Maria R. Bordihn

I came across this novel in a charity shop when I had been reading The Normans by Lars Brownworth, otherwise I would most likely to have passed it by. I hadn't read anything about Frederick II before, which made this book interesting, and of course his life was varied. However, as historical fiction, I thought this book was pretty weak: trying to cover everything in Frederick's life it felt like the book had to keep up a gallop through the years and events, and felt unfocused and lacking in show more depth and real understanding of its protagonist. show less

Stupor Mundi. What a life! Fascinating, although at times I was a bit impatient with the pace of this novel. The sheer improbability of this man's life kept me going, and it was worth it.