Arie ten Cate's website about

The novels of Edward Rutherfurd

The London page of this website was started October 1998. However, in May 2007, I discovered that there is an official website of Rutherfurd:

www.edwardrutherfurd.com

There is also a Facebook page:

www.facebook.com/pages/Official-Edward-Rutherfurd-Page/282042051882

Rutherfurd has written several novels, all of them painting centuries of history of some city, or region, or country, through the eyes of a few families. In this way he brings history to life. His novels are:

Sarum  1987
Russka 1991
London 1997
The Forest 2000
The Princes of Ireland: The Dublin saga 2004
The Rebels of Ireland: The Dublin Saga 2006
New York 2009

It has been suggested that Edward Rutherfurd is a pen name of Francis Edward Wintle. A scholar Robert Wintle is mentioned in The Forest (page 614 in the paperback; 417 in the hardback).

Gary Harding provided information about the Rutherford/Rutherfurd family name.

The British History newsgroup has discussed the books of Rutherfurd: type the name in the search window, and click on Search only in alt.history.british

Sarum

This book describes the history of the city of Salisbury and five families, from prehistoric times to the present. Salisbury, including Stonehenge, is one of the oldest and most fascinating places in England. Rutherfurd was born here.

Russka

This book is the only one which is not about a place in England or Ireland. After reading this book, your understanding of Russia and compassion with its people will be greatly enhanced. A quotation, from the jacket:

"The novel manages to capture and convey the vastness of Mother Russia, her history and her potential."
Boston Sunday Herald

I am grateful for any comment, or suggestion for additions. Please send me an e-mail. (My reply might take some time.)

Note that I am not Rutherfurd. Nor do I have any means of contacting him directly, by e-mail or otherwise. Any message for him must be sent through his publisher, by paper mail. The publisher Random House includes Rutherfurd's publisher Crown. Their policy is stated clearly: "Unfortunately, we cannot forward e-mail to authors".

Kathryn Smith asked me: I understand Rutherfurd's books are based on history, but how accurate would you say they are?
  My opinion: The books of Rutherfurd have a Preface which states that they are a novel; the families are fictitious, but set amongst people and events that either did exist or might have existed. I think you get a clear and accurate picture of the time which is described in any particular book of Rutherfurd.

Here are some of my favourite history books.

Last updated June 2010.