by Adam Smith

Created on: November 05, 2008

Book Review: The Age Of Arthur: A History Of The British Isles, By John Morris

When I give book reviews I usually rate on a grading scale on a few separate categories. These being Readability, Creativity, Suspense, Characterizations, and for this particular book due to its genre, Historical Accuracy. So without further ado, here are my rankings.

Readability- This book is not too easy to read. Lots of very big words, hard meanings and every now and than I had to put the book down and check up a few different things. This really doesn't bode too well for the author or for the book. On one hand you could say that it is for the more mature reader, but than again it is not the author, nor the publisher who is able to give these reviews after spending quite a heavy price to purchase this book. So in short I will say that be prepared for a hard read if yo wish to sit down with this book.

Overall I rate the Readability at a C+

Creativity- Very creative. The ability of the author to take facts and make them into a story is the true art of the history writer. And it is shown through and through in this book.

Overall I rate the Creativity at a B+

Suspense- I don't know how much suspense is possible in a book of historical facts, but if there is any available this work truly covered it through it's ability to present the facts in a more storied type. To leave you waiting and wanting for more and more.

Overall I rate the Suspense at an A-

Characterization- John Morris was really able to bring about an active characterization of these figures. This above all is the greatest achievement Morris had made in this book. It is one thing if you are trying to make up the characters of a fictional book, that takes a lot of creativity. But, it is much more harder for an author to bring about a new characterization of a historical figure that has already been given years and years of scrutiny. Very Remarkable!

Overall I rate the Characterization at an A

Historical Accuracy- This book is very historically accurate. John Morris was also able to make sure that his reader knew what was unknown, what was supposed and what was guessed at, as no one could truly know the real history and motives of these people who have left this earth so long ago. This is often a portion where historians tend to over reach. Usually you will see Historians go the extra mile to call old opinions that have been called "facts" just because no one has evidence to challenge it.

Overall I rate the Historical Accuracy at an A+

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