Sarum

By: Edward Rutherfurd

Narrated by: Roger Davis

The towering story of five families through 100 centuries of turmoil, tyranny, passion and prosperity from Edward Rutherfurd, the author of London, Russka and New York.

In a novel of extraordinary richness the whole sweep of British civilisation unfolds through the story of one place, Salisbury, from beyond recorded time to the present day. The landscape - as old as time itself - shapes the destinies of the five families.

The Wilsons and the Shockleys, locked in a cycle of revenge and rivalry for more than 400 years. The Masons, who pour their inspired love of stone into the creation of Stonehenge and Salisbury Cathedral. The Porters, descended from a young Roman soldier in exile. And the aristocratic Norman Godefrois, who will fall to the very bottom of the social ladder before their fortunes revive.

©2011 Edward Rutherford (P)2019 Audible, Ltd

Very good authentic historical fiction.

The history and tying the thread’s beginning to end make the book very interesting. Rutherfurd’s books should be made into serial movies. I have read Sarum, New York, London, and China. Next will be Paris!

The rich history

My fifth time to listen to this wonderful book since it first came out. I’ve since visited the area twice and it’s so rich in history.

Excellent trip through history!

What a wonderful trip through time! Characters bring to life the history of Salisbury Plain, from the end of the Ice Age to 1985. Anyone who has ever visited Stonehenge or Salisbury Cathedral can instantly place themselves in the story. It was long, but not too long. I was quite disappointed that it ended. I was sure that it couldn’t possibly be finished already.

The reader was quite engaging. Her pronunciation of foreign words was very good. I do have to say that I am quite unused to the British pronunciation of some words, like grimACE, instead of GRIMace. Overall, the production was excellent.

I am only sorry about one thing, which I will remedy when I relisten to this epic. I will have a pencil and much paper so that I can make family trees, noting physical and personal characteristics of the members of the families, as well as dates and historical occurrences. Then I will be able to see connections which I only inferred from memory.

Thank you for sharing this trip through history. I heartily endorse this Audiobook.

POV makes the saga

We may be familiar with the historical facts. However, I never considered. The daily life of people living with different religions and rulers in each era. Wealth and power comes and goes. A series of vignettes tied together by family trees.

Long but very worth it

Great book, well read and written. I had read Pillars of the earth and it was cool seeing the overlap in the stories.

Informative

Entertaining yet informative. Contains a vast time span. Factual details that provides a knowledgeable amount of information

Superb

I read the book twice and now listening to it was a delight. A wonderful story and a trip through time in England. One of my favorite novels.

Very well written story of England

The narrator has an enchanting way of telling the story. Very realistic en lively historic novel on ancient England.
Loved it!

History Comes to Life

The weaving of the different families that pull together the different eras.
It’s a book to read in segments.

Amazing

I’m just in awe of being enthralled by a story for over 50 hours! I read the book years ago, but I must say, I might have enjoyed this more. The narrator is one of the best I have heard and Rutherfurd’s ability to mix fictional characters with real historical data is bar none.