The Forest
NATIONAL BESTSELLER • “Rutherford brings England’s New Forest to life” (The Seattle Times) in this companion to the critically acclaimed Sarum
From the time of the Norman Conquest to the present day, the New Forest, along England’s southern coast, has remained an almost mythical place. It is here that Saxon and Norman kings rode forth with their hunting parties, and where William the Conqueror’s son Rufus was mysteriously killed. The mighty oaks of the forest were used to build the ships for Admiral Nelson’s navy, and the fishermen who lived in Christchurch and Lymington helped Sir Francis Drake fight off the Spanish Armada.
The New Forest is the perfect backdrop for the families who people this epic story. The feuds, wars, loyalties, and passions of many hundreds of years reach their climax in a crime that shatters the decorous society of Bath in the days of Jane Austen, whose family lived on the edge of the Forest.
Edward Rutherfurd is a master storyteller whose sense of place and character—both fictional and historical—is at its most vibrant in The Forest.
“As entertaining as Sarum and Rutherford’s other sweeping novel of British history, London.”—The Boston Globe
From the time of the Norman Conquest to the present day, the New Forest, along England’s southern coast, has remained an almost mythical place. It is here that Saxon and Norman kings rode forth with their hunting parties, and where William the Conqueror’s son Rufus was mysteriously killed. The mighty oaks of the forest were used to build the ships for Admiral Nelson’s navy, and the fishermen who lived in Christchurch and Lymington helped Sir Francis Drake fight off the Spanish Armada.
The New Forest is the perfect backdrop for the families who people this epic story. The feuds, wars, loyalties, and passions of many hundreds of years reach their climax in a crime that shatters the decorous society of Bath in the days of Jane Austen, whose family lived on the edge of the Forest.
Edward Rutherfurd is a master storyteller whose sense of place and character—both fictional and historical—is at its most vibrant in The Forest.
“As entertaining as Sarum and Rutherford’s other sweeping novel of British history, London.”—The Boston Globe
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Community Reviews
I started reading this saga because I had read another one of Rutherford's books, China, and loved it. This one is only mediocre. I see each chapter as a short story since there are 100-200 year gaps between each tale.
1099 In the first chapter, taking place shortly after the Norman conquest, Adela is a Norman woman living with her cousin, Walter, and looking to find a spouse. She is of noble birth and is looking for someone of her station. She is courted by Edgar, son of a Cola, the forestman, but he is a Saxon. She is drawn to the good looking Hugh Martell, but he is married. The current king is Rufus, and there is a plot to kill him. After he is shot in a hunting expedition, Walter is set up to take the blame and eventually escapes to Normandy. There is an interesting description of the way the deer are funneled into a trap to be killed (hardly seems sporting).
1294. The chapter about the Cistercian monks was not very compelling. I didn't learn much about medieval life that I didn't already know. The monks are wealthy in land and run an 8000 acre estate. There is a sexual relationship that develops between one of the monks and a woman of the forest and a runaway monk who thinks he murdered one of his superiors and runs away.
1480. There is a chapter that takes place in the 15oos that details the class differences in one of the harbor towns. There is a challenge between a merchant and seaman to see whose boat will be the fastest. They have to fully load with supplies and travel to the Isle of Wight, unload their cargo, and return. When a storm hits, the seaman opts to stop and try to look for survivors of a distressed Spanish galleon. This chapter emphasizes the class differences between the Totters (merchant class) and the Seagulls (harbor life).
1587. Clement Albion is a prominent businessman who is the stewart of the forest and makes money from his salary and selling the bark of the fallen trees (used in leathermaking). England has returned to Protestant rule. Clement's mother, is a Catholic, and is hoping that the British Catholics will support the Spaniards who are posed to attack. Catholic Mary, Queen of Scots, has been executed and it is now the reign of Good Queen Bess. There's a little soap opera here between some of the characters. Jane Furzey, 16, is engaged to marry respectable, Nick Pride, 18, but falls in love with a Puckle man (a lower class man of the Forest) who had recently lost his wife. Jane is impressed with the fancy wood carved bed that he has. Puckle's wife had once bragged about his manliness.
I had heard a lot about the defeat of the Spanish Armada, but this book puts it in a different perspective. We learn about how unprepared the British were and how easily they could have been defeated by the Spanish if the Spanish had chosen to land and fight. But the Spanish wanted first to connect with the Dutch, and when this didn't pan out, they were defeated by the wind conditions. At the time, the Spanish were running low on supplies and ill-prepared to continue.
There's just not a lot of energy in this book. No UMPH! The characters are rather flat and not particularly compelling. Since the characters change from chapter to chapter (except to refer occasionally that someone is a descendant of a previously mentioned character), it is really like reading a sequence of short stories. There are just too many characters to follow and as they intermarry, things become complicated.
Rutherland does interject some history and explain what happened in the intervening years between the chapters, giving us an overview of British history. As I mentioned, there is some interesting things about the
1588-1635. King James of Scotland (Stuart king), son of Mary, is known for his lavish feasts, religious tolerance and his penchant for young boys. However, he is succeeded by James' son, Charles, who is inflexible. He clashes with Parliament and rules without them.
The Albion family control the estates of Stephen Pride and Gabriel Furzey. Alice Albion, daughter of William Albion, is the granddaughter of Clement Albion. She marries John Lisle, a prominent lawyer who becomes a prominent member of the Parliament. The Civil War erupts and Oliver Cromwell and the Roundheads take over the government. The true story of Alice Lisle is a sad one indeed. Her husband is one who voted in favor of regicide, and later when the tables are turned and the monarchy is restored, he is forced into exile. His wife is later arrested and executed for treason.
1794. The American and French Revolutions are over, but some French stay in England for their own safety. This was my favorite chapter - it was more of a love story. Fanny Albion falls in loves with Mr. Martell, but becomes dismayed to learn that he is related to the Penruddocks, the family responsible for the death of her ancestor, Alice Lisle. It seems like a tale out of Pride and Prejudice, with a love-hate relationship between Fanny and Mr. Martell. There is also a bit of humor here as Mrs. Grockleton, the wife of the man who collects all the duties and looks for smuggler's, strives to make Lymington a first class city to rival Bath. She sets up fancy balls and hopes to be accepted by the upper crust families. Things do not go well for the Grockleton's as the husband is thwarted again and again by the smugglers. This chapter could have made a very good stand alone book.
1868. There are change to the governing of the Forest. The deer are removed and the new forest act is passed. Col. Godwin Albion controls Beaulieu estate and is a respected landowner. However, his daughter, Beatrice has a relationship with Minimus Furzey, a ne'er do well, who lives as an artist. There is conflict between the forest people who resent the enclosures made by the rich land owners. George Pride is offered the job as Office of the Woods, but takes a job as a Agister, in charge of stocks. George sends his daughter, Dorothy to help out with the family of Beatrice and Minimus Furzey, but she runs away from home after being inpregnated by Furszey.
1925 and 2000. These chapters bring us to the present day. Dottie Pride, a journalist, discovers she is descended from Dorothy Pride, who ran away from home to life in London. Ironically, her boss is named Grockleton.
1099 In the first chapter, taking place shortly after the Norman conquest, Adela is a Norman woman living with her cousin, Walter, and looking to find a spouse. She is of noble birth and is looking for someone of her station. She is courted by Edgar, son of a Cola, the forestman, but he is a Saxon. She is drawn to the good looking Hugh Martell, but he is married. The current king is Rufus, and there is a plot to kill him. After he is shot in a hunting expedition, Walter is set up to take the blame and eventually escapes to Normandy. There is an interesting description of the way the deer are funneled into a trap to be killed (hardly seems sporting).
1294. The chapter about the Cistercian monks was not very compelling. I didn't learn much about medieval life that I didn't already know. The monks are wealthy in land and run an 8000 acre estate. There is a sexual relationship that develops between one of the monks and a woman of the forest and a runaway monk who thinks he murdered one of his superiors and runs away.
1480. There is a chapter that takes place in the 15oos that details the class differences in one of the harbor towns. There is a challenge between a merchant and seaman to see whose boat will be the fastest. They have to fully load with supplies and travel to the Isle of Wight, unload their cargo, and return. When a storm hits, the seaman opts to stop and try to look for survivors of a distressed Spanish galleon. This chapter emphasizes the class differences between the Totters (merchant class) and the Seagulls (harbor life).
1587. Clement Albion is a prominent businessman who is the stewart of the forest and makes money from his salary and selling the bark of the fallen trees (used in leathermaking). England has returned to Protestant rule. Clement's mother, is a Catholic, and is hoping that the British Catholics will support the Spaniards who are posed to attack. Catholic Mary, Queen of Scots, has been executed and it is now the reign of Good Queen Bess. There's a little soap opera here between some of the characters. Jane Furzey, 16, is engaged to marry respectable, Nick Pride, 18, but falls in love with a Puckle man (a lower class man of the Forest) who had recently lost his wife. Jane is impressed with the fancy wood carved bed that he has. Puckle's wife had once bragged about his manliness.
I had heard a lot about the defeat of the Spanish Armada, but this book puts it in a different perspective. We learn about how unprepared the British were and how easily they could have been defeated by the Spanish if the Spanish had chosen to land and fight. But the Spanish wanted first to connect with the Dutch, and when this didn't pan out, they were defeated by the wind conditions. At the time, the Spanish were running low on supplies and ill-prepared to continue.
There's just not a lot of energy in this book. No UMPH! The characters are rather flat and not particularly compelling. Since the characters change from chapter to chapter (except to refer occasionally that someone is a descendant of a previously mentioned character), it is really like reading a sequence of short stories. There are just too many characters to follow and as they intermarry, things become complicated.
Rutherland does interject some history and explain what happened in the intervening years between the chapters, giving us an overview of British history. As I mentioned, there is some interesting things about the
1588-1635. King James of Scotland (Stuart king), son of Mary, is known for his lavish feasts, religious tolerance and his penchant for young boys. However, he is succeeded by James' son, Charles, who is inflexible. He clashes with Parliament and rules without them.
The Albion family control the estates of Stephen Pride and Gabriel Furzey. Alice Albion, daughter of William Albion, is the granddaughter of Clement Albion. She marries John Lisle, a prominent lawyer who becomes a prominent member of the Parliament. The Civil War erupts and Oliver Cromwell and the Roundheads take over the government. The true story of Alice Lisle is a sad one indeed. Her husband is one who voted in favor of regicide, and later when the tables are turned and the monarchy is restored, he is forced into exile. His wife is later arrested and executed for treason.
1794. The American and French Revolutions are over, but some French stay in England for their own safety. This was my favorite chapter - it was more of a love story. Fanny Albion falls in loves with Mr. Martell, but becomes dismayed to learn that he is related to the Penruddocks, the family responsible for the death of her ancestor, Alice Lisle. It seems like a tale out of Pride and Prejudice, with a love-hate relationship between Fanny and Mr. Martell. There is also a bit of humor here as Mrs. Grockleton, the wife of the man who collects all the duties and looks for smuggler's, strives to make Lymington a first class city to rival Bath. She sets up fancy balls and hopes to be accepted by the upper crust families. Things do not go well for the Grockleton's as the husband is thwarted again and again by the smugglers. This chapter could have made a very good stand alone book.
1868. There are change to the governing of the Forest. The deer are removed and the new forest act is passed. Col. Godwin Albion controls Beaulieu estate and is a respected landowner. However, his daughter, Beatrice has a relationship with Minimus Furzey, a ne'er do well, who lives as an artist. There is conflict between the forest people who resent the enclosures made by the rich land owners. George Pride is offered the job as Office of the Woods, but takes a job as a Agister, in charge of stocks. George sends his daughter, Dorothy to help out with the family of Beatrice and Minimus Furzey, but she runs away from home after being inpregnated by Furszey.
1925 and 2000. These chapters bring us to the present day. Dottie Pride, a journalist, discovers she is descended from Dorothy Pride, who ran away from home to life in London. Ironically, her boss is named Grockleton.
Underwhelming
With every other Rutherford novel I’ve read, I’ve scarcely been able to put them down. I was always entranced at how deftly he wove the threads of the different families through the ages. Not so with The Forest. The connections between the families and generations seemed somehow “clunkier” than the others I’ve read, especially when compared with Sarum. I felt the constant reminders of physical similarities between generations were very heavy-handed, practically beating me over the head.
It was a good read, but not a great one, hence the three stars. I definitely want to learn more about the New Forest, though, as the overall portrait of the forest itself is quite interesting!
With every other Rutherford novel I’ve read, I’ve scarcely been able to put them down. I was always entranced at how deftly he wove the threads of the different families through the ages. Not so with The Forest. The connections between the families and generations seemed somehow “clunkier” than the others I’ve read, especially when compared with Sarum. I felt the constant reminders of physical similarities between generations were very heavy-handed, practically beating me over the head.
It was a good read, but not a great one, hence the three stars. I definitely want to learn more about the New Forest, though, as the overall portrait of the forest itself is quite interesting!
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