Despite being a technophobe, this publication intrigued me so much, I was
inspired to buy a Kindle just so I could read this book. Was it worth it? Well,
in my opinion this is one of the best novels produced in a decade - across all
genres. It tells the story of Richard III’s asecent to the throne, in the first
person narrative of one of his friends, Francis Lovell. But it’s not what you
might assume, and the story twists and turns so that you are left wondering in
what direction the plot will go next. The author has gone to great pains to
research the life and times of England’s most iconic and controversial monarch
but in the style of all good novelists, has imposed his own stamp on the theme.
I cannot think that anyone who reads this novel will be disappointed. Well done,
Mr. Rae. And as for the Kindle….. it didn’t take long to get used to it and
I’ve now downloaded several more books.

I had quite forgotten what a fascinating lifespan Samuel Pepys had until I
recently re-read this book on holiday. The execution of King Charles I,
Cromwell’s ascendancy, the Restoration, the Great Fire of London, the Dutch
Wars. It has it all! The best aspect of the book though, is Claire Tomalin’s
portrayal of Pepys in a truly intimate fashion – she brings the narrative from
his diaries alive; his fears, his doubts, his romances, his smooth transition
from Parliamentarian to staunch king’s man. One cannot but wonder about the
powerful skills of observation from this fascinating character, as he strolls
through rioting Londoners and keeps a watching brief on the fire that engulfed
the City, so that he can record the outcome for contemporary reports and for
posterity. The reader is left with a sympathetic view of this extraordinary man
who rose to prominence from very ordinary circumstances. What brought the story
home to me was the reluctance of the nation to publish the diaries in a complete
and unabridged fashion for centuries. It just goes to show that Publishers have
ever been slow off the mark to realise real talent.