The Lute Player [Unabridged] [Paperback]

Norah Lofts (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: 1971

From the back cover: Blondel, the strolling minstrel, loves the Queen. Queen Berengaria love Richard the Lionhearted. But whom does Richard love? Set against the magnificent tapestry of the Third Crusade, this fascinating novel spins the stirring story of blondel, the lute player, who uses the magic of his music to perform strange miracles. Blondel becomes court minstrel to the beautiful Princess Berengaria of Navarre, who has vowed to marry Richard, heir to the throne of England. The Princess keeps her vow. but Richard has other plans. a forbidden love that threatens to destroy their lives -- and his kindgom.

Product Details

• Paperback: 445 pages
• Publisher: Fawcett Crest (1971)
• Language: English
• ASIN: B0012PNC3O
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.5 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,912,390 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.