Review of The Blacksmith's Arm

[Rebecca De Figueiredo]

[Following is a volunteer review of "The Blacksmith's Arm" by Keith L Wright.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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Title: THE BLACKSMITH'S ARM
Author: Keith L Wright

This is a unique and atmospheric novel that employs a distinctive narrative structure. It unfolds through two stories running parallel in alternate chapters, each with a corresponding narrative on the contemporary social and political situation. One story is set nearly four hundred years ago, while the other takes place about ten years ago. Both stories feature a young man named John, who is forced to confront a national crisis that uproots him from his familiar surroundings and the people he knows.

The reader will enjoy the story about John, the son of Tad, the blacksmith. His story is told so that it sounds like he is actually writing himself, and the tone and dialogue fit perfectly with that era, although I imagine there were probably words that were used in the seventeenth century that are not used today, yet I feel the style is simple, straightforward, and non-verbose, similar to how I imagine he would have spoken.

The book opens in 1640, during the English Civil War, when Charles I's reign is in jeopardy. Oliver Cromwell leads the puritanical opposition, and, as the book describes, uprisings and battles are fought. Does our man John set off to fight? Reader, read on to find out! The stories are surprisingly similar yet centuries apart.

An interesting aspect is how the subject of sex and women is treated in society in each era.

I enjoyed this novel and found the prose easy to read. The writing style and short chapters were refreshing, and I was drawn in right from the start. This book would make a good television series as it has both a contemporary and historical aspect.

I enjoyed this book and found absolutely nothing to dislike. There were no grammatical errors. This book would be suitable for young adults and older, with a caution about graphic sexual scenes. The vocabulary is quite profane at times, too. I will award the book five stars.

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The Blacksmith's Arm
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