Gallowglass [Hardcover]

Barbara Vine (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 7, 1990

When Sandor snatched little Joe from the path of a London Tube train, he was quick to make clear the terms of the rescue. 'I saved your life,' he told the homeless youngster, 'so your life belongs to me now'. Sandor began to tell him a fairy-tale: an ageing prince, a kidnapped princess chained by one ankle, a missed rendezvous. But what did this mysterious story have to do with Sandor's preparations? Joe had only understood his own role: he was a gallowglass, the servant of a Chief...' On one level this is a novel about kidnapping. On another its concerns are obsession, the destructive nature of romantic illusions, and love. As Ms Vine unfolds it nothing is quite what it seems' - "Guardian".

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

In ancient times, a gallowglass was the servant of a Celtic chieftain; in Vine's novel, it is Joe Herbert, a young drifter, recently released from a mental institution, who is mesmerized by Sandor Wincanton, an educated, handsome, but mysterious "swell" who wants Joe's help for a kidnapping. The intended victim is former model Nina Apsoland, the "princess" whom Sandor helped kidnap five years ago when she was married to an Italian prince, but whom Sandor freed after he fell in love with her. Now, Nina is guarded well--her current husband is an expert in security and he has hired the massive ex-teacher Paul Garnet as a combination driver and bodyguard. Written by a master in psychological suspense (Vine also writes as Ruth Rendell), this is a gripping tale. The spellbinding first-person narrative will carry readers briskly into the heart of the story, and while the ending is a bit of a shocker, teens who want more meat in their suspense will be well served by Vine. --Diana C. Hirsch, Prince George's County Memorial Library System, MD
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

In the middle ages a gallowglass was the personal guard of the Celtic chief: the food taster, the right hand man, the expendable one who would die for his leader. Ruth Rendell, writing as Barbara Vine for the fourth time, here presents a tale of kidnapping, obsession, and loyalty told by two men thrust into the part of modern gallowglass. The Princess, a former fashion model with a penchant for marrying older, rich men, is the target once again of the man who had been her jailer five years before when she was held for ransom in Italy. She is protected by Paul Garnet, a failure as husband and teacher, now trying to be a good father to his seven-year-old daughter. The author plays cat and mouse with the reader as Garnet and Little Joe, the second gallowglass, reveal the motivations and weaknesses of her characters. A true master of psychological suspense, Rendell/Vine is in top form here as tension builds to a totally shocking climax. Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 12/89.
- Jo Ann Vicarel, Cleveland Heights-University Heights P.L., Ohio
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Harmony Books; 1st edition (April 7, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0517577445
• ISBN-13: 978-0517577448
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 8.9 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,271,932 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sexual and psychological intrigue from the mystery master, May 15, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Gallowglass (Hardcover)

Ruth Rendell has been widely praised for her mystery novels and their depictions of psychological turmoil. When Rendell wrote under the pseudonym of Barbara Vine, she created a fascinating line of suspense novels which is best exemplified by "Gallowglass". Gallowglass is a loyal Scottish servant who is willing to die and protect his lord. In the open pages, we meet Joe who has been recently released from the mental hospital. He wanders in the subway and on an impulse attempts to jump into the tracks of the incoming train. He was saved by Sandor who turns Joe into his gallowglass and accomplice to kidnap the rich and beautiful Nina Abbot. It seems that Sandor has already kidnapped Nina before when she was the wife of an Italian prince and has fallen in love with her during her captivity. Nina meanwhile has fallen in love with Paul, her bodyguard and gallowglass. The tension builds as the kidnappers come closer to their goals and with the addition of Joe's sister who is infatuated with Sandor. The climax is unpredictable as well as the brilliant anti-climax which leaves the readers in a dazed and feverish state of agitation. For mystery lovers, this is a must read and for those who yearn for good fiction, this is for you

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A psycholgical thriller about different kinds of love., March 31, 2005

By 

S. Schwartz "romonko" (alberta canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Gallowglass (Hardcover)

This book is a thriller that covers a large number of different kinds of love, and each kind is wonderfully described by Ms, Rendall's magic pen. There is the love between a man and a woman, the love between a man and his daughter, the love between a mother and her son, the love between two men, and last the obsessive love between a man and his ideal of a woman. Each of these types of love is shown to be almost pathological except the love between a man and his daughter. That is the love that endures, and the love that we are left with at the end of the novel. All the other kinds burn very hot and then fizzle out. Again, Ms. Rendall, writing as Ms Barbara Vine effortlessly enters into the criminal and patholobgical mind, and she brings us along for the ride. This is a very deep book, and on first read, it doesn't appear that way, but as you think about it afterwards you realize that there are many nuances hidden within the story. Take the time to read the story and you won't be disappointed.

5.0 out of 5 stars One of Barbara Vine's finest, April 3, 2008

By 

C. S. Junker "soul_survivor" (Burien, WA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gallowglass (Onyx) (Paperback)

The hallmark of truly great fiction --- as opposed to merely good fiction --- is that you find yourself thinking about the characters as if they were real people. I've just finished reading GALLOWGLASS for the second time, and I feel as if I know the characters.

As in A FATAL INVERSION, many of the major characters are not particularly sympathetic people. GALLOWGLASS, however, presents Vine's typically obsessed and morally compromised people in a that allows you to identify with them --- up to a point.

Little Joe is an orphan, clinically depressed, who is rescued from suicide by a young man who calls himself Sandor. Little Joe, who has known almost no affection in his life, becomes Sandor's devoted servant, his Gallowglass.

Sandor has a love of his own, a former fashion model, whom he calls the Princess, now married to her third wealthy husband, and he enlists Little Joe in a mad scheme to kidnap her.

This is a brilliant study of obsession --- both the doglike, unconditional devotion of Little Joe for the mad Sandor, and the childish, possessive, utterly self-centered fixation of Sandor for the Princess.

GALLOWGLASS also tells the story of Paul Garnet, the Princess's bodyguard, whose relationship with her becomes more complex. These characters are more clearly sympathetic and balance the brutish self-centeredness of Sandor and his quest to possess the Princess.

As is usually the case with Barbara Vine, the novel is almost impossible to put down. The characters are utterly lifelike and the narrative moves like a bullet train.

Highly recommended for fans of Ruth Rendell/Barbara Vine. Also recommended is the TV adaptation, although this is available on DVD only in Region 2 (Europe) format. It's not hard to find a used copy of the VHS tape, however.