Dorothy Dunnett, King Hereafter

Dorothy Dunnett, King Hereafter (1982). "A"

My first Dunnett, and a crackerjack -- a big, fat crackerjack historical
novel about 11th century Britain, specifically on the life of the
historic King Macbeth, who ruled Orkney and northern Scotland 1040-1058.
For good measure, we get Lady Godiva, too. Plus Duncan, Malcolm, and
Duke William waiting for his Big Moment, over there in Normandy. Here's
a fine, short review by the reliable Danny Yee:
<http://dannyreviews.com/h/King_Hereafter.html> "King Hereafter is a
dark and sombre work...and at near nine hundred pages [1] not one to be
tackled lightly. It is, however, a rewarding feast for those who like
solid historical fiction."

Background: <http://www.dorothydunnett.co.uk/dunnettqa5.htm>
She read some 700 books for KH! And compiled "145 interlocking European
family trees, laid out in miniscule writing on a piece of wallpaper 20
feet long." Now, that's research!

Anyway, it's reassuring that the historical background is as good as she
could make it, plus it's a ripping (hacking, stabbing,
disembowelling...) good yarn. Boy, Britain went seriously downhill, in
the civilization dept., when the Romans left. Positively medieval back
then <GG>.

Thanks to all who suggested starting Dunnett here.

[1] The USA hardback is around 770 (smallish-print) pages.

Cheers -- Pete Tillman
Book Reviews: http://www.sfsite.com/revwho.htm
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/cm/member-reviews/-/A3GHSD9VY8XS4Q/
http://www.infinityplus.co.uk//nonfiction/reviews.htm
Google "Peter D. Tillman" +review for many more!

In article <tillman-CA8DC5.23230910102004.TakeThisOut@individual.net>, Peter D.
Tillman <tillman.TakeThisOut@aztec.asu.edu> wrote:

 > My first Dunnett, and a crackerjack -- a big, fat crackerjack historical
 > novel about 11th century Britain

I'm glad you like TKH; I too thought it was excellent work. I will
warn you however (just so you won't be surprised and possibly
disappointed) that it is very unlike her other books. Not that the
research isn't excellent but the nature of her story telling is very
different in both the Niccolo and Lymond series.

Spence
Spence

--
James P. Spencer
Rochester, MN

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