The Black Arrow

I wasn't sure what to make of this book when I first saw it on the shelf, but thought I would give it a try. It's proven to be a big surprise; I've enjoyed it very much. What makes it so interesting to me is that it has the feel of a fantasy book (such as Tolkien's Lord of the Rings) but is set in a quasi-historical setting. It's interesting to me how Stevenson created such a wonderful, otherwordly atmosphere, and yet has set the story in the "real" world. There are no elves, dwarves, or wizards, no sorcery...and yet I felt drawn into an environment that seemed wonderous, and somewhat alien. My guess is that if 21st century people could visit England at this period in history, we would be struck by how different it is than what we're accustomed to. Stevenson, in my opinion, has managed to make best use of his chosen setting to create a tale that is interesting, engaging, and fun.