Ancient & Medieval Historical Fiction discussion

Discussion thread for the May group read of The Abbots's Tale (known as Dunstan in the Commonwealth).

I'll be on this one. I have the Commonwealth 'Dunstan' edition.


I started this book a couple months back, but got distracted by life and some previous months group reads.

Looking forward to getting back to it with some others for company.

I have just picked up Dunstan from the library and will be starting it as soon as I am finished what I am currently reading :)

Feel free to comment even though you're starting it early, Jorge. :-)

Oh right, just realised. I will wait till the 1st lol. Always got plenty other things to read.

The Abbot's Tale is currently on order at my library....so I wonder how many people are on hold before it gets to me 😩

Hopefully your library has ordered more than one copy, Allie.

Their website doesn't show how many holds there are on books?

My library system is ordering 7, until they arrive, I have no idea where I am in the que.

I hope it gets here in time for the read :)

Terri wrote: "Hopefully your library has ordered more than one copy, Allie.

Their website doesn't show how many holds there are on books?"

It will if you’re in line for a book they have. Since it said they were ordering it, I didn’t bother clicking on it any further.

But maybe I should...

I've reserved it, hopefully I'll make it and read it with you all. Too many buddy reads!!!

Hope our US members do get lucky and have it in May some time. More the merrier on the group reads. :-)

The copy I got from the library keeps staring at me. . .I am going to have to start reading it. I wont say anything till into the next month, no spoilers.

Terri wrote: "Hope our US members do get lucky and have it in May some time. More the merrier on the group reads. :-)"
Keeping my fingers crossed:)

Well it is sort of a big book, Jorge. Maybe you'll still be reading it by May 1. :-)

Begun. I have the Dunstan version as well from my library.

I really like the bookcover of the American edition Abbots Tale. Inspires me to want to read it more than the Dunstan cover.


US cover

Finished Dunstan a few days ago and very much enjoyed it! Iggulden rarely disappoints.

My copy came yesterday, now to find time to read it!!

High praise here for Mr. Iggulden who has never disappointed me. I am near page 200.

I started last night. Or should I say 'restarted' as I am getting back to it after having to put it down for group reads a couple months ago.

I had read further than page 50 a couple months back, but last night I restarted at page 50 to give myself a refresh,

I can't wait to get passed the kid phase of this character. Just a little bored with the whippings and Tom Brown life. Writing is excellent though. He really is one of the best writers of hist fic nowadays.
There was a lot of promise in the Ghengis series, but he has come along niucely since then.

Passed the kid at the abbey section now, thank goodness.

I enjoyed his description of Aethlstan and his royal court.

Just started this and I'm loving Dunstan's acerbic commentary.

I finished Dunstan last month, and have to say Conn Iggulden has written another stunningly good book. When it started I was not sure about his reliance upon the narrative method of using Dunstan to relate the story, but as I warmed to the character so I found myself able to follow easily through the history of Medieval Britain through all the various intrigues and battles of the time. And what I found so astonishing was the length of time this one man lived and how influence he could wield in an age where few people could read or write and communication was so ponderous.

Another good Iggulden novel.

I was the same in the beginning, Peter. I was unsure of the narrative style chosen. It has now grown on me and I am truly loving it.

I am enjoying the book more than any book I have read of his. I haven't yet read his War of the Roses series though. So I can't compare those books to this one. I can only compare the Ghengis books and the first in his Rome series.

Page 200. So good. So well written.

It came in today, so as soon as I finish my current read I will start. I will actually read a monthly read in the correct month :)

Haha! Terrific! Great to have you along, mate.

Ugh. I don’t think my library even has a copy yet. And I’m second in line. Bah!

Still 3 weeks for them to get their act together. :) Be nice if you get it in time to read it with us.

Interesting little device the author has used. Young Dunstan doesn't mind women at all. But old Dunstan in his narration often says very offensive things about women. ie (this is not word for word, just pulled from my memory) something about.. men have pee pots in the hall and women having to endure no pee pots, probably so they can complain about it later.

Young Dunstan isn't yet bitter and twisted about women yet. I guess Dunstan's reasons for loathing women will be revealed slowly through the book.

I've started - about 50 pages in and I'm liking it - even as a young teenager he's an arrogant SOB isn't he.

He sure is. In my opinion he becomes less so, but still arrogant.

A couple A&M members said in their review that they didn't like him. I don't share this sentiment. I don't exactly like him either, but I'm not finding him intolerable yet.
He was as a teen. Especially with the way he treated his poor little brother Wulfric. I think he improved though.

I started the book last night, I am about 150 pages into it. Dunstan is very complex character. He does not like his brother yet he spends much time carrying for him. I do find the beatings form the monks a bit tedious. . Enjoying it so far

I agree he's an arrogant SOB but I didn't dislike him exactly either. He spoke much truth about his own 'unchristianness' , even if he would never admit to being unchristain. It felt like a way for Iggulden to send two messages: one of Dunstan thinking himself perfectly Christian but in the same breath communicating to the reader how evil he was. Dunstan's comments justifying his actions illustrate his misguidedness in a single breath. And it's done in a quite humorous way I thought, had me chuckling out loud a few times...

So I finished it this morning. Very interesting picture of history. I like how Dunstan was written. My only thought is this book may be been better if broken into two books, and been able to over more history under each King. At points I felt we were jumping from one king to the next and description of how Dunstan served them. Good overall

I'm up to page 360.
A few parts have dragged a bit in the second half of the book. I'm still thinking 5 stars though.

I'm reading it Kindle style, so no page numbers but 42% of the way through. Dunstan has just been appointed abbot at age 18yrs - seems awfully young. Our hero is a complex and somewhat contradictory figure, with a lustful and violent side which doesn't seem to fit in with a devout spiritual life - is that real or simply a way to a means? I'm no historian so I can't debate the facts, I'm sure the author has focused on historic accuracy. It does seem like it's a life worthy of a novel and I'm keen to read on. 4 starts for me so far.

4.5* for me, but I'm rounding up. I liked the complexity of the flawed person that was Dunstan and I liked learning about all the kings, filling a gap in my historical knowledge. Although I did want to smack Dunstan when he insulted and complained about women!

Ah. Someone else noticed Dunstan frequently reviling women. He certainly didn't think much of them.

Sort of a spoiler below. Not a big one at all though and won't ruin any storylines for readers.

*****************

Perhaps too much time was spent on minting.. it was an info dump at times. A lesson in minting and metals that I'm not sure I needed from a fiction.

************end spoiler***********

I probably would also give it 4.5 stars if we had half stars. Rounding up to 5.
I'm rounding up and not down because of my general happiness to keep picking the book up despite the info dumps mentioned above.
I am always left feeling happy with a book when I don't HAVE to make myself pick it up and read.

Andrew wrote: "I'm reading it Kindle style, so no page numbers but 42% of the way through. Dunstan has just been appointed abbot at age 18yrs - seems awfully young. Our hero is a complex and somewhat contradictor..."

I think Christianity has a long history with contradictory behaviour. Some (less controversial) examples the Inquisition, cruel punishment of children under their care in places like schools.
I personally believe Dunstan was presented as one of these types. An angry and controlling man who used God to build his career.

Andrew wrote: "I'm reading it Kindle style, so no page numbers but 42% of the way through. Dunstan has just been appointed abbot at age 18yrs - seems awfully young. Our hero is a complex and somewhat contradictor..."

Make that 1 start, 4 stars

I'm at page 171 and Dunstan has just managed to get to Winchester and making some serious contacts and is in the throws of a teenage love affair.

He surely is a flawed man/teenager

That teen love affair didn't turn out as expected. Lol.

I cannot get the book out of my head. Dunstan is such a rascal. Sometimes he walks with the beat if it benefits him. He reminds me of Bernard Cornwall's Uhtred.

I think the movie HUD is where the mc has absolutely no redeeming characteristic, but he is a mesmerizing man who is trusted in certain situations by the other characters. Dunstan was like that. He had the appearance of better angels, but a heart that cared very little about those angels who often took flight away from him. Probably the reason I liked him so much. I repented of my sins regularly while reading this book. No doubt about the author's expertise.

I am realising as I come to the end of the book, that his devotion and, in fact, practice of christianity, is missing from the book in a big way.
His christian reactions to some events didn't seem to jive with a character that barely seemed to worship, observed no signs of the rigorous prayer sessions of those days where every other day was called a Saint whomever day, and did not really speak of any great love of God.

He nearly ruined his career with his reaction to certain sinning (no spoiler here). And I was surprised that Dunstan would even care about that sinning.

I finished it today - 4.25 stars

To say that Mr. Iggulden's Dunstan is a complex man is an understatement. He really didn't let anyone or anything get in the way in fulfilling his ambitions did he? I liked the way 10th Century English politics is portrayed.

I too have started to think of moving back to 4 stars even though I felt it 5 for most of the book. I just haven't been as wowwed by it in the last 100 pages and there is that thing mentioned above about Dunstan and the lack of any signs of strong Faith.

Unfortunately for me anyway this group tends to pick books that are really popular at my library and often by the time I get the book the discussion is over.

I finally got my copy of this book. I have not gotten that far yet but wanted to say though I am joining late I am reading the book and will discuss as I progress.

Thus far I am quite enjoying it. I do really like the writing and I am currious to see how the character of Dunstan develops. Thus far I have mixed feelings about him. He is amusing at times and i triguing though not particularly likeable yet I can at times understand his point and relate to where he is coming from.