It is pronounced veen not vin
Aug. 7th, 2005 10:10 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
threemonkeysAlexander, Nero, the original Olympics - Tom Holt likes the important classical historical events to be the hook for his historical novels. These are the more substantial works in his output - as distinct from the fun and frivolous gods in modern times comedy novels. Meadowland is the latest work in his historical series. It deals with the Norse attempted colonisation of North America a thousand years ago.
As for most of these works, Holt tells the story from the point of view of minor players in the great goings on. This time two ordinary workers on the Norse farm owned by leif Eirikson get to go on the boat that goes to North America. They get to go on each of the expeditions that various members of the Eirikson clan and others take to this marvellous but ill starred new land. As usual, the characters narrate their tale in a wry slightly world weary manner - they are just grunts who happen to be along for the ride. This is a literary device that works really well for Holt and why I have enjoyed all his historical novels.
There was a point early in Meadowland where I though that it wasn't working as well as the earlier books. The move from the Mediterranean to the North Atlantic and the use of a piece of history that isn't as well known as Greek or Roman history just didn't sell the book as well. But as the story moved along I became engrossed - the second half of the book just raced by as the various expeditions to Meadowland fell over. So as always, another strong recommendation for Tom Holt in his slightly more serious mode.
An aside - Holt prefers the term Meadowland to the more commonly known Vineland for North America. These two terms actually sound very alike in Norse but since there were unlikely to be any vines that far north, common sense suggests that Meadowland was the more likely term. Another point of terminology - they were not Vikings. Viking means raider or pirate - Leif and co were Norse farmers.
As for most of these works, Holt tells the story from the point of view of minor players in the great goings on. This time two ordinary workers on the Norse farm owned by leif Eirikson get to go on the boat that goes to North America. They get to go on each of the expeditions that various members of the Eirikson clan and others take to this marvellous but ill starred new land. As usual, the characters narrate their tale in a wry slightly world weary manner - they are just grunts who happen to be along for the ride. This is a literary device that works really well for Holt and why I have enjoyed all his historical novels.
There was a point early in Meadowland where I though that it wasn't working as well as the earlier books. The move from the Mediterranean to the North Atlantic and the use of a piece of history that isn't as well known as Greek or Roman history just didn't sell the book as well. But as the story moved along I became engrossed - the second half of the book just raced by as the various expeditions to Meadowland fell over. So as always, another strong recommendation for Tom Holt in his slightly more serious mode.
An aside - Holt prefers the term Meadowland to the more commonly known Vineland for North America. These two terms actually sound very alike in Norse but since there were unlikely to be any vines that far north, common sense suggests that Meadowland was the more likely term. Another point of terminology - they were not Vikings. Viking means raider or pirate - Leif and co were Norse farmers.