Monday, December 12, 2005
Sparrowhawk Book V: Revolution
The fifth volume of Edward Cline's Sparrowhawk series in now available. I received my copy last week. It is a handsome hardback and a rare treat for me, since I live on a paperback or used book budget.Revolution picks up right were Book IV: Empire left off, with the debates surrounding the repeal of the Stamp Act. The novel's action takes place in Virginia and London. In Virginia the patriots are working to keep the hated stamps from entering the colony, even if that means using force against British colonial authority. The patriots also have to keep an watch on local "moderates" who will sell out Virginian liberty for peace and quiet.
For most of those in the British Parliament, liberty is not an issue. The primary concern is the cost in both trade and of military force of enforcing the Act. The rare exception is the circle of MPs revolving around the Baron Kenrick. Kenrick's son Hugh is also a patriot leader in Virginia. While Hugh is leading the local Sons of Liberty, Dogmael Jones is the only MP who will uphold colonial liberty in Parliament.
Cline's portrayal of the debate in Parliament is based on a wealth of research. It is also, to my knowledge, the only example of the 18th century Parliament being presented in fiction. As Cline makes clear the shortsighted ministers, with the Declaratory Act, are only putting off the reckoning for a short time.
In the next, and last, installment of the Sparrowhawk epic Book VI: War Cline will have to resolve the potential differences between his two main protagonists, Hugh Kenrick and Jack Frake, and tie together the various sub-plots.
I'm eagerly awaiting the last volume of this masterful series of historical novels that honors the architects of our liberty.
# posted by Grant Jones @ 1:37 PM 
