Customer Reviews

The Sinner's Tale

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is going to be a rather difficult review for me to write because I liked the book so much that I don't think that I will be able to write a competent review adequately expressing my appreciation for "The Sinner's Tale."

In 1372, Guy de Bryan, a trusted knight in the court of Edward III, is asked by his king to undertake one last mission to Genoa in order to negotiate an agreement so that the Genoese will trade freely with the English. Sir Guy will be accompanied on this trip by his old friend, soldier and priest, William Batokewaye, a squire who is closely connected to the Duke of Lancaster, and by two Genoese noblemen. The mission is a dangerous one, fraught with natural (traveling in the heart of winter is not for the faint-hearted) and physical dangers (pirates and enemies of England who would like the mission to fail), but Sir Guy is determined to ensure that his mission is a successful one. However, his friend William has another mission, one that he is equally determined to see through. Knowing of his friend's brooding and melancholy disposition, and suspecting that Sir Guy has assumed the burden for a sin he was not really guilty off, and that this is eating away at him, William is resolved to exorcise the sin from Sir Guy's soul. And to do that, he has let loose on Sir Guy the curious squire, who questions Sir Guy closely about his life at court and his adventures during the war with France, bringing to light a wondrous tale about an enduring and passionate love that tarnished the honour of a "true, a perfect gentle-knight..."

"The Sinner's Tale" is actually framed around two time periods: one subplot deals with events that are taking place in the 14th century and revolves around Sir Guy's last mission and the story of his life; while the other subplot deals with events that are currently occurring and revolves around the sexual scandal that brings political high-flyer, Beth Battock down. Unfortunately, Beth's story is not a very interesting one: a neo-con hawk, Beth is at odds with her liberal family. Her fall from grace, and her flight back home to the backwaters, really serves to highlight Sir Guy's story (a childhood friend of Beth's is in the middle of restoring Sir Guy's chantry and her family is somehow tied to Sir Guy), and his message for future generations, which Beth and others slowly uncover. The subplot that deals with Beth is not as lyrically written as Sir Guy's, nor is it as absorbing or as compelling. Also I did think that the bit where Beth finally discovers her mother's identity, was a bit over the top. On the whole though I thought that the novel was a wonderfully engaging read, and one of the best things I've read this year. I must own though that I don't think that "The Sinner's Tale" is for everyone: the novel has a message, one that not everyone may agree with. But it is a beautifully written one and a thought provoking one, and one that resonates whether you're talking about events that took place in the 14th century or about events that are taking place now. The best part is that because Will Davenport is relating Sir Guy's story, and because the message is not revealed until the very end, the tone of the book is never preachy or smug.

Compelling and riveting, "The Sinner's Tale" is one of those "unputdownables." I stayed up all night in order to read this brilliant book in one sitting. The historical details were vivid and fascinating; and I loved that the squire was a well known 14th century personality, whom the author never names until the end -- even though most readers will easily be able to guess who he is. Two final notes: 1) Unlike Harriet Klausner I didn't find the ending too implausible. Let's not forget Robin Cook or that huge rally for peace in England; and 2) I do prefer the British title for this novel: "The Perfect Sinner" -- I do think that that title better encapsulates what the book is about.

(This review was first published in The Historical Novels Review, Issue 32, May 2005. ISSN 1471-7492)
A medieval knight with a sin he fears will condemn him to eternal purgatory; a modern-day woman whose anti-terrorist rhetoric conceals a desperate emptiness; and a secret link that transcends eras form the basis for Will Davenport's THE SINNER'S TALE.

Beth Battock is an ambitious political player when a scandal forces her to flee to the childhood hamlet she's avoided for years. There, she comes face-to-face with the father she resents; an ornery grandmother who knows her better than she thinks; a gentle stone-cutter she once dallied with; and an ancient inscription with a tantalizing familial connection to the exploits of the 14th century knight, Sir Guy de Bryan.

Sir Guy suffers from venal sin; he also suffers from a prescient understanding of war's futility. Though a veteran of bloody battles, Guy is a man of peace in a time of brutality; who believes he must atone for the wrongs he perpetuates. In his quest for redemption, Guy plants the seeds for a ceremonial immortality that will echo through the ages into Beth Battock's hollow life.

Vivid scenes of warfare and the harshness of medieval life intersect with Beth's struggle to overcome her conservative stance on terrorism in the 21st century. The descriptions of Sir Guy's journey from hopeful youth to weathered witness are imbued with the authenticity of the period. The novel encounters its main difficulty in the modern world. The characters lack the compelling personalities of their medieval counterparts; and Beth proves a challenge to rally around, even as her narrow mindedness starts to crumble around her. Until family upheaval confronts her, she remains steadfast to her way of thinking -- an analogy of our own inability to learn from the past. Beth does learn, eventually; still, it is the knight's passionate quest we care most about.

This is the same story as 'The Perfect Sinner'.

I really did enjoy the story of Guy de Bryan, brave Knight in the service of Edward III. But his isn't the only story in the book, there is a modern story woven in and I didn't care for it very much.

Guy is so concerned that his soul is in danger of being cast into Purgatory that has a Chancery built and hires priest to pray for his soul in perpetuity. He also has a prophetic statement carved in stone and placed on the front of the Chancery.

There is a modern day connection and while some of that story is also interesting I didn't care for the big leaps and quick turn-abouts by the main character. Beth Battock lives life in the fast lane of world politics when scandal threatens her career. She escapes the media focus that results by returning to her secluded home and the father she's been estranged from for years.

The modern story was just a little too neat for my tastes, with convient coincidences and dramatic earth shaking events.

I would have enjoyed this book more if the author had focused solely on Guy de Bryan's life and offered more details of his relationship with his friend Hugh Despenser, his nemisis John Molyns and his wife Elizabeth. And I would have enjoyed more medeival details and less modern English in the recounting of the events from the fourteenth century.

I'm writing this review at 5am, after staying up all night to finish The Sinners Tale, so needless to say, it was worth my time.

The main character, Guy de Bryan, was quite likeable, and the bulk of the story takes place in his chapters, significance-wise if not length-wise. Guy's jumps back and forth historically, going from, say, 26 years before his narration (1372), forward 10 years, then back to 1372, backwards 30 years, etc., were a little confusing to me, but with some effort and several instances of checking back a few chapters or entering sovereigns and battles into wikipedia, I hung on for the ride. I enjoyed reading about this period in history, that is, the start of the 100 Years' War, the most infamous purging by the Black Death, the Scottish wars where Braveheart left off, Edward III and the Black Prince and the foundation of the Order of the Garter. Guy's nihilism and self-flagellation are intriguing...what could have been his three great sins? and why don't guys of his caliber exist today??

Guy's humility, loyalty and grief for the end of the Age of Chivalry are in sharp contrast to his co-narrator, current-day young British political worker, Beth Battock. I found her so annoying in her close-mindedness and obliviousness that actively disliked her chapters. Beth seems to wear blinders, but on the inner corners of her eyes rather than on the far corners of her eyes, so that everyone else can see what is right in front of them, but she only sees what is far away. Consequently, the secondary characters spend their time leading her around by a bridle so that she doesn't stumble and fall into self-centered, dithering pettiness.

The main flaw of this book (besides creating a character I sincerely hoped would die when she was crushed and alone and helpless in an underground quarry) is that the author, Davenport, seemed one step BEHIND me, not ahead of me, when springing surprises. That's not to say there weren't some good ones...Davenport just waits a few paragraphs too many, or 600 years too many, before springing aside the curtain, Voila, to reveal what the reader has already caught onto.

Not to give away the plot, but did anyone NOT see Eliza's baby-daddy coming at least a couple of pages ahead of his identification? or the origin of the sanctuary ring ten years before it actually became a sanctuary ring? How about the blah plot device which pairs bitter Beth with laid-back Lewis, did anyone else roll their eyes and wonder what's going on in Britain if THAT passes for fresh writing? And how many hints did we have to get about the squire's identity...hmm, medieval British traveler wants fellow travelers to spin yarns to pass the time, stories which he takes down for compilation...his first name is GEOFFREY...we dumb Americans did take British Lit, Mr. Davenport. I cringed in pain when he left that "surprise" for the very last page.

Now that I've gotten that out of my system, it was a decent book, worth the time of anyone who loves historical fiction and frame stories, as I do. B+.

I love books that weave the past with the present. This novel is no different. The author did a great job of slowly drawing me in by starting in the 1300s with a knight. I was eager to know more about this righteous knight who thought himself so lowly and sinful. The book also made me more curious about Catholics and their beliefs. It had just enough mystery to it, to keep me picking it back up. I also want to know more about the time period now. Davenport cleverly had Chaucer as one of the characters and I kept thinking throughout the book that it was him. I was happy with the modern day setting, but didn't enjoy it as much as the past. Beth (modern day main character) was kind of annoying and mean. I kept wanting to take her by the shoulders and give her a good shake. The author does give a little background history from World War 2 as well. The ending message about war is particularly good. I'd recommend this book to people who like historical fiction, mystery, twists, and the movie A Knight's Tale!

Inspired to write this by reading 'Picky reader' below. Er, guys it's a novel. Not only that but it's a very good one. I read it because I know a bit about Sir Guy de Bryan and, as it happens, he's got Guy's story pretty much nailed. So, he took a few liberties with a minor character. Like I say, it's a novel. If you want to know what the fourteenth century was like, read it. expect to laugh and cry a bit too.

All his life Sir Guy de Bryan was a loyal vassal to King Edward fighting for him in the war with the French. He loved one woman Elizabeth but lost her through trickery by another of the king's warriors, Sir John Molyns. Sir John would commit any atrocity if it meant that England would win the battle. A brave soldier Guy comes to believe he will go to purgatory for all the men he killed in battle. He bought more absolutions than he could afford and built a chapel on his estate in Slapton where monks provide continuous prayers for him. By the end of his life his opinion of war changed dramatically.

In the present, British government aide Beth Battack assures the Americans that her country will support them in the upcoming war. She believes that sometimes war is the only answer for a lasting peace. A scandal has Beth hiding out in her home village of Slapton. Her dying father expects her to arrange the yearly mass for Guy de Braun. The Battocks are descendants of Sir Guy's priest who led the prayers in the chapel Sir Guy built. After tragedy strikes her family, Beth realizes war is not always the answer.

This is really two stories in one novel, Sir Guy is a man who has come to hate war with its lack of chivalry and horror while Beth believes that war is sometimes the answer. The two stories are linked by the priest who first said the prayers on Sir Guy's behalf, who is an ancestor of Beth's family. The medieval parts of the tale are absorbing and entertaining but Beth's story seems comparatively weaker with a seemingly implausible ending to an overall fine rally cry for give peace a chance.

Harriet Klausner