Publishers Weekly
03/12/2018
Having already taken on Julius Caesar, Genghis Khan, and the War of the Roses, Iggulden (The Dangerous Book for Boys) successfully dramatizes the life of Dunstan, Abbot of Glastonbury and confidant of King Aethelstan, the grandson of Alfred the Great. At Aethelstan’s side, Dunstan takes part in the Battle of Brunanburh in 937 CE to protect England from Viking and Scottish invaders and is rewarded with the Benedictine monastery at Glastonbury, to which he is named abbot. Over the years, Dunstan will serve several of Aethelstan’s descendants, be named treasurer of England, become involved in court intrigues, and undergo banishment to Ghent. Upon his recall from exile, he travels to Rome to meet Pope John XII, is named archbishop of Canterbury, and helps build a cathedral there. Purported by the author to be a “found” document, this tale is narrated by Dunstan in wittily modest fashion. There are more than enough holes in the historical record for Iggulden to fill out Dunstan’s life story imaginatively. And though this is less dramatic than Iggulden’s novels about other historical figures, it nevertheless immerses the reader in 10th-century England. (May)
The Daily Express
This engrossing novel is rich in intrigue, with Iggulden breathing life into this remarkable and complex figure who played a vital role in safeguarding a newly united England.
The Times (London)
Superbly plotted and paced. An absolutely cracking story. The pace is nail-biting and the set dressing magnificent. Iggulden has created an intriguingly complex saint—flawed, spiteful, and unreliable as the teller of his own tale. Through his eyes we watch the story of the making of England.
Book Browse
A sweeping historical epic full of valiant kings, cathedral building, Viking invasions, and battle scenes. Paints a vivid multi-sensory picture of Britain almost 1100 years ago. From the smelting of coins to the crowning of kings and hunting for stag in the wilds of the countryside, The Abbot's Tale captures the imagination and engages the senses.
BBC History Magazine
Conn Iggulden's Dunstan is a vivid, convincing character.
Booklist
Both a compelling fictional biography and an epic overview of the birth of England. A natural companion piece to Bernard Cornwell’s megapopular Saxon series, Iggulden’s page-turning narrative provides another piece to the often-challenging puzzle that is tenth-century England.
The Daily Mirror
Iggulden is in a class of his own when it comes to epic, historical fiction.
BookReporter
Iggulden’s writing style is rich and accessible, detailing young England and its people in a way that makes the thousand-year gap feel obsolete. An intimate and unforgettable character portrait.
Library Journal
02/01/2018
Dunstan of Glastonbury, a bright but selfish young man, finds himself hanging from a cliff. Encouraged to fall by his tormentors, who are crushing his fingers as he dangles, Dunstan requests a priest for a final confession. Pulling this "man of the cloth" over the edge with him, he uses the cleric's body to break his impact. Such perceived miracles inform the course of his life until a childhood chum, a grandson of Alfred the Great, suddenly becomes King of England through an untimely death. Visions of a future united England come quickly once Dunstan has the king's ear. Now, a well-placed abbot, Dunstan can unleash his ambitions and raise the funds to build empires for God. However, perpetuated lies come with a consequential price. Best-selling historical novelist Iggulden ("War of the Roses" series) offers a well-paced, believable peek into the brutal and often outright cruel world of tenth-century Europe. His attention to detail is illuminating and never tedious. VERDICT This gripping saga will appeal to historical fiction buffs, fans of Bernard Cornwell's "Saxon Stories" series, as well as anyone who yearns for a compelling, well-told story.—Russell Miller, Prescott P.L., AZ
