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Act of Oblivion: The Sunday Times Bestseller

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Most of these are either already dead or are quickly caught and brought to justice, but several – including Whalley and Goffe – have disappeared, seemingly without trace. Whalley and Goffe are real historical figures, as I’ve said, and so are most of the others we meet in the novel, including not only Charles II, the future James II and the Lord Chancellor, Edward Hyde, but also many of the governors, magistrates and ministers of the colonies in which they seek refuge. An exceptional, exciting, and suspenseful chase, a magnificent piece of historical fiction, very difficult to put down, and in my humble opinion, an absolute must read. Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties.

Act of Oblivion - Penguin Books UK Act of Oblivion - Penguin Books UK

But the fellah has a knack for turning staid stories into page turners, im not sure how, but he does. When the tale’s perspective shifts to their pursuer, you sympathize with him, feel his pain and anger, and hope that he will be successful in his hunt. the raw emotions of the characters and the issues that drive human dissent make this a worthwhile read.Chapters shift from colonial America to England and the hardships faced by their family, who must also hide from the authorities. We gain insight into the personalities of Cromwell and Charles I through Whalley’s eyes, and also to the politics of the era. Oliver Cromwell then ruled as Lord Protector of England, Scotland and Ireland until his death in 1658. Here he looks at one of the great conflicts of English history: the bitter civil war between royalists and parliamentarians. The mystery of his identity soon gained an extra frisson: it was rumoured that the Angel was the fugitive Major General William Goffe, a man with a huge reward on his head.

Act of Oblivion by Robert Harris | Waterstones

And if I ever get to Heaven (an unlikely scenario) I’ll be very disappointed if I find that any of them on either side really have been turned into saints. The arc of the story is well designed, with the focus shifting between New England and London, where Goffe’s wife (Whalley’s daughter) is the primary focus. The pages of this novel are packed with history, but what I found particularly interesting was the portrayal of life in the recently founded colonies of Connecticut, Massachusetts Bay and New Haven. He assumes people will know the basic history of Cromwell and the Restoration, and puts no political element into the plot. The pluses were the writing style was excellent, it wasn’t a drag to read to the point of grumbling, sighing, or eye-rolling.In 1675, the scattered tribes of New England formed an alliance and rose up against the English colonists who were forcing them off their land. If, like me, you come to Act of Oblivion with no knowledge of what happened to Whalley and Goffe (both real people), then I would strongly advise against looking up the details until you’ve finished reading. Whalley is the only reflective character, confronting the possibility (in the memoir, though not to others) that perhaps God had not been on the side of the Parliamentarians. This stands apart and besides the primes on both sides here and doesn't exist for the "eyes" of the true believer intensity except in some Scripture asides or a page here or there.

Act of Oblivion by Robert Harris - BookBrowse Reviews of Act of Oblivion by Robert Harris - BookBrowse

The author gives full access to the inner thoughts of all these characters, painting a fuller picture of the plot and people involved. This is a wonderful story in the style of "The Fugitive" with a relentless pursuer determined to get his men. In a richly detailed and immersive narrative, Whalley and Goffe's predicament is given life beautifully, at first finding support and living openly amongst the community, but its not long before they are forced into hiding, having to move, facing betrayal as danger draws ever nearer. Yet Harris depicts even scenes of violence with a poetic description that makes reading Act of Oblivion like watching a movie; everything springs from the page to the imagination. One Sunday, when the God-fearing inhabitants were in church, the Norwottuck tribe launched an all-out assault.Almost 16 hours in length, the audiobook version of Act of Oblivion is the equivalent of two regular audiobook novels and despite the excellent writing and narration, it requires a listener's attention throughout. When it comes to the execution of English royalty, perhaps the most famous are the two wives of Henry VIII who met their ends at the Tower of London — Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard. Harris argues that there must have been someone who served the role of the fictitious Richard Nayler that he has created here, in London he is the secretary of the regicide committee of the Privy Council, he has the responsibility of tracking down the traitors. A breathless, frightening, claustrophobic way of life, much of it spent in hiding, is what awaits the fugitives every step of the way, never knowing how long it will be before they have to go on the run again, where they will next lay their heads. In such times as prime obsessions of either religious or delusional dictates taken as an entire fever of life plan?

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