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Judith Arnopp
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The Forest Dwellers: and the killing of William Rufus Kindle Edition

by Judith Arnopp (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.3 out of 5 stars 262 ratings

A tale of oppression, sexual manipulation and vengeance.

When the Normans come, the people of the New Forest are persecuted, evicted from their homes and forced to live in exile from the lands Saxons have inhabited for generations. Life is hard. The Norman interlopers are hated.

Twelve years after the invasion, three Norman soldiers molest a forest girl who is fairer than any they have ever seen. Leo stops the attack in the only way he can ...violently.

His actions that day trigger a chain of events that will end only with the death of a king.



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  1. Print length
    324 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    November 28, 2011
  4. File size
    756 KB
  5. Page Flip
    Enabled
  6. Word Wise
    Enabled
  7. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B006G2XI32
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ ; 2nd edition (November 28, 2011)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 28, 2011
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 756 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 324 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 out of 5 stars 262 ratings

About the author

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Judith Arnopp

Judith Arnopp

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Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Judith Arnopp's novels are set during the War of the Roses and the Tudor era. They focus on women like Margaret Beaufort, Anne Neville, Elizabeth of York, Anne Boleyn, and Mary Tudor.

She has a Master's degree in medieval studies and a BA in English and creative writing from the University of Wales, making Historical Fiction the only obvious career choice.

She lives on the coast of West Wales with her husband, John, and now her family have flown the nest she writes full time from her home overlooking Cardigan Bay.

Her early books were set in the Anglo Saxon period but since switching to the Tudor era her career has flourished and she now has a substantial collection of titles in her catalogue. All books are available on Kindle and in paperback, some are on Audible.

Judith also writes non-fiction, her most recent published by Pen and Sword is a study of Tudor clothing and fashion, How to Dress Like a Tudor. Her work features in several anthologies and magazines.

You can find more information on judithmarnopp and follow her blog on juditharnoppnovelist blogspot and most social media

platforms.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
262 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers appreciate the book's well-rounded storytelling from varying viewpoints and its engaging characters. The writing style receives positive feedback, with one customer noting its natural flowing prose. They praise its rare and ethereal beauty, with one review describing it as a richly painted portrait of daily existence.

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8 customers mention "Storytelling"8 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the storytelling in the book, with its well-rounded narrative from varying viewpoints, and one customer notes how it adds layers and nuances of meaning to historical events.

"I enjoyed this book very much. It tells of a different viewpoint of a time that I have some prior knowledge...." Read more

"...each one. Arnopp does very fine research and utilizes a blend of both historic and fictional characters as in this tale of the post Norman..." Read more

"The author's decision to tell this tale from several different (but related) points of view results in a rich tapestry, each voice coming into the..." Read more

"...of the story is historical, this version is told from a refreshing new perspective with much action and tenderness, humor and sadness, and many..." Read more

6 customers mention "Character development"6 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, finding them engaging, with one customer noting the personal story of each individual character.

"...The author does an excellent job of fleshing out each character. Sometimes we loathe them and sometimes we admire them...." Read more

"...very fine research and utilizes a blend of both historic and fictional characters as in this tale of the post Norman Conquest and The New Forest...." Read more

"...The characters are engaging and fully-developed, believable for their time, very human, many of them very likeable...." Read more

"...exceptional job of taking two historical events and woving fictional characters around them...." Read more

6 customers mention "Enjoyment"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the book enjoyable, with one noting it is quite well done.

"I enjoyed this book very much. It tells of a different viewpoint of a time that I have some prior knowledge...." Read more

"Excellent book by one of my favorite authors. I first discovered her by reading The Winchester Goose...." Read more

"...A delightful book and quite well done" Read more

"...-developed, believable for their time, very human, many of them very likeable...." Read more

4 customers mention "Beauty"4 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's rare and ethereal beauty, with one customer describing it as a richly painted portrait of daily existence and another noting its interesting look at Saxon lives.

"...Alys is different from other girls in the forest. She has blonde hair, beauty, the lithe body of a young girl and a sensuality she knows how to..." Read more

"...from several different (but related) points of view results in a rich tapestry, each voice coming into the mix and adding its own distinct..." Read more

"...It is a richly painted portrait of their daily existence that begins with an assault on Alys--a young woman of mixed blood, possessed of a rare and..." Read more

"An interesting look at Saxon lives under the Norman rule. I enjoyed reading this story and all that the characters had to endure...." Read more

4 customers mention "Writing style"4 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the writing style of the book, with one mentioning its natural flowing prose.

"...Judith Arnopp is an excellent writer, but her skill could not overcome the plot disparity." Read more

"...Arnopp is blessed with natural flowing prose and the ability to craft an engaging and well-rounded story told from varying viewpoints...." Read more

"Love the author and the book" Read more

"Well written..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Cynthia Zargarbashi
    5.0 out of 5 stars A New Perspective
    Reviewed in the United States on January 25, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    I enjoyed this book very much. It tells of a different viewpoint of a time that I have some prior knowledge. This story tells the story from the viewpoint of the everyday Saxon people during the time of the Norman conquest. All of the books that I had read so far regarding that period of history were about the effect of the Norman conquest on the Saxon upper class. I found the tale of the death of the Norman king, Rufus, historically shrouded in mystery, creatively crafted in this retelling.
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  • Sophia Rose
    4.0 out of 5 stars Tale of the Forest People and Their Norman Conquerors
    Reviewed in the United States on February 22, 2012
    I love works of historical fiction and I was eager to read about the time just after William the Conqueror and his Normans invaded England from the Saxon perspective. Judith Arnopp's The Forest Dwellers did not disappoint. There is adventure, sadness, danger, betrayal, and love all leading up to one of English history's most famous mysteries: Who killed William Rufus?

    The story is told first person from several characters' perspectives. It begins with a small little put together family of young people who have lost their parents to war and living as a conquered people. They are the Saxons who live in King William I's New Forest and must eek out an existence under the new harsh forest laws. They try to fight to regain the forest home that they have lost, but it fails and they go through many hardships. This is a story of loss, but it is also the story of their survival and that of some of the Norman's closely related to their tale.

    The characters include both fictitious and real characters blended together in a nice story. We don't know what many of the real people are like, but I think Judith writes us a pretty authentic picture. When reading the various character point's of view, its like the many facets of a gemstone. Each person's witness takes the story just a little further. I found myself liking and loving several of the characters and managed to despise those meant to be despised. A few of the characters just tugged at my heart, but I know the times were harsh.

    The backdrop description of the Forest, the Environs, Winchester, and other places were well done. As were the daily life descriptions of the forest dwellers and the manor dwellers.

    The Forest Dwellers is a well-written snapshot of the latter half of the Eleventh Century in Norman England. Really recommend for a historical fiction lover!
    7 people found this helpful
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  • Dolly Scott
    5.0 out of 5 stars The New Forest
    Reviewed in the United States on January 16, 2025
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    Excellent book by one of my favorite authors. I first discovered her by reading The Winchester Goose. The Forest Dwellers may be one of her first books and I had put off reading because I delve into her later series. The struggles of the Saxons after the Norman Conquest was horrific but they were survivors even if it meant doing whatever it took especially for the women. The author does an excellent job of fleshing out each character. Sometimes we loathe them and sometimes we admire them. I was enthralled until the end and there were a lot of surprises as to what happened to the characters. Sometimes actual historical figures.
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  • Kindle Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Enchanting look at history
    Reviewed in the United States on September 30, 2017
    This fictional story of what might of happened during the years following William's conquest of England, left me delighted to imagine that it could have occurred just like this.
    A provocative read which I completely enjoyed!
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  • Darlene Elizabeth Williams
    3.0 out of 5 stars The Forest Dwellers
    Reviewed in the United States on December 4, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    The Forest Dwellers chronicles the lives of the common people 11 years after the Battle of Hastings. The Normans not only conquered Harold, they pillaged the land and subjugated the people.

    The forest dwellers have lived in the forest for generations, growing crops, hunting small animals and building homesteads. William has decided the forest is solely his, for his hunting pleasure. The fences surrounding crops are torn down, berries and acorns are forbidden foods, firewood and turf for warmth is prohibited and, most important to the king, hunting wildlife or fishing is the greatest transgression. Hunting dogs large enough to run down venison must have their front claws and fangs removed.

    All in all, the forest dwellers are reduced to extreme poverty, hunger, misery, living in hovels and the constant threat of the Normans destroying what little they have.

    There is one common thread that runs through The Forest Dwellers: Alys. The daughter of a charcoal burner, she is rescued by brothers from certain rape by Normans. Leo, the oldest brother and head of the household, kills two of the Normans attacking her. They take her home to her father. Not longer after, she shows up at the brothers' holding and there she remains, saying her father was taken by the Normans for poaching.

    Alys is different from other girls in the forest. She has blonde hair, beauty, the lithe body of a young girl and a sensuality she knows how to optimize. She captivates all the brothers' attention but saves her attentions for Leo. Alys is a practical girl, knowing her body and sensual skills are her best options for survival. Abused by her father, she expects no different from any other man. In fact, she purposely chooses her lovers based on what side of the bread the butter is lathered. The Forest Dwellers begins and ends with Alys.

    The Normans, refusing to give up their quest for the slayer of the two would-be rapists, eventually discover Leo is the culprit and come to arrest him. Fortunately, Leo is not home at the time, however, the youngest, AElf, and Alys, are and must survive on their own. In their flight from the Normans, AElf and Alys leave behind another 2 dead Normans, along with another bleeding and presumably not long for the world. They have left the king's son, Richard, to die. A brother leads AElf and Alys, with their meager possessions, deep into the forest to an encampment of dispossessed forest dwellers. Leo eventually finds them.

    A plan is hatched to regain their lands from the Normans, but the forest dwellers are untrained fighters and lack equipment. The outcome is inexorable. The Normans win the battle, defeating the forest dwellers lead by Leo, handily. AElf's brothers perish, with Leo dragged off the field by a bolting horse. Alys and AElf are all that remain to each other when the Normans inevitably claim the rebellers as slaves.

    Not is all as it seems in The Forest Dwellers. There are hidden truths and personal agendas. Disagreements over loyalty strain relationships. Distrust is rampant and near impossible to overcome. Such are the lives of The Forest Dwellers under the rule of the Normans.

    The Forest Dwellers is written in an unusual method, through the first person point of view of various characters. At times when a new character takes over the story, there will be a repetition of previous events from that character's point of view. Sometimes, the new character simply carries on with the story.

    For me, the plot felt disjointed by the overlapping or changing point of views. It was difficult to become engaged by any one particular character, as he or she was not on the stage long. After realizing the entire novel was written in this manner, I stopped attempting to get into a character's psyche. This is a tough plot device to pull off successfully. I've read a few other novels written in the same fashion and finished feeling the same way: somewhat ripped off because I never had the opportunity to get to know any one character indepth.

    Judith Arnopp is an excellent writer, but her skill could not overcome the plot disparity.
    2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Wendy
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in Canada on August 16, 2015
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    Excellent read
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  • The Doc
    5.0 out of 5 stars An intriguing story with great historical background
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 15, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Trying to find out about William Rufus I read this twice over straight off, as first time I thought I didn't really 'get it' and I was right. On a second read I seem to be able to go much more slowly, taking in further detail and not skipping past names that look difficult.

    The author is very careful to point out that this is fiction - so as to the death of William Rufus, shot by an arrow in the New Forest, it's a fantasy version of how it might have happened. But of course lots of information in the book tells us about the period and its conflicts and jealousies.

    I really liked this book and can recommend it as a 'good read'.
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  • sienna lewis
    4.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 15, 2020
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    It took me a long time trying to find a good book. Many started but could not finish when i came along this book. I was not sure I would like it. Once started I couldn't put it down. Amazing how it's been written the characters really come to life. Enjoyed this book and can't wait to read more from this Author !
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  • Francine Howarth
    5.0 out of 5 stars Very Enjoyable Read.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 17, 2014
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    With invaders come changes to the lifestyle of existing peoples no matter where they may live. For the Forest Dwellers of the New Forest the reality of the Norman invasion is the invader king's desire to rob them not only of their forest and their means of survival, but to serve severe penalties upon those who deem to flout the king's edict that the forest, the animals and young maidens within it belong to him. What at one time was a free meal on the hoof has become forbidden fare, thus rendering the forest dwellers to acts of covert poaching to survive.

    Soon rebellious flights of fancy amidst young would-be-warrior bucks set them on course for an armed uprising. Their numbers swell, but sadly outnumbered they fail. Those that survive and their womenfolk are left vulnerable to whatever their overlords are of a mind to in the ways of sporting pleasure, which can leave the underdog smarting and or traumatised. There are the few who settle for what fate throws their way and reap relative rewards from collaboration with the enemy, whilst others grit their teeth and swear they will never serve the overlords with willing hearts.

    The author sets precedence for a dark sinister atmosphere of oppression, silent revulsion and compassion for the plight of her characters, and it is that aspect that brings each and every character to life. The reader is thus drawn into a frighteningly real existence, where the earthy essence of moss laden woodland lingers on ether, and the silence is suddenly shattered by the death cry of a slain beast or a woman's scream echoing through the trees. I'm not a great fan of first-person narrative, but in this case it works extremely well and individual character stories afford insight to their inner thoughts that otherwise would have been restricted to one viewpoint. Clever!
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  • Maria Luisa Sanchez Rubio
    3.0 out of 5 stars ... previous books by this autor but was a bit disappointed. Was not what I expected but I finished ...
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 10, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    I had very high expectations because I had read previous books by this autor but was a bit disappointed. Was not what I expected but I finished it anyway.
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