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Norman Quartet #4
King of the Wood
From Library Journal
In A.D. 1100 King William Rufus, son of William the Conqueror, was killed during a hunt. Although no one knows who shot the fatal arrow, Anand provides an intriguing story of what might have been. William Rufus faced opposition from his two brothers and numerous lords under his dominion in England and France. He drew the condemnation of Church authorities for his homosexual liaisons. He ignored the grievances of his impoverished subjects, many of whom continued to practice ancient fertility rituals in the hope of improving their economic lot. Anand pulls seemingly unrelated subplots tighter and tighter as the novel progresses, drawing the principal characters together to the fateful day of the king's death. In the process she masterfully re-creates the chaos and passion of a turbulent time.
In A.D. 1100 King William Rufus, son of William the Conqueror, was killed during a hunt. Although no one knows who shot the fatal arrow, Anand provides an intriguing story of what might have been. William Rufus faced opposition from his two brothers and numerous lords under his dominion in England and France. He drew the condemnation of Church authorities for his homosexual liaisons. He ignored the grievances of his impoverished subjects, many of whom continued to practice ancient fertility rituals in the hope of improving their economic lot. Anand pulls seemingly unrelated subplots tighter and tighter as the novel progresses, drawing the principal characters together to the fateful day of the king's death. In the process she masterfully re-creates the chaos and passion of a turbulent time.
468 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1988
About the author
Valerie Anand
19 books31 followersBorn in London, Valerie Anand knew at the age of six that she wanted to be an author. At the age of fifteen, she saw MGM’s film Ivanhoe. She walked into the cinema knowing that she wanted to be a novelist and walked out of it knowing that historical novels were the kind she most wanted to write.
Over the course of her long and distinguished writing career, Valerie has written many works of historical fiction and is well known for the Ursula Blanchard series of Elizabethan mysteries written under the pen name of Fiona Buckley.
Still living in London, Valerie Anand is a frequent visitor to Exmoor, the setting featured in The House of Lanyon.
Over the course of her long and distinguished writing career, Valerie has written many works of historical fiction and is well known for the Ursula Blanchard series of Elizabethan mysteries written under the pen name of Fiona Buckley.
Still living in London, Valerie Anand is a frequent visitor to Exmoor, the setting featured in The House of Lanyon.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
January 4, 2013
I thoroughly enjoyed all the books in Anand's Norman series for their realistic period details and impeccable research, yet I admit they lack the glamour of some modern writers. I think King of the Wood was my favorite of the series (will have to re-read them all to be sure). I really enjoyed learning more about King William Rufus and the struggle between him and his brothers (definitely foreshadowing Henry II and his boys' internecine fighting). I also loved the juxtaposition of the Norman and Saxon culture, the Christian religion with the "heathen" pagan religion, and the author's proposition of why William Rufus was killed on that 2nd day of August in 1100. Frankly, it fits beautifully - an accomplishment not many authors can achieve. Highly recommended!
February 14, 2010
King of the Wood is an extremely well written historical fiction novel set in Eleventh Century England and Normandy. The book tracks several main characters: William Rufus, the third son of William the Conqueror and later, King William II; Ralph des Aix, a second son from a modest family who traveled from Maine to England with the hopes of becoming a knight and owning his own land; Sybil of Fallowdene, the wild and beautiful youngest daughter of a landholding family in England; Richard of Fallowdene and his wife Alice, Sybil's brother and sister-in-law; Princess Edith of Scotland; and Henry, the youngest son of William the Conqueror and later, King Henry I. In the beginning, it is a bit difficult to see how the different characters fit together. However, by the middle of the novel, they become brought together and all interact with each other. Thankfully, Anand does a good job of making clear which characters are central to each chapter.
The novel deals with the end of William the Conqueror's reign and the relationships of his three surviving sons, William Rufus ("the red"), Robert Curthose, and Henry. The three sons have a tumultuous and competitive relationship, reminiscent of the relationships between the four sons of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine. After William I's death, Curthose becomes Duke of Normandy and Rufus becomes King of England. Henry gets nothing and must rely on his brothers for any social position.
Rufus is a pleasure loving King and finds himself in conflict wtih the church due to his lack of faith in God and in his open homosexuality. His heavy hand at taxation also makes him unpopular among the peasantry, who are faced with difficult harvests and poor weather. Ralph des Aix initially finds himself central to Rufus' court after arriving at England. He achieves his goal of owning land, the humble Chenna's Tun, but in gaining independence, he alienates the King and lives in virtual poverty with his wife Sybil. In an attempt to escape starvation, the peasants of Chenna's Tun turn to a pagan cult in the hopes of making the earth fertile and to poaching deer in violation of forest laws. Sybil and Ralph become wrapped up in this practice, which ultimately leads to Rufus' death in a "hunting accident" in the woods.
Anand's story is very interesting. I found the novel to be a page turner, although it is not action packed. Anand does a great job of creating a sense of place in this long ago period. She also has an interesting theory for why Rufus died in the woods. Anand's characters are complex and real. I would say that this novel is on par in quality with Sharon Kay Penman's work.
The novel deals with the end of William the Conqueror's reign and the relationships of his three surviving sons, William Rufus ("the red"), Robert Curthose, and Henry. The three sons have a tumultuous and competitive relationship, reminiscent of the relationships between the four sons of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine. After William I's death, Curthose becomes Duke of Normandy and Rufus becomes King of England. Henry gets nothing and must rely on his brothers for any social position.
Rufus is a pleasure loving King and finds himself in conflict wtih the church due to his lack of faith in God and in his open homosexuality. His heavy hand at taxation also makes him unpopular among the peasantry, who are faced with difficult harvests and poor weather. Ralph des Aix initially finds himself central to Rufus' court after arriving at England. He achieves his goal of owning land, the humble Chenna's Tun, but in gaining independence, he alienates the King and lives in virtual poverty with his wife Sybil. In an attempt to escape starvation, the peasants of Chenna's Tun turn to a pagan cult in the hopes of making the earth fertile and to poaching deer in violation of forest laws. Sybil and Ralph become wrapped up in this practice, which ultimately leads to Rufus' death in a "hunting accident" in the woods.
Anand's story is very interesting. I found the novel to be a page turner, although it is not action packed. Anand does a great job of creating a sense of place in this long ago period. She also has an interesting theory for why Rufus died in the woods. Anand's characters are complex and real. I would say that this novel is on par in quality with Sharon Kay Penman's work.
August 20, 2008
Ralph de Aix is a younger son who strikes out from Normandy to England with hopes of better advancement in his talents as a huntsman and horseman. Eventually Ralph attracts the attention of William Rufus, King of England, and Ralph is willing to use that attraction to advance his prospects as a courtier. I do give the author credit for tactfully handling Rufus' unusual "activities" in the bedroom, and Ralph's mixed feelings about his relationship with Rufus and his relief when he is freed from it and able to return to more normal relationships with women.
Eventually William gives Ralph some land at Chenna's Tun in the New Forest, and he brings his young bride Sybil to live with him there. Ralph is quickly drawn in to his Saxon tenant's ancient worship in the forest, and William's ambitious younger brother uses his knowledge of Ralph's activities to force him into committing a heinous deed.
This is top rate, well written historical fiction. The author does take her time in building her characters, and things really didn't start cooking until about page 300 or so as Ralph realizes that Herne, the ancient God of the Wood has chosen the ultimate sacrifice to The King of The Wood. Some readers who need action packed excitement on every page might find some of this book a bit dull, but I loved every minute of it, especially involving "The King of the Wood" in the still mysterious death of William Rufus. Five stars.
Eventually William gives Ralph some land at Chenna's Tun in the New Forest, and he brings his young bride Sybil to live with him there. Ralph is quickly drawn in to his Saxon tenant's ancient worship in the forest, and William's ambitious younger brother uses his knowledge of Ralph's activities to force him into committing a heinous deed.
This is top rate, well written historical fiction. The author does take her time in building her characters, and things really didn't start cooking until about page 300 or so as Ralph realizes that Herne, the ancient God of the Wood has chosen the ultimate sacrifice to The King of The Wood. Some readers who need action packed excitement on every page might find some of this book a bit dull, but I loved every minute of it, especially involving "The King of the Wood" in the still mysterious death of William Rufus. Five stars.
December 12, 2016
This historical novel takes place during the reign of William II (Rufus) and concerns the power struggles between William and his two brothers as well as between William and various groups of both French and English noblemen. The multi-layered plot follows William, his brother Henry, the Scottish princess Edith who will eventually marry Henry, and a group of peasants and gentry centered around Knight Huntsman Ralph des Aix and his wife Sybil. Into this story Anand weaves a look at how pagan beliefs and fertility rites might have survived among the English peasantry of the late 11th century.
My favorite aspect of the novel was the way Anand brought both the real and invented characters to life. Henry, Rufus, and Ralph were each very complex and fascinating people whose motivations were always nuanced. I could have wished for a little more insight into Sybil's inner life and character development, and I did feel at times that the disparate threads of the plot could have hung together a little better. Nonetheless, King of the Wood was an interesting and at times compelling read.
My favorite aspect of the novel was the way Anand brought both the real and invented characters to life. Henry, Rufus, and Ralph were each very complex and fascinating people whose motivations were always nuanced. I could have wished for a little more insight into Sybil's inner life and character development, and I did feel at times that the disparate threads of the plot could have hung together a little better. Nonetheless, King of the Wood was an interesting and at times compelling read.
January 9, 2021
This final book of the series leaves behind a more continuous narrative and set of characters from the past three and sets in motion the paths of a discrete set of characters and events (jumping from the height of the reign of William the Conqueror forward to the story of his sons). Considering it is part of the same series, it was just a bit jarring in that sense. But the soap opera-ish web of relationships, feuds, and schemes involved were as compelling as the best pure fiction has to offer. Wonderfully written and researched.
August 25, 2018
I believe the first three books of the Norman Quartet were written as a trilogy, with the first book originally titled Gildenford (Norman Trilogy, Book 1), at least according to Goodreads. This series should have remained a trilogy as The Disputed Crown, the third book of the quartet, had a satisfying ending, and the pace of this fourth book was incredibly s-l-o-w; I had a hard time staying focused on King of the Wood. Well, it was easy enough to walk away, even though I read a third of the book, given this story felt more like a standalone and not really part of a quartet - I don't believe I missed much, if anything, by walking away.
February 16, 2016
Valerie Anand draws readers into the mysterious tale of a lesser-known religious cult, all the while masterfully capturing the chaos and passion of a turbulent time within Kings of Woods.
Stepping through time back to A.D 1100, the novel opens with the death of King William Rufus, son of William the Conqueror before the audience are taken back and introduced to the young Norman, Ralph des Aix, a fine huntsmen and horsemen who is eager to win his knight’s fee from the new English King.
King William Rufus embraces Ralph and is immediately taken by him but Ralph soon discovers that being the King’s favourite is complex and not always pleasant – although it is clear that the King cares deeply for Ralph, it is not without consequences.
For his endured service, King Rufus rewards Ralph with what he has been holding out for; Ralph is offered the land of Chenna’s Tun. Many feel that the King has rundown holdings of Chenna’s Tun and deep in the New Forest, Ralph and his wife, Sybil of Fallowdene, are drawn deeper into the growing conflicts between the Norman court and the world of the Saxon forest.
Soon enough, Ralph becomes involved with the Saxon cult where he becomes a lord in his own right, yet a net of danger is cast over all. In order to be a lord of his own manor, Ralph learns that he must bear the ancient title; King of the Woods, with all its cryptic and barbaric responsibilities…
Valerie Anand is a fantastic novelist whose talent for bringing the past back to the present shines through in King of the Woods. An imaginative style of writing is observed throughout. It is full of mystery, danger and scandal: suspense that keeps the pages turning.
The characters are slow moving but the descriptive nature pulls the reader into every scene. Exceptional praise is given to how Anand handles the relationship between King Rufus and Ralph, thus exploring the nature of homosexual liaisons in the eleventh century and the consequences of the King’s open and honest actions.
Although at first, the novel appears full of unrelated subplots and characters who are just padding through the story, Anand skilfully pulls them all together, tying the loose ends, leading the reader towards that fateful day when the King was shot dead by one fruitful arrow.
Anand’s speculation of who shot the King is perfectly executed with validated purpose – interesting and exciting. King of the Woods is a brilliant must-read historical novel and is once again available for readers everywhere to enjoy, thanks to Romaunce Books.
Stepping through time back to A.D 1100, the novel opens with the death of King William Rufus, son of William the Conqueror before the audience are taken back and introduced to the young Norman, Ralph des Aix, a fine huntsmen and horsemen who is eager to win his knight’s fee from the new English King.
King William Rufus embraces Ralph and is immediately taken by him but Ralph soon discovers that being the King’s favourite is complex and not always pleasant – although it is clear that the King cares deeply for Ralph, it is not without consequences.
For his endured service, King Rufus rewards Ralph with what he has been holding out for; Ralph is offered the land of Chenna’s Tun. Many feel that the King has rundown holdings of Chenna’s Tun and deep in the New Forest, Ralph and his wife, Sybil of Fallowdene, are drawn deeper into the growing conflicts between the Norman court and the world of the Saxon forest.
Soon enough, Ralph becomes involved with the Saxon cult where he becomes a lord in his own right, yet a net of danger is cast over all. In order to be a lord of his own manor, Ralph learns that he must bear the ancient title; King of the Woods, with all its cryptic and barbaric responsibilities…
Valerie Anand is a fantastic novelist whose talent for bringing the past back to the present shines through in King of the Woods. An imaginative style of writing is observed throughout. It is full of mystery, danger and scandal: suspense that keeps the pages turning.
The characters are slow moving but the descriptive nature pulls the reader into every scene. Exceptional praise is given to how Anand handles the relationship between King Rufus and Ralph, thus exploring the nature of homosexual liaisons in the eleventh century and the consequences of the King’s open and honest actions.
Although at first, the novel appears full of unrelated subplots and characters who are just padding through the story, Anand skilfully pulls them all together, tying the loose ends, leading the reader towards that fateful day when the King was shot dead by one fruitful arrow.
Anand’s speculation of who shot the King is perfectly executed with validated purpose – interesting and exciting. King of the Woods is a brilliant must-read historical novel and is once again available for readers everywhere to enjoy, thanks to Romaunce Books.
January 7, 2014
In the Author's note, Anand states that King William Rufus, son of William the Conqueror, was killed by one of his own men. Several names were suggested in the The Anglo Saxon Chronicle. From this, she has written a novel based on her speculation that one of the men, Sir Ralph des Aix, shot the king with an arrow, on a hunt. This was a fascinating novel and well written.
There were several main subplots: the king [nicknamed Rufus for his red hair], from childhood to his death; the Norman Sir Ralph; the noble family holding the property at Fallowdene; and the peasant villagers of Chenna's Tun; Princess Edith of Scotland and Rufus's brother, who later becomes King Henry I. The names were not difficult to keep straight, but I wondered how the author would pull everything together. She did so, in a convincing manner. The motivation for the murder was very plausible--a quid pro quo between Ralph and Henry. Characters were sharply drawn. I liked the feistiness of the two main females: Sibyl of Fallowdene and Princess Edith. The vividness of the writing really gave me a feel for that time and place [late 11th century, after the Conquest]. I enjoyed reading about the rites of the Beltane and Lammas ceremonies of the villagers of Chenna's Tun. When the king gifts Chenna Tun to him and he lives there, Ralph is drawn into paticipating as "The King of the Wood" [the Celtic Herne the Huntsman]. I was very glad Rufus's sexual appetites were handled very delicately--nothing crude here. Also, there was nothing crude in the descriptions of the pagan fertility rites. The novel started slowly but quickly gained momentum and was easy to read.
There were several main subplots: the king [nicknamed Rufus for his red hair], from childhood to his death; the Norman Sir Ralph; the noble family holding the property at Fallowdene; and the peasant villagers of Chenna's Tun; Princess Edith of Scotland and Rufus's brother, who later becomes King Henry I. The names were not difficult to keep straight, but I wondered how the author would pull everything together. She did so, in a convincing manner. The motivation for the murder was very plausible--a quid pro quo between Ralph and Henry. Characters were sharply drawn. I liked the feistiness of the two main females: Sibyl of Fallowdene and Princess Edith. The vividness of the writing really gave me a feel for that time and place [late 11th century, after the Conquest]. I enjoyed reading about the rites of the Beltane and Lammas ceremonies of the villagers of Chenna's Tun. When the king gifts Chenna Tun to him and he lives there, Ralph is drawn into paticipating as "The King of the Wood" [the Celtic Herne the Huntsman]. I was very glad Rufus's sexual appetites were handled very delicately--nothing crude here. Also, there was nothing crude in the descriptions of the pagan fertility rites. The novel started slowly but quickly gained momentum and was easy to read.
June 30, 2013
This book finishes the story of the conflicts between the Normans and the Saxons. Many of the characters from the earlier books in this series appear in this last historical novel. The author makes their family conflicts real and the reader realizes that dysfunctional families existed in all times.
There is quite a bit of description of the ongoing beliefs of the village people in the old religions and Gods of nature.
I enjoyed the earlier books in this series more than this one.
There is quite a bit of description of the ongoing beliefs of the village people in the old religions and Gods of nature.
I enjoyed the earlier books in this series more than this one.
April 29, 2010
Another new author to follow up.
May 3, 2017
I found this book enjoyable but confusing at times ,it seemed to have several main characters whose lives become entwined in some way. The confusion is moving from person to person throughout the chapters but if you like this era (William Rufus ) its worth the read .
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews