Sparrowhawk, Book 2: Hugh Kenrick [Hardcover]

Edward Cline (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The second volume in Cline's series about the foundations of the American Revolution (following Sparrowhawk, Book One: Jack Frake) follows precociously brilliant and rebellious English nobleman Hugh Kenrick. Kenrick demonstrates early on that his life in high society will be a contentious one; as a schoolboy, he defies his pompous uncle, the Earl of Danvers and refuses to bow for the Duke of Cumberland during a politically important visit. Fortunately for Kenrick, his talent is equal to his rebellious streak; he excels in academics, but decides to work for a merchant to learn a trade. His general curiosity leads to an involvement with a group of free thinkers called the Society of the Pippins, a small band that meets every week to discuss social inequities under the monarchy. But disaster strikes when a rival of Kenrick's betrays the group, and the Pippins find themselves sentenced for libel after a brief sham trial. Cline writes eloquently about the particulars of 18th-century English political life, and he proves especially adept at examining Hugh's moral quandary when his friends are arrested. But this volume is significantly less effective than its predecessor, largely because of the gratuitous detail and slow pace. By the time Kenrick's parents send him to Philadelphia to keep him out of further trouble, readers, too, may breathe a sigh of relief.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 424 pages
• Publisher: MacAdam/Cage (November 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1931561206
• ISBN-13: 978-1931561204
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.3 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,009,551 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Edward Cline (1946 -) was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. After graduating from high school (in which he learned nothing of value) and a stint in the Air Force, he pursued his ambition to become a novelist. His first detective novel, First Prize, was published in 1988 by Mysterious Press/Warner Books, and his first suspense novel, Whisper the Guns, was published in 1992 by The Atlantean Press. First Prize was republished in 2009 by Perfect Crime. The Sparrowhawk series of novels set in England and Virginia in the pre-Revolutionary period has garnered some critical acclaim (but not yet from the literary establishment) and universal appreciation from the reading public, including parents, teachers, students, scholars, and adult readers who believe that American history has been abandoned or is misrepresented by a government-dominated educational establishment. He writes regularly for such political and cultural blog sites as Rule of Reason and The Dougout. He is dedicated to Objectivism, or Ayn Rand's philosophy of reason in all matters.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE SPIRIT OF REVOLT, November 4, 2002

By 

William Bucko "Bill Bucko" (Mt. Clemens, MI United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sparrowhawk, Book 2: Hugh Kenrick (Hardcover)

"Sparrowhawk - Book 2: Hugh Kenrick" is the story of a young aristocrat, who will not let his soul be stifled by mindless tradition or conformity. As a boy, he is whipped for refusing to bow to the king's worthless son. His free spirit and active mind draw the ire of his conservative uncle, the Earl of Danvers--an ire that will grow into deadly hatred. Like Jake Frake in Book 1 of the saga, Hugh learns how dangerous thinking for yourself can be.

Befriended in London by a free black man, Glorious Swain (a truly memorable character), Hugh is allowed to join the Society of the Pippin, a coffee-house debating society that dares to raise questions the aristocracy will not allow to be discussed. Author Ed Cline gives us another wrenching climax, in which treachery destroys the Pippins and only one is left alive.

"Sparrowhawk" is, as the author says, the story of "what kind of spirit makes possible rebellion against tyranny and corruption."

This time next year, look for "Sparrowhawk - Book 3," in which Jack Frake and Hugh Kenrick meet in Virginia! (Author Ed Cline has kindly let me read it in manuscript.)

21 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Author Rebuttal to the Sewickley Nitpicker, September 15, 2003

By 

Edward Cline "Cline" (Yorktown, VA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sparrowhawk, Book 2: Hugh Kenrick (Hardcover)

First, Mr. Bosley is "off the mark" himself. He writes: "It wouldn't have taken much more time to consult somebody about these nagging innacuracies."

What "inaccuracies"? This author not only has assembled a 250-title library of his own in the course of researching the "Sparrowhawk" series, but availed himself of the unmatched collections of the John D. Rockefeller Jr. Library at Colonial Williamsburg, the Mariners Museum, and the British Museum, to name but a few invaluable research venues. Mr. Bosley's presumptuous "corrections" are contradicted by more sources than this author has time to cite. There was no fixed rule that governed the admittance or creation of the aristocracy, no fixed terminology concerning barons, sons of barons, and so on, no fixed law governing the creation of earls, and so on, as well. "Earls outrank barons." Yes, and what else is new? What hubris! "Here's how it works." What presumptuousness!

I, the author, am not interested in getting into a nitpicking argument over non-essentials with Mr. Bosley or anyone else. All I can recommend is that he consult all the British reference books that I have to put together. If Whittaker's Peerage, the Dictionary of National Biography, and other reputable, unimpeachable reference tomes claim, for example, that a a baron's estate is called a baronetcy, and also a barony, that's good enough for me. If there is any "erroneous" data in my novels, he can blame the reference books, not the author.

Or, he can write his own historical novels, and see how much work is entailed in the effort to establish truth and accuracy.

I am posting this rebuttal only now because I have been busy researching and writing the next titles in this series. My silence on the matter, until now, should not have been construed as concession to the Nitpicker from Sewickley.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars 'WHAT FOR?', November 27, 2002

By 

steve saaf (northern California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sparrowhawk, Book 2: Hugh Kenrick (Hardcover)

Finally, it seems that Mr. Cline is breaking the mold of the fictional novel that treats the founding of this nation as nothing more than battles and generals. Though they are important, one has to ask oneself "what for?".
With Book 2, the reader see's the English ruling class in action. Where in Book 1 we saw the Judiciary and law in action against a "commoner", here in "Hugh Kenrick" we watch as he is born into this class with the standard "siver spoon", but in good time spits it out and rejects it. The reader watches his motivations, his actions and knows this character through and through. We know why the rejection happens. And we know now about two characters who have established their personal "what for" in the context of their own live's.
Just as importantly, the reader see's the beginnings of what is in store for Her Majesties colonies on the eastern seaboard. After all,if Hugh (and Jack from Book 1)are sent there for being undesirable, from what's left behind we know what type is wanted in the homeland and why.
I was a bit overwhelmed by some of the historical detail, but for the most part I could see that it was necessary background in order to have the protagonist's come to the foreground.
I think now that the maturity of the hero's have been established, what we find in the future books will bring their values "to ground" in the context of them in the colonies facing those men and policies Hugh and Jack left behind.
What role will be played by our protagonist's in the colonies and under what conditions will now be the focus of Mr. Cline's new books. The revolutionary "what for" is in the making!
HURRY UP, MR. CLINE!