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.

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!

I wasn't sure if I was going to like this book. It's not the type of book I would normally seek out but I liked the cover and I was intrigued by the description. Once I got started I found it quite compelling despite not really liking the main character.

It's the story of Dunstan's remarkable life told in his own words – it reads like a memoir or autobiography. Conn Igguldon has written an account of Dunstan's life based on the facts we do know but has written it so that it accessible. The author has added a historical note at the end of the book, which I also read, and I found this interesting and useful.

The story really begins with Dunstan's elderly father taking the thirteen year old Dunstan and his younger brother to Glastonbury Abbey to be educated by the monks. Dunstan is a very clever boy, eager to learn. However he very soon makes enemies.

He sees an opportunity. His father has older sons from a previous marriage and Dunstan was unlikely to inherit. He sees he would have better opportunities if he takes holy orders.

Through family connection and ambition he soon makes a name for himself. He was relentless in his pursuit of a place in the King's court. Not just one king, but seven: Three brothers, two sons and two grandsons. Not everything goes to plan but he manages to turn most things to his advantage, making enemies along the way and also being exiled at one point.

I found Dunstan very full of himself. He is arrogant, proud, ambitious and jealous too when he doesn't get his own way. He's not above bending the truth when it is to his advantage, or even 'doing away' with the enemy. I can't say I liked him as a character but he seems to have led (or maybe engineered) a remarkable life and I found his story is fascinating.

I'm find it difficult to rate the book. Probably somewhere between 3 and 4 stars.

History has always fascinated me, but I don’t know very much about the medieval period, so I was keen to read Dunstan: One Man Will Change the Fate of England by Conn Iggulden, to be published on 4 May 2017. It is historical fiction following the life of Dunstan who was born some time between 910 and 920. He was the Abbot of Glastonbury, then Archbishop of Canterbury and later canonised as a saint. I thoroughly enjoyed it and learned a lot about the period.

Conn Iggulden has brought the period to life with this book, fleshing out the historical records. It’s written in the first person, past tense, so we see events through Dunstan’s eyes. He and his younger brother Wulfric were brought up by the monks at Glastonbury Abbey. It’s a harsh, cruel life, but Dunstan has a vision that he will build a cathedral and his ambition and determination help him to make his vision a reality.

The book is set during the reigns of several kings, Æthelstan, the grandson of Alfred the Great, then of Æthelstan’s brother Edmund, who was king for just five years before he was killed. He was followed by another brother, Eadred, then by Edmund’s sons, Edwy and Edgar, who divided England between them. They were followed by Edmund’s grandson, Edward and finally by Ethelred the Unready, his much younger brother. I hope I have got the sequence correct.

This was a period of great unrest and conflict, as England eventually became unified under one High King, and was attacked repeatedly by the Vikings. Dunstan was manipulative, dedicated, ruthless and proud. It was these characteristics that enabled him to succeed. He was present at the Battle of Brunanburh in 937, in which Æthelstan defeated an alliance of Viking and Celtic warriors for control of the country and became the first king of England.

Dunstan also reformed the monasteries, imposing the rule of St Benedict, was instrumental in the building of Glastonbury Abbey, was an adviser to Eadred, exiled by Edwy, and reinstated by Edgar before being appointed Archbishop of Canterbury.

My summary of this book really does not do it justice. I was fascinated by it and the detail is impressive. It incorporates many tales about Dunstan, including the one where he is said to have pulled the devil’s nose with a pair of tongs. Conn Iggulden’s version of this tale is truly horrific. His Historical Note explains his use of the sources he has used and explanations of his use of names, notes on spelling, titles, on the Battle of Brunanburh, on Gothic Arches, and on the many miracles that Dunstan is said to have performed. Where there are gaps in the historical records Iggulden has filled them in to present his story of a man who achieved so much despite his flaws and self-doubt.

This was a welcome chance to delve back into the unfamiliar world of early medieval England, as well as my long-overdue introduction to the writing of Conn Iggulden. Several of his other novels are waiting on my shelves and it's just chance that Dunstan got there first. I should add that I knew nothing about St Dunstan before reading this, although if I had, I would surely have felt a kind of proprietary interest in him, as a local Somerset lad and the man responsible for Glastonbury Abbey's first flowering. Iggulden gives us a thoroughly worldly saint, shrewd, ambitious and unscrupulous, very rarely sympathetic and yet always fascinating: the partial architect of a new, united England.

Dunstan is barely into his teens when, in the 920s, his father brings him and his younger brother Wulfric to Glastonbury to pursue their studies. The abbey then is a cold place, stranded on its island in the middle of the salt marshes, accessible only by poling a boat through the reeds. The young Dunstan is captivated by the possibilities of the place, not only by the Latin, Greek and music of the monks' regime, but also the allied skills: the knowledge of medicinal herbs; reading and writing; the crafting of ironwork in the forge; and, more than anything, the pulleys and weights used on the abbey's building sites. He is a sharp boy, but not a lovable one: too ready to brawl rather than forgive, he swiftly makes enemies among both masters and boys, and spawns vendettas which, when they come to maturity, will threaten his life itself.

Only a quick mind can cut its way through the intrigues of an isolated abbey, and young Dunstan realises that a few miracles can only help his position. Iggulden comes up with clever explanations for the most famous deeds attributed to the saint, achieved not by the force of faith but by wit, skill and observation. As his fame spreads, Dunstan comes to the eye of Elflaed, the niece of King Athelstan, who carries him off to court. There, in the busy town of Winchester, Dunstan sees for the first time the milieu that will become his second home: the arena of politics, crowns and arms. For this is how his life will unfold: half his heart tucked away in the marshes of Glastonbury, where he strives to raise an abbey that will redound to the glory of God; and half given to the service of the king. But who is that king? In the course of his life, Dunstan will serve seven: three brothers in the first generation, two brothers in the second, and two in the third. For this is a world of blood, where kings die young and the Danes are always nipping at their borders.

This is a solid doorstop of a book: 544 pages, but it feels longer, riddled with the ins and outs of court, and with Dunstan's own picaresque adventures. I can't even hope to give an overview of it, so I've kept my summary very brief. I'll be honest and say that it took me a while to get into it, but by halfway through I was intrigued by Dunstan as a character. There is little to warm to - he's opinionated, arrogant and misogynistic - but his mind is a fertile ground for all kinds of new ideas. In his author's note, Iggulden says that he truly believes Dunstan had one of those rare great inventive minds like Newton or Leonardo, which I don't know enough to agree with or dispute, but he makes a strong case in the novel for his protagonist's fertile powers of creation. Narrated in the first person, the book also plays with the concept of the unreliable narrator: Dunstan doesn't exactly lie, but he sees certain actions in a very different light from the reader. He isn't a pleasant character, but he's one of the more credible churchmen I've come across in early historical fiction: the kind of bullish man who simply gets stuff done.

The novel is interesting too for its context: it hovers at that moment when England is on the brink of becoming its modern self. On one side, back in the mists of time, you have the fragmentary kingdoms of the Anglo-Saxon period, which we've encountered so often in recent months: Mercia, Northumbria, Kent, Wessex, Alba. On the other, we have a single English state, ruled by a peripatetic king and a Witan, essentially the embryonic model of a modern constitutional monarchy. I'm now keen to learn more about exactly how Athelstan went about forging that unification, and I see that Iggulden's historical note recommends Tom Holland's recent biography of the king, which I'll seek out.

This is warmly recommended to those fascinated by this early period of British history, and to those who enjoy complicated, multifaceted protagonists. I can't say that I've fallen immediately in love with Iggulden's writing, but I get the feeling I could do, with the right book. I'm certainly keen to read more.

For the review, due to be published on 29 April 2017, please see my blog:
https://theidlewoman.net/2017/04/29/dunstan-conn-iggulden