Customer Reviews

Sparrowhawk III: Caxton

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This third book in an epic series of what will be six should not be read until you have read the first two in the series.

The first two Sparrowhawk books are what hook you on this series. This third book develops the characters, moves their lives on, fills in important historical details, but it does not stand alone as either of the first two books do. Once hooked by the first two books, however, this third book is an enjoyable, leisurely ride. One gets the feeling that the action is about to pick up in the next book, though.

I love the Sparrowhawk series and am eagerly awaiting the remaining three books in the series. The series has everything I want in fiction - heroes who are thinking men of action, heroes who have worthy ideals, great characterization, and set in the most romantic era possible - that of the American Revolution. I have learned lots of history, as well.

If you like the fiction of Ayn Rand or Robert Heinlein, or if you like the American Revolution, or if you like history, in general, you should get the whole series.

For those of you who are curious, the official publication date of Sparrowhawk: Book IV-Empire, is Pearl Harbor Day, Dec. 7th. Book V - Revolution, will be published in the spring of '05, and Book VI - War (and the last of the series) will be published in 2006.

The Author

Excellent continuation of the Sparrowhawk series! I am hooked!

Quick recap:

Book One introduced Jack Frake living on the fringes of a tyrannical society and family. He overcomes the petty evil of his family to find himself facing the equally evil and tyrannical government that ends up unjustly trying and hanging his friends and mentors.

In Book Two we meet Hugh Kenrick, born into a life of privilege, he nonetheless develops into a self-made person far exceeding the deeds and honor of his ancestors and peers.

In Book Three tensions are created and developed. Hugh Kenrick is now a man. He is moving to Caxton to buy a tobacco farm and to learn how to be master of his own property. One of his neighbors is Jack Frake. It quickly becomes obvious that the two men are cut from the same cloth even though Hugh is an aristocrat and Jack was formerly an indentured servant. They meet in America as equals. One of the fascinating and satisfying aspects of Book Three is to watch the relationship between Jack and Hugh develop. There is no petty jealousies between them even though they vie for the affections of the same woman. Between England and the colonies the tension increases as the inevitable clash of philosophies nears. Will the crown hear the cries of its suffering colonies?

The portrayal of Man the hero continues to be one of the most enjoyable aspects of this series. Though the primary characters are fictional they are a true representation of the kind of intellectual and moral giants that existed during the gestation and birth of the greatest country in the history of the world.

First, a warning to anyone considering purchasing this book without first reading the two prior books in the series, "Sparrowhawk: Jack Frake" and "Sparrowhawk: Hugh Kenrick": Don't. Really, just don't. Before you pick up this third installment, do yourself a favor and get acquainted with the characters, the trials that have shaped their lives, their philosophies, and the historical background. This book is, essentially, a vehicle to bring Jack and Hugh together and to set the stage for the revolution to come. There are no plot twists and very little action...instead, we are shown two, outwardly similar heroes and challenged to find the critical differences between them. These differences form the basis for the conflicts to come: What will happen when two freedom-loving friends are faced with war against their mother country? Which paths will they choose? And what will happen when the woman they both love finally makes her choice? I can't wait to find out. (Note: Edward Cline's Web site calls the fourth novel in the series "Empire," though there was no publication date listed as of the date this review was posted.)

This book builds on the characters developed in the first two books in this series. While not quite as dramatic as the previous two novels, this one is considerably more intellectually stimulating. It takes place in America and shows a slice of life there in the pre-revolutionary war days. This really gives far more details about the causes behind the war than history texts or even classes.

Excellent work. This one brings the characters together, providing an indepth look at their individual and combined personalities. The players come alive, thanks to Edward Cline's wonderful and unique presentation style. I've read each book in the series multiple times, and eagerly look forward to receiving "War".

In Book-III, the two heroes (from Books I and II) meet.

While some have commented that this book is somehow lesser than the first two, I disagree. I find that the author's style gets smoother with every book. In this one, the author draws one in so well, that I found myself visualizing the action as a movie.

The British-held colony of Virginia celebrates on a grand scale when France loses her hold on Canada in 1759. The Crown rules from afar and most colonists are content to operate under the arcane and ambiguous laws that govern their lives. The town of Caxton is growing to meet the needs of this new land, expanding to meet the future of with a profitable sale of their tobacco crops, as well as other trade goods. But the sound of freedom is in the air. Young Virginia landowners are questioning their obligations to a government that sees them as less than full British citizens.

Europe is experiencing an intellectual upheaval despite the Church's interference, as printing presses churn out work espousing new philosophies to the world at large, exploring innovative concepts that can potentially alter the opinions of the common man. Popular writers of the day are Voltaire, Rousseau, Hume and the Pennsylvanian, Benjamin Franklin. However, the planters of Queen Anne County consider themselves aristocrats of a sort, content with their lot, entrenched in their own comfortable bureaucracy.

New landowner Hugh Kenrick is one of these young colonial enthusiasts and has purchased a tobacco plantation that needs excessive restoration after years of mismanagement. His closest neighbor, Jack Frake, is of similar mind. Frake has maintained a low profile, keeping his political opinions to himself, but as relations with Britain are more strained, both Frake and Kenrick find themselves allies. It is up to Jack Frake and Hugh Kenrick to lend their resources to the changes they envision, as America moves towards its eventual separation from England.

The third volume in the Sparrowhawk series, this is American history as lived by Frake and Kenrick. Book III: Caxton is about life in the colonies, on the irrevocable path toward the American Revolution. This is rich episodic history from Cline's viewpoint, with a wealth of details. The two pivotal Sparrowhawk characters come together, leading the charge, finally challenging British taxation and regulation. Luan Gaines/ 2004.

Edward Cline has done an amazing job with this series. The stories and characters are compelling. The heroes are truly and unapologetically heroic. Cline tells you what drives them. And they are as I imagine people during the American Revolution to have been; not the clumsy, tortured souls with clay feet as many of today's revisionists paint them. What I especially enjoy are the fruits of Cline's methodical and thorough research. There are so many fascinating details that make the narrative come alive; a history lesson with no pain. If you are interested in the era and love a good story, this book and series is for you.