The King's General

My favorite book for 15 years and I'm hard to please. This book grabbed me as a flighty teen and has kept me ever since. I have about 6 copies including an original but I read it a couple times a year and I've loaned it out so I've been fanatical about keeping a spare copy. I treated myself to a new release on my b-day. This is a story filled with drama, romance, comedy, history and fun all the way through. So descriptive you're there, a slightly dry first chapter only prepares the way for a great read. The language of the book bridges the generation gap seamlessly (published 1946) Most scenes could be modern day. No spoilers here but you can smile, frown, laugh and cry on this one.You may have mixed feelings about some of the characters but you will love Honor and Richard, hate Gartred, and pity Dick. Don't skip this book.

Set during the English Civil War of the 1640's, du Maurier retells a lesser known bit of Cornish history as an elderly Honor Harris reflects back on her life and love. Wooed by the charming, irascible but extremely flawed Richard Grenvile, eighteen year old Honor loses her heart and prepares to marry Richard until a tragic accident changes their plans. Richard and Honor separate, but meet years later during the Civil War as he is now the King's General in the West as they fight the Parliamentarian rebels - although not all the Royalists think too highly of Richard's high-handed approach to prisoners and discipline. While Honor refuses to marry Richard, her feelings for him are as strong as before and they begin a most unusual relationship as the tides of war ebb and flow around them. Honor takes up residence at Menabilly, the family home of Honor's brother-in-law Jonathan Rashleigh and things soon begin to go bump in the night in typical du Maurier fashion - mysterious comings and goings, a secret door, a mystery floorboard in the summerhouse and..... well more than that, I'm not telling - read it for yourself. du Maurier once again weaves a magical tale, albeit this time with real-life characters. The dialogue between Richard and Honor sizzles off the pages, as does the enmity between Honor and Richard's sister - and boy can those two swap some memorable barbs. The scene where those two sat and played at cards and witty repartee as the rebels sacked Menabilly to its bare walls was just brilliant, as was the bit when Richard over indulged in dinner and wine and called the troops back after retiring - simply priceless. All in all a very unusual love story and an interesting glimpse at a footnote in Cornish history. I'd love to see this one on film - the actors would have a field day. As for Menabilly, du Maurier rented the home from the Rashleigh family and lived in it for some time and was the inspiration for her most famous novel, Rebecca. Five stars and now I'm off to find more of these almost long lost gems to put on the reading pile.

I read this book over 30 years ago and it's effect has never left my memory. It is a treasure that refuses to be forgotten and will stay with you forever. I am an avid reader and there are few books that take the lead like this one did.

I have beeb on a website where history affecionados suggest their favorite historical books both fiction and non-fiction. I don't know how I became reminded of "The King's General" but I recalled how intrigued I had been by it 30 or so years ago. I hastened to buy it again and it did not disappoint. I enjoyed it as much now. I remember that it had given me my first inkling of Cornish history and of the civil war outside London. So much more. Do a favor for a history loving friend and recommend it. It gives a magnificent perspective on those times.

Reading Daphne du Maurier's The King's General makes me realize that they just don't have a lot of authors like her anymore. Meticulously researched, this saga of the English Civil War is free from the anachronisms one so often finds in modern historical novels, conveying the reader back in time. Without being explicit, the author weaves one of the most passionate and sensual love stories ever, even though the heroine is a disabled and thought that love would never find her again. The family divisions and painful separations which so characterized the era are captured with heartbreaking intensity, as well as the indestructible love between Honor and her general. Beautiful descriptions and flowing narrative, this is a historical fiction as it should be.