Sarum

By: Edward Rutherfurd

Narrated by: Roger Davis

Length: 53 hrs and 59 mins

Publisher's summary

The towering story of five families through 100 centuries of turmoil, tyranny, passion and prosperity from Edward Rutherfurd, the author of London, Russka and New York.

In a novel of extraordinary richness the whole sweep of British civilisation unfolds through the story of one place, Salisbury, from beyond recorded time to the present day. The landscape - as old as time itself - shapes the destinies of the five families.

The Wilsons and the Shockleys, locked in a cycle of revenge and rivalry for more than 400 years. The Masons, who pour their inspired love of stone into the creation of Stonehenge and Salisbury Cathedral. The Porters, descended from a young Roman soldier in exile. And the aristocratic Norman Godefrois, who will fall to the very bottom of the social ladder before their fortunes revive.

©2011 Edward Rutherford (P)2019 Audible, Ltd

The rich history

My fifth time to listen to this wonderful book since it first came out. I’ve since visited the area twice and it’s so rich in history.

Excellent listen!!

Well done all the way around. I learned so much and enjoyed the storylines. Thank you!

POV makes the saga

We may be familiar with the historical facts. However, I never considered. The daily life of people living with different religions and rulers in each era. Wealth and power comes and goes. A series of vignettes tied together by family trees.

Very well written story of England

The narrator has an enchanting way of telling the story. Very realistic en lively historic novel on ancient England.
Loved it!

Superb

I read the book twice and now listening to it was a delight. A wonderful story and a trip through time in England. One of my favorite novels.

Long Story but Worthwhile Listening

An ingenious blend of history and fiction that kept my attention. The reading was stage quality but the reader dipped into low volume speech at times making listening a bit difficult. He could then get quite loud making comfortable volume setting a challenge. From what I already knew about English history I think the representation was fairly accurate. Corn however has not been grown there for thousands of years. Maize was a gift from the New World. Nonetheless I recommend this enchanting listen and am pleased that I completed it.

Narration adds to the story

Roger Davis is fantastic as the narrator. He brings a wonderful story to life with his accent and intonation! A long story, told in a masterful way! Very enjoyable listen!

A story worth the time

Though some might think 54 hours is a ridiculous amount of time to spend on one book, I find Sarum to be completely worth the time spent. The saga of the heart of England, from its inception to modern day, puts life to the history that enriches the area. I really enjoy the intertwining of the four different families and appreciate so much the explanations about historical events I had previously not taken the time to fully understand. I really enjoyed the book because of, rather than in spite of, its length. I look forward to reading more of Rutherford’s books.

Masterful historic novel

I know Sarum and Salisbury quite well; I visit the area often, so much in the novel is very real to me. I’ve even climbed to the top of the Cathedral spire and can say that the descriptions in the novel seem remarkably accurate.
The love stories are well told.
I did have trouble keeping all the names straight. Since it’s an audio I can ‘t keep checking them out. So I also have the book and check names out there from time to time.
A long story, but it kept my interest and I learned a lot.
John Staige Davis

American accents

I loved the entire book. The American accent slays me. Edward Rutherfurd is a genius.