Lute Player [Paperback]

Norah Lofts (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 5, 2007

Out of the courts of twelfth-century England strode the legendary figure of Richard of England - leading his knights onto the Saracen battlefields - inspired by a vision of the Holy Land.Here is the story of the Soldier-King and the Third Crusade - of his strange, ill-fated union with Berengaria, Princess of Navarre - of his mother, the She-Wolf, Eleanor of Aquitaine who loved her son with a frantic, possessive pride. And, above all, here is the story of the minstrel whose life was linked with that of the King - the story of Blondel - the Lute Player...It follows the success of "The Concubine", "The King's Pleasure", and "Eleanor the Queen" published by Torque in September 2006, each has sold over 10,000 copies. Norah Lofts was a bestselling author. It has reviews also in women's weekly and monthly magazines, to include "Vogue", "Red", "The Lady", "Glamour" and "Woman's Own".

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. Lofts (The Concubine) returns to characteristic concerns with this rich historical fiction, focusing on the lute player and companion to Richard the Lionhearted, Blondel. King Richard is loved desperately by his wife, Berengaria; she, in turn, is loved by Blondel; Blondel, meanwhile, has caught the eye of Berengaria's hunchbacked sister, Anna Apieta. Richard, however, neglects his wife in favor of his true love—his Crusade—as well as his lesser loves (other men). For Berengaria's sake, Blondel follows Richard on his failed attempt to capture Jerusalem, as well as his journey back to England, leaving only when Richard is captured. Through his eyes and three others'—Berengaria's, Eleanor of Aquitaine's and Anna's—the Crusades and Richard himself are addressed from a number of unfamiliar angles. Humanizing the legend of Richard without cheapening his legacy, Lofts also portrays the oppression inherent in the life of a privileged woman as easily as she dissects the horrors of war. Exquisite and triumphant, this deep look into Richard's world will dazzle those familiar with the period. (Dec.)
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Review

"'One of the most distinguished of English women novelists' THE DAILY TELEGRAPH; 'A natural storyteller whose characters are neatly and believably portrayed: whose prose is smooth and readable' THE NEW YORK TIMES; 'Has a deft chroniclers way with her characters' THE EVENING STANDARD."

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Product Details

• Paperback: 424 pages
• Publisher: The History Press; paperback / softback edition (December 5, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0752444670
• ISBN-13: 978-0752444673
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 4.9 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,424,183 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good Book, August 15, 2000

By 

"kotinca" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lute Player (Mass Market Paperback)

This book is about Richard I the Lionheart. Its main characters are his Lute Player Blondel, his mother Eleanor of Aquitaine, his wife and her sister. This work of fiction carefully follows the thread of history, explaining actions that Richard was criticized for, and filling in history's blanks. The book plays out during Richard's crusade. The historical information about the troubles faced and the experiences of soldiers on crusade were amazing. I thought that I respected those men before, but I had no idea. When the book ends you are left begging for more. It is a shame that she didn't write a part two.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Enthralling look at the Crusades, October 26, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Lute Player (Mass Market Paperback)

This is the story of Richard the Lion-Hearted and the Third Crusade, but the miracle of it is that you see it not from Richard's viewpoint but from the viewpoint of a princess who loved him, her hunchbacked half-sister, and an ordinary lute player. Much of it is based on old legends and histories which makes it even more fascinating. Yet it is a tale which has a modern resonance because Richard, at least in this telling, was a homosexual.

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Lute Player, January 2, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Lute Player (Mass Market Paperback)

When I was a child my aunts and grandmothers loaned this book around in the family and everyone loved it. As an adult I found it, and a box full of other books by Norah Lofts, at a second hand book store. This book is brilliant, as are all of Norah Lofts' books; she is my favorite author. I am shocked at how many are out of print. Other great books: Jassy, Nethergate, Queens of England, Scent of Cloves, The Lost Queen,How Far To Bethleham...they are all great. Please put them back into print.