Book Review for

The White Company
by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
 

When published in 1891, The White Company became Britain's best-selling
book since Ivanhoe, surpassing A Tale of Two Cities and Treasure Island.
 Leaving the shelter of abbey life, young Alleyne Edricson becomes squire to
the noble knight, Sir Nigel Loring of the White Company, a bold band of archers
who travel to France to fight for their Prince, Edward III, who wants to restore
the vanquished king of Spain. A rousing adventure tail set in the 14th-century.

The sentences are a pleasure to read. An excerpt:
 "'How can a man have too much religion?' cried Alleyne earnestly. 'It is the one thing
that availeth. A man is but a beast as he lives from day to day, eating and drinking,
breathing and sleeping. It is only when he raises himself, and concerns himself
with the immortal spirit within him, that he becomes in very truth a man.
Bethink ye how sad a thing it would be that the blood of the Redeemer
should be spilled to no purpose.'" (pp. 58-59)


 Return to "Reading for Pleasure" page