Genre- Fiction
Glastonbury Tor by LeAnne Hardy
Published by- Kregel Publications
Copyrighted- 2006
Number of pages- 239
Age Group- Older Teen/Adult
Description of book- paperback, list price $12.99, ISBN 0-8254-2789-4
Extras- Afterward, discussing the historical background.
Summary- Seventeen-year-old Colin Hay tries to kill his father after his mother’s death (due to his father). Colin decides he is going to go to Glastonbury monastery for protection from his father and to become a monk like his mother desired.
At this time King Henry VIII is closing many of the monasteries in England, and Colin is afraid of what may happen to the monastery where he is staying. He is also confused with what he is learning at the monastery and with a local family who studies from an English Bible, which is forbidden. Glastonbury Abbey is even more special, because it holds a treasure, the Holy Grail.
About the author-
LeAnne Hardy has lived in Johannesburg, South Africa where she taught writing and wrote for HIV/AIDS infected children. She has been a missionary on four continents. She was able to visit the ruined abbey at Glastonbury when she lived in England. She currently lives in Wisconsin with her husband. They have married daughters and two grandchildren.
My thoughts- I thought this book was so good I had to read it twice. I learned more the second time than the first time and I am sure that when I read it again I will learn even more.
The most interesting tidbit of information was about the children's nursery rhyme, “Little Jack Horner.” A man from the abbey had been sent to the king with a pie with the titles of the Abbey manors. The pie was a deed short. The man who now had the manors was Jack Horner.
I have known for many years of the religious upheaval in England’s past. This book really put it into perspective though with the Catholics, Church of England, and the Celtic faith that was still holding on. I really enjoy reading books like this, because you learn more about daily lives and not just names and dates.
I would highly recommend this book for young men, so they can learn of forgiveness and religious conviction. I would also recommend this book to anyone who want to learn more about England in the late 1530’s. I am going to lend this book to my sister now to read, so she can enjoy it too.
Disclosure of Material Connection- I received Glastonbury Tor by LeAnne Hardy for free from the Kregel Publications’ Blog Tour. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
I'm glad you enjoyed the book so much. I had fun including little details like Jack Horner. I too prefer social history of how people lived to politics and court intrigue. But events at court affected ordinary people like Colin and Roger just as decisions in Washington this week will affect you and me. I wonder how a future novelist will portray this period.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Rani. The world is complicated, isn't it? I wanted to tell a story that would focus on the human issues of the day and not just politics. I'm glad you enjoyed it.
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