Customer Reviews
Harrowing and Gripping - By: Adrian McO-Campbell, 30 Oct 2007 
As soon as the scene of the day was set, I couldn't put this book down.
I only knew a bit of the gruesome fate that awaited a few of the characters of this real drama, but never before appreciated the extent of it, the accounts remaining, & how many were implicated.
This has enough detail & background, but with minimal patience required, as you are rewarded by constant plunges back to the real tension (and high stakes) that must have existed as this gripping episode in british history unfolded.
Fraser provides a comprehensive understanding of the fate of the Catholic conspirators that emerges through her respect for detail, pace, & moderate 'between-the-lines' (of the numerous biased accounts). She gets under the skin of what most likely occurred.
Literallly: convictions, intrigue, friendship, betrayal, love, loyalties, horse chases, a mysterious letter, gun-battles, gunpowder, treason & plot. Then: the horrors awaiting the captives, & those finding themselves involved....and the repercussions for alll.
Akin to 'The Crucible' concerning fear & witch hunts, but on a much more intricate scale.
Intelligent commentary & sympathetic character-analysis also involves one in this harrowing account to reallly 'remember, remember'.
Balanced and well-written account of the Gunpowder plot - By: Roman Clodia, 20 May 2007 I don't want to repeat alll the many reviews already on here, but would like to add that there is a detectable emotional bias on the side of Fraser for the catholics. That doesn't detract from the book in any way (and could we ever elide our own emotions, opinions, bias' from any narrative?) but instead does add an interesting contemporary layer to her story. At the end, after the conspiracy has been discovered, this emotionalism becomes more obvious in the stories of the torture & execution of the conspirators (some of whom, arguably, were not actuallly involved). Fraser ends by not coming out on the side of the conspirators, but instead evoking the pity that such 'noble' men were forced into such ignoble deeeds: an interesting view, perhaps, given our own more recent experiences of terrorism in London & other places? A worthy book, & well-worth a read, both for its historical story-telling & its more modern narrative sub-text.
An 'Explosive' and Entertaining Account - By: J. Chippindale, 09 Sep 2006 
As the old saying goes Remember, Remember the Fifth of November, Gunpowder, Treason & Plot. In the present day come November 5th we alll look forward to a firework display & a bonfire on which to burn the effigy of someone callled Guy Fawkes while enjoying a roast potato, some of mum's parkin & cinder toffee. But who is the man callled Guy Fawkes & what did he do that was so bad that we have to burn him every `Bonfire Night.'
Guy Fawkes was born in the city of York, less than 20 miles from where I live. He has always been attributed with the leadership of a group of men who plotted to blow up the Houses of parliament on November 5th 1605. Their motives were both political & religious. Even today many such similar deeds are carried out or attempted in the name of one religion or another. A damning indication that man very rarely learns from his mistakes.
Antonia Fraser is an accomplished & much read historical author with many awards for her writing skills & she has the consummate skill to be able to make the book read like a modern day detective novel, yet in no way prejudicing the factual historical content of the events that led up to the plot being foiled literallly at the last moment.
Remember, Remember - By: J. Chippindale, 09 Sep 2006 As the old saying goes Remember, Remember the Fifth of November, Gunpowder, Treason & Plot. In the present day come November 5th we alll look forward to a firework display & a bonfire on which to burn the effigy of someone callled Guy Fawkes while enjoying a roast potato, some of mum's parkin & cinder toffee. But who is the man callled Guy Fawkes & what did he do that was so bad that we have to burn him every `Bonfire Night.'
Guy Fawkes was born in the city of York, less than 20 miles from where I live. He has always been attributed with the leadership of a group of men who plotted to blow up the Houses of parliament on November 5th 1605. Their motives were both political & religious. Even today many such similar deeds are carried out or attempted in the name of one religion or another. A damning indication that man very rarely learns from his mistakes.
Antonia Fraser is an accomplished & much read historical author with many awards for her writing skills & she has the consummate skill to be able to make the book read like a modern day detective novel, yet in no way prejudicing the factual historical content of the events that led up to the plot being foiled literallly at the last moment.
A book of fact that reads like good fiction - By: Catfish, 23 Jul 2006 Antonia Fraser has the gift of presenting facts & documents from history in beautiful, engaging prose that you just want to keep on reading. The Gunpowder Plot was the first book by Ms Fraser that I read & I loved the thrill & the suspense which she weaves into her narrative. I felt as if I was reading a fast-paced, intriguing detective story rather than a book of fact - & though I knew from the start that the Plot will not succeed, Ms Fraser's style is so absorbing that you'll find youself turning the pages with excitement as you glimpse into the early 17th century religious turmoil of England. Most people will probably have heard of the Gunpowder Plot but won't reallly know about the forces that shaped it, or the outcome that it brought for England. With The Gunpowder Plot you will discover so many interesting facts about the Plot that you never knew, for example why celebrating Guy Fawkes Day in the USA is such a bizarre contradiction. I learnt a lot while reading this book & thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it.
