Ken Follett’s The Circle of Days: A Stonehenge Review

Summary of the Text:

This text discusses the inspiration behind Ken Follett‘s novel, The Circle of Days, and the past context that fueled his writing. Hear’s a breakdown:

* Historical Basis for Conflict: The author begins by stating that wars throughout history have been fundamentally about territorial control. evidence like large concentrations of ancient weaponry (arrows and spears) suggest conflict, not just hunting.
* Stonehenge & Warfare: The text specifically points to the Salisbury plain (where Stonehenge is located) as an area unsuitable for agriculture, but strategically important due to its proximity to rivers – vital for livestock. This leads the author to believe that conflicts likely occured in this area.
* Follett’s Inspiration: Ken Follett was inspired to write The Circle of Days after reading How to Build Stonehenge by Mik. He found the book’s analysis of the technologies used to construct Stonehenge, along with its accompanying photographs, to be compelling.
* Book Recommendations: The text highlights both The Circle of Days (Follett) and How to Build Stonehenge (Mik) as worthwhile reads.

In essence, the passage connects the historical likelihood of warfare in the area of Stonehenge to Follett’s novel, and credits How to build Stonehenge as the key source of inspiration for his work.