Customer Reviews

Sparrowhawk, Book 2: Hugh Kenrick

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
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"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.)

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.

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!

...brillantly plotted with heroic characters and beautifully written.

Jack Frake (book one in the series) and Hugh Kenrick (this book)are true heroes comparable to any in the works of Ayn Rand and Victor Hugo. Hollywood should start producing movies of these books now.

All good writing is timeless and one of the many virtues of this book is that it shows there is very little difference between the power-seekers who controlled the UK then and those in power now-the detail may have changed the principles remain the same. Cline has also shown us the British Aristocracy in its essence for the period rather than in what would have been long uninteresting, unnecessary detail-this being a work of fiction and not a historic treatise.

I have already read both parts twice and am immensely looking forward to book three (due May 2004) and the rest of the series.

A mind-awakening story of a young man who from birth refuses to allow his soul to be tarnished by conformism, by submission to others, or by the privileges of nobility. One admires his energy and industry, marvels at his precociousness, feels the passion for his betrothed, and cheers for his integrity. Hugo might have written of Hugh Kenrick, "Such men exist!" It is a powerful example of the sort of individual it takes to achieve greatness, independence, and moral certainty by reason. I heartily recommend this book (and the previous volume of the set) to mature young readers currently studying the history of pre-revolutionary America and the heroes who founded a nation.

Even though I enjoyed the book, I was somewhat disappointed to see that the plot resembles in many ways that of the first book in the series (especially the climax, even though it has very little to do with the plot of the first book), only this time the protagonist is the son of a Baron and nephew of a Duke (in contrast to the first book). This is the main reason why I deducted a star off my rating.

Readers, however, should be warned that this book is no light reading. It requires constant concentration, and very often, re-reading the passages for full comprehension of what has been said. Long sentences abundant with what is called five dollar words are not rare in this book.

Yet to a zealous reader, this book (and the others in Sparrowhawk series) can offer more than just fun or diversion. They can instill in the reader both historical and moral lessons. The character of Hugh Kenrick is an admirable one, not only for his knowledge, but also his determination to stay true to his principles, even when others are making this choice as hard as it can be.

This is some of the best fiction I have read in years. The series of books are beautifully written, with heroic characters and strong plots set in a meticulously researched historical context. I find his works provoking thought and staying with me in the same way that Ayn Rand's fiction did when I first read it. Edward Cline is a first rate author, deserving of more recognition than he has gotten thus far.

Sparrowhawk 2 is like Sparrowhawk 1 in that both describe the development of a young man in England in the period before the American Revolution. While the first book centers around Jack Frake, a commoner, this book centers around Hugh Kenrick, the nephew of an Earl. Despite the "privileges" of his birth, Hugh rejects much of what they entail to pursue what he wants.

While there are a few references to the first book in this book, it would not be an issue to read thus book before the first. As with the first book, this book definitely feels like a part of a bigger picture and compels one to read more in the series.

The only negative of this book is that there are numerous references to historic events in that time period. If one is not familiar with these events, this can be frustrating and make the story move slower than it otherwise would.

A roundly satisfying sequal to Sparrowhawk 1. Bristling with the kind of detail and "shine on the button" facts that bring historical fiction to life but accomplished without any bogging down in irrelevancies. In truth, the strength of this work is not the flawless and informative settings or Ed's unerring ability to transport the reader to another time and place, but the depth and attractiveness of his characterizations.

This is a superb demonstration of the kind of work destined to revive and continue the spirit that made America great and a continuation of a new renaissance in Romanticism as envisioned by Ayn Rand.

Thanks Ed Cline for the incredible pleasure and inspiration your novels deliver.

It's hard for me to add anything to the previous illustrious reviews of this excellent book. But the pettifogging comments by a previous reviewer and countered by the author, long after publication, leaves me with one question. When any creator puts as much research, time, and dedication into an historical novel such as this (as well as this author's previous Jack Frake volume) why not share his labors with us? He should structure his historical fiction similar to an historical non-fiction treatise. This would include the following:
Table of contents
Maps, diagrams, scenery, etc. along with tables to each
Footnotes or endnotes
Index
Bibliography
Suggested reading

Cline puts more information and energy in his novels than any four university professors combined plunk into their college textbooks so why not let us marvel at his achievement as well as encourage us to pursue our interest in this time period by documenting the work leading up to its completion? This is not directed at this author specifically but to the entire genre of great historical novelists. While I'm not suggesting that the critical reviewer is wrong (or right)-the author could have let his readers decide by providing them, in the novel, with the necessary tools to judge for themselves.