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Below the Salt
Time was strangely rolled back 700 years so that he was hearing an account of those stirring, violent events in England and Europe that led to Magna Charta and thus contributed so much to the liberties of future generations: with a story, most of it straight from history, of a lost princess and the recovery of a lost charter.
480 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1957
102 people are currently reading
805 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
June 8, 2009
Costain's tale begins as Richard O'Rawn, a powerful U.S. Senator, contacts aspiring author John Foraday out of the blue and invites him to travel along with him. The Senator tells John about Richard Rawen, who as a young boy is sent to serve as squire in the household of William Marshal. He eventually becomes a knight second to none but the Marshal himself and he is sent on a mission of great secrecy to Brittany where he meets Eleanor, daughter of Geoffrey Plantagenet and known to all as The Pearl of Brittany for her great beauty.
Unable to save Eleanor and her brother from their respective fates at the hands of King John, Richard's travels take him to Rome and back in the service of Stephen Langton, and they find themselves in the thick of things in plots to rescue the captured Pearl from Corfe Castle and restore her to the throne as rightful Queen, as well as being involved with the events leading up to the signing of the Magna Carta.
The story then switches back to the present as Costain ties the original Richard Rawen into the O'Rawn’s of Ireland with another Eleanor as beautiful and gracious as the first "Pearl of Brittany". All in all a very engaging tale, although I admit to being surprised at the time slip Costain worked into it - I was expecting a story set wholly in the past. It’s not the fastest paced book, but I found it an enjoyable, albeit fanciful tale. A big plus was finding one of my all time favorite heroes, William Marshal, as a secondary character –anyone interested finding out more about that most honorable man should look into Elizabeth Chadwick’s The Greatest Knight and The Scarlet Lion. 4/5 stars.
Unable to save Eleanor and her brother from their respective fates at the hands of King John, Richard's travels take him to Rome and back in the service of Stephen Langton, and they find themselves in the thick of things in plots to rescue the captured Pearl from Corfe Castle and restore her to the throne as rightful Queen, as well as being involved with the events leading up to the signing of the Magna Carta.
The story then switches back to the present as Costain ties the original Richard Rawen into the O'Rawn’s of Ireland with another Eleanor as beautiful and gracious as the first "Pearl of Brittany". All in all a very engaging tale, although I admit to being surprised at the time slip Costain worked into it - I was expecting a story set wholly in the past. It’s not the fastest paced book, but I found it an enjoyable, albeit fanciful tale. A big plus was finding one of my all time favorite heroes, William Marshal, as a secondary character –anyone interested finding out more about that most honorable man should look into Elizabeth Chadwick’s The Greatest Knight and The Scarlet Lion. 4/5 stars.
December 7, 2007
I read this book because I'd heard it was about time travel. As it turns out, it's about a guy who lived in the Middle Ages and then got reincarnated into modern day (which at the time the story was written was 1957). At least, I think that was how it worked.
Anyway, the story's main character is John Foraday, who tags along with a guy named Richard O'Rawn to his ancestral castle in Ireland. Not bad so far, if a bit dull. But then the plot switches completely and what could be a whole new book starts up.
We are now in the year 1175. Life sucks for pretty much everyone. The new story follows Richard and his loyal servant Tostig through a series of Manly Adventures involving winning tournaments, getting involved in politics that are probably very interesting but are rendered confusing and boring by Costain's dry prose, and pining after various women, all of whom are very beautiful and very boring. Once the Manly Exploits plotline has been exhausted, we return to modern day and the story is quickly wrapped up in what amounts to one of the worst endings I've ever read.
Costain makes a very obvious effort to drill into his readers' heads that the Middle Ages was not the glorified period of knights and chivalry and hot princesses that we think it is (although Costain's book is overflowing with that stuff), and the modern world we live in is pretty awesome. A good example of this is the following quote, spoken after the signing of the Magna Carta (or Magna Charta, as Costain calls it for reasons beyond my comprehension): "My son, I am sure of this: that the right to vote will someday be given to every man and woman in this world, and that the voices of majorities will decide who are to be the rulers and by what laws and practices they are to rule. I may be the only man today on the green footstool of the Everlasting God who believes this. In this conference, with no appreciation of the meaning of what we do, we have taken the first firm and resolute step in that direction."
OMG he totally predicted the modern American democratic process! How very prophetic!
Anyway, the story's main character is John Foraday, who tags along with a guy named Richard O'Rawn to his ancestral castle in Ireland. Not bad so far, if a bit dull. But then the plot switches completely and what could be a whole new book starts up.
We are now in the year 1175. Life sucks for pretty much everyone. The new story follows Richard and his loyal servant Tostig through a series of Manly Adventures involving winning tournaments, getting involved in politics that are probably very interesting but are rendered confusing and boring by Costain's dry prose, and pining after various women, all of whom are very beautiful and very boring. Once the Manly Exploits plotline has been exhausted, we return to modern day and the story is quickly wrapped up in what amounts to one of the worst endings I've ever read.
Costain makes a very obvious effort to drill into his readers' heads that the Middle Ages was not the glorified period of knights and chivalry and hot princesses that we think it is (although Costain's book is overflowing with that stuff), and the modern world we live in is pretty awesome. A good example of this is the following quote, spoken after the signing of the Magna Carta (or Magna Charta, as Costain calls it for reasons beyond my comprehension): "My son, I am sure of this: that the right to vote will someday be given to every man and woman in this world, and that the voices of majorities will decide who are to be the rulers and by what laws and practices they are to rule. I may be the only man today on the green footstool of the Everlasting God who believes this. In this conference, with no appreciation of the meaning of what we do, we have taken the first firm and resolute step in that direction."
OMG he totally predicted the modern American democratic process! How very prophetic!
September 19, 2019
I have abandoned this classic for now so the 1 star is not really a reflection of the quality of this book.. I loved, loved his book 'Son of A Thousand Kings', however after 55 pages into Below the Salt, I just could not get into it, maybe another time and place. I also own The Silver Chalice which will stay on my tbr list for now.
July 2, 2015
The rating should really be four stars for part two and one star for parts one and three. The sections of the book that take place in "modern times" (i.e., the 1950s) are both poorly written and commit one of the cardinal, unforgivable sins of storytelling, namely the pimping of the book that is supposedly being written as a supposed bestseller; these sections are indeed so amateur that I was surprised to learn that this was not Mr. Costain's debut novel.
However, the failures of the odd framing (i.e., parts one and three) are more than atoned for by the much better written and much more interesting part 2, which is set at the turn of the thirteenth century. Here, Thomas Costain's real strengths as a writer emerge; his ability to seamlessly blend history and a fictional story in a way that gives rise to an exciting narrative that hooks the reader's interest while at the same time giving them a fairly accurate picture of real historical events. His writing and historicity definitely owe a great debt to Sir Walter Scott (particularly Ivanhoe), and in at least one respect, Costain is Scott's clear superior: Costain makes a great effort to portray his historical characters as they actually were, with both their faults and their virtue manifest, something Scott is less inclined to do.
The only real flaw in part II of Below the Salt is the lack of a real resolution (something, by the way, that is not in any way mollified by reading the frame story in parts 1 and 3). In some respects, this can be considered an advantage, for the narrative is portrayed as a realistic memoir, and in a realistic man's life loose ends do not (and cannot be expected to) all tie themselves up in a way satisfying to the outside observer. But while I admire the idea behind Costain's ending to part II, I still leave it with a little disappointment, a disappointment I don't feel when reading the works of a Walter Scott or some other author of historical fiction who, while not necessarily as well versed in the history as Costain, is much better versed in the methods of effective storytelling.
Nonetheless, Below the Salt is well worth the read, if you can locate a copy (I am told it is out of print and has been so for years, not being one of Costain's more famous novel). If you do so, though, I would suggest skipping parts one and three as well as the "interlude" that comes towards the end of part two and also takes place during "modern times." I guarantee that this will vastly improve your reading experience.
However, the failures of the odd framing (i.e., parts one and three) are more than atoned for by the much better written and much more interesting part 2, which is set at the turn of the thirteenth century. Here, Thomas Costain's real strengths as a writer emerge; his ability to seamlessly blend history and a fictional story in a way that gives rise to an exciting narrative that hooks the reader's interest while at the same time giving them a fairly accurate picture of real historical events. His writing and historicity definitely owe a great debt to Sir Walter Scott (particularly Ivanhoe), and in at least one respect, Costain is Scott's clear superior: Costain makes a great effort to portray his historical characters as they actually were, with both their faults and their virtue manifest, something Scott is less inclined to do.
The only real flaw in part II of Below the Salt is the lack of a real resolution (something, by the way, that is not in any way mollified by reading the frame story in parts 1 and 3). In some respects, this can be considered an advantage, for the narrative is portrayed as a realistic memoir, and in a realistic man's life loose ends do not (and cannot be expected to) all tie themselves up in a way satisfying to the outside observer. But while I admire the idea behind Costain's ending to part II, I still leave it with a little disappointment, a disappointment I don't feel when reading the works of a Walter Scott or some other author of historical fiction who, while not necessarily as well versed in the history as Costain, is much better versed in the methods of effective storytelling.
Nonetheless, Below the Salt is well worth the read, if you can locate a copy (I am told it is out of print and has been so for years, not being one of Costain's more famous novel). If you do so, though, I would suggest skipping parts one and three as well as the "interlude" that comes towards the end of part two and also takes place during "modern times." I guarantee that this will vastly improve your reading experience.
March 13, 2017
I don't think I've ever taken longer to finish a book. There's enough written about the story and plot already, so I'll just share my thoughts about reading the book. I'm ambivalent as to whether or not it was worth the time and repeated effort I put into it. I'm just glad for the books, magazines, and news articles that I read in between chapters when I got too tired to continue without a break. Weary is a better word. Why did I give it as many as 3 stars? Because it wasn't a bad book, and in many ways I enjoyed it, but a lot of it was put-me-to-sleep boring. It's part of a like/hate relationship I have with Costain in general. Love is too strong a word. His personal opinions show through in so much of his historical fictions, and I don't always share his views.
March 30, 2016
An engaging way to learn a little about the history of Britain. The story switches between two time periods, present-day, and the era of the Magna Carta. The title is meaningful. Costain is under-appreciated by today's readers.
September 9, 2017
Historical fiction story of the signing of the magna charta. The story centers around William the Marshal, evil King John, Princess Eleanor and the Knight and his squire who saved her. It was interesting the Pope involvement with the kings. Loved the history! A great read!
Read
April 29, 2009One of the first books I read as a kid. I was about 12. It was an excellent book. I loved the history in it. I loved the story.
March 19, 2019
I have always had a soft spot in my heart for Prince Arthur and Princess Eleanor Plantagenet and I looked forward to reading this novel that gave at least Eleanor more of a life than she was granted in the real world. I appreciated that love story but the real power in this novel is the story of the perfect storm that gave the world the Magna Carta. I love a good history novel that causes me to increase my understanding of powerful moments such as this one. The idea that England needed to suffer the hands of a monster like Jack Lack (King John) in order to bring things to the point when a charter would be drafted and signed that would rock and then change the world gives one much to ponder. And then the fact that a man like Stephen Langton was on the earth at the same time in order to balance things out really fascinates me. I took longer than expected to finish this one because of the pondering required.
The quotes I want to quickly access:
"It is possible that he (Pope Innocent III) did not take sufficient carrot assess in his mind what Langton was saying or, at any rate, to follow his reasoning through. Had he done so, he might have had a prophetic vision of what would come from this inspired type of leadership. He might have caught a fleeting vision of a broad green field on a bright summer day, where armed men bestrode their chargers and a pavilion stood in the midst of them and a king sat in futile efforts to avert the storm he had sown. Innocent III was too deeply committed to the elevation of the temporal power of the Church to feel too much concern for the needs of the common man. And so, years later, when Langton had achieved the first step in what he preached, they would cease to see eye to eye and the balance of their lives would be lived out in constant friction and suspicion."
"Not being blessed with prophetic vision, none of the three men in the ill-lighted room could know that Tostig's celerity had done much more than save the life of the Archbishop of Canterbury. If it had been allowed them to see ahead and know the shape of things to be, it would have been clear that the whole world had benefited. Had Stephen Langton died, there would have been no historic document signed on a meadow beside the Thames in a matter of a few turbulent years. Perhaps mankind would have waited a long time for the impetus to personal freedom which began with the Great Charter. A century certainly, two centuries, three perhaps. It would have come about in due course without a doubt, for the tyranny of absolute rule could not have been endured forever. Sooner or later the will to be free would have broken the bonds."
"She is like Boadicea, standing so bravely and proudly in her war chariot before charging the ranks of Suetonius," he said to himself. (Describing Princess Eleanor Plantagenet)
"It may be remarked in passing that much history has been made by individuals who did nothing seemingly but stand in anterooms."
The quotes I want to quickly access:
"It is possible that he (Pope Innocent III) did not take sufficient carrot assess in his mind what Langton was saying or, at any rate, to follow his reasoning through. Had he done so, he might have had a prophetic vision of what would come from this inspired type of leadership. He might have caught a fleeting vision of a broad green field on a bright summer day, where armed men bestrode their chargers and a pavilion stood in the midst of them and a king sat in futile efforts to avert the storm he had sown. Innocent III was too deeply committed to the elevation of the temporal power of the Church to feel too much concern for the needs of the common man. And so, years later, when Langton had achieved the first step in what he preached, they would cease to see eye to eye and the balance of their lives would be lived out in constant friction and suspicion."
"Not being blessed with prophetic vision, none of the three men in the ill-lighted room could know that Tostig's celerity had done much more than save the life of the Archbishop of Canterbury. If it had been allowed them to see ahead and know the shape of things to be, it would have been clear that the whole world had benefited. Had Stephen Langton died, there would have been no historic document signed on a meadow beside the Thames in a matter of a few turbulent years. Perhaps mankind would have waited a long time for the impetus to personal freedom which began with the Great Charter. A century certainly, two centuries, three perhaps. It would have come about in due course without a doubt, for the tyranny of absolute rule could not have been endured forever. Sooner or later the will to be free would have broken the bonds."
"She is like Boadicea, standing so bravely and proudly in her war chariot before charging the ranks of Suetonius," he said to himself. (Describing Princess Eleanor Plantagenet)
"It may be remarked in passing that much history has been made by individuals who did nothing seemingly but stand in anterooms."
July 13, 2010
I read it back as a teenager and remembered enjoying Costain's historicals, so when I got the opportunity to record it for the CNIB's Talking Books library a few months ago, I took it.
Now, some 40 years after the first reading, I find the writing style pedantic and dated, but the story holds up pretty well. I could do entirely without the modern framing, but it looks like Costain had a message to deliver, about Democracy = A Good Thing.
And when recording books, it's always fun to have a lot of dialogue to play with.
Now, some 40 years after the first reading, I find the writing style pedantic and dated, but the story holds up pretty well. I could do entirely without the modern framing, but it looks like Costain had a message to deliver, about Democracy = A Good Thing.
And when recording books, it's always fun to have a lot of dialogue to play with.
March 22, 2017
The bulk of this book is given over to a decent - if slightly stolid and melancholy - 13th century drama. If that was the whole of the book I would probably like it slightly more, but it's wrapped in a clumsy and didactic framing story set in the 20th century, which hangs around interminably on both ends of the work.
May 21, 2012
I loved this book SOOOO much as a teenager, I have to give it 5 stars. I'd be interested to read it now and see if it holds up well.
March 9, 2021
I started this one a few days ago. I have read three other TBC books: The Three Edwards(non-fiction), The Black Rose and The Silver Chalice. The latter two were historical fiction stories movie-ized by Hollywood with decidedly mixed results. The subject here is the lead up to the signing of Magna Carta in the early thirteenth century. The prose skills on display here are of a decidedly mixed nature. The present-day lead-in is pretty awful, with prose that is almost staggeringly dated and boring. When we get to the look-back to the 12th century it gets better for sure. And that's where I am right now. The business of "what if?" regarding the imprisoned princess Eleanor(the sister of the ill-fated Arthur - both children of Geoffrey, son of Henry II) is total speculation as far as I know(which isn't very far) but fun on the page.
Moving towards the end now as Richard and Eleanor have settled in Ireland, far from the reach(one assumes) of evil King John. I found out about this plot development from Wikipedia, I think, or maybe from a Goodreads reviewer. Fits in with what's preceded. All fanciful, I assume, as Wiki says she died while still imprisoned. Evidently the conditions of her imprisonment were pretty benign. So that's nice ... BTW, Corfe Castle, where she spent the first seven years of her imprisonment, is still there, though in a much reduced state these days. Bristol Castle is barely there at all. We're talking 800 years here!
- some of the ancient action has switched to Killkenny, where the current-day lads first arrived. I JUST GOT the word joke from South Park ... "kill Kenny" - get it!
Finished a few days ago as the years went rushing by and many of the characters die. By the time we leave the 12th century it's STILL a flippin' long time ago. One interesting point relating to this book and A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court is that the time traveler from modern times who goes back 800 years would encounter an English language that would mostly sound like so much incomprehensible babble. It's hard enough to "get" Shakespearean English and that was "only" 400 years ago. At the very end we're whisked back to the 20th century and a mostly irrelevant wrap-up.
- 2.75* rounds up t0 3*.
Moving towards the end now as Richard and Eleanor have settled in Ireland, far from the reach(one assumes) of evil King John. I found out about this plot development from Wikipedia, I think, or maybe from a Goodreads reviewer. Fits in with what's preceded. All fanciful, I assume, as Wiki says she died while still imprisoned. Evidently the conditions of her imprisonment were pretty benign. So that's nice ... BTW, Corfe Castle, where she spent the first seven years of her imprisonment, is still there, though in a much reduced state these days. Bristol Castle is barely there at all. We're talking 800 years here!
- some of the ancient action has switched to Killkenny, where the current-day lads first arrived. I JUST GOT the word joke from South Park ... "kill Kenny" - get it!
Finished a few days ago as the years went rushing by and many of the characters die. By the time we leave the 12th century it's STILL a flippin' long time ago. One interesting point relating to this book and A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court is that the time traveler from modern times who goes back 800 years would encounter an English language that would mostly sound like so much incomprehensible babble. It's hard enough to "get" Shakespearean English and that was "only" 400 years ago. At the very end we're whisked back to the 20th century and a mostly irrelevant wrap-up.
- 2.75* rounds up t0 3*.
April 8, 2024
I discovered Thomas Costain while I was in my late teens (late '70's) via his Plantagenet series. Those books were pivotal in piquing my love for that period in history; after Costain, I moved on to Sharon Kay Penman. Back then (even in the '80's when I was reading Kay Penman), there was very little to read about the Plantagenets - not so today, when there are any number of books out concentrating on that period in time.
Back when I first read Costain, book publication was in a real slump. I would haunt the B. Dalton in the mall hoping for something interesting to read, which was a rare occurrence. I also picked up Costain's The Last Love when it came out and I recall that I liked it.
I hadn't read any other Costain till now, although I'd been picking up his other books here and there at used books stores, antique shops, library sales, etc. (I'm planning on revisiting the Plantagenet series, which I hope will hold up well.) I pulled this one out of my TBR list and I have to say, I was really underwhelmed. First of all, it's a time travel book (Lady of Hay anyone?), which I never would have expected in a Costain book. Yes, most of the book is about the past, but there's more than enough 'current day' plot to throw a spanner in the works. I'm not against time travel per se (Erskine, Gabaldon, etc.) but this was really schlocky - like, shockingly schlocky. Even the portion based in the past was painfully formulaic and stilted. There were no characters I liked, nor any information of particular interest. Basically, it was very clunky. I normally hold onto my Costain books since they're of a certain age (*cough* like me *cough*), but this one is heading to Goodwill. A real disappointment.
Back when I first read Costain, book publication was in a real slump. I would haunt the B. Dalton in the mall hoping for something interesting to read, which was a rare occurrence. I also picked up Costain's The Last Love when it came out and I recall that I liked it.
I hadn't read any other Costain till now, although I'd been picking up his other books here and there at used books stores, antique shops, library sales, etc. (I'm planning on revisiting the Plantagenet series, which I hope will hold up well.) I pulled this one out of my TBR list and I have to say, I was really underwhelmed. First of all, it's a time travel book (Lady of Hay anyone?), which I never would have expected in a Costain book. Yes, most of the book is about the past, but there's more than enough 'current day' plot to throw a spanner in the works. I'm not against time travel per se (Erskine, Gabaldon, etc.) but this was really schlocky - like, shockingly schlocky. Even the portion based in the past was painfully formulaic and stilted. There were no characters I liked, nor any information of particular interest. Basically, it was very clunky. I normally hold onto my Costain books since they're of a certain age (*cough* like me *cough*), but this one is heading to Goodwill. A real disappointment.
April 3, 2020
During this time of self-isolation (due to the coronavirus pandemic), I have turned to rereading some old favorites. Costain has written quite a bit about the Plantagenet era, both fiction and nonfiction. While I haven’t yet read any of the nonfiction, I have read most of his historical fiction, which isn’t solely set in the 12th and 13th centuries. He provides good details about society and everyday life, as well as a bit of politics, in his novels. And there’s usually an interesting, even quirky, aspect to his plots. His prose flows easily and is well-researched. There is a bit of superficiality in his portrayal of his characters, though, so I wouldn’t consider his fiction to be classical. Nonetheless, it is a measure of my regard that I am rereading him.
I’m not providing any summary or comments on this book because to do so might involve a spoiler.
I’m not providing any summary or comments on this book because to do so might involve a spoiler.
June 7, 2025
We start, and finish, in the 20th century for no good reason in my all-important opinion. The characters are flat with dull dialogue and don't really contribute anything. If I had the power I would re-edit the book and take out all the modern stuff and stick to the core story which takes place in Medieval times. We follow the life of Richard of Rawen as he starts to go on Crusade but is then employed by the pope on a secret mission and ends up rescuing the princess in the tower (literally). While the writing still isn't top notch at least there are things happening and the pacing is on track. Thomas Costain was a popular writer back in his day and I have yet to figure out why. If you are thinking about reading Below The Salt I recommend you skip the first and last sections. You won't be missing out on anything.
6-7-2025
6-7-2025
May 9, 2017
It has been quite a while since I read this book but it is the kind of book that stays in my brain percolating. Costain is not a modern author and he clearly loved research so the book is not fast-paced or packed with breathtaking adventure, instead there is a story wrapped in the traditions and historical occurrences of England. It is a thorough and fascinating story that will also teach you about England and its early culture. I recommend it.
January 18, 2024
Page Turner
This book kept me eager to know the next thing that would happen, had an appropriate amount of character building, not too heavy (at least for me) on the relationship angst I have come dread. I need to re-read to suss out why O'Dawn connected with Foraday (sp?) because it was not clear to me. That will be a pleasure, I'm sure.
This book kept me eager to know the next thing that would happen, had an appropriate amount of character building, not too heavy (at least for me) on the relationship angst I have come dread. I need to re-read to suss out why O'Dawn connected with Foraday (sp?) because it was not clear to me. That will be a pleasure, I'm sure.
January 18, 2024
Great historic fiction
Thomas Costain was my Dad's favorite historical fiction author, so this was one of the books that made historical fiction my favorite genre. I enjoyed it just as much more than 50 years later. Historically accurate, great characters, set in reign of King John. You couldn't find a better story.
Thomas Costain was my Dad's favorite historical fiction author, so this was one of the books that made historical fiction my favorite genre. I enjoyed it just as much more than 50 years later. Historically accurate, great characters, set in reign of King John. You couldn't find a better story.
December 3, 2020
I was at an Estate Sale and saw the name of the author,,,
Had read The Silver Chalice when I was about 12.
LOVE the way Costain wrote, his use of the English language, his ability to communicate feelings of humanity.
Had read The Silver Chalice when I was about 12.
LOVE the way Costain wrote, his use of the English language, his ability to communicate feelings of humanity.
November 11, 2023
I’m afraid I e found this book a bit dated and I’m afraid I have lost interest. Usually I enjoy Costain he is a good writer and his historical research is quite accurate.
But I just cannot get into the characters or “feel” them. I’m about to give up.
But I just cannot get into the characters or “feel” them. I’m about to give up.
August 31, 2017
Hard reading.............learned a lot. Hard to keep up, but enjoyed it.
July 12, 2018
Excellent novel of medieval times, but then all of his books are fantastic.
August 1, 2018
This is a wonderful story with a twist.
November 5, 2020
At first I thought it was about the crusades. Then I thought it was about a lame guy in the 1950s. The I found about I was correct both times. And wrong.
January 20, 2021
A historical novel set in the time of the Magna Carta, with loyalty, war, warriors, hope, loss and love added in, this was a great read.
Read
February 9, 2021A great read, John Foraday is a good character
July 18, 2022
Realistic story of Knights and Kings of the Medieval era. Loved it!
November 19, 2023
Below the Salt
Very interesting when the story is told about the medieval time of knights, kings, and princesses. The book is well written.
Very interesting when the story is told about the medieval time of knights, kings, and princesses. The book is well written.
February 25, 2024
I gave it a good shot but the writing style was not for me.
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