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The Outcasts of Time

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The book follows the journey of John and his brother as they travel through time, starting from a plague-ridden 14th century England. Given the choice to either die slowly in agony or wake up 99 years later each day, they opt to journey forward in time. Each day brings new experiences and challenges as they witness changes in technology, lifestyle, and faith across different centuries. The novel explores themes of human nature, morality, and the impact of historical events on individuals, all through the lens of time travel.

Characters:

The characters are well-grounded in their historical context, showcasing limited understanding of the future while being relatable and likable.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is descriptive and rich in historical detail, though some find it verbose and slow-paced.

Plot/Storyline:

The story follows two brothers who, after catching the plague, are offered a chance to live their final days by jumping forward in time, experiencing various historical changes across several centuries.

Setting:

The setting moves from the 14th century during the plague to various future centuries, depicting life in England.

Pacing:

The pacing varies, criticized for being slow and verbose in parts, yet engaging during the exploration of historical change.
The first thing you need to understand is what it means to sell your soul. It is not a matter of shaking hands with a shadowy figure, or bartering promises with a burning bush. What do you have to sel...

Notes:

The Outcasts of Time is written by Ian Mortimer, an award-winning historian.
The novel follows brothers John and William as they jump 99 years into the future each day after contracting the plague in 1348.
The story is set against the backdrop of the Black Death in England.
John is a stonemason who worked on Exeter Cathedral, which plays an important role in the narrative.
The structure of the book consists of a 'mashup' of genres, including historical fiction and fantasy elements.
Throughout their time travels, the brothers are challenged by rapid changes in society, technology, and human behavior.
Each century they visit provides a snapshot of daily life in England over 600 years, from 1348 to 1942.
The protagonist, John, experiences culture shock as he navigates new concepts and items from future centuries.
The book explores themes of morality, religion, and the human condition across time periods.
The audiobook version is narrated by James Cameron Stewart, whose performance has been both praised and criticized by listeners.
Some readers found the story to be more of a philosophical exploration rather than a traditional plot-driven narrative.
The book has been noted for its rich historical detail, capturing how everyday life changed over the centuries.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include themes of disease (Black Death), religious elements, and ethical/moral questions.

From The Publisher:

December 1348. What if you had just six days to save your soul? With the country in the grip of the Black Death, brothers John and William fear that they will shortly die and suffer in the afterlife. But as the end draws near, they are given an unexpected choice: either to go home and spend their last six days in their familiar world, or to search for salvation across the forthcoming centuries, living each one of their remaining days ninety-nine years after the last. John and William choose the future and find themselves in 1447, ignorant of almost everything going on around them. The year 1546 brings no more comfort, and 1645 challenges them in further unexpected ways. It is not just that technology is changing; things they have taken for granted all their lives prove to be short-lived. As they find themselves in stranger and stranger times, the reader travels with them, seeing the world through their eyes as it shifts through disease, progress, enlightenment, and war. But their time is running out-can they do something to redeem themselves before the six days are up?

Ratings (2)

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1 comment(s)

Loved It
6 days

It's a beautiful and compelling story. A very interesting concept with time traveling. I truly enjoyed it and feelt a little sad that I finished it so fast. Perhaps I should listen to the story one day and see if I can get more out of it, but I really enjoyed reading it. Was happy to see the book app I use have multiple books by the author for me to sink my teeth into, oh what a joyful time!

 

About the Author:

Dr. Ian Mortimer has been described by the London Times as "the most remarkable medieval historian of our time." He is best known as the author of The Time Traveller's Guide to Medieval England, which was a London Sunday Times bestseller in 2010. Its follow-up, The Time Traveller's Guide to Elizabethan England, was a London Sunday Times bestseller in 2012. He was awarded the Alexander Prize by the Royal Historical Society for his work on the social history of medicine. Ian is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries. Please visit his website at www.ianmortimer.com.

 
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