A masterpiece of breathtaking scope—a brilliantly conceived epic novel that traces the entire turbulent course of English history   This rich tapestry weaves a compelling saga of five families—the Wilsons, the Masons, the family of Porteus, the Shockleys, and the Godfreys—who reflect the changing character of Britain. As their fates and fortunes intertwine over the course of the centuries, their greater destinies offer a fascinating glimpse into the future. An absorbing historical chronicle, Sarum is a keen tale of struggle and adventure, a profound human drama, and a magnificent work of sheer storytelling.   Praise for Sarum   “Bursts with action, encyclopedic in historic detail . . . supremely well crafted and a delight to read.” — Chicago Tribune   “A fascinating journey . . . a clear yet sparkling window upon history with a superb narrative, so perfectly balanced between history and fiction that it clears away the mists of time from antiquity, giving the reader the impression that events over a span of ten centuries occurred only yesterday.” — Fort Worth Star-Telegram “Strong . . . appealing . . . I haven’t read so satisfactory a saga in years . . . in fact, perhaps not ever before. . . . It gives you not only history but comfort.” — Chicago Sun-Times   “[Edward] Rutherfurd holds us all consistently intrigued. In Sarum he has created a splendid novel that will bring many hours of diversified reading pleasure.” — The Plain Dealer   “A richly imagined vision of history, written with genuine delight.” — San Francisco Chronicle   “Rutherfurd is at his best. . . . His storytelling skills are substantial. . . . One of the best books of the season.” — Kansas City Star   “Absorbing . . . a superior historical novel . . . This blockbuster saga should appeal to discriminating readers, since Rutherfurd has an excellent grasp of his subject and a compelling story to tell.” — Publishers Weekly “Bursts with action, encyclopedic in historic detail . . . supremely well crafted and a delight to read.” — Chicago Tribune   “A fascinating journey . . . a clear yet sparkling window upon history with a superb narrative, so perfectly balanced between history and fiction that it clears away the mists of time from antiquity, giving the reader the impression that events over a span of ten centuries occurred only yesterday.” — Fort Worth   Star-Telegram “Strong . . . appealing . . . I haven’t read so satisfactory a saga in years . . . in fact, perhaps not ever before. . . . It gives you not only history but comfort.” — Chicago Sun-Times   “[Edward] Rutherfurd holds us all consistently intrigued. In  Sarum  he has created a splendid novel that will bring many hours of diversified reading pleasure.” — The Plain Dealer   “A richly imagined vision of history, written with genuine delight.” — San Francisco Chronicle   “Rutherfurd is at his best. . . . His storytelling skills are substantial. . . . One of the best books of the season.” — Kansas City Star   “Absorbing . . . a superior historical novel . . . This blockbuster saga should appeal to discriminating readers, since Rutherfurd has an excellent grasp of his subject and a compelling story to tell.” — Publishers Weekly A masterpiece that is breathtaking in its scope, SARUM is an epic novel that traces the entire turbulent course of English history. This rich tapesty weaves a compelling saga of five families who preserve their own particular characteristics over the centuries, and offer a fascinating glimpse into the future. "From the Paperback edition. Edward Rutherfurd  is the internationally bestselling author of several novels, including the  New York Times  bestsellers  New York ,  London ,  The Princes of Ireland , and  The Rebels of Ireland . Journey to Sarum   FIRST, BEFORE THE beginning of Sarum, came a time when the world was a colder and darker place.   Over a huge area of the northern hemisphere – perhaps a sixth of the whole globe – stretched a mighty covering of ice. It lay over all of northern Asia; it covered Canada, Scandinavia and about two thirds of the future land of Britain. Had it been possible to cross this gigantic continent of ice, the journey would have been some five thousand miles from whichever direction it was approached. The volume of the ice was stupendous; even at its outer edge it was thirty feet high.   In a desolate, dark belt to the south of the ice lay a vast subarctic wasteland of empty tundra, several hundred miles across.   This was the colder, darker world, some twenty thousand years before the birth of Christ.   Since the huge casing of ice contained a considerable portion of the earth’s water, the seas were lower than those in later times – some did not exist at all – and so the lands to the south stood higher, their sheer cliffs frowning upon empty chasms that have long since vanished under the waters.   The northern world was a quieter place too. Over the ice, and the tundra, there