The writing on the hearth

by Cynthia Harnett

Book Overview

Stephen, stepson of a plowman, who dreams of going to Oxford University as a poor scholar, finds his future jeopardized by witchcraft and political intrigue in fifteenth-century England. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0140306692
• ISBN13: 9780140306699
• Release Date: January 1974
• Publisher: Puffin Books
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Synopsis and Review of The Writing on the Hearth

This book is about the adventures of Stephen Rudd, a 15th century boy who served in the household of William de la Pole, Earl of Suffolk. Stephen is orphaned early on in life, and lives with his sister and stepfather in the village of Ewelme, in Oxfordshire. Stephen¡¦s capability as well as his reading and writing skills, gain the attention of his liege lady, Dame Alice, who makes him a member of her household staff and introduces him to the Earl. Although Stephen enjoys rising favor, he feels that a shadow is cast on his future in the Earl¡¦s household because of his friendship with kind-hearted Old Meg, who is rumored to be a witch. When the Duchess of Gloucester is accused of witchcraft, Earl William is ordered to scour his lands of any witches connected to her, and Stephen is ordered to lead the way to capture Old Meg. Torn between the Earl¡¦s trust and Old Meg¡¦s many kindnesses to him, Stephen must make a choice of loyalties between the Earl and Old Meg. Although this is categorized as a children¡¦s book, it is extremely well-written with characters that stand out, and it gives the reader a real-to-life picture of life in the fifteenth century. What made this book stand out for me, was the attention to historical details, and the way the in which each character, however minor, became very ¡§alive¡¨. I first read Cynthia Harnett¡¦s books when I was a teenager, and a fan of the Middle Ages. I am now a thirty-something mom, and I still find her books as engaging and wonderful as when I first read them. For any of you who enjoy medieval fiction, Cynthia Harnett is a master of her art, and her books are a must-read!