Title: Enemy of God
Author: Bernard Cornwell
First published January 1, 1996
397 pages, Paperback
ISBN: 9780312187149 (ISBN10: 0312187149)
Rating: 4.4
Overview
Leaving Bloomington behind, Bailey embarks on a thrilling adventure in the Big Apple. She has been offered a spot in a Broadway musical and is eager to make the most of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
However, leaving her loved ones behind isn’t easy, and doubts start to creep in. Meanwhile, Cody has taken a coaching job in a small town near his mother’s prison to be closer to her.
The distance, new friends, and challenging circumstances begin to strain their relationship. Join Bailey and Cody in the first book of the Bailey Flanigan series as they navigate love, loneliness, and big decisions that will shape their future together.
This series also features members of the beloved Baxter family and brings closure to the Bailey Flanigan/Cody Coleman story.
About the Author
Bernard Cornwell, a well-known author, was born in London in 1944 to an English mother who was a member of the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force and a Canadian airman father. He was adopted by a family in Essex who were part of the Peculiar People, a strict Protestant group that banned frivolity and medicine.
Cornwell attended Monkton Combe School and the University of London before becoming a teacher. Although he tried to join the British armed services three times, he was rejected due to myopia.
Cornwell then entered the media industry, starting at BBC’s Nationwide before becoming the head of current affairs at BBC Northern Ireland. He later became the editor of Thames News at Thames Television.
In 1980, he moved to the United States after marrying an American but was unable to obtain a green card. He turned to writing novels as a means of supporting himself.
As a child, Cornwell was an avid reader of C.S. Forester’s novels about fictional British naval officer Horatio Hornblower. He decided to write his own series of novels about Lord Wellington’s campaign during the Napoleonic Wars, featuring a protagonist named Richard Sharpe.
He began with two “warm-up” novels before publishing Sharpe’s Eagle in 1981, which was followed by a three-book deal. Cornwell co-wrote a series of novels with his wife under the name “Susannah Kells.”
After publishing eight books in the Sharpe series, Cornwell was asked to write a prequel for a television adaptation of the novels. The result was Sharpe’s Tiger, which led to a series of television films starring Sean Bean.
Cornwell also wrote a series of contemporary thrillers with sailing as a theme, as well as a political thriller.
In 2006, Cornwell was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire. His latest work, Azincourt, features an archer who participates in the Battle of Agincourt during the Hundred Years War.
However, Cornwell has clarified that it is not related to his previous Grail Quest series.
Editoral Review
In his fictional retelling of the Arthurian legends, Bernard Cornwell evokes the dark, gritty world of sixth-century Britain in Enemy of God. The second installment of his Warlord Chronicles trilogy, first published in 1996, brings to life the brutal struggles between the warring tribes and religious factions that shaped the country’s destiny.
Cornwell, a prolific British author of historical fiction and a master of the genre, has written over sixty books, including the widely popular Sharpe series about the Napoleonic Wars. He is known for his meticulous research, vivid descriptions, and compelling characters, who often grapple with moral ambiguity and existential crises.
Enemy of God picks up where the first book, The Winter King, left off. The narrator, Derfel, a Saxon orphan who becomes a warrior and a trusted advisor to Arthur, recounts the events leading up to and the aftermath of the decisive Battle of Badon Hill.
At stake are not only the lives and aspirations of the main protagonists, but also the fate of their respective deities and beliefs. The conflict pits the Old Gods, worshipped by the Celts, against the New God, brought by the Christians; the Druids, who seek to preserve the ancient ways, against the priests, who seek to impose a single faith; and the warlords, who seek to unite the land, against the sons of the former high king Vortigern, who seek to inherit his legacy.
The plot is thick with intrigue, betrayal, passion, and violence, as Derfel navigates between rival factions, reconciles with his past and his feelings for the Lady Nimue, and faces new enemies such as the treacherous Bishop Sansum, the crazed monk Lancelin, and the ruthless princes Mordred and Cerdic. The pacing is brisk, the action scenes are graphic, and the dialogue is sharp and witty.
The setting is evocative, from the misty hills of Dumnonia to the ruins of Bath to the snow-covered forests of the North. But what sets Enemy of God apart from other historical epics is its psychological depth and moral complexity.
Cornwell’s characters are not mere archetypes or stereotypes, but flawed, nuanced, and relatable human beings with conflicting loyalties, desires, and fears. Arthur, for instance, is not a godlike hero or a political genius, but a charismatic warrior with bouts of melancholy and self-doubt; he struggles to balance his vision of a united Britain with his sense of duty towards his wife, Gwenhwyfar, and his illegitimate son, Duran.
Merlin, instead of being a wizard or a madman, is a wise counselor who meditates on the nature of power and free will; he questions the efficacy and the morality of his own magic, and tries to reconcile his loyalty to Arthur with his respect for the Old Ways. Nimue, instead of being a passive damsel or a seductress, is a strong-willed healer who fights against misogyny and intolerance; she defies the norms of her gender and her station, and risks her life to save the wounded and the vulnerable.
The themes of Enemy of God resonate with the contemporary reader in various ways. The religious tensions and the political instability that plagued sixth-century Britain may echo the current global conflicts and crises; the search for identity and purpose, the struggle for justice and equality, and the need for compassion and redemption may reflect the perennial human condition.
The historical accuracy and the cultural references provide a rich background for further exploration and learning, especially for those curious about Celtic, Saxon, or Christian history and mythology. However, the weaknesses of Enemy of God are also noticeable.
The writing, while generally eloquent and vivid, can be repetitive and predictable; certain phrases or motifs are used too often, and certain plot twists or character developments are telegraphed too soon. The violence, while essential to the plot and the theme, can be excessive and gratuitous; certain scenes of mutilation, torture, or rape may be disturbing or triggering for some readers.
The portrayal of women, while progressive in some aspects, can be limited and stereotypical in others; certain female characters are reduced to objects of desire or victimization, or to foils for male quests or conflicts. Despite these flaws, Enemy of God is a compelling, thought-provoking, and entertaining novel that delivers both substance and style.
It stands as a testament to the power of historical fiction to educate, inspire, and entertain, and to the talent of Bernard Cornwell to create memorable and meaningful characters and stories. It deserves a rating of 4 out of 5 stars, based on the criteria of originality, readability, craftsmanship, and impact.
It is highly recommended for fans of Arthurian tales, epic sagas, and historical dramas, as well as for anyone interested in the human condition and the human imagination. It is a treasure trove of wisdom, humor, and emotion, waiting to be unearthed and savored.
