell where history leaves off and apocrypha begins). His most popular novel was The Black Rose (1945), centred in the time and actions of Bayan of the Baarin also known as Bayan of the Hundred Eyes. Costain noted in his foreword that he initially intended the book to be about Bayan and Edward I, but became caught up in the legend of Thomas a Becket's parents: an English knight married to an Eastern girl. The book was a selection of the Literary Guild with a first printing of 650,000 copies and sold over two million copies in its first year.
His research led him to believe that Richard III was a great monarch tarred by conspiracies, after his death, with the murder of the princes in the tower. Costain supported his theories with documentation, suggesting that the real murderer was Henry VII.
Costain died in 1965 at his New York City home of a heart attack at the age of 80. He is buried in the Farringdon Independent Church Cemetery in Brantford.
His first writing success came in 1902 when the Brantford Courier accepted a mystery story from him, and he became a reporter there (for five dollars a week). He was an editor at the Guelph Daily Mercury between 1908 and 1910. He married Ida Randolph Spragge (1888–1975) in York, Ontario on January 12, 1910. The couple had two children, Molly (Mrs. Howard Haycraft) and Dora (Mrs. Henry Darlington Steinmetz). Also in 1910, Costain joined the Maclean Publishing Group where he edited three trade journals. Beginning in 1914, he was a staff writer for and, from 1917, editor of Toronto-based Maclean's magazine. His success there brought him to the attention of The Saturday Evening Post in New York City where he was fiction editor for fourteen years.
In 1920 he became a naturalized U.S. citizen. He also worked for Doubleday Books as an editor 1939-1946. He was the head of 20th Century Fox’s bureau of literary development (story department) from 1934 to 1942.
In 1940, he wrote four short novels but was “enough of an editor not to send them out”. He next planned to write six books in a series he called “The Stepchildren of History”. He would write about six interesting but unknown historical figures. For his first, he wrote about the seventeenth-century pirate John Ward aka Jack Ward. In 1942, he realized his longtime dream when this first novel For My Great Folly was published, and it became a bestseller with over 132,000 copies sold. The New York Times reviewer stated at the end of the review "there will be no romantic-adventure lover left unsatisfied." In January 1946 he "retired" to spend the rest of his life writing, at a rate of about 3,000 words a day.
Raised as a Baptist, he was reported in the 1953 Current Biography to be an attendant of the Protestant Episcopal Church. He was described as a handsome, tall, broad-shouldered man with a pink and white complexion, clear blue eyes, and a slight Canadian accent. He was white-haired by the time he began to write novels. He loved animals and could not even kill a bug (but he also loved bridge, and he did not extend the same policy to his partners). He also loved movies and the theatre (he met his future wife when she was performing Ruth in the The Pirates of Penzance).
Costain's work is a mixture of commercial history (such as The White and The Gold, a history of New France to around 1720) and fiction that relies heavily on historic events (one review stated it was hard to tell where history leaves off and apocrypha begins). His most popular novel was The Black Rose (1945), centred in the time and actions of Bayan of the Baarin also known as Bayan of the Hundred Eyes. Costain noted in his foreword that he initially intended the book to be about Bayan and Edward I, but became caught up in the legend of Thomas a Becket's parents: an English knight married to an Eastern girl. The book was a selection of the Literary Guild with a first printing of 650,000 copies and sold over two million copies in its first year.
His research led him to believe that Richard III was a great monarch tarred by conspiracies, after his death, with the murder of the princes in the tower. Costain supported his theories with documentation, suggesting that the real murderer was Henry VII.
Costain died in 1965 at his New York City home of a heart attack at the age of 80. He is buried in the Farringdon Independent Church Cemetery in Brantford.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 132 reviews
October 31, 2022
I am so lame.
I loved this book as a teenager. When I was young there were two choices for young girls in historical fiction: books written in the 1950's and bodice rippers. When I was in high school I picked the former. After I graduated, well let's just say I graduated.
I read every book by Thomas Costain that I could get my hands on. Some of them were....meh. This one I loved. I read it over and over again. And I cried every time I came to the part where Maryam is crying out: "Walter. London. Walter. London." It seemed so impossibly romantic to me.
I recently reread it. It's very dated. The style is...very 1950's. You know what I mean--anachronisms everywhere you turn. That's kind of why I love movies from the 1950's. Those page boy haircuts, Peter Pan collars, and Dior inspired skirts on every female--regardless of the era they're really supposed to portray. And the cone bras--don't get me started!
Anyway, this book is very dated. And yet....and yet...
"Walter. London. Walter. London"
It gets me every time.
I loved this book as a teenager. When I was young there were two choices for young girls in historical fiction: books written in the 1950's and bodice rippers. When I was in high school I picked the former. After I graduated, well let's just say I graduated.
I read every book by Thomas Costain that I could get my hands on. Some of them were....meh. This one I loved. I read it over and over again. And I cried every time I came to the part where Maryam is crying out: "Walter. London. Walter. London." It seemed so impossibly romantic to me.
I recently reread it. It's very dated. The style is...very 1950's. You know what I mean--anachronisms everywhere you turn. That's kind of why I love movies from the 1950's. Those page boy haircuts, Peter Pan collars, and Dior inspired skirts on every female--regardless of the era they're really supposed to portray. And the cone bras--don't get me started!
Anyway, this book is very dated. And yet....and yet...
"Walter. London. Walter. London"
It gets me every time.
July 24, 2023
A full review later.
January 25, 2011
Take a deep dive into the heart of centuries old Great Britain, where your name and lineage are a matter of the deepest importance and there is no middle faction between the wealthy and the poor. The main character of this story travels from the old world of Great Britain, where he is mocked and labeled a bastard son of a wealthy and titled Lord, to the magical and mystical far east, where he is able to earn his worth as a man and experience the strange and unfamiliar ways of lands not even mapped out yet. I read this story when I was 14 years old and have never forgotten what a fabulous tale it is. Not only is it incredibly well written but it has the magical power of a great book, which is the power to stay in the readers imagination forever. I personally believe this is Thomas B. Constain's greatest novel ever written and I would whole heartedly reccomend this book to anyone who loves a good adventure story.
April 9, 2019
This is Historical Fiction first published in 1945. I liked this one way more than I expected to after only picking this up for a reading challenge. Within the first few minutes of listening to the audio there was a line that was something to the effect of, "A man isn't a man unless he has 6 bastards in the world." I literally laughed out loud and buckled in. It was kind of funny in places. A bastard in London (named Walter), meets his biological father, inherits money and goes on a quest.
Even though this is adventurous as Walter travels the world, this still moved very slow. However, the narrator, David Case, was great. He had the perfect voice for this. I have friends at work and here on GR who absolutely hate this narrator, and I can't understand why. He does so many things well. This was probably 3 stars because of pace, but I'll add a star just for the narrator.
Even though this is adventurous as Walter travels the world, this still moved very slow. However, the narrator, David Case, was great. He had the perfect voice for this. I have friends at work and here on GR who absolutely hate this narrator, and I can't understand why. He does so many things well. This was probably 3 stars because of pace, but I'll add a star just for the narrator.
May 1, 2008
Please don't tell me that you've seen the movie and because it sucked, you're not going to read the book. The book is WAY better than the movie. Superlatives all around, please. Set in 1272, it tells the story of Walter of Gurnie and his trip to the Orient. Romance, action, comedy--but best of all, the writing is top notch. A timeless classic.
July 20, 2022
Finally finished reading my mother’s favorite book of all time, which was full of fainting, subservient women and valiant white men of noble stock. Ce la vie.
September 12, 2015
I really liked this book. I liked the characters and the story. So why am I giving it only 3 stars? It lacked specialness, vital spark, anything that touched me in a way all readers hoped to be touched when they read. I felt no passion for the characters even though I liked them and they were well drawn. I never once sat at the edge of my seat biting my nails wondering what might happen next. I never sat up late at night reading because I just could not put the book down. I never loathed a character, nor did I adore one. I merely liked or disliked them. I never felt angry or laughed or cried. Basically I was never really MOVED in any way because I didn't connect with the characters. While The Black Rose was a very enjoyable read, well researched, and well written for the aforementioned reasons I cannot give it more than 3-3.5 stars.
July 3, 2014
Thomas Costain takes the reader on a 13th century journey from England to China. The book's main character, Walter inherits a large sum of money in London and sets off to China inspired by Francis Bacon. Costain expertly depicts the area between Europe and China, especially the Bedouin tribes. In addition to the journey, Walter loves two women, one a noble and beautiful English woman and the other, a beautiful and beguiling woman Walter meets on his journey.
Unfortunately, it seems that Thomas Costain books are almost out of print. These books provide a good historical foundation for young students. It does not hurt that this author can spin a good tale too.
Unfortunately, it seems that Thomas Costain books are almost out of print. These books provide a good historical foundation for young students. It does not hurt that this author can spin a good tale too.
March 9, 2017
This is a great story. It is another one of those "old" books I read from time to time. It was written by thomas Costain in about 1945. The tale takes place in England and roams all the way to Cathay which is China or Mongolia or thereabout. The time in history is post Crusades. It has a great love story, chivalry and honor, wealth and poverty, different cultures, and a point of view which describes our Western culture as far as who we think is a superior race. I read some reviews before I started this book and more than one said they enjoyed it as a boy but weren't so sure as an adult. I will say I am 61 years old and I never got bored or tired of it. It was a wonderful story. Hollywood even made a movie of it in about 1950.
July 15, 2024
I wish they wrote more books like they used to! Adventure, history, and a beautiful love story.
October 3, 2008
I've read this book multiple times. It's a refreshing novel, published in 1945, and written by the author of "In His Steps" (What would Jesus do? originates here, for the uninitiated - another great novel). Costain portrays this remarkable period of the Dark Ages by framing his plot with three great men - Edward the First of England, the father of parliamentary rule; Bayan of the Hundred Eyes, the brilliant general of Kublai Khan who conquered the whole of China in a series of daring and aggressive compaigns; and Roger Bacon, who has often been portrayed as one of the greatest scientists the world has ever seen.
The Black Rose originates in a romantic English legend concerning the father of Thomas a Becket and an Eastern girl. However, the story itself smacks of adventure, some masculine romance (more action, less talk - think Louis L'amour), and overtones of cultural awareness and understanding. A very engaging story, in the simplistic tone of the pre-nuclear Americas.
The Black Rose originates in a romantic English legend concerning the father of Thomas a Becket and an Eastern girl. However, the story itself smacks of adventure, some masculine romance (more action, less talk - think Louis L'amour), and overtones of cultural awareness and understanding. A very engaging story, in the simplistic tone of the pre-nuclear Americas.
October 19, 2022
Published in 1945 it is showing it's age with valiant white guys and swooning damsels. But it still a good read.
The hero goes on a 13th century journey from England to China inspired by Francis Bacon. There's an element of twisting the factual journey of Marco Polo with that of the dour Englishman Walter. The best parts are when Bayan of the Hundred Eyes and his Mongols are ripping through China and threatening Europe.
The hero goes on a 13th century journey from England to China inspired by Francis Bacon. There's an element of twisting the factual journey of Marco Polo with that of the dour Englishman Walter. The best parts are when Bayan of the Hundred Eyes and his Mongols are ripping through China and threatening Europe.
February 28, 2010
This is one of those books I bought because it looked good; it's one of the first editions, although what printing I have no idea. The cover is simply black with gold lettering, the pages uneven and yellowed. It's a beautiful book, and it has that Old Book Smell that I so much love.
I picked it up because I had run out of things to read; it's what I do on my lunch at work, and I decided that hey, I'd see what it was like, at least until I found something else to read. And lo and behold, I liked it!
It was really interesting to read; the language used is so different, I confess I didn't understand some bits. But aside from the interest I took in the writing, it was a good plot, too. Very grand story, good characters. I recommend it, for those with the patience to read something that takes a little bit of effort.
I picked it up because I had run out of things to read; it's what I do on my lunch at work, and I decided that hey, I'd see what it was like, at least until I found something else to read. And lo and behold, I liked it!
It was really interesting to read; the language used is so different, I confess I didn't understand some bits. But aside from the interest I took in the writing, it was a good plot, too. Very grand story, good characters. I recommend it, for those with the patience to read something that takes a little bit of effort.
August 24, 2013
I came across my edition of ‘The Black Rose’ long after the book was written and long after the movie, but I still consider it a keeper. I thoroughly detested the dry method of learning about past events in World History class, but this book made history come alive for me as I envisioned exploration in faraway lands. The story has a nice blend of adventure, history, and love as the fate of Walter of Gurney, his friend Tristram, and the exotic Maryam gradually unfolds whilst learning about the predictions of Roger Bacon and the conquests of Bayan of a Hundred Eyes. The Black Rose definitely stands out as one of the better historical fiction books that I have laid eyes on!
March 15, 2010
This was wonderful tale brimming with adventure and romance. I was immediately drawn to the main character Walter and my opinion of him only grew fonder. The storyline keeps us journeying all over the globe as Walter and his friend set out to the East to find treasures and knowledge to better their positions back home in England. On this arduous journey, he grows from a young school boy into a man, he finds treasures he never imagined, and he gains wisdom and clarity. This story is a masterpiece.
July 1, 2011
I found this book in my grandparents library last month. I hadn't the slightest clue what it was about, but my boredom provoked me to pick a random book from the self. I started reading it and fell in love with it by page 20. It reminded me a lot of "Around the World in 80 days" so if your into adventure books about distant lands, love, and tea-lovin Brits who storm castles, It should be a book for you!
December 20, 2013
Compared to books such as these, all others seem to fall short. Such a masterpiece, written as no others are in this day and age.
This book is an antique (out of print) and I am so glad I was able to read it when I did -- many decades ago. I bought two copies at used books stores, and will never let go of them.
The 1950 movie, with Tyrone Power and Orson Welles, did not do it justice; fair attempt.
This book is an antique (out of print) and I am so glad I was able to read it when I did -- many decades ago. I bought two copies at used books stores, and will never let go of them.
The 1950 movie, with Tyrone Power and Orson Welles, did not do it justice; fair attempt.
May 9, 2009
The principles taught in this work cross into so many different topics of discussion that it's not possible to even start in a review. Suffice it to say that I'm really surprised I've never heard of this gem. It's a fantastic adventure of a nobleman (almost) and his commoner friend in the 1200s and their journey across the Silk Road to China - amazing. Wonderful. Read it!
August 11, 2009
I was thrilled by this book when I first read it at 12 or 13. More than 40 years later I tried to read it again. But I found it thin, boring stuff full of racial, gender and ethnic stereotypes. And Costain refers repeatedly to the Mongol cavalry using crossbows. I'm no historian, but I know they used recurve bows ... an entirely different design.
June 25, 2019
The Black Rose is a good historical type of novel. I found it took a little time to get into it, but after the first 20 pages I was hooked on the story. I have seen the DVD with Tyrone Power of the book a number of times, but the book is even more exciting. If you want a book to ponder what it may have been liked to travel to Cathay back in 1592, I think you would enjoy The Black Rose!
April 28, 2012
Despite all favorable reviews, I didn't really enjoy so much this romantic novel written by Thomas Costain.
The characters didn't are so interesting and the plot didn't keep my full attention while reading this book.
Sorry guys but I think TBC wrote better books than this one.
The characters didn't are so interesting and the plot didn't keep my full attention while reading this book.
Sorry guys but I think TBC wrote better books than this one.
July 1, 2013
I read this book when I was a teenager and had such fond memories of it that I looked it up and re-read it. Let's just say that my tastes have matured. I enjoyed the reread, but the story lacked the romanticism and excitement my teenage memory remembered.
September 20, 2010
A beautifully written novel of a young English adventurers travels to the Far East. Loaded with adventure, history and romance, it is a delightful read.
July 5, 2022
Very outdated but what a fun read :)
July 13, 2025
In addition to his works of factual history, Costain published nearly a dozen historical novels; in my youth, I probably read all of them. Clearly, I must have liked his style, and a couple of those novels I still recall with fondness; otherwise, his books haven't aged well.
This one I still consider to be among his best and I quite enjoyed it on re-reading it now, despite its obvious faults—especially its unabashed romanticism. It's a great adventure tale, benefiting from great local color and a collection of very engaging characters. The exploits of Walter the protagonist, the actions of the characters he encounters, and the very fact of Walter's survival to tell the tale, all require a generous degree of suspension of disbelief. But this was never intended to be anything more than an entertaining romp, not to be taken at all seriously. By taking advantage of his vast amount of historical knowledge, Costain enhances the colorful flavor of the tale by inserting endless details about the personalities, customs, attitudes, modes of dress, artifacts, weaponry, etc. of 13th century England, Antioch, China and points along the Silk Road. Historical context is enhanced by tying the tale to three of the most remarkable figures of that era: Roger Bacon, King Edward I, and the brilliant Mongol general, Bayan "of the Hundred Eyes."
4 stars worth of entertainment.
This one I still consider to be among his best and I quite enjoyed it on re-reading it now, despite its obvious faults—especially its unabashed romanticism. It's a great adventure tale, benefiting from great local color and a collection of very engaging characters. The exploits of Walter the protagonist, the actions of the characters he encounters, and the very fact of Walter's survival to tell the tale, all require a generous degree of suspension of disbelief. But this was never intended to be anything more than an entertaining romp, not to be taken at all seriously. By taking advantage of his vast amount of historical knowledge, Costain enhances the colorful flavor of the tale by inserting endless details about the personalities, customs, attitudes, modes of dress, artifacts, weaponry, etc. of 13th century England, Antioch, China and points along the Silk Road. Historical context is enhanced by tying the tale to three of the most remarkable figures of that era: Roger Bacon, King Edward I, and the brilliant Mongol general, Bayan "of the Hundred Eyes."
4 stars worth of entertainment.
August 26, 2017
"The Black Rose" was the basis for the movie of the same name, starring Orson Wells (as Bayan of a thousand eyes), Tyrone Power (Walter of Gurnie) and Jack Hawkins (as Tristam) - in theory a follow up to the movie "Prince of Foxes." There are significant differences between the film and the book in the story line, in part I'm sure due to complexity of the story you find in the book.
Which is to say, the book is very interesting. Set in the time of Edward I, you have the shame of bastardy, uprising against injustice, perilous travel to "Cathay," a slave girl destined for a horrific fate (could she be rescued?), the mysterious revelations of foreign cultures, seperation of the travelers, capture by the Empress of China, separation of the travelers again, more perilous travel, a difficult journey home and dramatic changes there. Not to mention love triangles and royal interference.
The Walter of Gurnie in the story is more multi-faceted than stalwart Tyrone Power, and the story more vibrant than the movie. Costain worked as an editor for The Saturday Evening Post as well as an historical novelist, and it's evident in this mixture of commercial history and fiction relying heavily on historic events. It's far from a thriller, but the story keeps you hooked.
Which is to say, the book is very interesting. Set in the time of Edward I, you have the shame of bastardy, uprising against injustice, perilous travel to "Cathay," a slave girl destined for a horrific fate (could she be rescued?), the mysterious revelations of foreign cultures, seperation of the travelers, capture by the Empress of China, separation of the travelers again, more perilous travel, a difficult journey home and dramatic changes there. Not to mention love triangles and royal interference.
The Walter of Gurnie in the story is more multi-faceted than stalwart Tyrone Power, and the story more vibrant than the movie. Costain worked as an editor for The Saturday Evening Post as well as an historical novelist, and it's evident in this mixture of commercial history and fiction relying heavily on historic events. It's far from a thriller, but the story keeps you hooked.
March 22, 2018
3 1/2 stars. I inherited this book and decided to read it. Written in 1945, it is quite an adventure tale. It takes place at the time of Edward the First in England, and at the time of Bayan of the Hundred Eyes, a mongolian general who conquered China for Kkublai Khan. It is after the crusades and during the Dark Ages. And it all mixes together. There were "new" old words on every page, really written with correct names for things of the times. You need a dictionary to understand. I really liked parts of it and loved some of the characters. Walter and Tristam are interesting people and were always true to who they were. I did not like Maryam at all. I made the mistake of watching the 1950 movie trailer and it was terrible. The actors were not well cast (A young Orson Welles as Bayan, in dark makeup, just awful.) It took me a month to read it, with breaks in between. Some of it seemed silly, especially the "Maryam" parts. But I can see it could be a big dramatic epic movie today if anyone was interested enough. It is worth reading.
April 15, 2020
This is a classic medieval novel written in 1943. As such, it is not of the style we are used to reading today. It is very faithful to the middle twentieth century, and the language is very cumbersome, but accurate to the time period he is writing about.
The story is excellent, albeit very slow and plodding, highlighted by bursts of energy. It is tempting to skip pages
and move ahead, but you really can’t.
I have read some reviews complaining of sexism and harassment, but there Middle Ages were not a time of equal of the sexes. The novel is true to form in that respect.
There are some interesting historical highlights—the Mongolian conquering of China, the introduction of paper to England, gunpowder and cannons. I did not take the time to verify the time frame.
A rich novel, covering England, the Middle East, China, India, and Italy, particularly Venice.
It is a true romance and holds faithfully to the constructs of the time the novel was written.
Worth the read if you can find it.
The story is excellent, albeit very slow and plodding, highlighted by bursts of energy. It is tempting to skip pages
and move ahead, but you really can’t.
I have read some reviews complaining of sexism and harassment, but there Middle Ages were not a time of equal of the sexes. The novel is true to form in that respect.
There are some interesting historical highlights—the Mongolian conquering of China, the introduction of paper to England, gunpowder and cannons. I did not take the time to verify the time frame.
A rich novel, covering England, the Middle East, China, India, and Italy, particularly Venice.
It is a true romance and holds faithfully to the constructs of the time the novel was written.
Worth the read if you can find it.
October 29, 2018
This book has been the White Whale on my bookshelf.
It has taken me five years to finally sit down and read through it, and although at times I felt like quitting, I prospered on-despite the melodramatic characters and cringy dated cultural remarks (thanks 1940s).
If you like books that take you all over the world, this is your book. You can feel the setting affect the tone of the story, which adds to the adventure of it all.
If you dislike books where the protagonist's sidekick is a better character than the main character, well, avoid this book like the plague.
Overall, I would say this book is ideal for those who love a good angry book rant or want great starter material for fanfiction.
It has taken me five years to finally sit down and read through it, and although at times I felt like quitting, I prospered on-despite the melodramatic characters and cringy dated cultural remarks (thanks 1940s).
If you like books that take you all over the world, this is your book. You can feel the setting affect the tone of the story, which adds to the adventure of it all.
If you dislike books where the protagonist's sidekick is a better character than the main character, well, avoid this book like the plague.
Overall, I would say this book is ideal for those who love a good angry book rant or want great starter material for fanfiction.
November 1, 2017
What a delightful book! Romance, adventure and great writing skills! An old classic published in 1945.
Historical novel that starts in England and is set during the time after the Crusades. One Walter of Gurnie, a young, but bastard son, of the Earl of Lessford has an idea to travel to the Orient and find out about the riches in the East. He meets Kublai Khan, Bayan of the Hundred Eyes, and also falls in love with Maryam, daughter of an English crusader and a Grecian Mom. But, he has left behind him the lovely Lady Engaine who was his first love. Very engaging story. Loved it!
Historical novel that starts in England and is set during the time after the Crusades. One Walter of Gurnie, a young, but bastard son, of the Earl of Lessford has an idea to travel to the Orient and find out about the riches in the East. He meets Kublai Khan, Bayan of the Hundred Eyes, and also falls in love with Maryam, daughter of an English crusader and a Grecian Mom. But, he has left behind him the lovely Lady Engaine who was his first love. Very engaging story. Loved it!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 132 reviews