E. V. ThompsonRezensionen

This historical novel centres on the notorious Scottish Highland clearances in the early to mid 19th century. Wyatt Jamieson is a liberally-minded minister in the Scottish church sent to a parish in the Highlands, where the factor John Garrett, employed by the absentee landowner Lord Kilmale, is determined to clear the area of highland crofters to make way for more profitable sheep. At the same time, church and state are in conflict and the path is set for the schism of the Free Church from the main body of the Presbyterian Church of Scotland. These conflicts are played out in various ways including through bloody conflict as Garrett resorts to terror tactics to achieve his aims. I enjoyed the story, though not quite as much the author's The Tolpuddle Woman.

1.5 stars-rounded down. Just an edge above "I hated it".
I refuse to classify it as historic fiction, because while set in the past there is little historic about it.
If you buy a single scene in this book, I have some prime ocean front property in Nebraska I'd like to sell you.

Wow another amazing story from Thompson, this time about Texas, Mexico, the American Indian tribes and the US. I always learn so much history from his books in a most enjoyable way.

This is a fast moving story, a real page turner. I know the locations but it was fascinating to learn about life on St Michael’s Mount. Apparently Thompson has written about 40 books so I’m looking forward to more stories by this wonderful author. Gripping from start to finish (in a Cornish sort of way).

I think this is the last of the Retallick series. I am so sad that it is finished, it has been a wonderful journey for me. Now I am continuing to read more of Thompson’s book, a wonderful story teller.

Another amazing story in this series. Wonderful, fast moving story, a real page turner and it makes you really care about the characters. Now I on to the 8th book in this series, can’t wait.

A wonderful historical story of South Africa and what it was like to live there at the time. Thompson lived there for a time and obviously is steeped in its history. I was totalled engrossed in the book - I love it. Five stars for sure.

A wonderful wonderful story, breath-taking. It places you in history as if you were there. 5 stars!!!

This story took my breath away. Thompson is a wonderful story teller. Certainly worth 5 stars!!!

A wonderful story, E V Thompson never disappoints, he writes so well. Now I am going to read the rest of the series and lots more.

An amazing story, gripping. Well written.

A wonderful story, well written by someone who knows Cornwall well. This is the second in the Retallick series and I intend reading them all. I thoroughly recommend both of the books that I’ve read so far.

Wonderful story, well written. I’m now going to read some more in this series.

This sweeping historical novel covers the lives of the villagers of Tolpuddle, in Dorset, in the early 1830s when infamously six farm labourers were transported to Australia after a show trial for swearing an oath to become members of a union of farm workers (that was not itself illegal by that time), to protest against the gradual reduction of farm labourers' wages that was threatening them and their families with hardship and near starvation. None of the six is a major character in the novel though, and the lives and loves of the fictional characters weave a web that gives a strong feeling for the texture of life in this society at this particular time, the poverty, sense of community and strong religious, especially Methodist, underpinning to life, that underlay the concerns for social justice. The main characters are young Wesley Gillam, and the girl he comes to love, Saranna Vey, though the eponymous woman is Amelia Cake, a cantankerous but ultimately compassionate widowed landowner for whom Wesley and Saranna work. A good read, and I would read more by this author - I understand that many of his novels are set in Cornwall, a part of the country I love.

A harrowing tale of life in a slum in Bristol set in past times. Very graphic with vivid descriptions of the characters. An adult read.½

read a long time ago

j'ai moins aimé les n° 4 et 5 dans lesquels les populations locales (noirs africains autochtones) ne sont pas bien traitées. Un bon point pour les mentions des horreurs des camps de concentration.½

By far the best novel written by E. V. Thomson, why this has not been made into a film I don't know, I has it all! Female highwaymen, pirates, romance and above all is set in one of my favourite parts of the world - Cornwall!

The thing with Thompson is that you know what you are going to get. Star crossed lovers who may, or may, not hate each other on first sight, then kept apart by class/war/circumstances until the final few chapters where all is resolved and they live happily, contentedly, ever after, (usually after the male has worked his way heroically up the social ladder a couple of notches.)
9/10 there is a bit of social history thrown in for good measures. The working classes struggling with their lot.
For me Thompson's books are the literary equivalent of mashed potato, - comfort food; something to curl up with when you want the familiar, when you want a break from brain-aching 'intellectual' tomes.
He must be doing something right as I have several shelves of the things now!