TO CATCH THE CONSCIENCE OF THE KING.

TO CATCH THE CONSCIENCE OF THE KING by MARTIN WHITE.

BACK COVER BLURB: 1327:

King Edward II has fallen from power. He is imprisoned, and must be referred to now merely 'Sir Edward of Caernarvon'.

Brother Stephen de Birstin, lately down from Oxford, finds himself thrust from the obscurity at his Gloucester priory into the prominent, but delicate role of confessor to the ex-king at Berkeley Castle.

The lives of the two men intertwine against a narrative based on the latest theories concerning Edward's ultimate fate. The tale is painted in the vivid colours of a medieval bestiary, and recalls the work of Borges.

FIRST SENTENCE {PART ONE: HEREFORD. CHAPTER 1}: See My Thoughts.

MEMORABLE MOMENT {88}: Many times he would long for the peacefulness of mealtimes at Blackfriars, where - in accordance with the Order's rule - the only sounds to be heard had been those of knives on trenchers, and of holy texts being read aloud to divert attention from the sensual pleasure of food and drink.

SOURCE: Received for review from the author.

READ FOR: Not applicable.

MY THOUGHTS: 'Under Hereford's old Wye Bridge, at the southern end where the town privies discharged to the fast flowing current, ordure had spattered on the wooden stanchions, decade by decade, so that now they were festooned with a thick excrement, bearded about with lank weeds and thriving colonies of furry mould' ....

And so begins this gem of a historical novel.

Wonderfully descriptive. At times graphically so - I admit to being fascinated by the blow by blow account of a 'hanging, drawing and quartering', my stomach turning the whole time.

From Hereford to Gloucester to Berkeley to Corfe ... and beyond ... we learn of the fate of a king fallen from grace and the Dominican friar whose role it is to hear his confession whilst at the same time making sure he is safe in the hands of those who imprison him.

It is this, the relationship, the narrative between (Ex) King Edward II (now known as Sir Edward of Caernarvon) and Brother Stephen, that made the book for me.

With large portions given over to the two men, Brother Stephen in his role as confessor. Or is he? In no doubt that he is to see Edward as the enemy, it is never the less he who seems to pour out his heart as the author skillfully takes us into the mind of each of the men.

Deeply impressed with To Catch The Conscience Of The King, Martin White is certainly a name I shall be keeping a look out for.