Blanket Of The Dark [Paperback]

John Buchan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 2, 2009

The period is the Pilgrimage of Grace. In the country west of Oxford, nobles, clergy and laity await the success of the risings in Lincolnshire and Yorkshire to overthrow Henry VIII and Cromwell. Peter Pentecost is the man they plan to put on the English throne. Although a monk by training, he is the legitimate child of the Duke of Buckingham and the last of the Bohuns. His bid to be crowned and his duel with Henry VIII make for an exciting adventure.

Editorial Reviews

Review

It is 1536, and the Reformation has yet to disrupt the life of the great medieval Abbey of Oseney near Oxford, where a young man known as Peter Pentecost is completing his education. But Peter's life is about to be changed forever when he uncovers the astonishing secret of his true identity, a secret that has been kept from him all his life: that he is the son and heir of Edward, Duke of Buckingham, and by rights he, not Henry Tudor, should be King of England. His anonymous life at Oseney has been carefully arranged to keep him from harm--until the day arrives when those who have been watching over him are ready to challenge Henry VIII.

From the moment Peter discovers the truth, he descends into a dangerous world of conspiracy and treason, as powerful men seek to persuade him to leave behind the security and tranquility of his life at Oseney and risk everything in a rebellion that could put him on the throne of England.

source: www.fantasticfiction.co.uk

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

About the Author

John Buchan, Baron Tweedsmuir, was a Scottish diplomat, barrister, journalist, historian, poet and novelist. He wrote adventure novels, short-story collections and biographies. His passion for the Scottish countryside is reflected in much of his writing. Buchan's adventure stories are high in romance and are peopled by a large cast of characters. 'Richard Hannay', 'Dickson McCunn' and 'Sir Edward Leithen' are three that reappear several times. Alfred Hitchcock adapted his most famous book 'The Thirty-Nine Steps', featuring Hannay, for the big screen. Born in 1875 in Perth, Buchan was the son of a minister. Childhood holidays were spent in the Borders, for which he had a great love. He was educated at Glasgow University and Brasenose College, Oxford, where he was President of the Union. Called to the Bar in 1901, he became Lord Milner's assistant private secretary in South Africa. By 1907, however, he was working as a publisher with Nelson's. During the First World War Buchan was a correspondent at the Front for 'The Times', as well as being an officer in the Intelligence Corps and advisor to the War Cabinet. Elected as a Conservative Member of Parliament for one of the Scottish Universities' seats in 1927, he was created Baron Tweedsmuir in 1935. From then until his death in 1940 he served as Governor General of Canada, during which time he neverthelss managed to continue writing.

Product Details

• Paperback: 292 pages
• Publisher: House of Stratus (January 2, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 075511695X
• ISBN-13: 978-0755116959
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,759,823 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good read, January 4, 2006

By 

beccarain (Mesa, AZ United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Blanket Of The Dark (Hardcover)

This was an enjoyable read for anyone who appreciates the older style of true English writing. The story is about Peter's adventures throughout the old English countryside; the writer does an excellent job of helping the reader envision the scenes as they unfold.

Contra to what the previous reviewer wrote, is not about Peter the Farmer -- Peter was never a farmer; he was a clerk (student).

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A tricky moment in English history, wound into a great story, June 26, 2010

By 

Tom Hughes (New York City) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Blanket Of The Dark (Paperback)

Henry VIII gets a lot of attention in popular culture (all those wives) and this obscures just what an interesting time he lived in. Most historical novels of Henry VIII's time, not to mention the movies and the TV shows, pander to the wives and the whoopee. Buchan's story goes in a completely different direction: no wives, no beheadings, but a rich and fast-moving story of life and politics in Tudor England.

Underneath the story is a whole supporting structure of history: but (and this is part of what makes the book so good, and reflects Buchan's skill so clearly) you don't need to know any of that to enjoy the book fully.

The book isn't perfect: like other Buchan books I've read, he isn't afraid of setting a story in motion with a wildly implausible premise or motivation (see the The Four Adventures of Richard Hannay: The Thirty-Nine Steps/Greenmantle/Mr. Standfast/the Three Hostages, or The Island of Sheep); this is no different. This isn't Patrick O'Brian, who always grounds his books in entirely-credible situations and characters; his improbabilities (like a sloop capturing a line-of-battle warship in Master and Commander) are worked up to, and only seem incredible until you remember that they actually happened. If you can't get over that it might limit your enjoyment of The Blanket of The Dark. But you should get over it, because the rewards are so great.

0 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars The Terrors of Farming, June 15, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: The Blanket of the Dark (Paperback)

This was a dull book. It told the story of Peter and his farming life. I felt that it was boring, and it did not hold my attention. It was hard to finish one page, let alone the entire book!