Sparrowhawk II

by Edward Cline

Book Overview

The American Revolution did not just happen. It was the culmination of two centuries of Enlightenment ideas that entered men's minds and were refined and honed until they expressed themselves in an... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1931561540
• ISBN13: 9781931561549
• Release Date: April 2004
• Publisher: MacAdam/Cage Publishing
• Length: 425 Pages
• Weight: 1.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 5.7" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

An inspiring novel

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.

Author Rebuttal to the Sewickley Nitpicker

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.

A truly great achievement...

...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.

Good, romantic, historical fiction

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.

THE SPIRIT OF REVOLT

"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.)