The Lute Player: A Novel of Richard the Lionhearted Paperback – December 1, 2009

I have enjoyed reading this historical fiction book. It’s over 500 pg but is a good read. Love the characters and there are just a handful so easy to follow. Author has a way of telling a good story. I enjoyed this book!!

Enjoyed reading Nora's version of events and the POV. We'll done as fiction. Not quite the true to life story of Jean de Nesle, Blondel. She left out the fact that Jean/Blondel was a Knight. This would make him hardly the "Boy" painted here.

This imaginative story of Richard the Lion-heart is steeped in historical fact, even if the maincharacter might not be real. The writing is excellent, the story moves and entertains.

Great book could not put it down.

I am a fan of the author's books, as well as a fan of the historical fiction genre, and looked forward to reading this one. Unfortunately, my expectations were not met, as I found this book to be somewhat boring. The book dragged on and the telling of the story was quite tedious.Told through the eyes of various characters, the story did not seem all that cohesive, and I found myself wondering what the whole point of the story was. I also did not find any of the characters all that compelling, with one exception, nor did I even understand why the book was titled as it was. I found this book to be quite mediocre and not up to the author's own standard. Overall, I did not really enjoy it.

We are slowly collecting all of her books; one of our favorite writers.

This Norah Lofts title , a wonderful and insightful story,should have been considered to be worked into an endearing movie

This is one of my all time favorite books! Written by a favorite author. It came to Mr pretty fast and I really hope I will be able to read it again. But, I'm not sure as the smell is very bad, mouldy and since I am an asthma sufferer it may need to stay out in the shop for quite awhile. I would still give the seller another try though.

This is a wonderful novel, and I would recommend it to anyone who loves history and historical fiction interwoven with facts. I have this in book form, but it is so old now, I decided to go for a Kindle copy. I love Norah Lofts, and have all of her books, and hope to be able to get them all on Kindle.I love stories where different characters tell parts of the story, and write in the first person. There are some wonderful characters in this book, and the way that Norah Lofts writes,you can really "see" them. A thoroughly good read. I would recommend also. "A Queen in Waiting" by this author, which is a story of Eleanor (Richard the Lion Hearts Mother) and it ties in this The Lute Player.

I have recently re discovered Norah Lofts and I loved this book. She has a wonderful way of setting the scene and her characters are totally believable.

Book in terrible condition, absolutely filthy. Tipped it into the bin, very disappointed

This was the fifth book I have read which narrative revolved around Richard the First, The Lionheart. The first was Nicholas Chase’s “Locksley” which was about Atheling of Locksley who assumed different personalities and adventurous roles, concluding with being the legendary Robin Hood. It was a very good inventive book and should have attracted more readers. The second to fourth books were of the Alix of Wanthwaite trilogy, starting with “The Shield of three Lions” by Pamela Kaufman. Although this is a drawn out narrative it provides lots of excellent historical perspective and is rich in audacious twists and turns. It is a tale of a young girl, Alix, who out of necessity assumes a false appearance as a boy, Alex, who gains the favour of King Richard’s confidence.Now, the fifth book, Norah Loft’s “The Lute Player,” which she wrote before the other books were authored. This book’s strength is in its high quality. It is masterly crafted literature. The plot revolves around five characters, three who get their opportunity to narrate parts of the book: Blondel, the King’s Lute Player; Anna, the deformed half-sister of Berengaria, Princess of Navarre; and Richard’s mother, the imperious Eleanor of Aquitaine, called the She-Wolf. The two who do not narrate but play principal roles in the story are Berengaria, who by default becomes betrothed to the King, and Richard himself. Anna’s story has the most poignancy and as the book comes to an unperturbed end readers will wish that happiness will come her way.The book is probably more about Berengaria’s tragic fate than it is about Richard and the Third Crusade. Historical accounts lend credence to the rumour that her marriage to Richard was never consummated. This book, and Chase’s book make the presumption that he was totally averse to having intimacy with women. In contrast, Kaufman’s books presents the case for his bisexuality which accommodates a more suspenseful and unpredictable plotline. There is lots to learn and enjoy in all of these books. I suspect I will next take on Loft’s book “Eleanor the Queen,” about Richard’s overbearing and scheming mother, to conclude my foray into the interesting life and times of Richard the Lionheart.

Bought as a presnet for a closer friend. Good reading. That lad... I have read nearly all her books.y can write!