Customer Reviews

Below the Salt

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

My father left me this book when he passed away. Had I known my father had such good taste in books I would have asked what else he liked to read! I must admit, I read it more out of obligation than desire (my preferred genre is Fantasy) but boy-oh-boy was I in for a surprise. This has to be one of the best novels I've ever read. I'm not much of a history buff so this was my first novel set in an historical setting. The characters were superbly developed. I am sure I would know Richard, Tostig and Eleanor if I saw them walking down the street - as a matter of fact, I'd probably propose to Eleanor on the spot. On the historical side it was invigorating to have an entirely believable setting for the novel. The author clearly has masterful control over a wealth of knowledge concerning life in the Middle Ages. Mr. Costain not only writes authoritatively, but he almost brings you to the point of letting you `live' in Ireland / England during that period of time -- from a humble peasant's hovel to a King's castle, you'll know what life was all about. And the ending of the book has a unique twist to it that caught me totally off guard. I loved everything about this book save this single item: I finished it too fast. My recommendation is for a full five stars ... I'd prefer giving this book six stars if possible. Read it, you won't regret it.

I first came across this book on my mother's bookshelf when I was about 12 years old. An inveterate bookworm, I started reading, and could not stop. I have read this book many times over the ensuing 27 years, most recently two weeks ago. The story is still riveting, and parts of it can still move me to tears. As a result of reading this book, I actually went to the field of Runnymede when I was a student in England in 1981. The bus driver was sure that, as an American, I'd be wanting the JFK memorial just over the hill, but I assured him that I was bound for Runnymede. It it lovely and empty and still, except for a small stone monument, erected by the American Bar Association, celebrating the Magna Carta as the beginning of real freedom for all men under law. Had I not read this book, I might never have made the effort to visit.

I enjoyed the characters immensely and, while I have over time read other books just as compelling, and with perhaps grittier writing, I still come back to this lovely, familiar tale for inspiration. Two weeks ago I reached for it because I was preparing a presentation (for a graduate class) about Eleanor of Aquitaine, and reading about her life stirred memories of this book.

If you can find it, read it!

England's King Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine had many children, the most famous of whom were Richard the Lionheart and John "Lackland". Another son, Geoffrey, died before his parents, but left 2 children: Arthur and Eleanor. And thereby hangs this tale.
The historical record relates that after the death of Richard Lionheart, the evil John usurped the throne that should have gone to his older brother Geoffrey's son Arthur, and that to solidfy his claim, he murdered Arthur and swept Eleanor into a convent, where she was never to be seen or heard from again.
In this wonderful, imaginative book, the author keeps to most of the historical record, but asserts that after the death of her brother, Arthur, Eleanor was spirited away to safety by William the Marshal.
The story starts in the present day, and details the efforts of a descendent of Marshal to find the lineal descendent of Eleanor, who would be the de jure Queen of England. The story weaves back and forth between the present day and 13th century England, and is absolutely riveting.
If you like English history, and especially if you like what-if situations, this is a great book.

One of the premier writers of the late 1940s, 1950s, into the 1960s with one of his last books being "The Last Love" a novel concerning Napoleon, Mr. Thomas B. Costain had an almost unparalleled series of successful books. Some fiction and some not, this book "Below The Salt" is fiction yet with admixture of much fact, and it sits on my shelf along side the boxed 4 volume set of the Plantagenets: The Conquering Family, The Magnificent Century, The Three Edwards, and The Last Plantagenets. I know of no one outside academia to have written as much on Henry II, Eleanor of Aquitaine, Richard Couer de Lion, King John, William Marshal, and others of their time.

But to this book, BELOW THE SALT, Mr. Costain uses the royal family of England and Normandy (Angevin England 1154-1258), the Plantagenets, as a prism through which to focus on the Magna Charta, A.D. 1215, and the rights of the common man as required due to the acts of King John, nicknamed either 'Lackland' or 'Softsword'. Or as the dust jacket states the Magna Charta "thus contributed so much to the liberties of future generations". A recent book by Frank McLynn, "Richard and John, Kings At War" will round out any reader's interest past Below The Salt.

As I believe one reviewer correctly states, Below The Salt may seem a bit slow at start, but once Book Two begins the reader is thrown backward 700 years to views from both the Norman and Saxon, with much information concerning those 'below the salt', that is, those not of landed, noble position and wealth whose place at table was always 'below the salt' with the dregs and dogs of that age's time.

An attempt of an aging Senator from the U.S. intertwined with ruined castles of Ireland combined with events post 1066 Norman conquered England, makes Below The Salt a well written, dashing, exciting story. One that builds eventually leading to the large, open field of Runnymede close by the Thames.

Growing up in the 1950s, all of Thomas B. Costain's books were commonplace on most home bookshelves, helped along by either the BOMC and its wide distribution capability, or the new, inexpensive, mass market paperback explosion taking place after WWII. Anyone of my age (64) will remember all that as fact, and as other reviewers here have stated, the books valued by their parents have now come down to them. I would posit that a person would need some reason to read this book today, afterall the book is 50+ years in age, and there exits little publicity or promotion for it. Even in college world history courses I heard no mention of either Costain or his works, for I fear they were little valued, even much looked down upon.

Yet Mr. Thomas B. Costain's books are more than worth the read today, and should you be one of the fortunate few to discover his work, you will be rewarded both with a venture of entertainment and history. Thomas B. Costain left us a veritable wealth of literature that offers reading pleasure of not the so-called "dark ages", but of the truly bright ages of Medieval time, A.D. 300 to 1300.

Semper Fi.

I picked this book out of the local library at random because it looked like an interesting story of reincarnation and past lives. But soon I was engrossed in the story of the Magna Carta, and events that led up to its signing.

Coupled with a tales of lost princesses, prison escapes, tournament jousting, and the details of life in that time, the story brings to life people who really existed in that time along with the friendship and adventures of two men who pull the story together. This book blew me away!

I agree with the other reviewers, but I would caution that this one has a slow start. Stick with it, and you will be amply rewarded. I gobbled up every Costain book I could find as a teen-ager, yet this one has sat unread on my shelves for 20 years until I recently pulled it out. I was glad of the slow start because I am a compulsive reader when I get into a book, and I didn't have the time. Yet once I got into the main story at the beach, I was totally hooked once again. The book is timeless and a treasure.

This is a book that deals effectively with re-incarnation involving the Plantagenets of England. The Knowledge he has and the nomenclature is astounding. There are terms that haven't been used in a thousand years. I had read it in the '70's but had to re-visit it because of a recent trip to England ( Nottingham and Southwell) The Minster cathedral there is 900 years old this year and I could feel the History. All of the Plantagenets had been there and Cardinal Wolsey ( I sat in his jump seat)- Amazing. I would heartily recommend this book for anyone interested in reincarnation or 12th century English History.

I read this book a long time ago, but felt I should review since I've just begun another Costain book. He is a wonderful author. His characters are alive and he really shows what life was like back in these Dark Ages. I recommend this book to friends that I know love to read, and it has caused more than one sleepless night while they try to finish the book. Begin your journey today, and try to find this book if you can. Try the local library.

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: The Unsung Story of the Queen's Champion and The Scarlet Lion. 4/5 stars.

I bought a copy of this book at a used book sale over 20 years ago, and still have it. It's a piece of living fiction...it's a brave book for its time, talking of past lives and being fully believable at the same time. If you can find it, READ THIS BOOK!!