Rating: 
Summary: Rutherfurd's best so far.
Review: "The New Forest," set aside as a royal game preserve (or to be more accurate, as a royal deer farm) by William the Conqueror, comes to life through six of the families inhabiting it in Edward Rutherfurd's fourth novel. Opening and closing with a framing story set in 2000, the book's seven intervening chapters span the years from 1099 until then. Each chapter is a self-contained tale that covers a generation or two, telling the lives of the principal families - and the changes that time, technology, and politics bring to their beloved Forest.I'm fascinated, after finishing this book, to go back to its preface and discover that the Austen-like feel of "Albion Park" may be partly due to the author's use of a real-life incident to craft its turning point. That incident, it seems, happened to Jane Austen's aunt! Both "Albion Park" and the chapter following it, "Pride of the Forest," show Rutherfurd's characters acting within the tight cultural boundaries of their time and place - and yet, like Austen's people, they manage to transcend those boundaries. To show themselves fully, and timelessly - *human.* Even the women! After reading all four of Rutherfurd's novels, I don't hesitate to call this one his best. My one criticism is that I found the end of its framing story something of an anticlimax. However, that's nowhere near sufficient to keep me from giving it the top rating it otherwise richly deserves.
Rating:
Summary: The Forest - Edward Rutherfurd
Review: A novel that spans a period of 1000 years in a small region of England? The premise sounded original and I was willing to rely on my love of history carrying me through. And you know what? I got more that I expected out of this book.
Having not read any other titles by Rutherfurd, I had no previous experience of his style and though curiosity led me at first, I was soon hooked.
Following the fortunes of six families through the years, most notably the Albions, Rutherfurd not only relates a series of great stories, he also tells the history and politics of England's New Forest, and the life of its deer and famous oaks. The characterisation is strong, both heros and heroines are well drawn, from the Norman noblewoman Adela de la Roche to the mysterious Puckle and his many equally mysterious descendents. All in all, a pretty damn good book. The chapter 'Albion Park' left me with a craving for Jane Austen again and as a whole leaving me with a strong inclination to read some more of Edward Rutherfurd's work some time soon.
Rating: 
Summary: Not quite Sarum
Review: Another intriguing novel by Edward Rutherfurd Through the eyes of the ancient forest near Bath, Rutherfurd takes us through the generations, exploring the great conflicts in English history such as Norman vs. Saxon, Merchant vs. Nobleman, Catholic vs. Protestant, Royalist vs. Cromwellian and Industrialist vs. Conservationist.
He does this through sympathetically tracing the lives people down the generations of seven families: The Albions, the Martells, the Prides, the Seagulls, the Puckles, the Furzeys and the Grockletons. We read about waxing and waning fortunes and about ongoing family feuds, but always the main interest is through the people themselves of who's trials and tribulations we read about: The experiences of a young Norman noblewoman, Adela De La Roche in `The Hunt', the Monk, Brother Adam, struggling with the love of a woman, Mary Furzey, in Beuleau. The tragic tale of Alice Lisle, caught up in the political turbulence of the 17 th. Century England of the Stuarts and Cromwell, in Alice , and the pain and redemption of the young lady , Fanny Albion , in `Albion Park'. Always to the backdrop of The Forest, and its varied life, it celebrates nature and the irrepressible strength of humanity. An exciting and interesting read.
Rating:
Summary: A Work of Art
Review: As I neared the end of "The Forest", a sadness moved over me as I realized that the wonderful journey through time in the forest was coming to an end. This is not just a book, it is an adventure into moments in history in a region of England not often covered. Rutherford has perfected the ability to tell stories of ancestry while incorporating beautifully described periods of English history into his tales. There are chapters in this book that are profound. The story of Alice, her heirs and ancestors, is a personal favorite. However, each chapter brings new twists and complications to the evolving families. For me,"Sarum" is still my favorite of Rutherfor's books but "The Forest" is very close. It is another brilliant effort and worthy of the highest praise.
Rating:
Summary: Well-tried recipe
Review: Edward Rutherfurd has done it again: take a location and describe crucial episodes in its history using the fictitious characters of a few local families through the ages. What remains is a very bulky, entertaining though not earth shattering book. After his "histories" of Salisbury, London and Russia he has now chosen the Forest, an extensive woodland area south of Salisbury. The book is well written and reads fast despite its 800+ pages. The book starts in 1099, when King Rufus is killed during a hunt in his royal Forest. Edward Rutherfurd gives an alternative description of this killing. In this first chapter the author is quite keen on venting facts: a bit boring and interruptive to the story. Luckily this is less so in the remaining 6 stories which describe such events as the life in a medieval monastery, the Spanish Armada, a witch process, the time of the Puritans, the business of the smugglers which have always been active on the southern shores of England, and finally the way in which the Forest became a national protected area. I look forward to reading his next novel on Dublin...
Rating:
Summary: Making history great fun!
Review: Having read "Russka," "London," and "Sarum" and enjoyed them all, I was eager to read "The Forest"--and I wasn't disappointed, overall. Some people might complain that the New Forest area of England is hardly worthy of such a long novel, but Rutherfurd's interest in and portrayal of the "small people" of the forest make fascinating reading. In fact, I'd have much preferred more about the forest dwellers and somewhat less about the "society types" who dominate so much of the book. Give me more Puckle and Seagull any day! Even so, the book is well worth the time for anyone who has ever entertained an interest in England and English history. Rutherfurd's literary strength lies in his wonderful descriptions of the natural world in which his characters move and I often found myself rereading paragraphs in order to soak in that description. As for his characters, I enjoyed them, but the copy I read would have benefitted from a family tree similar to the one found in "London," although Rutherfurd throws in enough physical similarities and references to ancestors to help his readers keep the characters quite distinct. I also have a couple of nitpicks about the book. In one spot, the owl is said to be able to turn its head 360 degrees, which is incorrect. Also, the mark of the arrow in the Rufus tree is said to have grown higher with the passing decades. This also is incorrect, as trees grow from the ends of the branches out and a mark in the trunk never gets any higher. These are quibbles with a wonderfully readable story which I am otherwise happy to recommend.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic read!
Review: I was a little wary the first time I picked up this book. I was hooked just a few pages in, and finished the entire novel in less than a week, thirsting for more. Rutherford does a great job of making you care and love (or loathe) his characters. A must for anyone who enjoys reading.
Rating:
Summary: Pretty damn good!
Review: I't obvious from Rutherford's earlier works what he feels passionate about... and "London" ain't it, although it's a great book, too.
In "Sarum", his first book, he is personally involved with the landscape of what he writes about (as he was born and raised there), and in "Russka" (his second) it is obvious he has a passion for the Russian people. Later, in "London" it seems as though he feels compelled to write about this colorful city, but has no real passion for the place, as he borrows from previously published works (as he does with "Russka"- but with a preordained zeal that one must have to really write about the area in question.)
In "The Forest", Rutherfurd once again captures the passion he once held as an historical fictionist in "Sarum", and places himself foremost among the "greats" of historical literature. "The Forest" is full of original characters and complex motives, together with original plots and great stories.
Apparent as with all other Rutherfurd works is the detailed family tree at the begining of the book, as well as informtive maps as to the region.
Readers of historical fiction will find this book to be Rutherfurd at his high peak of form. It is engrossing, addictive and entertaining.
Highly recommended! Two thumbs up!
Rating: 
Summary: Something of a Disappointment
Review: I've read all Rutherford's books, starting with the wonderful "Sarum" and "Russka," then "London" (which seemed to me to be interesting but slightly stale) and, now, "The Forest." I suspect he's written too much, too quickly, because he uses the identical plot devices for each of his novels but the originalty of his stories is now beginning to suffer. In each case, you start WAAAAAY back when in history (usually Stone Age) and work your way up to the present through a series of interesting vignettes or snapshots of human-interest stories set periodically through the history of the specific place. James Michener, of course, perfected this technique, and Rutherford is never less than interesting in his version. But ...somehow, by "The Forest," it just didn't seem to me that he had that much to say. The book felt repetitive, as if I was simply reading rifs on his earlier English books. Oh, yeah, another Norman-vs-Saxon episode, another Augustan Age seque, etc. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure you'll enjoy this book if you've never read him before, but I'd certainly recommend any of his earlier works ahead of this one. He feels, somehow, like he's gone formula on us.
Rating:
Summary: Another Rutherfurd masterpiece!
Review: I've read Sarum, Russka, London, and now The Forest. Although Sarum is still my favorite, I have thoroughly enjoyed The Forest. Rutherfurd has a way of making history live through multi-dimensional characters ... in a very Micheneresque way. I highly recommend The Forest, as well as his other works.
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