Helpful Score: 2
Having loved Sansom's novels set in the time of Henry the Eighth, I ordered this one. I am so glad I did. Not only is it a great story that kept me up two nights in a row, but it illuminated a period I really didn't know much about
Helpful Score: 1
I am a history major and must admit that I knew very little about the Spanish Civil War and Franco. This book is a love story of couples caught up in the war and it is very graphic in its explanation of the horrible conditions of that war and the interference by Germany and Russia into that war. There is no glorification of love or war in this book as it follows a few British volunteers. I liked this book a lot, but there is nothing uplifting about it. War is hell....then, now, and always.The main characters are marked for life by their experiences. A good read...Genny
Helpful Score: 1
Had to give it up. Too slow.
If anything, richer and better than the Matthew Shardlake Tudor mystery series by the same author.
This is the first book that I have read by C.J. Sansom. It was rich in lots of history about the Spanish Civil War from 1940 and it's consequences to the people of Spain. I found the characters to be very interesting with lots of espionage and corruption making the story rather thrilling in parts. It was a little slow in the beginning but I found the ending really held my attention with lots of action and intrigue. I now look forward to reading the author's Shardlake series. I would highly recommend this book to those who love historical thrillers with some romance in the mix.
