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Sir Richard Straccan #1
The Bone-Pedlar
'In the crypt of the abbey church at Hallowdene, the monks were boiling their bishop ...' This is the world of medieval quest, of castles, journeys, chance encounters with beggars and spies, of violent killings, and sometimes of unimaginable cruelty. It also a world deeply enmeshed with the supernatural, in which the holy remnants of saints - the finger of St Thomas, the tooth of St Ursula - may be a matter of life and death. It is against this background, peopled with monks, witches, children, mountebanks, women good and evil, and knights Templar or otherwise, that Sir Richard Straccan's first adventure as bone-pedlar extraordinaire takes place. Central to it all is the kidnap of his beloved little daughter, Gilla, brought up by nuns since the death of his wife.
320 pages, Paperback
First published October 19, 2000
11 people are currently reading
477 people want to read
About the author
Sylvian Hamilton
10 books10 followersSylvian Hamilton has been at different times a secretary, mother, lexicographer, journalist, farmer, second-hand bookseller and antiques dealer. She is a devoted a Star Trek fan. Since arthritis clipped her wings, she spends much of her time at home, a tiny cottage in the Scottish border country, with a very patient husband, two cats and about five thousand books.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
February 27, 2025
I really really textually adore the opening lines of Sylvian Hamilton's first instalment of her three novel Sir Richard Straccan series of Mediaeval Mysteries, which only seems to have ended because the author died (titled The Bone-Pedlar, published in 2000 and which I am reading on Open Library), how in the crypt of the Abbey Church at Hallowdene, the monks are boiling their Bishop. For yes, this sounds rather macabrely humorous, majorly piques my reading interest and thus also makes me hugely keen to discover exactly why the Bishop is being boiled (although I kind of assumed from the book title that the Bishop is likely being boiled post mortem to render his bones into sellable holy relics and which indeed is proven to be correct). Now The Bone-Pedlar is set during the reign of John I (who was King of England from 1199 until his death in 1216) when from 1208 to 1214 CE (due to the King having fallen out with the Pope over who should be the Archbishop of Canterbury) England and Wales were placed under an interdict by Innocent III and thus no religious ceremonies of ANY KIND were officially permitted to take place (no Baptism, no Confirmation, no Holy Communion, no Confession, no Anointing of the Sick, no marriage ceremonies, no holy order ordinations and that the use of churchyards for burials was also strictly prohibited). Therefore in Hamilton's featured text for The Bone-Pedlar, since priests, monks and nuns are not allowed to both perform and equally to receive payment for the above mentioned Catholic sacraments and that the dead are actually rather piling up so to speak (since they are due to the interdict not permitted to be buried in hallowed ground), the monks of Hallowdene are being depicted by Sylvian Hamilton as getting increasingly financially desperate. But of course, if the Abbey Church would happen to possess an important holy relic, pilgrims might come to the abbey to see, to pray at, to kiss the sacred object and to also handsomely pay for said privilege (and that Hamilton showing at the beginning of The Bone-Pedlar how the monks of Hallowdene will do anything to obtain such a relic, including boiling their recently deceased Bishop in order to use his bones for the latter, this provides an interestingly intriguing and also an in my humble opinion historically realistic and authentic set-up for The Bone-Pedlar and as such equally for main protagonist Sir Richard Strachan's adventures and escapades).
For yes, Sir Richard Straccan, Sylvian Hamilton has him in The Bone-Pedlar being not only a former Crusader (as well as a widower and single father whose daughter is being cared for and educated by nuns) but more importantly as someone who after his return from the "Holy Land" now deals in relics, and which is of course why Straccan is considered to be and is described as a bone-pedlar of supposedly "authentic" and thus also monetarily valuable relics that usually represent the body parts of saints or of the Holy Family, such as for example Saint Peter's kneecap, three hairs of Saint Edmund, the Holy Foreskin (yikes) etc.. And one particular relic that keeps being mentioned in The Bone-Pedlar is the finger of Saint Thomas (Doubting Thomas) and which Straccan has been commissioned to obtain for a wealthy patron. But little does Sir Richard know that the finger is needed to make up the sum of eleven relics (of the eleven good disciples of Jesus, minus Judas Iscariot of course) that an evil Scottish sorcerer requires to protect himself when he is going to sacrifice Straccan’s daughter and other children in his attempt to call forth and control an Islamic demon from Hell (and that The Bone-Pedlar is basically the story of Straccan and his team racing against time to not only save Sir Richard's abducted daughter from being sacrificed but to also stop the sorcerer who had his daughter taken from calling up and releasing a dangerous and horrid demon).
So with regard to Hamilton's penmanship for The Bone-Pedlar, I am indeed and definitely more than a bit textually conflicted (and hence my three star rating and that I do have to recommend The Bone-Pedlar with some major reservations and caveats). For while there is a nicely authentic and realistic sense of historic time and geographic place being provided in The Bone-Pedlar (see above) and that the fast paced narration of The Bone-Pedlar with many different, with multiple uniquely interesting characters (and how Richard Straccan's friend and man-at-arms is quasi raised from the dead by a ghostly monk and his equally ghostly companions) has made The Bone-Pedlar a fun and also nicely entertaining reading experience for me (one that I certainly have enjoyed and found appreciatively diverting), well, what Sylvian Hamilton writes throughout The Bone-Pedlar is also and most definitely neither as smoothly historically realistic nor as enlightening as for example Ellis Peters' absolutely brilliant England during the conflict, the civil war between Stephen and Mathilda Brother Cadfael and Susannah Gregory's University of Cambridge during the Black Death themed Matthew Bartholomew novels. For indeed and very much and unfortunately, the totally, the completely unambiguous thematic acceptance of the supernatural, of Hell, of demons and the like by Hamilton in The Bone-Pedlar and that this is also (at least for me) being one hundred percent demanded and expected from us as readers is rather uncomfortable and more than somewhat takes away from the sense of historic accuracy and authenticity regarding The Bone-Pedlar. And finally, Sylvian Hamilton's depiction of an Arabic necromancer in The Bone-Pedlar, this textually (in my not at all humble opinion) is a major case of orientalism, is jarringly politically incorrect, and definitely makes me personally cringe a trifle, and in particular since this character only appears like some horrid monstrosity in The Bone-Pedlar and does not even have any dialogue, says no words at all.
For yes, Sir Richard Straccan, Sylvian Hamilton has him in The Bone-Pedlar being not only a former Crusader (as well as a widower and single father whose daughter is being cared for and educated by nuns) but more importantly as someone who after his return from the "Holy Land" now deals in relics, and which is of course why Straccan is considered to be and is described as a bone-pedlar of supposedly "authentic" and thus also monetarily valuable relics that usually represent the body parts of saints or of the Holy Family, such as for example Saint Peter's kneecap, three hairs of Saint Edmund, the Holy Foreskin (yikes) etc.. And one particular relic that keeps being mentioned in The Bone-Pedlar is the finger of Saint Thomas (Doubting Thomas) and which Straccan has been commissioned to obtain for a wealthy patron. But little does Sir Richard know that the finger is needed to make up the sum of eleven relics (of the eleven good disciples of Jesus, minus Judas Iscariot of course) that an evil Scottish sorcerer requires to protect himself when he is going to sacrifice Straccan’s daughter and other children in his attempt to call forth and control an Islamic demon from Hell (and that The Bone-Pedlar is basically the story of Straccan and his team racing against time to not only save Sir Richard's abducted daughter from being sacrificed but to also stop the sorcerer who had his daughter taken from calling up and releasing a dangerous and horrid demon).
So with regard to Hamilton's penmanship for The Bone-Pedlar, I am indeed and definitely more than a bit textually conflicted (and hence my three star rating and that I do have to recommend The Bone-Pedlar with some major reservations and caveats). For while there is a nicely authentic and realistic sense of historic time and geographic place being provided in The Bone-Pedlar (see above) and that the fast paced narration of The Bone-Pedlar with many different, with multiple uniquely interesting characters (and how Richard Straccan's friend and man-at-arms is quasi raised from the dead by a ghostly monk and his equally ghostly companions) has made The Bone-Pedlar a fun and also nicely entertaining reading experience for me (one that I certainly have enjoyed and found appreciatively diverting), well, what Sylvian Hamilton writes throughout The Bone-Pedlar is also and most definitely neither as smoothly historically realistic nor as enlightening as for example Ellis Peters' absolutely brilliant England during the conflict, the civil war between Stephen and Mathilda Brother Cadfael and Susannah Gregory's University of Cambridge during the Black Death themed Matthew Bartholomew novels. For indeed and very much and unfortunately, the totally, the completely unambiguous thematic acceptance of the supernatural, of Hell, of demons and the like by Hamilton in The Bone-Pedlar and that this is also (at least for me) being one hundred percent demanded and expected from us as readers is rather uncomfortable and more than somewhat takes away from the sense of historic accuracy and authenticity regarding The Bone-Pedlar. And finally, Sylvian Hamilton's depiction of an Arabic necromancer in The Bone-Pedlar, this textually (in my not at all humble opinion) is a major case of orientalism, is jarringly politically incorrect, and definitely makes me personally cringe a trifle, and in particular since this character only appears like some horrid monstrosity in The Bone-Pedlar and does not even have any dialogue, says no words at all.
December 15, 2020
THE BONE-PEDLAR (Historical Mystery-Sir Richard Straccan-England-1209) – VG+
Sylvan Hamilton – 1st of series
First Sentence: In the crypt of the abbey church at Hallowdene, the monks were boiling their bishop.
This is the world of medieval quest, of castles, journeys, of violent killings, and sometimes of unimaginable cruelty. It also a world deeply enmeshed with the supernatural, in which the holy remnants of saints may be a matter of life and death. Against this background, of monks, witches, children, mountebanks, women good and evil, and knights Templar, is set Sir Richard Straccan's first adventure as bone-pedlar extraordinaire. Central to it all is the kidnap of his beloved little daughter, Gilla, brought up by nuns since the death of his wife.
***Sylvian Hamilton certainly doesn’t whitewash the life of that period, but tells a wonderful, captivating story with strong characters. Although I felt this book a bit less strong than book three, The Gleemaiden—forgiven as it is the first book after all, it was still wonderful. I have become a huge fan of Ms. Hamilton, can’t wait to read the second and for her to write the fourth. This series has become a definite favorite of mine.
Sylvan Hamilton – 1st of series
First Sentence: In the crypt of the abbey church at Hallowdene, the monks were boiling their bishop.
This is the world of medieval quest, of castles, journeys, of violent killings, and sometimes of unimaginable cruelty. It also a world deeply enmeshed with the supernatural, in which the holy remnants of saints may be a matter of life and death. Against this background, of monks, witches, children, mountebanks, women good and evil, and knights Templar, is set Sir Richard Straccan's first adventure as bone-pedlar extraordinaire. Central to it all is the kidnap of his beloved little daughter, Gilla, brought up by nuns since the death of his wife.
***Sylvian Hamilton certainly doesn’t whitewash the life of that period, but tells a wonderful, captivating story with strong characters. Although I felt this book a bit less strong than book three, The Gleemaiden—forgiven as it is the first book after all, it was still wonderful. I have become a huge fan of Ms. Hamilton, can’t wait to read the second and for her to write the fourth. This series has become a definite favorite of mine.
February 20, 2013
Originally published on my blog here in February 2005.
Any novel which begins with a sentence as eye catching, absurd and grotesque as "In the crypt of the Abbey Church at Hallowdene, the monks were boiling their bishop" deserves to be read. It's also hard to live up to, and The Bone Pedlar doesn't quite manage it despite being consistently interesting to read.
Most people probably know something about the background to The Bone Pedlar, which is one of the more disreputable yet strangely fascinating aspects of the medieval church, the trade in supposed body parts of the saints as relics (or if they don't, they will certainly have heard of the most famous surviving example, the Turin Shroud). Because of the reverence paid to them and the miracles associated with them, they were focal points for pilgrimages and brought vast sums to the churches and abbeys which owned the best ones. If you think we have moved on from this, just think about how we treat Elvis and Beatles memorabilia.
The story concerns a knight in the England of King John who has become rich by acting as a dealer in relics. (There seem to be rather too many nobles who work for a living in this novel considering the period, a time when knighthood still remained quite closely connected to landownership and military service.) Sir Richard Straccan obtains a relic of the apostle St Thomas for a client, but when the fingerbone is stolen, his daughter is kidnapped as an incentive for Straccan to find and retrieve it. The Bone Pedlar is basically a medieval thriller with a bit of horror thrown in, and as such it works quite well.
One major criticism, however, of The Bone Pedlar is that its medieval background lacks versimilitude. The society depicted is too classless, and there is too little distrust of travellers and outsiders (a common defect in the portrayal of the period). At least there is a generally quite high level of piety. This is of course not meant to be a novel containing a detailed picture of medieval life, but all too often the narrative seems only vaguely rooted in period, a serious problem in a historical novel. If not taken too seriously, though, The Bone Pedlar is a fun and enjoyable thriller with a great opening.
Any novel which begins with a sentence as eye catching, absurd and grotesque as "In the crypt of the Abbey Church at Hallowdene, the monks were boiling their bishop" deserves to be read. It's also hard to live up to, and The Bone Pedlar doesn't quite manage it despite being consistently interesting to read.
Most people probably know something about the background to The Bone Pedlar, which is one of the more disreputable yet strangely fascinating aspects of the medieval church, the trade in supposed body parts of the saints as relics (or if they don't, they will certainly have heard of the most famous surviving example, the Turin Shroud). Because of the reverence paid to them and the miracles associated with them, they were focal points for pilgrimages and brought vast sums to the churches and abbeys which owned the best ones. If you think we have moved on from this, just think about how we treat Elvis and Beatles memorabilia.
The story concerns a knight in the England of King John who has become rich by acting as a dealer in relics. (There seem to be rather too many nobles who work for a living in this novel considering the period, a time when knighthood still remained quite closely connected to landownership and military service.) Sir Richard Straccan obtains a relic of the apostle St Thomas for a client, but when the fingerbone is stolen, his daughter is kidnapped as an incentive for Straccan to find and retrieve it. The Bone Pedlar is basically a medieval thriller with a bit of horror thrown in, and as such it works quite well.
One major criticism, however, of The Bone Pedlar is that its medieval background lacks versimilitude. The society depicted is too classless, and there is too little distrust of travellers and outsiders (a common defect in the portrayal of the period). At least there is a generally quite high level of piety. This is of course not meant to be a novel containing a detailed picture of medieval life, but all too often the narrative seems only vaguely rooted in period, a serious problem in a historical novel. If not taken too seriously, though, The Bone Pedlar is a fun and enjoyable thriller with a great opening.
December 4, 2017
A stunning debut to a three book series that you just want to go on forever!
Sir Richart Straccan is a bone peddler - he sells relics of the saints. That alone is interesting, but Ms. Hamilton is a superb writer, and you soon find yourself completely caught up in life in the Middle ages, as Sir Richard untangles mysteries.
Funny, touching, and intriguing - I can't recommend these books enough!
Sir Richart Straccan is a bone peddler - he sells relics of the saints. That alone is interesting, but Ms. Hamilton is a superb writer, and you soon find yourself completely caught up in life in the Middle ages, as Sir Richard untangles mysteries.
Funny, touching, and intriguing - I can't recommend these books enough!
February 10, 2011
I read 'The Pendragon's Banner' by this author & really enjoyed it so wanted to read others. This is a good story. Richard Straccan is an unusual Knight who deals in relics & during his travels picks up 'misfits'. This is a fantasy element to the story but in Medieval times the supernatural, demons, magic etc would have been as real as anything else.
January 2, 2011
Really enjoyed this book, great fast moving plot. And as I read this series somewhat backwards (The Gleemaiden first)it was nice to find out where some of the characters orginated from. Would recommend to anyone!
July 8, 2015
The Bone Pedlar has likeable characters and a pretty fun story. Unfortunately, it also features a lot of exoticised, poisonous nonsense around the depiction of one antagonist of Arabic extraction, who is literally in league with demons.
December 5, 2010
A different sort of Medieval historical novel, with nods to H.P. Lovecraft.
March 6, 2014
Interesting story. The relic business is touched upon as well as knights and some of their trials. The story turns to treason and sorcery. I was a little disappointed at the supernatural twist.
April 23, 2010
The story is set in the reign of King John, during the period known as the Interdict, when (the King having fallen out with the Pope) the whole of England was placed under interdict and no religious ceremony of any kind was permitted to take place. The hero of the book, Sir Richard Straccan, an ex-Crusader, deals with authentic, extremely valuable relics. The relics are generally the body parts of saints, such as three hairs of St. Edmund, the ear of St. Marcellinus, etc.
One of those relics is the finger of St Thomas, which Straccan has been asked to obtain for a wealthy patron. Straccan does not know much about the finger itself: The finger is needed to make up the sum of eleven relics (of the eleven good disciples of Jesus) that a Scottish sorcerer will need to protect himself when he sacrifices Straccan's daughter in his attempt to release a devil from Hell.
It was the most boring book of 2010 so far. I didn’t like the story. I didn’t like the hunt for relics interesting or exciting at all. I do not know if it is the Turkish translation to blame but I had hard time trying to reach the end. This book is the first book of Sir Richard Straccan Trilogy and I am so sure that I will not read the other two books.
One of those relics is the finger of St Thomas, which Straccan has been asked to obtain for a wealthy patron. Straccan does not know much about the finger itself: The finger is needed to make up the sum of eleven relics (of the eleven good disciples of Jesus) that a Scottish sorcerer will need to protect himself when he sacrifices Straccan's daughter in his attempt to release a devil from Hell.
It was the most boring book of 2010 so far. I didn’t like the story. I didn’t like the hunt for relics interesting or exciting at all. I do not know if it is the Turkish translation to blame but I had hard time trying to reach the end. This book is the first book of Sir Richard Straccan Trilogy and I am so sure that I will not read the other two books.
June 9, 2010
A medieval mystery with a strong element of the occult, this book introduces the reader to Sir Richard Straccan, ex-Crusader and now dealer in authentic relics of saints. Straccan is commissioned to acquire the finger of Saint Thomas - but then his young daughter is kidnapped from the convent where she was living. Little does Straccan know of an evil sorcerer's nefarious plan, and that the holy relics that some may think mere symbols will be essential to stopping an evil worthy of Lovecraft.
This is Hamilton's first novel, and that is sometimes noticeable in some slight awkwardness to the flow of events, but overall, this is a very enjoyable book which effectively meshes the genres of historical mystery and occult horror.
This is Hamilton's first novel, and that is sometimes noticeable in some slight awkwardness to the flow of events, but overall, this is a very enjoyable book which effectively meshes the genres of historical mystery and occult horror.
June 11, 2015
I really enjoyed this book. I noticed that other reviewers didn't care for the supernatural element. The year is 1209. The people have no other way to explain the many strange elements of their world. In 2015, we can explain many, but not all, strange happenings. The main character is a pedlar of bones (Holy relics) that many churches and abbies keep as religious symbols. I liked him because he deals in these relics but not necessarily believe in them. I am looking forward to finding and reading the other two books in the series.
February 6, 2017
This is a wonderful book! I always appreciate a medieval story written by an author who knows the time period. I was surprised when the first supernatural element occurred, but it is all very in keeping with the beliefs of the time. Very well written and a most enjoyable story.
August 3, 2020
'In the crypt of the abbey church at Hallowdene, the monks were boiling their bishop . . .' what an opening sentence, it had me hooked! This book has it all, holy relics, kings, bishops, treason, kidnapping, pilgrams and thieves, all moving along at a great pace. Looking forward to the follow up...
Read
September 8, 2012Hmm, despite a promising opening line this turned out to be rather a mixed bag. Well worth a read, but don't expect Phillipa Gregory/Karen Maitland-esque fireworks...
Want to read
July 28, 2012Where has this series been all my life? I love it!
May 23, 2021
Tato kniha by byla velmi dobrým materiálem na film, protože by se svým příběhem i jednotlivými prvky mohla zalíbit širokému okruhu lidí. Je tam vtip, magie, rytíři, láska, čarodějové, zkrátka prolíná se tam reálný svět s magickým v poměrně svižném duchu.
Možná to bylo i tím, že jsem knihu nečetla moc soustavně, ale trochu mi tam vadila přehršel postav, které v příběhu vystupovaly. Co však musím ocenit je množství drobných vedlejších příběhů a narážek, které dělaly příběh velmi plastickým, myslím si však, že je autorka mohla rozvinout na větším počtu stránek, občas mi příběh připadal moc překotný.
Jedná se o příběh sira Richarda Straccana, který se zabýval obchodováním s relikviemi (už tento prvek je takovým ironizujícím náznakem toho, co lze v příběhu očekávat) a jemuž někdo ukradne jeho dcerku Gillu. Sir Straccan se vydává ji nalézt a po cestě potkává různé zajímavé osobnosti. Někteří jsou přátelé, někteří jsou nepřátelé, do všeho zasahuje magie a nepředvídatelný vývoj situace.
Jinak však kniha byla velmi dobrým oddechovým čtením a kdyby (pokud je) byla zfilmována, myslím, že by měla velký úspěch.
Možná to bylo i tím, že jsem knihu nečetla moc soustavně, ale trochu mi tam vadila přehršel postav, které v příběhu vystupovaly. Co však musím ocenit je množství drobných vedlejších příběhů a narážek, které dělaly příběh velmi plastickým, myslím si však, že je autorka mohla rozvinout na větším počtu stránek, občas mi příběh připadal moc překotný.
Jedná se o příběh sira Richarda Straccana, který se zabýval obchodováním s relikviemi (už tento prvek je takovým ironizujícím náznakem toho, co lze v příběhu očekávat) a jemuž někdo ukradne jeho dcerku Gillu. Sir Straccan se vydává ji nalézt a po cestě potkává různé zajímavé osobnosti. Někteří jsou přátelé, někteří jsou nepřátelé, do všeho zasahuje magie a nepředvídatelný vývoj situace.
Jinak však kniha byla velmi dobrým oddechovým čtením a kdyby (pokud je) byla zfilmována, myslím, že by měla velký úspěch.
December 11, 2024
Yaklaşık beş sene önce okumaya niyetlenmiş, ilk 20-25 sayfada bir türlü dikkatimi toplayamamış okumayı bırakmıştım. Bu kez sonuna kadar okudum.
Her bir bölümü ayrı değerlendirmek gerekirse, bütün pisliği, sefaleti, vahşeti ve batıl inançlarıyla dönemi çok iyi resmeden akıcı bir anlatım dili var. Ancak kitabın içine girmek, karakterleri tanımak, kurguyu kavramak çok güç. Bunun nedeni yazarın en önemsiz karaktere bile bir isim verme, hatta onunla da yetinmeyip öyküsünü anlatma çabası. Bu, okurdan gereğinden fazla dikkat ve ilgi talep eden kötü bir yazma tekniği.
Bir başka sorun, yazarın 300 sayfalık bir romanda çok şey anlatmak istemesi. Roman ölmüş piskoposlarını yakan keşişlerlere başlıyor, İngiliz Kralı ile sona eriyor. Bu esnada sayısız yer, karakter, ilişki, öykü bir çırpıda anlatılıyor, romanın ana öyküsü de bu detaylar içinde boğuluyor.
Özetle, yazarın anlatım yeteneklerine rağmen, okuması zor bir kitap.
Her bir bölümü ayrı değerlendirmek gerekirse, bütün pisliği, sefaleti, vahşeti ve batıl inançlarıyla dönemi çok iyi resmeden akıcı bir anlatım dili var. Ancak kitabın içine girmek, karakterleri tanımak, kurguyu kavramak çok güç. Bunun nedeni yazarın en önemsiz karaktere bile bir isim verme, hatta onunla da yetinmeyip öyküsünü anlatma çabası. Bu, okurdan gereğinden fazla dikkat ve ilgi talep eden kötü bir yazma tekniği.
Bir başka sorun, yazarın 300 sayfalık bir romanda çok şey anlatmak istemesi. Roman ölmüş piskoposlarını yakan keşişlerlere başlıyor, İngiliz Kralı ile sona eriyor. Bu esnada sayısız yer, karakter, ilişki, öykü bir çırpıda anlatılıyor, romanın ana öyküsü de bu detaylar içinde boğuluyor.
Özetle, yazarın anlatım yeteneklerine rağmen, okuması zor bir kitap.
October 10, 2020
Adventure. Complicated to understand who is who. Weak character developing. Easy reading. Young adults.
April 17, 2024
1.5 Stars. the concept is beautiful but the execution is uninteresting. i easily get lost in the story the plot was not woven well
April 22, 2023
The Church, The Relics, The Abduction and The Sorceress
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 13 March 2004
"In the crypt of the Abbey Church at Hallowdene, the monks were boiling their Bishop" p1
So begins Sylvian Hamilton's thoroughly readable and entertaining historical novel. Set in the thirteenth century, it is peopled with a panoply of colourful characters, the most significant of which is Sir Richard Straccan, the bone pedlar of the title.
Trading in relics was evidently a perilous business, for what begins as a simple errand on behalf of the Prioress at the nunnery where his young daughter, Gilla is being looked after, soon escalates into a quest to find his daughter's kidnappers, thereby retrieving his daughter, and overcome the evil sorcery that surrounded her abduction. Straccan is not left to fend off such wickedness alone, however, he has his trusty servant and loyal friend Bane to help him and sundry others who, through various routes, come to assist him on his mission.
These ought to be the ingredients of a cracking read. Unfortunately, Hamilton's novel is not quite that. As previously noted, she begins incisively enough, but, sadly, fails to maintain that standard. Some sentences are superfluous and I am not convinced that using such contemporary slang in the dialogue is a device that works terribly well. It jars. The opening piece, moreover, I think, could have been discarded altogether. It feels as if it has been tacked on, and is not really necessary for the outworking of the plot. The irreverent style of comedy which characterizes this section feels somewhat out of place and, indeed is not, for the most part, used after the quest begins in earnest.
Having said that, the characters are drawn exceedingly well, and the main plot line is strong so there is enough here to keep the reader engaged until this part of the story ends. That it is to continue gives me hope that Hamilton could fulfil the promise of this novel and become a truly magnificent writer. For, if she can build on all the good things in the Bone Pedlar and discard its faulty traits, then, truly, she will be a writer of great significance
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 13 March 2004
"In the crypt of the Abbey Church at Hallowdene, the monks were boiling their Bishop" p1
So begins Sylvian Hamilton's thoroughly readable and entertaining historical novel. Set in the thirteenth century, it is peopled with a panoply of colourful characters, the most significant of which is Sir Richard Straccan, the bone pedlar of the title.
Trading in relics was evidently a perilous business, for what begins as a simple errand on behalf of the Prioress at the nunnery where his young daughter, Gilla is being looked after, soon escalates into a quest to find his daughter's kidnappers, thereby retrieving his daughter, and overcome the evil sorcery that surrounded her abduction. Straccan is not left to fend off such wickedness alone, however, he has his trusty servant and loyal friend Bane to help him and sundry others who, through various routes, come to assist him on his mission.
These ought to be the ingredients of a cracking read. Unfortunately, Hamilton's novel is not quite that. As previously noted, she begins incisively enough, but, sadly, fails to maintain that standard. Some sentences are superfluous and I am not convinced that using such contemporary slang in the dialogue is a device that works terribly well. It jars. The opening piece, moreover, I think, could have been discarded altogether. It feels as if it has been tacked on, and is not really necessary for the outworking of the plot. The irreverent style of comedy which characterizes this section feels somewhat out of place and, indeed is not, for the most part, used after the quest begins in earnest.
Having said that, the characters are drawn exceedingly well, and the main plot line is strong so there is enough here to keep the reader engaged until this part of the story ends. That it is to continue gives me hope that Hamilton could fulfil the promise of this novel and become a truly magnificent writer. For, if she can build on all the good things in the Bone Pedlar and discard its faulty traits, then, truly, she will be a writer of great significance
May 24, 2011
For a first attempt, it's not bad. It's not great, either. It was pretty fluffy reading – and then magic was brought into the story and I'm not sure if that constitutes fluff or the author's lack of subject matter. Also the language is entirely too modern, as are the gender roles of the strong female characters. She also mixes in what I think of as "old-sounding" words to make the story seem authentic, but it just doesn't work. All in all, I'd give it 2.5 stars.
May 27, 2024
Enjoyed this very much - set in 1209 it is a view into medieval England during the early days of the crusades, when religious icons were very much a part of life, and the old ways were still around.
There are knights and their companions, all manner of religious folk, kings, healers, witches, even a wizard brought back from the crusades.
The plot takes you around a variety of sites and just a historically entertaining tale.
Will look into further works by Hamilton.
There are knights and their companions, all manner of religious folk, kings, healers, witches, even a wizard brought back from the crusades.
The plot takes you around a variety of sites and just a historically entertaining tale.
Will look into further works by Hamilton.
January 14, 2013
The opening line of 'In the crypt of the abbey church at Hallowdene, the monks were boiling their bishop' was, unfortunately, the highlight of the book.
It all went to hell in a handbasket from there, which is a pity as the novel had such promise.
I found it tedious and very hard going.
It all went to hell in a handbasket from there, which is a pity as the novel had such promise.
I found it tedious and very hard going.
Read
June 30, 2016Good idea but difficult to follow plot and characters
September 4, 2016
couldn't get into it. just not my thing.
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