The Man on a Donkey

This book is one of the best historical novels I have ever read. I found it in a used book store some years ago, and I suspect whoever sold it never read it. I have just finished reading it for a second time, and found it very hard to put down. It is a long book, but worth every hour that you invest in it. I too am surprised it is out of print. If you are interested in this period of English history, this will enlighten you. If you love novels with well developed characters, this will show you another aspect of that art.

This is one of the best novels I have ever read. I'm a historian, and usually I find ample points for criticism in "historical" novels. However, Prescott's own training in and respect for history make this novel above criticism. It's difficult to describe my feelings for this book; the complexity of the emotions, the depth of the historical vision, the intensity of the characters' passions combine to produce a novel that is hauntingly unforgettable. The religious themes interwoven with the narrative have created a story that is more intense and more meaningful than a simple account of the Pilgrimage of Grace as a political movement alone. For the discriminating, intellectually mature reader, this is a work that is prose-rich, thought-provoking, heart-breaking, and, in a word, exceptional.

This is technically a historical novel, but it is so much more. Prescott, an Oxford historian, does not write like an academic. Her craft is writing history, and she does it beautifully, but in this novel the history is totally integrated into the narrative. It is the story of a group of people living during the reign of Henry VIII of England, some rich and noble, some poor and unknown. It is an extraordinarily tragic tale, as Henry's actions establish him as the religious authority in England, as he dissolves the monasteries, brutally puts down a rebellion in the North of England and changes the face of the nation regardless of the impact on individual lives. It's about both human and divine love -- both a spiritual and a transparently human story. I am really surprised that this splendid book is out of print.

This is an old book. I have had my copy over 25 years and I like it so much that I sometimes read it all over again. I was searching for other books by this author when I ran across this. If you like to read historical novels,this is the book for you. The wealth of detail enables the reader to truly experience another age.

This is an historical novel, but it is not a costume drama. The author has done her research, but she brings one into the world of XVIth century England gradually. It is the tragic story of the Pilgrimage of Grace, a revolt against Henry VIII in the North of England in the late 1530s, through six individuals: a nun, a young woman, the leader of the revolt, a renegade priest, a nobleman and a serving-woman who has visions. Also Christ appears, walking the earth again, and again being recognised and also ignored. The story is told as a chronicle of these persons; one can see why reform was needed in the Church at the time, but how some of the politicians exploited this reform to enrich themselves: the suppression of the monasteries resulted in the acquisition of their lands by greedy noblemen. The characters are all believable and fully developed. It isn't always clear just what these visions of Malle, the serving-woman consist of, but they are of a prophetic nature. One can see this far-away land take shape, and the novel has cinematographic possibilities; indeed, I've cast it. The novel teaches and enriches one, and like all great works of literature, says a lot about the time we are living through.