Honor in the Dust...Review

About the book:
In the moral confusion of the court of King Henry VIII, young Stuart Winslow has many choices to make -- and lives depend on what he will choose.

Born in poverty when his father was forced to choose between the woman he loved and the wealth of his aristocratic family, the determined Stuart Winslow will go to any lengths to improve his social position. When his skills in weapons design and falconry secure a place for him in the court of King Henry VIII, he quickly learns that the court is really a wicked cauldron of vices, power plays, and temptations -- some of them very much to his liking.

When William Tyndale, an acquaintance of Stuart's, makes it known that his ambition is to translate the Bible into the language of the common man, the king opposes Tyndale's efforts and sentences him to death. If Stuart opposes the king in this, he will share the same fate. Is he willing to risk death at the stake for the sake of Christ? And how will he choose between the innocent Heather, who has long loved him, and the courtwise Nell?

In Honor in the Dust, bestselling author Gilbert Morris beautifully captures the tone of the Tudor period, chronicling the period's excesses with skill and prudence. But like Morris's other novels, this book also contrasts those excesses with the godly behavior of characters such as William Tyndale. In this captivating historical drama, Stuart Winslow is caught between two worlds: one that promises material and worldly success and one that promises salvation. Is his faith strong enough to withstand such a challenge?

Set in the late 15th and early 16th centuries during the time of Henry VIII. Stuart Winslow was born into poverty when his aristocratic father ran away with his mother, the woman his uncle wanted to marry. Raised in a faith-filled home, Stuart learns about God at his father's knee, as well as falconry and weapons design. When his skills attract the attention of the king, Stuart is delighted to find himself a part of the royal court. He soon learns, however, that the court is a place of wickedness and immorality and finds it difficult to maintain his faith in God.

His presence at court, however, allows him to become friends with Queen Catherine, and that friendship will ultimately save his life. As he comes to realize that God has other plans for him and Stuart soon finds himself helping William Tyndale, the man responsible for first translating the bible into English. Tyndale's work has marked him as a traitor to the crown and sentenced to death.

Fascinating. Enthralling. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I couldn't put it down. The characters were terrific and likeable. I thought Gilbert Morris did a fabulous job of contrasting the excessiveness of the royal court against the humble circumstances of those who loved God.

I'm not very familiar with the Tudor period, nor am I very familiar with the life of William Tyndale. However, I found the historical aspects of the story fascinating. This is the first in a trilogy and I am anxiously awaiting the next book in the series.

Thanks to First Wildcard and Jennifer Willingham of Simon and Schuster for the opportunity to review this book. You can find out more about Gilbert Morris here. You can read the first chapter here. You can purchase your own copy here.

Read 9/09

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4/5 Stars

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