One of Sutcliff's "earlier kinds" of stories--a small, quiet story with no action and a lot of sense of place, this book is aimed at younger readers than some of Sutcliff's more popular books. The protagonist, Lovel, is disabled and a healer, which makes him not unusual for a Sutcliff protagonist, but he's also a monk, which is unusual (on the other hand, his decision to become a monk is utterly pragmatic and almost entirely lacking in religious calling, so Sutcliff's ambivalence about organized religion is still on display).This is also interesting because it's one of the few books with a real historical figure playing a fairly major role--Henry I's minstrel-turned monk, Rahere, is an important catalyst for both Lovel's personal journey and the plot surrounding the building of St. Bartholomew's Hospital in Smithfield. I was amused by how similarly Sutcliff described both Rahere and Herluin in "Knight's Fee," although ultimately I think they are rather different characters. Overall, I enjoyed this book, but I didn't adore it--it's an excellent companion to "Knight's Fee," though, beginning about a decade after that book ends and providing a different perspective on Sutcliff's version of Anglo-Norman Britain.Note: There are a couple odd discrepancies with the historical timeline. In the book, the wreck of the White Ship takes place in December 1121, rather than November 25, 1120; and the real Rahere seems to have been a canon at least by 1115.
Given her own life story, I suppose it's not surprising how often Rosemary Sutcliff wrote about people with disabilities. I always appreciate the lack of magical healing, and the way her characters find their place in the world despite everything. This is very classically Sutcliff in that. It's a slow story, no major drama, following a boy who finds his place and a master to follow -- also quite classically Sutcliff. I liked it a lot; it goes to show you don't need major action, just small and intensely personal issues, to make an absorbing story.
What do You think about The Witch's Brat (1970)?
I'm usually a big fan of Sutcliff, but this one left me wanting more. There's some interesting elements that went unfulfilled. I don't think the characters and their relationships were developed sufficiently. It was a very short book. I think it should've been quite a bit longer, actually, and I almost never say that. Sutcliff often writes a series of vignettes in a life, rather than uniting a narrative as a whole, and in this case that technique wasn't effective. The narrative felt fragmented and lacked depth. Rahere was a fascinating character, but only made occasional appearances. I guess I'm a bigger fan of Sutcliff's grittier, darker, bloodier stories. Too quiet for me.
—Nate
this is about a young man who has a deformity of his back and it is set during the reign of henry 1lovel helps is grandmother to heal people with herbs and when she dies he runs away from the place where he lives. he arrives at a monastery where he meets rahere the kings jester. whist at the monastery lovel helps with the physic garden and in the infirmary. rahere comes back to the monastery and asks him if he will join him in london with a new hospital and church. he does not go straight away. as he is looking after one of the monks who is dying. the hospital is bartholomew's.
—Winifred
