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Kings of Albion
This is a witty and often profound view of how the English came to be the way they are.
Paperback
First published January 1, 2000
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About the author
Julian Rathbone
67 books24 followersJulian Christopher Rathbone was born in 1935 in Blackheath, southeast London. His great-uncle was the actor and great Sherlock Holmes interpreter Basil Rathbone, although they never met.
The prolific author Julian Rathbone was a writer of crime stories, mysteries and thrillers who also turned his hand to the historical novel, science fiction and even horror — and much of his writing had strong political and social dimensions.
He was difficult to pigeonhole because his scope was so broad. Arguably, his experiment with different genres and thus his refusal to be typecast cost him a wider audience than he enjoyed. Just as his subject matter changed markedly over the years, so too did his readers and his publishers.
Among his more than 40 books two were shortlisted for the Booker Prize for Fiction. Both were historical novels: first King Fisher Lives, a taut adventure revolving around a guru figure, in 1976, and, secondly, Joseph, set during the Peninsular War and written in an 18th-century prose style, in 1979. But Rathbone never quite made it into the wider public consciousness.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julian_R...
The prolific author Julian Rathbone was a writer of crime stories, mysteries and thrillers who also turned his hand to the historical novel, science fiction and even horror — and much of his writing had strong political and social dimensions.
He was difficult to pigeonhole because his scope was so broad. Arguably, his experiment with different genres and thus his refusal to be typecast cost him a wider audience than he enjoyed. Just as his subject matter changed markedly over the years, so too did his readers and his publishers.
Among his more than 40 books two were shortlisted for the Booker Prize for Fiction. Both were historical novels: first King Fisher Lives, a taut adventure revolving around a guru figure, in 1976, and, secondly, Joseph, set during the Peninsular War and written in an 18th-century prose style, in 1979. But Rathbone never quite made it into the wider public consciousness.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julian_R...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
January 17, 2024
My second work by this Author. A very funny book with a well crafted story of a group of travellers from Vijayanagara who travel to England during the Wars of the Roses. They are trying to find Prince Harihara’s brother and at the same time ideas for improving the defences of their country.
The story is recounted from the reading of the story of the journey many years later. It includes letters sent back to their country ( impressed by how well the rudimentary postal service works - UK Post Office take note). Main characters are Ali, Uma and the Prince.
Uma seems to sleep with every character and murder many in a thugee manner. The characters end split up over the country. Some locked in the Tower of London as it is besieged.
Scatalogical references and descriptions abound as well as violent battle scenes. Also humerous snippets.
Football references sneaking in ‘So they think it’s all over …it is now.’ The 1966 World Cup famous commentators announcement
‘What did we find? First, a river called the Mersey, across which we took a ferry…’
It was a sweeping romp and has made me want to find out more about this historical period.
The story is recounted from the reading of the story of the journey many years later. It includes letters sent back to their country ( impressed by how well the rudimentary postal service works - UK Post Office take note). Main characters are Ali, Uma and the Prince.
Uma seems to sleep with every character and murder many in a thugee manner. The characters end split up over the country. Some locked in the Tower of London as it is besieged.
Scatalogical references and descriptions abound as well as violent battle scenes. Also humerous snippets.
Football references sneaking in ‘So they think it’s all over …it is now.’ The 1966 World Cup famous commentators announcement
‘What did we find? First, a river called the Mersey, across which we took a ferry…’
It was a sweeping romp and has made me want to find out more about this historical period.
August 18, 2012
Though I love historical fiction that attempts to portray life and people of the period as accurately and as colourfully as possible, this sort of book appeals to me when I want a bit of lighter reading.
Tongue firmly planted in cheek, this tells the story of a traveller from the far east crossing Europe in search of his brother and arriving in England in 1460 during the Wars of the Roses. When he learns that his brother is the guest of the Yorkists, he finds himself caught up in the middle of the war that would ultimately lead to him being present at The Battle of St. Albans in that year.
The blurb led me to believe that this book would be full of laughs but I only found most of the jokes to be amusing at best. There are many anachronisms that are deliberately and carefully placed to add to the humour (such as the innkeeper they call ‘Boddington’ because his name was on a sign outside the inn – even the protagonists name might be familiar to some) and if you have seen the film ‘A Knight’s Tale’ you will know the sort of thing I mean.
This is an amusing look at England, the English people and our customs through the eyes of a person to whom our way of life might seem peculiar and alien and in that respect it works. I’m just sorry I didn’t find it as hilariously laugh-out-loud funny in the way a lot of others did. An interesting and amusing read that didn’t quite work for me.
See more book reviews at my blog
Tongue firmly planted in cheek, this tells the story of a traveller from the far east crossing Europe in search of his brother and arriving in England in 1460 during the Wars of the Roses. When he learns that his brother is the guest of the Yorkists, he finds himself caught up in the middle of the war that would ultimately lead to him being present at The Battle of St. Albans in that year.
The blurb led me to believe that this book would be full of laughs but I only found most of the jokes to be amusing at best. There are many anachronisms that are deliberately and carefully placed to add to the humour (such as the innkeeper they call ‘Boddington’ because his name was on a sign outside the inn – even the protagonists name might be familiar to some) and if you have seen the film ‘A Knight’s Tale’ you will know the sort of thing I mean.
This is an amusing look at England, the English people and our customs through the eyes of a person to whom our way of life might seem peculiar and alien and in that respect it works. I’m just sorry I didn’t find it as hilariously laugh-out-loud funny in the way a lot of others did. An interesting and amusing read that didn’t quite work for me.
See more book reviews at my blog
July 12, 2022
An interesting take on this period of history. Took a while to get into as it's a bit disjointed. I now want to read up on the Wars of the Roses more as it's a pretty confusing era.
July 15, 2012
Originally published on my blog here.
L.P. Hartley's line "The past is a foreign country" is often quoted, but it can be hard to realise just how different things were in former times. Kings of Albion is a novel which literalises the quotation to great effect. The plot is about an expedition sent out by the threatened Indian kingdom of Vijayanagara, to see if they can learn something from the far away English, who are rumoured even that far away to be the most warlike race on Earth. And the rumour turns out to be accurate, for they arrive at their destination in 1460, at the bloodiest period of the Wars of the Roses.
This device makes it possible for Rathbone to make us see how different England was 550 years ago, as the cultured Indian delegation react in horrified fascination to the things they see. Apart from being clever, Kings of Albion is also funny, with anachronism being used in a creative and humorous fashion: it is not out of place for the party to survive being caught between two gangs of youths from rival factions in Verona, but it seems so to the modern reader, because this is an episode from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. This sort of pre-echo is used to evoke films, plays, books, and twentieth century physics without technically breaking the historical mode of the novel.
Vijayanagara is a kingdom about which fairly little is known; according to Rathbone's preface, this is why he chose it, on the advice of an expert in Indian history. It enables Rathbone to construct a culture which produces a delegation with a philosophical outlook more like a person of today than a medieval Englishman, which heightens the shared reactions that we as readers have with the characters in the delegation.
Some modern devout Christians could still be offended by the religious themes of Kings of Albion, which concern on the one hand links between Hinduism and the origins of the medieval cult of the Virgin Mary, and some of the practices of the fifteenth century church on the other. But on the whole, most people should enjoy this evocation of medieval England which is reminiscent of the spirit of George MacDonald Fraser.
L.P. Hartley's line "The past is a foreign country" is often quoted, but it can be hard to realise just how different things were in former times. Kings of Albion is a novel which literalises the quotation to great effect. The plot is about an expedition sent out by the threatened Indian kingdom of Vijayanagara, to see if they can learn something from the far away English, who are rumoured even that far away to be the most warlike race on Earth. And the rumour turns out to be accurate, for they arrive at their destination in 1460, at the bloodiest period of the Wars of the Roses.
This device makes it possible for Rathbone to make us see how different England was 550 years ago, as the cultured Indian delegation react in horrified fascination to the things they see. Apart from being clever, Kings of Albion is also funny, with anachronism being used in a creative and humorous fashion: it is not out of place for the party to survive being caught between two gangs of youths from rival factions in Verona, but it seems so to the modern reader, because this is an episode from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. This sort of pre-echo is used to evoke films, plays, books, and twentieth century physics without technically breaking the historical mode of the novel.
Vijayanagara is a kingdom about which fairly little is known; according to Rathbone's preface, this is why he chose it, on the advice of an expert in Indian history. It enables Rathbone to construct a culture which produces a delegation with a philosophical outlook more like a person of today than a medieval Englishman, which heightens the shared reactions that we as readers have with the characters in the delegation.
Some modern devout Christians could still be offended by the religious themes of Kings of Albion, which concern on the one hand links between Hinduism and the origins of the medieval cult of the Virgin Mary, and some of the practices of the fifteenth century church on the other. But on the whole, most people should enjoy this evocation of medieval England which is reminiscent of the spirit of George MacDonald Fraser.
August 22, 2016
-Una idea muy buena y distintiva pero que no se plasmó de la mejor forma.-
Género. Novela histórica (desde la acepción amplia del género).
Lo que nos cuenta. Una pequeña delegación al servicio del reino de Vijayanagara llega a Ingerland en plena Guerra de las Dos Rosas con la misión de localizar a una persona importante y alguna otra intención más secreta. Los integrantes de la misma recuerdan esos tiempos y el choque cultural que sufrieron al entrar en contacto con la sociedad de los ingleshi.
¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:
https://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com...
Género. Novela histórica (desde la acepción amplia del género).
Lo que nos cuenta. Una pequeña delegación al servicio del reino de Vijayanagara llega a Ingerland en plena Guerra de las Dos Rosas con la misión de localizar a una persona importante y alguna otra intención más secreta. Los integrantes de la misma recuerdan esos tiempos y el choque cultural que sufrieron al entrar en contacto con la sociedad de los ingleshi.
¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:
https://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com...
June 22, 2007
I got Kings of Albion off the old BookRelay site because the book sounded interesting from its description. I also liked the title and the cover art. Unfortunately I didn't realize it was the sequel to a book I ended up putting down after about fifty pages (The Last English King). I did manage to finish this sequel but the process wasn't exactly an enjoyable one.
The book follows a group of travelers from the orient who travel to England (or Ingerlond as it is written in the book) to rescue a kinsman from these barbarians. There in lies the problem. A historical fiction ends up reading like cliched high fantasy with each of these exotic characters taking one of the roles so often seen in Tolkien rip-offs and books spun off of RPGs.
To make things seem even more exciting, the descriptive language throws in foreign words at random or gives funny spelling to things when the rest of the language a character is using is rather modern. Either write in a dialect or don't. Please don't pick and chose at random.
When things still fail to stay interesting, the plot will stop for a gratuitous sex scene with the one female character. Her only purpose in the book is to get the interest of readers who would normally read erotica.
I know there are fans of this type of historical fiction. I am not one of them. I have made a note to myself to avoid reading any more of Rathbone's books as I'm sure to not enjoy reading them beyond admiring their cover art and the blurbs on their backs.
The book follows a group of travelers from the orient who travel to England (or Ingerlond as it is written in the book) to rescue a kinsman from these barbarians. There in lies the problem. A historical fiction ends up reading like cliched high fantasy with each of these exotic characters taking one of the roles so often seen in Tolkien rip-offs and books spun off of RPGs.
To make things seem even more exciting, the descriptive language throws in foreign words at random or gives funny spelling to things when the rest of the language a character is using is rather modern. Either write in a dialect or don't. Please don't pick and chose at random.
When things still fail to stay interesting, the plot will stop for a gratuitous sex scene with the one female character. Her only purpose in the book is to get the interest of readers who would normally read erotica.
I know there are fans of this type of historical fiction. I am not one of them. I have made a note to myself to avoid reading any more of Rathbone's books as I'm sure to not enjoy reading them beyond admiring their cover art and the blurbs on their backs.
July 5, 2021
Took a while to get into, but then good. I must now re-read Alison Weir’s Lancaster and York.
July 22, 2014
Если сделать Алана Квотермейна путешественником с очень дальнего востока и отправить в Англию 15 века с группой вельмож на поиски брата одного из индийских князей (да, я не зря упомянула Квотермейна), прямо в разгар войны между Йорками и Ланкастерами, что получится? На мой взгляд, получилось не очень. Сама идея сдвинуть фокус обзора (это Англия - экзотическая и непонятная страна с эксцентричными жителями для путешественников, а не наоборот) хороша, и историю автор знает, но взгляд на Йорков и Ланкастеров не тот, что тигры любят больше всего (самым лучшим оказывается Оуэн Тюдор, а будущий Ричард III появляется на странице от силы, в возрасте пяти-шести, что ли, лет, но сразу понятно: этому ребенку дорога - только в шекспировскую пьесу, и он уже готовится, выкалывая глаза кроликам). Если это игра, требующая лишь поучаствовать в маскараде и оценить, какие все яркие характеры (читай - гады) и прекрасно-бестолковые на фоне знающих жизнь и дзен восточных путешественников - то игра удалась, можно было бы оценить и выше, конечно, но он плохо обошелся с Йорками, так что две звездочки))
January 17, 2015
This was a fascinating book of fiction set in medieval times, but is a rich story that gives an Eastern perspective on the West. The story is told from 3 points of view, giving the reader three different voices who have their own writing styles (Uma's versions are almost erotica tales). I'll admit that the story started off quite slow for me until the party finally arrives in the "Inglysshe" country (England), and I realized we were right in the midst and end of the War of the Roses. Again, from politics to religion to technology to society in general, the Eastern perspective/critique of the Western ways at that time had me putting down the book (sometimes) and going, "Ha, they are completely right!" The theological musings are interesting to the extent that's explored. I don't usually read fiction, but I did enjoy this. I thought the ending (even though it's a lengthy book) was a bit sudden and didn't explain how all the present circumstances of Ali occurred, but I don't give the book that much of a fault for it. Quite interesting book!
October 11, 2018
Julian Rathbone paints a picture made from the oddest elements possible - a Thuggee from the Vijayanagar empire, along with one of its numerous princes, going to England to search for their lost cousin. Along for the ride is Eddie March, the future king of England, and an Arab merchant chosen as a guide for the royal party. A wonderful story with a backdrop of the Wars of the Roses, and showcases historical characters with seamless writing.
August 17, 2007
In this novel, Rathbone gives a view of European culture and history though the eyes of an outsider. Funny and informative.
June 4, 2013
Fast paced historic novel with nice touches of dark humour.
March 18, 2019
Julian Rathbone
This has long been one of my favourite works of historical fiction, and this re-read was certainly overdue. It’s the sort of book that makes the genre interesting and accessible, even to people who don’t usually favour it.
My re-read was prompted by a new book I’m reading at the moment - Splinter, by Phil Wensley - which seems, unintentionally I think, to be written in a similar style. (I’ll post a review in due course.)
Kings of Albion takes us from India to England via the Arab world, and on arrival we get sucked into some (but by no means all) of the politics and battles of the Wars of the Roses. We see these from a rather unorthodox perspective that is interwoven with the storyline of the characters who’ve made the journey.
Julian Rathbone’s writing style is nicely off the wall, his colourful prose flows easily and the whole book is laced with wit, humour and some fascinating asides. Some people seem offended by that, but for me it makes the book really satisfying to read. Eclectic, but fascinating, in part because he certainly knows his history.
This has long been one of my favourite works of historical fiction, and this re-read was certainly overdue. It’s the sort of book that makes the genre interesting and accessible, even to people who don’t usually favour it.
My re-read was prompted by a new book I’m reading at the moment - Splinter, by Phil Wensley - which seems, unintentionally I think, to be written in a similar style. (I’ll post a review in due course.)
Kings of Albion takes us from India to England via the Arab world, and on arrival we get sucked into some (but by no means all) of the politics and battles of the Wars of the Roses. We see these from a rather unorthodox perspective that is interwoven with the storyline of the characters who’ve made the journey.
Julian Rathbone’s writing style is nicely off the wall, his colourful prose flows easily and the whole book is laced with wit, humour and some fascinating asides. Some people seem offended by that, but for me it makes the book really satisfying to read. Eclectic, but fascinating, in part because he certainly knows his history.
July 17, 2021
Overall this was a thoroughly enjoyable read.
To look at the setting and events in the time of the Wars of the Roses through the eyes of imagined travellers from a very alien setting was clever and, I felt, effective. (I have read other books using different devices - The Time Travellers Guide to the Medieval England and The Outcasts of Time, both by Ian Mortimer.)
This book brought out the brutality and harshness of life in those times. The travelling group were interestingly varied. The Buddhist monk was a revelation!
Uma was a puzzling character - sensuous, seductive and hedonistic yet with a hardness of heart. The earthiness of the language she used seemed right.
There were some hilarious descriptions of people and events and also a peppering of in-jokes. I saw a few but I wonder how many I missed! (There was a reference to the Mersey and its ferry and the ferryman was called Gerald! There was another about birdsong around Oxford which was a veiled reference to Adlestrop.)
The final report of the listener to his Chinese masters was also wryly amusing and deeply sad in equal measure.
To look at the setting and events in the time of the Wars of the Roses through the eyes of imagined travellers from a very alien setting was clever and, I felt, effective. (I have read other books using different devices - The Time Travellers Guide to the Medieval England and The Outcasts of Time, both by Ian Mortimer.)
This book brought out the brutality and harshness of life in those times. The travelling group were interestingly varied. The Buddhist monk was a revelation!
Uma was a puzzling character - sensuous, seductive and hedonistic yet with a hardness of heart. The earthiness of the language she used seemed right.
There were some hilarious descriptions of people and events and also a peppering of in-jokes. I saw a few but I wonder how many I missed! (There was a reference to the Mersey and its ferry and the ferryman was called Gerald! There was another about birdsong around Oxford which was a veiled reference to Adlestrop.)
The final report of the listener to his Chinese masters was also wryly amusing and deeply sad in equal measure.
March 27, 2022
This should have been a better book than it was. Visitors from more "sophisticated" countries visit fifteenth century England. It should have been a interesting reversal of literature where English characters find themselves surrounded by umm.. less civilised peoples. (In the authors opinions anyway). Lets be honest, England was not the powerful force it later became and was definitely not top dog on the world stage. It should have been hilarious.
But it does not quite work. The book is written as an adventure story. Which means that the only female character is not written well and functions as a kind of Bond girl (she may sleep with 90% of the named males in the cast, but I suppose it is good that she actually survives). And the plot relies on anachronisms and hints at later literature (the first line referencing Moby Dick).
I had hoped I might like this better than the first time I read it when it was first published. The only part I really remembered was the scene where Eddie March nearly gets arrested (with a reference to The Shining). I wonder if I will remember anything else in a few years time.
But it does not quite work. The book is written as an adventure story. Which means that the only female character is not written well and functions as a kind of Bond girl (she may sleep with 90% of the named males in the cast, but I suppose it is good that she actually survives). And the plot relies on anachronisms and hints at later literature (the first line referencing Moby Dick).
I had hoped I might like this better than the first time I read it when it was first published. The only part I really remembered was the scene where Eddie March nearly gets arrested (with a reference to The Shining). I wonder if I will remember anything else in a few years time.
January 18, 2022
A picaresque tale, set in the mid 1400s, of a journey from India to England by a prince & his entourage led by the main narrator, Ali. After the long arduous journey they find themselves smack in the middle the Lancaster’s and York’s War of the Roses. A cool premise, as the visitors feel they left civilization far behind and are now surrounded by barbarians. But I ended up feeling a bit let down. Perhaps it was too picaresque, rambling around quite a bit with multiple narrators. It was always minimally interesting, but never really caught fire, despite much philosophizing, fighting, and sex. One enjoyment was it obviously had a sense of humor with little jokes. It opens with “Call me Ismail, if you must, but I prefer Ali.” When they reach the river Mersey, they, of course, had to find a ferry, a la Gerry and the Pacemakers. I have a feeling I must have missed a ton more. So, glad I read it, for its unique take on England and the English (not very complimentary) and Ali’s conclusion of the journey. “Nothing is true. Everything is possible. Nothing matters.”
October 4, 2025
This didn’t work for me, though I stuck it out to the end. I felt no interest in the characters from the East and the characters from English history were wooden. There’s a lot of nature description that interrupted the narrative
June 30, 2022
A strange but enjoyable way of putting together a work of historical fiction.
Well done
Well done
March 25, 2011
The era of humanity is one that I really like to learn about so I was psyched to get to readin'. But (and did there really have to be a "but"), the setting starts out in India and doesn't make it to Europe or England until it'a about a third of the way done. I also wish that I knew more (or remembered more) about English history because there are tons of references to the royal lines from the time of the knights.
There is one completely disturbing and violent passage that doesn't occur until almost the very end of the book that I could have done without personally, but I don't know if leaving it out would have given the right understanding of the character who performed the action. It is particularly graphic and I will have a really hard time getting the images out of my head (wish I hadn't been ready for bed when I finished it).
There is one completely disturbing and violent passage that doesn't occur until almost the very end of the book that I could have done without personally, but I don't know if leaving it out would have given the right understanding of the character who performed the action. It is particularly graphic and I will have a really hard time getting the images out of my head (wish I hadn't been ready for bed when I finished it).
December 22, 2015
This was alright. Enjoyable for the most part, but not great. Definitely some humour poking fun at modern history, which was entertaining. There were a few bits about religion and philosophy that I didn't like much. It further cemented the fact that I cannot keep the different sides in the Wars of the Roses straight.
February 13, 2007
It was a fun, well-written book, but the wall between the author and the characters was awkward at times, the author was making fun of the cahracters and the customs of their times, a bit clumsly at times
September 6, 2013
I enjoyed "The Last English King" but the meandering structure of this book, while evoking the sense of disconnection and distance experienced by travellers in the medieval world, made for a limp plot with no tension and frequently breaks for historical exposition.
June 16, 2007
"The kettle began complaining."
April 23, 2008
Fantasist historical nonesense.... Rathbone can do much better.
Not a patch on the Last English King, but better than Joseph.
Not a patch on the Last English King, but better than Joseph.
Read
July 28, 2011hard going
September 4, 2012
c2000. I think that this book was just too clever for me. It is everything that the blurb promises but it just wasn't my cuppa tea.
September 19, 2013
very good read enjoyed it
June 30, 2014
Hmmmm...Not my cup of tea. I enjoyed many parts, but many other parts dragged on and on.
The author claims to have introduced the anachronisms on purpose, but I found them disconcerting.
The author claims to have introduced the anachronisms on purpose, but I found them disconcerting.
Read
May 23, 2016It's pretty much fanfiction of medieval times with a couple of original characters.
August 3, 2016
travelers from south India to great Britain in the middle ages. interesting premise, exciting, a bit overlong.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews