A dark age nicely put into the spotlight! | Heinrich the Fowler: Father of the Ottonian Empire

book: Heinrich the Fowler: Father of the Ottonian Empire | Mirella Patzer

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	• Heinrich the Fowler: Father of the Ottonian Empire Mirella Patzer PublishAmerica, 2004 - 295 pages average customer review:based on 2 reviews view larger image
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More bodice-ripper than history but still enjoyable

As someone who is obsessed with dark ages history who reads any and every historical fiction novel about this period, I picked this book up recently. Similar in pacing and feel to the Carolingian novels of Diana Johnson (Pepin's Bastard and Destiny's Godchild), Mirella Patzer's novel is centered on the lives of two great personages of medieval Germany, Henry (Heinrich) the Fowler and his wife Matilda of Ringelheim. Set in the early 10th century, it tells of Henry and Matilda's marriage and of Henry's rise to power, first as Duke of Saxony and ultimately as King of Germany. The story moves along well and is an easy read. And while Patzer has clearly done her homework on the lives of these two fascinating people, the emphasis seems to be less on the history and more on the sex and romance, which at times veers into the territory of a romance novel. Moreover, the battle scenes lack any detail, authenticity or excitement, usually described in a "the Magyars slaughtered everyone" mode. It is for these reasons that I give it 3 stars instead of 4, but overall its a pleasant enough read for anyone interested in early German history. It sounds like Ms. Patzer is writing a sequel that will deal more with the children of Henry and Miranda, specifically Otto the Great, which may improve on this promising but flawed start.

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A dark age nicely put into the spotlight!

This tale has everything to keep you turning the pages till you meet up with the backcover! It's nicely written and the characters are interesting and real. It's also an interesting period - a time when in the twillight of the Roman Empire and the re-shuffling of the European powers to be - the bases of todays Europe was layed. Foundations who carried Europe into its future and its destiny. You won't regret to have read this book - as it's a nice way to learn more about this early history.

Tenth-century Germany is a divided country, ever at the mercy of its ruthless, power-hungry dukes. Then Heinrich, Duke of Saxony and Thuringia, meets the virtuous Countess Matilda of Westphalia. Reluctant to wed at first, Matilda slowly grows to love her charismatic and courageous husband who dreams of one day uniting Germany and becoming king. But as Heinrich's attentions turn again and again to waging war upon the enemy Magyars and growing ever more powerful, turmoil plagues him and he is charged with treason. With a death sentence upon his head, Heinrich fights back until a twist of fate helps him realize his ultimate dream. The turbulent clashes and the personal destinies of the people caught in this medieval tale are magnificently interwoven in this sweeping novel of power and passion, loyalty and lies. Amidst bloody wars, scheming dukes, towns under siege, and virtuous women, Heinrich and Matilda conquer the world of their times. History and fiction combine to bring to life this tangled, tempestuous era.

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