TEMPLE OF THE WINDS

by Christopher Hyde ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 11, 1965

Set in the early Bronze Age in Britain, this is an imaginary account of the building of the druid temple, Stonehenge. Azari, a would-be poet and the second son of King Jaun, tells the story in the first person. His storytelling style presumes on the epic (e.g., ""Perhaps that is the place to begin..."") but banal detail and the modern terms and rhythms of speech destroy any mood of mysterious antiquity so necessary to the story. According to Azari, the great temple was inspired by a Mycenean architect who appeared between the bloody battles that King Juan's people had been carrying on with a tribe called ""longheads."" It is a long book, but it is the length that comes with longwindedness. A further weakness is Azari's constant switching between present and past tense. Last, and most seriously, the fact that the building of Stonehenge is a debated issue among archaeologists, with many theories and little proof to offer, a runaway imaginary account provides further confusion for younger readers whose ancient history courses do use Stonehenge as a serious assignment.

Pub Date: Oct. 11, 1965

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: World

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 1965

Categories: FICTION