Reviewer: Michael Smith
Title: Birth of the Kingdom - 3rd in the Crusades Trilogy
Author: Jan Guillou
Publisher: Harper
ISBN-13: 978-0-06-168863-8 (Hardcover-English Translation)
Release Date: June 2011
Genre/Sub-genre: Historical Fiction
Year/Setting: 1192-1211 in Sweden
Overall Rating: 4.5
Sexual Content Rating: Subtle
Language (Profanity/Slang) Content Rating: Mild
Violent Content Rating: Moderate
Jan's Website/Blog: None found
The setting is in Gotaland (Sweden) during the Middle Ages, after the Christian army has lost Jerusalem. The land is populated by three clans; Folkung Clan (which Arn belongs to), the Erik Clan and the Sverker Clan and governed by a King from within these clans. The clans have been at peace for the past 20 years.
A Templar Knight, Arn de Gothia, returns home after 20 years of fighting abroad but brings an array of foreigners with special skills along with a vast treasure. His new quest is two-fold; first, to find his one true love that he left behind and second, to make Gotaland a strong regional power.
He learns that his beloved Cecilia resides in a convent but has not taken vows. Another surprise is that he is a father. His son, Magnus is now a man. Arn wants the love that he left behind, but there is an undercurrent of intrigue since the clan’s leaders want Arn to marry a Danish maiden to build an alliance.
As Arn re-enters the family clan (Folkung) he discovers that before he can strengthen the power of Gotaland and his clan he must rebuild the family castle into a strong fortress and encourages other members of the clan to do the same. Arn must negotiate through the politics of three clans to join with Cecilia in marriage. The author, Jan Guillou provided a detailed overview of the courtship and marriage rituals. I particularly enjoyed the newlywed antics of Arn and Cecilia as they build up their stronghold and family. As time progresses, family secrets are revealed of unknown relatives.
The family clan believes that Arn’s idea of preparing for war as the best means of preventing a war is very strange. This foresight comes into play after a Danish king appointed to rule Gotaland starts a war of conquest.
Arn is thrust into the fight as the Marshal of the Gotaland’s rightful king. Two wars are fought within the last fifty pages which define Gotaland’s existence. The last page provides the answer to the title, Birth of the Kingdom. All is clear from what Arn instructs his grandson to do for the new kingdom.
This was the only book in the trilogy that I read, and the only minor problem that I encountered was keeping the relationships straight within the three clans. I rooted for Arn and Cecilia to be reunited. I hoped that Arn would survive and fade into history. Jan Guillou provided a more suitable ending with a twist to Birth of the Kingdom. The story and setting makes me wish to visit Sweden to see the people and history of this land.
Michael
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