The Heaven Tree [Large Print] [Paperback]

Edith Pargeter (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From AudioFile

Set in twelfth-century England, this engrossing novel portrays an idealistic master mason and the magnificent church he builds. The pace is lively, and the story is well-told. The result is a busy and colorful tapestry of medieval life. Richard Mitchley's rich, pleasant voice is an ideal match for the story. Characters are brought to life by well-differentiated but subtle differences of intonation and accent. The Heaven Tree is an excellent and absorbing production and a true pleasure to listen to. J.D.P. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 623 pages
• Publisher: Thorndike Pr; Lrg edition (July 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0750500506
• ISBN-13: 978-0750500500
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,966,617 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars It is heaven, April 12, 2003

By 

James A Kenney (Oakland, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Heaven Tree (Paperback)

This is the best historical novel I have ever read. The villain, Ralf Isambard, is the most complex character in any book, and at the end, you will find yourself feeling sorry for him. Fascinating.

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "What must it be like to be a great artist?", April 23, 2000

By 

Janet B. Croft (NORMAN, OK USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Heaven Tree (Paperback)

The Heaven Tree is the first book in a trilogy; it is continued by The Green Branch and The Scarlet Seed. In these books, Pargeter not only tells a great story, but deals with the themes of the artist's place in society and the permanence of art. The quote above is from Pargeter's introduction to the 1993 edition, in which she calls this trilogy "the work that came nearest what I wanted it to be."

The Heaven Tree takes place between 1200 and 1234, in Shropshire, Wales, and Paris. The story centers on Harry Talvace, second son of a knight, who has a gift for carving stone and a strong sense of the injustice of English feudal law. Harry and his best friend Adam are falsely charged with poaching, and they escape to France, where they find work helping to build Notre Dame. Ralf Isambard, lord of Parfois on the Welsh border, offers Harry the chance to build him a cathedral. Despite the dangers of returning to Wales, Harry accepts. Isambard's mistress, Madonna Benedetta, falls in love with Harry, but he refuses her in order to marry his childhood sweetheart. The book ends with Harry's death, but Benedetta, his wife and child, and his cathedral (almost a character in its own right) live on.

A bare outline of the plot can do no justice to Pargeter's skill with character. Harry, possessed by his art; loyal Adam; haughty, honor-obsessed Isambard; and proud and passionate Benedetta are all larger-than-life, unforgettable characters; their clashes of will, honor, and love are brilliantly written, not a word in the wrong place.