The English writer Francis Edward Wintle, known under the pseudonym Rutherford, gained worldwide popularity due to his historical novels. His works are distinguished by an interesting manner of presentation and storyline, often stretched in time by several hundred, or even thousands of years. It is interesting that the author’s novels often have names in honor of the countries and cities in which the described events occur. This unusual style Edward Rutherford perfectly demonstrated in his debut book “Sarum”, which became instantly a bestseller. Then no less interesting works followed, which should be focused more specifically.
about the author
The author of future bestsellers was born in 1948 in Salisbury (Wiltshire, England). He received an excellent education at the universities of Cambridge and Stanford (California). In parallel with his work in the publishing business, Edward Rutherford wrote plays and short stories, and at the age of 35 he decided to seriously engage in creative work and, having secluded himself from the bustle of the city in his parents' house, he began writing his first epic work.
First novel
The fruit of hard work was the novel “Sarum”, in the plot of which the whole rapid course of English history is traced on the example of Salisbury and Stonehenge. Edward Rutherford’s novel takes the reader many centuries ago, making him a participant in long-standing events along with characters from five families who preserve their ancient traditions. The publication of the novel in 1987 was a literary event; the book remained on the New York Times bestseller list for 23 weeks. So Rutherford gained worldwide fame.
Writing style
Edward Rutherford writes in an interesting manner, depicting in the works of several fictional families living in the same region for several generations. The narration addressed to descendants is conducted on behalf of these heroes. Using this structure, Rutherford introduces the reader to the history of the area, often from the beginning of civilization to modern times.
Edward Rutherford: Books
After the success of the Sarum novel, dedicated to the history of England, the author wrote eight bestsellers: the Russian novel, written in 1991, covers 1800 years of the history of Russia, from the ancient tribes that roamed the Great Eurasian Plain to the present day; the novel "Forest", continuing the theme of the history of England; works telling a long history - “Dublin” and “Ireland: Awakening”, as well as books published in Russian “London”, “New York” and “Paris”. Rutherford is currently working on another major project. His books have been translated into more than twenty languages.
Edward Rutherford: books in Russian
- The novel "London", written in 1997, immerses the reader on a fascinating historical journey through the ancient capital of Britain, from the time of the proud Celts, who ruled foggy Albion, to the present day. Through the eyes of many generations, the history of an ancient city that survived the reforms of the governors of the Roman Empire, the times of the crusaders, epidemics, religious contradictions, fueled by the turbulent vicissitudes of the personal life of Henry VIII, the dark times of Cromwell, the construction of the Globe Theater, famous for its Shakespearean productions, and the rise of scientific progress in our days.
- The book "New York". Edward Rutherford made an amazing gift to the “Big Apple,” as New York is called, a story from Indians and Dutch settlers to modern times. The author enables the reader to look at the city through the eyes of heroes, narrating the history of defeats and victories in the struggle for independence. These are the horrors of the Civil War and racial inequality, the struggle against economic depression and gangster mafia groups, the hope for the best after the Second World War and the technological progress of the late XX century.
- The novel "Paris", written in 2013, tells the true and not always hospitable history of the city of love and light, which has turned from a small military settlement of the ancient Romans on the banks of the Seine into the world capital of culture. Generations of the main characters survive all the ups and downs together with Paris and intersect against the backdrop of historical events, starting from the XI and ending with the XX century. They become witnesses of the Great French Revolution, the triumph and fall of Napoleon, the construction of the Eiffel Tower and the success of the famous Moulin Rouge. This novel is dedicated to the wonderful city and those who are in love with Paris just like Edward Rutherford.
For the past 30 years, the author has mostly lived in the city of New York. He is happily married, has a son and daughter, travels a lot, enjoys tennis and theater. For his services in popularizing the history of his hometown, Edward Rutherford is a lifelong member of the Salisbury civil society, as well as Friends of the Chotone House, which is located in the native village of Jane Austen and studies the work of women writers. In gratitude for the work, fellow countrymen named the street after the author. In addition to writing, Rutherford is engaged in philanthropy, he is one of the sponsors of the National Theater of Ireland (Abby Theater) in Dublin.