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Love and Honor: A Novel
Summoned by Benjamin Franklin to prevent the Russians from aiding the British in the imminent Revolutionary War, Virginia cavalryman Kieran Selkirk travels to Russia in the disguise of a British mercenary to offer his services to the Tsarina in her fight against the Cossacks. By the author of Pearl Harbor. Reprint.
448 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
July 27, 2019
I've read a lot about the American Revolution over the years, so anything new will catch my interest. An American (or who would be one within the next few years when Independence was declared) sent to Russia to try and persuade the legendary Catherine the Great not to help Great Britain against the colonies? Ok, that was original.
Kieran Selkirk, a Virginian cavalryman, was sent by Benjamin Franklin from London all the way to the Russian Empire. His mission- spare his fledgling country the might of the Russian army. Plead with the most powerful woman in the world to not crush America before it's even born.
What follows is a tale of action, romance, and things uniquely Russian. The decadence of the Imperial court is even odder than some of the rumors. While the story of the Empress and the horse is "greatly exaggerated" (as Franklin says in the book), she has hungers and needs and a system in place to feed them. Selkirk is a man of principal who has fallen for an unlikely woman. Will he stay true? Will he succeed in his mission? Will he and his comrade in arms Gorlov defeat the Cossack leader Wolfshead?
There are a lot of good twists and turns here, and I liked Selkirk and Gorlov a lot. I'd read more about them. There are various other characters floating in and out of these pages, but those two are the focus of the story.
Randall Wallace, who wrote this, also wrote Braveheart and Pearl Harbor, among other works. This one, too, would make a good movie. An American abroad in Russia as the Revolution is about to begin is a unique slant on historical fiction, or at least one I hadn't run across before. It's well worth reading.
Kieran Selkirk, a Virginian cavalryman, was sent by Benjamin Franklin from London all the way to the Russian Empire. His mission- spare his fledgling country the might of the Russian army. Plead with the most powerful woman in the world to not crush America before it's even born.
What follows is a tale of action, romance, and things uniquely Russian. The decadence of the Imperial court is even odder than some of the rumors. While the story of the Empress and the horse is "greatly exaggerated" (as Franklin says in the book), she has hungers and needs and a system in place to feed them. Selkirk is a man of principal who has fallen for an unlikely woman. Will he stay true? Will he succeed in his mission? Will he and his comrade in arms Gorlov defeat the Cossack leader Wolfshead?
There are a lot of good twists and turns here, and I liked Selkirk and Gorlov a lot. I'd read more about them. There are various other characters floating in and out of these pages, but those two are the focus of the story.
Randall Wallace, who wrote this, also wrote Braveheart and Pearl Harbor, among other works. This one, too, would make a good movie. An American abroad in Russia as the Revolution is about to begin is a unique slant on historical fiction, or at least one I hadn't run across before. It's well worth reading.
January 30, 2019
The Russian Empire has always been---and in some ways continues to be---among the most inscrutable and mysterious regions on the planet. Author Randall Wallace, in this entertaining and informative novel set in Russia under the reign of Catherine the Great, has captured the enigma of Russian politics and society in all its nuances.
According to his bio, Wallace is the author of several successful screenplays, and his talent for creating visually haunting scenes, exciting action, and complex plot twists is evident throughout the story. The language is rich in imagery and sensory detail, yet straightforward enough to keep the action moving along at a steady pace.
In a riveting opening chapter the reader is led on a harrowing sleigh ride in darkness over a frozen tundra with packs of hungry wolves yapping at the horses’ heels and marauding Cossacks lurking in the background. There is a bit of a lapse as the protagonists settle in St. Petersburg, where they are introduced to the intrigues, the cruelty, and eccentricities of the Tsarina and her entourage. The hero falls in love and makes a name for himself as a soldier of exceptional bravery who captures the attention of the Tsarina and the noblewomen that surround her.
Many otherwise great novels fall short at the end with disappointing, incomplete, or overwritten endings. Not this one. The plot climaxes in a thrilling encounter between the hero and his antagonists, preceding an ending that is among the best I have ever read. My favorite scene in the book is when a certain unpleasant character meets her demise in an “accidental” fall from a great height, but I will not spoil the suspense by mentioning any names.
While it did not detract from my enjoyment of this book, there is one fluke that bears mentioning. The protagonist’s basic mission in traveling to Russia was to convince the Tsarina Catherine to deny a British request to send Russian troops to the American colonies to aid the British in crushing the rebellion of the colonists. Somehow this mission disappears until the ending, where it is dispatched in a few sentences, without any clear resolution.
Though I am not usually a fan of historical fiction, this author has found the right balance between entertainment and historical realism, without which this novel would be just another action/adventure tale set in an exotic locale. I give it five stars.
According to his bio, Wallace is the author of several successful screenplays, and his talent for creating visually haunting scenes, exciting action, and complex plot twists is evident throughout the story. The language is rich in imagery and sensory detail, yet straightforward enough to keep the action moving along at a steady pace.
In a riveting opening chapter the reader is led on a harrowing sleigh ride in darkness over a frozen tundra with packs of hungry wolves yapping at the horses’ heels and marauding Cossacks lurking in the background. There is a bit of a lapse as the protagonists settle in St. Petersburg, where they are introduced to the intrigues, the cruelty, and eccentricities of the Tsarina and her entourage. The hero falls in love and makes a name for himself as a soldier of exceptional bravery who captures the attention of the Tsarina and the noblewomen that surround her.
Many otherwise great novels fall short at the end with disappointing, incomplete, or overwritten endings. Not this one. The plot climaxes in a thrilling encounter between the hero and his antagonists, preceding an ending that is among the best I have ever read. My favorite scene in the book is when a certain unpleasant character meets her demise in an “accidental” fall from a great height, but I will not spoil the suspense by mentioning any names.
While it did not detract from my enjoyment of this book, there is one fluke that bears mentioning. The protagonist’s basic mission in traveling to Russia was to convince the Tsarina Catherine to deny a British request to send Russian troops to the American colonies to aid the British in crushing the rebellion of the colonists. Somehow this mission disappears until the ending, where it is dispatched in a few sentences, without any clear resolution.
Though I am not usually a fan of historical fiction, this author has found the right balance between entertainment and historical realism, without which this novel would be just another action/adventure tale set in an exotic locale. I give it five stars.
December 18, 2018
A tad disappointed. While the novel fits the action and lifestyle contrast requirements of frontier hardships versus spoiled European society life, somehow it left me cold. (Not just due to the frequent harping on the snowy landscape, either.) The barbarous Cossacks seemed the most interesting part of the novel, especially Wolfshead, so it was disappointing to find out that he was mostly trading on Dread Pirate Roberts-like reputation. I didn’t find Beatrice all that compelling, other than her great horsemanship, and Kieran was a bit too naiive to be loosed into St. Petersburg society (what was Ben Franklin thinking?!). I was quite happy when the small courtier finally pitched herself over a balustrade - her continual overacting provided more irritation than amusement. Gorlov ended up with the right woman, of course, and I heartily approved of his method of protesting governmental overreach; really, his story was the one I most wanted to turn out well.
July 6, 2018
It has everything I could ever want in a book. A great plot, loyalty, love, adventure, excitement. It’s my new favorite for sure and one I’ll reread and recommend.
September 9, 2025
Good book. Good read. My kind of book, story, characters! Fun.
October 28, 2013
This isn't a book I would have picked up on my own, however, a friend recommended it to me and I'm so glad he did. I'm not typically drawn to historical fiction, but Wallace's writing is beautiful and intriguing in a way that drew me in unexpectedly. At points (mainly the middle of the book) I thought the main plot of the story got lost in some of the subplots, but it was a welcome tangent as the story develops the characters beautifully.
I found the book easily "quotable". Written with nuggets of wisdom tucked away within the pages that draw you in. One of my favorites: "We hope and dream; somewhere we find faith. Then doubt spreads through us as a dark liquid stream, fed not so much by the world outside us but through some source within our own souls. Faith and doubt appear in our lives like two visitors - coming uninvited and leaving at their whim. We feed them both, and when they leave us by ourselves we remember the voice of each and ask which one spoke our true hearts - when both did."
Wallace managed to make powerful insights about the soul of a person all within the context of a haunting story of love...and honor. While I wasn't thrilled with the ending, feeling that it left more to be desired and lacked the depth I had come to expect from the rest of the book, it was still a wonderful read overall. I would definitely recommend this book to others.
I found the book easily "quotable". Written with nuggets of wisdom tucked away within the pages that draw you in. One of my favorites: "We hope and dream; somewhere we find faith. Then doubt spreads through us as a dark liquid stream, fed not so much by the world outside us but through some source within our own souls. Faith and doubt appear in our lives like two visitors - coming uninvited and leaving at their whim. We feed them both, and when they leave us by ourselves we remember the voice of each and ask which one spoke our true hearts - when both did."
Wallace managed to make powerful insights about the soul of a person all within the context of a haunting story of love...and honor. While I wasn't thrilled with the ending, feeling that it left more to be desired and lacked the depth I had come to expect from the rest of the book, it was still a wonderful read overall. I would definitely recommend this book to others.
March 2, 2010
I like the writing style of Randall Wallace, and of course I love a book with lots of action, and love. Randall Wallace is known for his screen plays "Braveheart" and "Pearl Harbor."
Love and Honor is about Virginian cavalryman Kieran Selkirk who is recruited by crafty spymaster Benjamin Franklin to travel to Russia posing as a British mercenary. Once in St. Petersburg, the plan is for him to offer his services to Catherine in her fight against the rebellious Cossacks, thus gaining her favor.
This novel has my favorite first line of any book: "The first howl sang across the night void and trembled the froze air, a sound as thin as starlight poised on the blue plains of snow, with no more presence than the memory of a vanished loved one, and just as inescapable across the face of the world; and as with a ghostly visage rising before me, I might have denied that the cry existed." This line which is haunting, expectant, and romantic is followed by a great story of heroism, patriotism and love.
Love and Honor is about Virginian cavalryman Kieran Selkirk who is recruited by crafty spymaster Benjamin Franklin to travel to Russia posing as a British mercenary. Once in St. Petersburg, the plan is for him to offer his services to Catherine in her fight against the rebellious Cossacks, thus gaining her favor.
This novel has my favorite first line of any book: "The first howl sang across the night void and trembled the froze air, a sound as thin as starlight poised on the blue plains of snow, with no more presence than the memory of a vanished loved one, and just as inescapable across the face of the world; and as with a ghostly visage rising before me, I might have denied that the cry existed." This line which is haunting, expectant, and romantic is followed by a great story of heroism, patriotism and love.
July 9, 2016
My favorite part of the novel occurred on p. 459 of the large print edition:
" We hope and dream; somewhere we find faith. Then doubt spreads through us as a dark liquid steam, fed not so much by the world outside us but through some source within our own souls. Faith and doubt appear in our lives like two visitors--coming uninvited and leaving at their whim. We feed them both, and when they leave us by ourselves we remember the voice of each and ask which one spoke our try hearts--when both did."
This novel possesses some marvelous insights into what makes the human heart and mind "tick". LOVE AND HONOR truly is a great title, for the main characters of Kieran and Beatrice (and ultimately Gorlov) have those as their main motivation.
Having been to St. Petersburg, Russia, where I saw the lavish palace of Catherine the Great, I enjoyed the setting. The Tsarinas character was well written, as was that of Potemkin.
" We hope and dream; somewhere we find faith. Then doubt spreads through us as a dark liquid steam, fed not so much by the world outside us but through some source within our own souls. Faith and doubt appear in our lives like two visitors--coming uninvited and leaving at their whim. We feed them both, and when they leave us by ourselves we remember the voice of each and ask which one spoke our try hearts--when both did."
This novel possesses some marvelous insights into what makes the human heart and mind "tick". LOVE AND HONOR truly is a great title, for the main characters of Kieran and Beatrice (and ultimately Gorlov) have those as their main motivation.
Having been to St. Petersburg, Russia, where I saw the lavish palace of Catherine the Great, I enjoyed the setting. The Tsarinas character was well written, as was that of Potemkin.
April 18, 2010
I was hooked from the beginning and had a hard time putting it down every time. The story follows Kieran Selkirk, a Virginian, across the Russian steppes to St Petersburg where he is to serve as a spy of sorts, and a voice for the American colonies in their fight against the British. He hopes to persuade the Tsarina that she should not accede to the British request that she send troops to help quell the American fight for liberty.
There is fighting and intrigue, friends and complicated machinations. The writing is also quite good. I believe this book will appeal more to men than to women, but I recommend it to everyone. It's good!
There is fighting and intrigue, friends and complicated machinations. The writing is also quite good. I believe this book will appeal more to men than to women, but I recommend it to everyone. It's good!
July 26, 2011
I wanted to give this a higher rating but cannot justify it. On the good side, I liked Wallace's writing style (just a right amount of description, good language while still being straightforward) and his development of the character Gorlov. He is a truly loveable character. I also liked the setting...Russia during the American Revolution. On the weaker side (for me) was the fact that Kieran's mission (to sway Catherine the Great not to support the British in the Americal Revolution) seems to get lost during the middle part of the book. And ****** spoiler *********** things just end up a little too perfectly at several points in the book.
April 25, 2008
This is a page-turning historical novel written by the guy who wrote Braveheart. A Revolutionary War soldier is sent on a mission to Russia to meet with the Czarina Catherine the Great to persuade her not to aid the English in the war. I love Revolutionary War books, and this is one apsect of the war that I didn't know happened. If Russia had backed England and supplied troops, naval ships, and finances, we may all be speaking Russian today! The prose was rather simplistic, really easy to read. I felt that it could've had more elegant writing, but it was still addictive and fun.
March 8, 2011
I like most everything that Randall Wallace does, but I was not captured by this book. I picked it up because I read reviews that said it was better than Braveheart and not by any stretch of the imagination was this on a Braveheart level. The excitement did pick up towards the end, but this book is not recommended.
May 24, 2011
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. An American man is given the task of traveling to Russia and convincing the Czarina to back the American rebels in the coming revolution. It was full of intrigue, great descriptions of sword battles and adventure. His friend was an interesting character, who really personified the Russians of that era to me.
August 22, 2023
I felt like I was reading a movie, which if you are familiar with Randall Wallace’s other works, that’s not surprising. The flow and characterization felt more cinematic than novel-esque. It was an odd sensation for a book, but not unpleasant. I actually really enjoyed the story itself and the flow made it a quick read.
April 7, 2012
Wow! I have just finished this book and all I can say is that I am left breathless! It was sooooo good!!! Especially for a Revolutionary War/18th century fanatic like me! Wow!
This book comes highly recommended!
This book comes highly recommended!
September 2, 2014
I greatly enjoyed this book set in Russia in 1774… Came away wishing for an entire series based on Kieran Selkirk the young American patriot. There is so much more to tell and explore in this character.
August 26, 2024
The best historical fiction book of all time. I will formally debate this on television. Prose, character development, subtlety, action, plot, you name it. Read and you will only find pleasure in your experience here.
August 15, 2009
I really liked it...historical but romantic but gruesome at times! It kept me interested though. Somewhat predictable, but hey, most books are!
August 18, 2011
Great book, out of my normal realm of genres, but touching, gruesome, bloody, lovely, and classic!
November 23, 2016
One of the few books I've read numerous times.
Want to read
September 14, 2012I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/11399316
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/11399316
June 21, 2013
I love historical novels. This was a great read. Recommend it!
March 27, 2015
a very good book for those that love historical fiction. a tad bit slow in the beginning, but the story picked up in no time. Would definately read this book again.
Read
November 14, 2015good
November 21, 2007
So far so good! I'll let you know when I finish it...
Want to read
April 27, 2008reading this book for work book club. hope it's worth my time...
July 7, 2008
Great for anyone who loves historical novels!
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews