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weaselweader's review against another edition
4.0
"Friendship is God's gift for fortunate men to share."
CLOTHAR THE FRANK, the 6th novel in Jack Whyte's extended series THE CAMULOD CHRONICLES, steps back from Dark Ages England and moves across the channel into post-Roman Gaul to provide an imaginative, extraordinarily detailed, historical back story to the birth, education and development of Lancelot.
Many reviewers complained bitterly that this novel was long-winded and completely failed to advance the story of the King Arthur legend. In a sense, I agree totally. But I'd also suggest to these readers that, if they relaxed and simply accepted the book on its stand-alone merits, they would realize that this, far from being a weakness, is, in fact, its strength and virtue. This is a side bar to the Arthurian legend, something intended to fill in the blanks as it were. The dust flap tell it quite simply ... "Clothar's story is the story of Lancelot - his past, his loves, his loyalty and his role as King Arthur's friend and betrayer".
CLOTHAR THE FRANK is the exciting story of a wealthy family's life in Gaul. Clothar, raised and educated by a saintly Catholic bishop, learns that he is the son of a local king. An exceptionally well-rounded education allows him to step into the role of soldier, leader and a warrior and to accept his role in a bloody internecine civil war. We learn of the reasons behind Clothar's voyage to a dark ages England, besieged by the savage Saxons and Danes after the departure of the Roman legions, where Arthur has yet to be crowned as the High King. As with any good historical fiction novel, CLOTHAR THE FRANK provides plenty of realistic period atmosphere and colour.
I couldn't help but smile at the final scene in which Clothar actually meets the newly crowned King Arthur for the first time. I'm pretty sure that Jack Whyte had dreamed about Robin Hood and Little John the night before he penned the details of this particular chapter. See if you don't agree! A highly recommended addition to any historical fiction lover's library.
Paul Weiss
CLOTHAR THE FRANK, the 6th novel in Jack Whyte's extended series THE CAMULOD CHRONICLES, steps back from Dark Ages England and moves across the channel into post-Roman Gaul to provide an imaginative, extraordinarily detailed, historical back story to the birth, education and development of Lancelot.
Many reviewers complained bitterly that this novel was long-winded and completely failed to advance the story of the King Arthur legend. In a sense, I agree totally. But I'd also suggest to these readers that, if they relaxed and simply accepted the book on its stand-alone merits, they would realize that this, far from being a weakness, is, in fact, its strength and virtue. This is a side bar to the Arthurian legend, something intended to fill in the blanks as it were. The dust flap tell it quite simply ... "Clothar's story is the story of Lancelot - his past, his loves, his loyalty and his role as King Arthur's friend and betrayer".
CLOTHAR THE FRANK is the exciting story of a wealthy family's life in Gaul. Clothar, raised and educated by a saintly Catholic bishop, learns that he is the son of a local king. An exceptionally well-rounded education allows him to step into the role of soldier, leader and a warrior and to accept his role in a bloody internecine civil war. We learn of the reasons behind Clothar's voyage to a dark ages England, besieged by the savage Saxons and Danes after the departure of the Roman legions, where Arthur has yet to be crowned as the High King. As with any good historical fiction novel, CLOTHAR THE FRANK provides plenty of realistic period atmosphere and colour.
I couldn't help but smile at the final scene in which Clothar actually meets the newly crowned King Arthur for the first time. I'm pretty sure that Jack Whyte had dreamed about Robin Hood and Little John the night before he penned the details of this particular chapter. See if you don't agree! A highly recommended addition to any historical fiction lover's library.
Paul Weiss
mslourens's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
tri_sara_topps's review against another edition
4.0
This is one of my favorites in this series in a long while. Very engaging, great characters, great pacing. I enjoyed this backstory very much.
elusiverica's review
2.0
The eight book in the Camulod Chronicles. This one moves away from Camulod, into Gaul, where we meet a new character: Clothar, whom history will remember as Lancelot. This is my least favourite book in the series. Clothar displayed very little personality, and the things about him I found most interesting (his relationship with his adoptive family, his devotion to Bishop Germanus and his brief intention to become a priest, his grief for his lost friend and his fear in the face of his first battle) were barely touched on, pushed aside in favour of emphasising what a military genius he is and endless rambling about tactics. His backstory as the firstborn son of a deposed king who’s honour-bound to seek vengeance for his father was built up and up but never really went anywhere (and, after reading the final book, I can confirm that it never goes anywhere). I spent the whole book waiting for him to go to Camulod already, and it only happened in the last chapter.
jessiqa's review
3.0
This is the 8th book in the Camulod Chronicles. Leaving Merlyn behind as narrator, this book switches to Lancelot, the first Arthurian book I've come across to be told from Lancelot's point of view. In this series, he has the more historically likely name of Clothar, who is endowed with the nick-name Lance-thrower. The previous book ended with Arthur's coronation as High King of Britain; this book starts many years after that, with Clothar as on old man traveling back to Britain to pay a visit to Merlyn's grove along with his son and a few of his son's friends. It's during this visit that his son realizes that he knows very little of his father's life.
So, Clother begins his tale. He starts with his boyhood as the adoptive son of his mother's sister and her husband. He later goes to school in Bishop Germanus' school for boys in Auxerre. There is a minor civil war when Clothar's uncle dies. Clothar eventually makes his way back to Auxerre where Germanus sends him off to Britain.
As in the previous books in this series, there's a good deal of detail on military strategies and suchlike, most of which doesn't really interest me. Someone interested in military history would likely find those sections very interesting. It also seemed that Clothar's voice as a narrator was not all that distinct from Merlyn's (which was definitely distinct from Publius Varrus'). The only part in the book that truly brought a smile to my face was at the end, when Clothar finally met Arthur and the meeting was much as it has always been portrayed in Arthurian literature. I've said in previous reviews of books in this series that Arthur was always the person in the stories to whom I was most drawn. The same is true in this series, which is why I'm a little sad I haven't really had the opportunity to see him much, not even through the eyes of others. Ah, well. Perhaps that will change in the next installment.
So, Clother begins his tale. He starts with his boyhood as the adoptive son of his mother's sister and her husband. He later goes to school in Bishop Germanus' school for boys in Auxerre. There is a minor civil war when Clothar's uncle dies. Clothar eventually makes his way back to Auxerre where Germanus sends him off to Britain.
As in the previous books in this series, there's a good deal of detail on military strategies and suchlike, most of which doesn't really interest me. Someone interested in military history would likely find those sections very interesting. It also seemed that Clothar's voice as a narrator was not all that distinct from Merlyn's (which was definitely distinct from Publius Varrus'). The only part in the book that truly brought a smile to my face was at the end, when Clothar finally met Arthur and the meeting was much as it has always been portrayed in Arthurian literature. I've said in previous reviews of books in this series that Arthur was always the person in the stories to whom I was most drawn. The same is true in this series, which is why I'm a little sad I haven't really had the opportunity to see him much, not even through the eyes of others. Ah, well. Perhaps that will change in the next installment.
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