Rating: 
Summary: At least a dozen stars for this one.
Review: If five stars is what a reviewer should give the top ten percent of all the books he or she has ever read, then this book has to get at least twelve! Actually, no number could do it justice; it is beyond praise.Do you enjoy fiction that pummels you, puts you through the wringer, makes every muscle in your body ache from the mere Body English of trying to avoid the inevitable? Then this is for you. Saying that it 'puts you through the wringer' or makes you feel as though you've been 'boiled in oil,' is an atrocious understatement. I have read literally thousands of books in my life [averaging two or three a week], and nothing else comes close to the emotional impact of this one. In the first installment of the trilogy [and the most powerful of the three] we meet someone who is a 'born artist,' and we follow the story through his life and that of his son. More to the point, both of them are truly Good People. And the combination of artistry with high moral purpose turns out to be just as deadly as we always knew it would be. To say more would be to give too much away. Suffice it to say that you will never forget these characters-- any of them. As you begin to sense where the plot is headed, your blood turns to ice and your stomach constricts with dread. And yet, although it goes exactly where you knew it would, there's nothing predictable about it. The surprise is in how you get there. An American writer named Ken Follett has written a book called The Pillars of the Earth, which has been very popular and has gotten rave reviews. Skip that one; read this one. It is amazing to me that this trilogy hasn't been made into a TV miniseries or a sequence of movies a la Star Wars. I'm glad it hasn't though-- no visual treatment could come close to doing it justice. The pictures in paints in your mind's eye will be all the visual aid you'll ever need. I recognize that I'm gushing here, but it can't be helped. This is, in my opinion, the best book ever written in the English language. Period.
Rating:
Summary: Insight into what constitutes a true artist
Review: In her introduction, Edith Pargeter explains that her novel The Heaven Tree "came to birth as the incidental offspring of a course of lectures on the nature of art". She asked herself "what it must be like to be a great artist" and "set out to discover whether I could create a truly great artist." She has done this in this book, and in the two subsequent books that make up the trilogy she has shown that she herself is a great artist in bringing to life noble and believable human beings. She talks of "special perception of harmony, proportion and balance which identifies greatness" and herself reveals them in her writing. It is significant that she sets her tale in a time when the artist, in this case a stone-mason" consciously offered his talents in the service of God. Today, the lure of large sums of money, fashion, obsession with physical sex and violence conspire to pull an artist away from this service so that instead of helping us in our search for God, as the creators of the great cathedrals did, the artist all to often draws us in the opposite direction, with the help of "the media". Ms Pargeter's great achievement is in showing us that to be a truly great artist one needs also to seriously aspire to be a great man: both Harry Talvace and his son put their lives at risk in following their conscience and it is surely this even more than their artistic talent that inspires and brings out the best in those with whom they have contact, as Ms Pargeter so compellingly and convincingly shows us.
Rating:
Summary: The Perfect book--Give it 10 Stars
Review: It is not possible to say enough good about this book. The profound emotional resonance of the story, the music of the language, the elegance and intelligence of the writing are simply unsurpassed. This book is my desert island book, my solace, my heart's delight. It is the rarest of rare things : a book which needs no corrections and cannot be improved upon in any way. You do not need another synopsis of this book; you only need the good fortune to locate a copy. I am a lifelong reader and an editor by profession. I am not given to either frequent or extravagant praise. I buy every copy of this book I am able to find and give them to friends who have been exceptionally good in several lifetimes. If you should find a copy of this book I urge you, dear reader, not to hesitate, but to embrace your fortune and read this book.
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely the best book ever!
Review: My mother encouraged me to read the trilogy. In college she had the 2nd book and the girl across the hall had the other 2. They traded the books back and forth so they could read all 3. Before she left, my mom gave her friend the Green Branch saying that she'd buy her own copies of all 3. It took her nearly 20 years to find the books, since they are still out of print. When my mother found the books (hardbacks containing the trilogy) at Half-Price Books, she bought both copies they had. Right away she read them. The other copy she gave to me. It seemed a daunting task, but when I took the time to read the books, I found they were the best I'd ever read. Reading The Heaven Tree Trilogy is truely an experience. The books are such that once you get into the book they never let you back out. (Nor do you want back out) It is the most wonderful literary experience to read the books. What must writing them have been?
Rating: 
Summary: Comes in like gangbusters
Review: The first time I read this book (trilogy), I loved it. Each successive time I've read it, I like it a little less. I think the first book of the trilogy is the best, and the other two, though relatively well written, just don't have the emotional pull of the first. However, I'd go through the entire trilogy for the reward of reading the first book in context again. I love it. Madonna Benedetta is one of my favorite characters in modern historical fiction!
Rating:
Summary: To be read again and again
Review: These characters and their story, as with everything else written by Edith Pargeter/Ellis Peters, live on in one's heart long after the final page is read. These three books have inspired me, dropped me deep in despair, given me joy. If you think this is an exaggeration - read them. I return again and again to measure myself against the completely realised portrait of Benedetta Foscari - I have grown and changed because of these 'fictional' characters. As an American of Welsh descent, I am also deeply thankful to Ms Pargeter for bringing alive the troubled history of my ancestors, that I may never forget. Read them :-)
Rating:
Summary: Oprah Should Lead the Charge
Review: This book DESERVES to be re-published and read on Oprah to jump start its revival. THE BEST BOOK! I use it for my advanced writing students (14 yrs plus) and they LOVE it. They GET it! They DEVOUR it with all the gusto it has to offer. And as an adult - its even better. Every review written can only touch the surface of what an amazing journey this book takes you on. For a writer, the ability to see a lifetime written into a paragraph that so accurately documents and reflects the current state of the character at that moment is unparralleled. This is a must read for ALL. It is pleasure and passion in one. The ending is beyond amazing - but don't peek! The journey there is just like life - worth the ride if you pay attention. Brava, Brava, Brava!
Rating:
Summary: Or can I make it 10 stars?
Review: This has got to be one of the best and most inspiring series of all time. They are all fabulous - but I find myself reading and re-reading "The Heaven Tree" time and again - and STILL can't get to the final chapter without a box of tissues handy! Edith Pargeter/Ellis Peters is FABULOUS with character development. Don't EVER hesitate to read ANY of her books - but do make a special effort to read this. I was only sorry to hear she's died and there won't be any further additions to her library!
Rating:
Summary: Or can I make it 10 stars?
Review: This has got to be one of the best and most inspiring series of all time. They are all fabulous - but I find myself reading and re-reading "The Heaven Tree" time and again - and STILL can't get to the final chapter without a box of tissues handy! Edith Pargeter/Ellis Peters is FABULOUS with character development. Don't EVER hesitate to read ANY of her books - but do make a special effort to read this. I was only sorry to hear she's died and there won't be any further additions to her library!
Rating:
Summary: Classic Best of All Time
Review: This has to one of the best books I have ever read. The story of this noble turned stonecutter in the often brutal medieval period was nothing short of magnificent. Although this book is out of print and quite lengthy (899 pages)it is well worth the historical romance lovers time to read this magnificent story! Love, honor, hate, feuds and heart wrenching forgiveness. This novel covered it all. Absolutely fabulous! I cried so much in the last chapters that someone walking in on me thought a family member died. - Try your best to find a copy and do take the time to read - This has to be a classic!
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