A fascinating story of England n the late 10C. Great descriptive writing which makes the whole story come alive. Excellent characters that move the story along. Very well researched with additions which make the story flow. Thoroughly enjoyable read.

I have read many Conn Iggulden books and never been disappointed. This was no exception. Pacey and full of content each page is an advertisement for the next and draws the reader into the era. All the more wonderful for being a true story albeit embroidered by the authors skill. First class stuff.

I came to this book having enjoyed the Last Kingdom series by Bernard Cornwell. Both books have incredibly likeable male characters who ride the balance between destiny and their own engineered truths to steer the kingdom of England in the direction that they think is best. The book follows Dunstan for the length of his life, from childhood to his later years. An epic life comprised in a very manageable book. I wished it was longer.

Iggulden has a wonderful way with words, bringing the tale of history to life that can resonate with life today. His work isn't an exact account of what happened so long ago, but he has spun a tale from the bones of what is available and made it flesh.

Highly recommended.

I enjoyed this mediaeval story enormously - I am now a fan.

An interesting and engaging book. Although the title and brief description did not immediately make it appear that I would particularly enjoy reading Dunstan I found it hard to put down. It is not perfect by any means, being necessarily somewhat 'then this happened, then that happened', but it gave otherwise not readily available insights into a neglected period of British history. There was plenty of good, solid descriptive narrative and the story of Dunstan's life is certainly full of incident. Whether the full extent of his wrongdoing could or would have been compatible with his ecclesiastical progress is an open question, but as a plot device it certainly stitched together what appear to be historical fact, or as established as facts can be from over a millennium ago, with less authenticated myths and rumour. A good read.

Nothing satisfies quite like well researched historical fiction, based on real men and events, from the distant past. I'm from America, so I know next to nothing about Dunstan, but feel I know him intimately after reading this amazing book by Conn Iggulden.

Dunstan, a man from rather humble beginnings, grows to make his mark on religion and influences events during the reigns of more than a few English kings circa 937AD. His life takes him down a number of interesting, and varied, paths but he seems more than capable of accomplishing so much in one lifetime. As a person, I would say he's a bit of a monkey and not wholly to be trusted. He sets incredibly high standards for others that he himself may not be able to attain. He's conceited and completely focused. Perhaps these are traits common for men destined to greatness?

The scope of this novel is wide. There's a vast amount of ground to cover in Dunstan but it simply flies by with ease. The twists and turns of history can be cruel but Dunstan takes it all in his stride as he narrates the stories behind each king he serves. I may not have liked Dunstan very much as a person but his shrewdness provides a fair bit of honest humour in his reflections which humanizes him to a certain degree.

This epic tale sheds light on England's early history (or not so early, depending on your view point) and the constant struggles keeping the country united under one king whilst dealing with Viking raiders in the north. It is a tumultuous time that makes for a fascinating read. Two thumbs up and now on to find more from this gifted author.

I received my copy of Dunstan from NetGalley for an honest review.

I have been an avid fan of Conn Iggulden's books for many years. My favourite was the series following Genghis Khan.

This then opened me up to as to how could he approach the world of a monk and his path through history. What transpires is an amazing literary and historical journey across kings of the realm and the establishment of Glastonbury Abbey.

The story is quite compelling considering it is driven by monks values from the main character. However it bring home just how the lands were at the time of the story, the ruthlessness of the lords of the land and how the general populace were treated.

A very good book.

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What can I say about Dunstan? I've been a fan of Conn Iggulden since reading his Emperor series about 8 or 9 years ago, and his Conqueror series and War of the Roses series more recently. I absolutely adore his ability to mesh historical fact with fiction. Iggulden has a fantastic writing style which makes it easy to devour his books quickly.

Dunstan is a brilliant book. While I'm not familiar with the particular historical context, it did not impact my reading of it whatsoever. Iggulden manages to make Dunstan a 3 dimensional figure - intelligent, ambitious, with many vices. It seemed like I finished it in the blink of an eye.

While it's not my favourite book by Iggulden - nothing will compare to the Emperor series after all - it was still an enjoyable read. Needless to say, I'll be keeping my eyes peeled for any more Conn Iggulden books.

Born into a time of conflict, Dunstan and his brother Wulfric are sent to the abbey at Glastonbury for their schooling. Bullied and beaten Dunstan loves learning but tries to protect his brother. After an incident in which Dunstan appeared to have a vision he is taken under the care of a wealthy noblewoman but in taking his revenge on the boy responsible for horrific injuries to his brother, Dunstan gains the enmity of the entire abbey. Escaping, Dunstan joins the court of the King in Winchester and over the next few decades his star rises and falls as he witnesses England changing under the rule of seven different kings.

Following on from his series on the Romans, Genghis Khan and the Wars Of The Roses, Iggulden now turns his attention to a pivotal period in English history, the forging of the nation itself from a series of divided kingdoms. Dunstan was a real character, a sainted churchman but in Iggulden's hands he almost becomes an anti-hero, not afraid to sin greatly in order to effect change. As with all his novels, the writer has a real talent for producing a fast-paced, exciting read but also with lots of evidence of painstaking research. Many historical novels fall because they focus on one aspect or the other, Iggulden always hits the sweet spot.

As usual Conn Iggulden doesn't disappoint. The book was very well written and enjoyable. It is great to have an history book mixed with some fiction to fill the gaps. I have read a number of books from this author and will read more in the future. Conn Iggulden was recommended to me a while ago and I have recommended to others since.

Another gripping historical(ish) work of art by the master of historical fiction. He paints and explores a world which has been, with remarkable skill you feel and smell the landscape and atmosphere.

Fans of The Last Kingdom and Pillars of the Earth will love this book.
This is the story of Dunstan told by himself who in the year 935 was taken by his father with his younger brother to Glastonbury Abbey to be educated by the monks.
Against all adversity Dunstan became a Benedictine monk and rose to Abbot of Glastonbury and eventually the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Through his great vision he was responsible for the building of Glastonbury Abbey in stone and the rebuilding of Canterbury Cathedral.
A remarkable well researched book about a man who achieved great things and was very influencial advising several kings and shaping the course of Anglo Saxon England.

I don't usually read historical novels but think that may change. I really enjoyed this book.

Summary

Dunstan is a historical novel which demonstrates Conn Iggulden’s mastery of words. It takes a saint and makes him human and weaves an intriguing tale from the threads of history.

Plot

This novel follows Dunstan from childhood all the way to being an old man who had seen seven kings on the throne in his lifetime. As records from the time period are sparse, the novel does take some artistic license in what it describes; each addition or change really helps build the character of Dunstan that Iggulden wants to portray as well as moving the story along.

While it does take a while for the story to get going at the start, as we’re still being introduced to the characters, getting used to the world through the pages and watching Dunstan grow into adulthood, it is once Dunstan gets his first taste of power that this novel really takes off. The second half is so full of political intrigue, scheming and changes in kings that it made for quite gripping reading.

Characters

The strangest part of this book for me was that I both enjoyed reading about the main character, Dunstan, while also disliking him as a person. He is extremely misogynistic, manipulative and arrogant, caring mostly for his own personal advancement. Yet, there are glimpses of kindness in him, of guilt and sorrow that take the edge off of that hatred; it also helps that those he surrounds himself with are really likable. How Conn Iggulden has written Dunstan here is a lesson in writing complex characters and it helped make me see this figurehead as simply human.

Dunstan is the only character which remains throughout the novel; even his brother Wulfric dips in and out, so we only see glimpses of him from time to time. The other characters are there for such fleeting moments, yet each one stands solid and present in my mind’s eye. Despite their short presence in the novel, you really get the sense of how each one impacted Dunstan and of their own characters as well.

World/Setting

The world-building also added an extra layer of depth to the novel. By the end of the novel I was convinced that I could simply step back through history and understand what awaited me there. The only times where I struggled were at the abbey when Dunstan was a child and whenever the novel moved around the country. I really could have done with a map during those latter sections as I found it really difficult to picture how far or how close these places were. That being said, I was reading on my kindle so I’m not entirely sure a map would have been much help at all.

Final Thoughts

The more I think about it, the more I enjoyed Dunstan. I will admit, I was worried in the first half – I found Dunstan dislikable and there was little else for me to grab onto then; everything else was still setting up and I had not got to know the other characters yet. But, after having read the rest, that first section is really important for making sure future events make sense and it all takes on a lot more meaning. Conn Iggulden’s writing is beautiful; it’s a novel which I think would be a delight to listen to as an audiobook, if simply just from the writing. In all fairness, I would probably buy this book just for the writing ability, but the story within the pages really helps make it shine.

A novel that brings history to life, you could get a real feel for these Anglo Saxon times

Wow! What a book. From the very first sentence I was transported into Anglo Saxon England, and I didn't want to leave. Conn's style of writing draws you into the story - at times I would swear I could smell and hear the tale. I struggled to put this book down.

Dunstan arrives at Glastonbury as a child with his brother Wulfric who we see as a weak, pathetic child, a thorn in Dunstan's side, but whose character changes and grows as the two grow up. Dunstan's take sees him from Glastonbury, to Rome, and standing at the side of kings. We see his weaknesses and his strengths, he murders, seeks justice, loves, and is kind. He was truly a great man and my world is a better one for having learnt of it.

I'll definitely be picking up another book by this author. Absolutely gripping.

This is a really interesting period of history and Conn Iggulden brings it to life very well. The book tells the story of Dunstan, a Machiavellian creature 500 years before Machiavelli was even born.We follow him from his early life in Glastonbury, through the rule of 7 different kings. Dunstan is not a particularly likeable character. He is incredibly clever and often speaks cruelly to those who he deems are less intelligent - which is pretty much everyone. He is very self-serving and moves through the court like a snake, twisting events to his own benefit. Despite this, I found myself wanting him to succeed and this is to Iggulden's credit. Given the unpleasant aspects of his nature, Dunstan could have been a villain in the narrative of someone else's story, but this is HIS story and so we are given explanations for his actions and are shown the motivating emotions behind his machinations. My one criticism of the novel is that I felt it was a little bit rushed towards the end. For me, Iggulden had created enough material to warrant two books telling this life story in all it's gruesome details and I would have relished every extra page.

I live in Kent, and have been to Canterbury often, so the name 'Dunstan' was not unfamiliar. I didn't know anything about him though so reading this book helped with my knowledge. Conn Iggulden has brought to light a period of history that isn't often written about and given us a perspective of what life could have been like then, as narrated by Dunstan. , Dunstan is a complex character, clever and often devious, yet somehow also fallible and likeable. If you know little about this period of history and you'd like to know more, but don't fancy reading a dry history of the period I would recommend you read this book - it is a work of fiction but a lot of research has gone into it. I really enjoyed it.

Historical fiction doesn't get much better than this. I'm not familiar with Conn Iggulden's books and know very little about Anglo Saxon Britain. Dunstan took me to a very different world and brought every detail to vibrant life. I was very quickly immersed in the intrigues, mistrust, division and violent conflict.

The story centres on Dunstan who, as a child with his brother Wulfric, is placed in the charge of monks at Glastonbury. He has a thirst for knowledge and is a shrewd observer. He soon learns where the true power lies and with family connections, finds himself within the court circle. What follows is a life journey involving battles for King and country, court politics and personal power and progress.

The real joy of this book is Iggulden's interpretive approach to people and events. This was a critical period in British history. The country was divided into small kingdoms and the struggle by the ruling monarchs to draw together a single united England is bloody. This is a story which could so easily be true. The research is meticulous and Iggulden has woven a colourful and plausible narrative around known facts. The plotting is superb, the characters have life and there's an energy that runs right through the book, sweeping the reader along.

I really enjoyed the author notes at the end, which gave real context to the people and story. It's a page turning thriller as Dunstan goes from child to manhood, wielding an axe in battle, moving into the corridors of power to advise kings and accumulating significant wealth along the way. A stunning book in every way.

My thanks to the publisher for an early review copy via Netgalley.

What a tremendous novel bringing Dunstan to life! One feels the surrroundings of Glastonbury in those early medieval days come alive and the fate of the two brothers deposited there by their elderly father. Dunstan is seen as someone who takes on any advantage and uses it to progress to the dizzy heights of Archbishop. He has a vision of a great cathedral and how he is able to achieve his dream is told through this beautifully crafted novel. Dunstan comes alive through the pages of this tale with all his intellect, deviousness and flaws to become the myth we all know about. His interaction with the six kings of that long forgotten time to provide for his abbey and to advance himself. A great historical novel!