A Crowning Mercy is a novel by Bernard Cornwell set in the year 1142 and tells the story of England’s King Stephen and his struggle to keep control of his throne. The book also focuses on Rowena, an Englishwoman who has been captured by the Scots, and her efforts to return home.
For who is this book for ?
This novel is a great read for anyone who enjoys historical fiction with an emphasis on the political turmoil of the time period. Cornwell does an excellent job of bringing to life characters that readers can root for, regardless of their allegiance.
Pros :
- Cornwell is a master of historical fiction, and this book is no exception.
- The plot is gripping and keeps the reader engaged throughout.
- Cornwell’s attention to detail brings 12th century England to life.
Cons :
- The book is poorly edited, with many errors throughout
- The characters are undeveloped and one-dimensional
- The story is slow and plodding
Learn more about the author
Bernard Cornwell is the author of The Saxon Stories, a series of historical novels about the Norman conquest of England, and numerous other works. He has been awarded several literary awards, including the David Gemmell Legend Award for Writing Excellence and the Author’s Club Best Novel Award.
Reader Reviews
“A Crowning Mercy is an excellent novel. It held my interest from beginning to end.”
“A Crowning Mercy is another great novel by Bernard Cornwell. It tells the story of England’s King Stephen and his struggle to keep control of his throne, as well as the story of Rowena, an Englishwoman who has been captured by the Scots. I really enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it to anyone interested in historical fiction.”
“Cornwell’s latest is a stirring yarn set against the backdrop of England’s power struggle in the 12th century … The plot, detailing Rowena’s efforts to return home and Stephen’s fight for survival, is compellingly written.”
“Cornwell’s fans will eagerly devour this latest installment in his series on the Anarchy, a time of near-constant civil war and shifting alliances among England’s nobility. The focus here is on King Stephen (1135-54), whose hold on the throne is tenuous at best; as he battles both external and internal threats to his rule, Cornwell vividly brings to life all the intrigue, warfare, and pageantry of 12th century England. There are plenty of well-drawn supporting characters too, chief among them Rowena, who was captured by Scots raiders early in the novel but hatches an ingenious plan to escape and make her way back home.”
