At first I thought Myers had overreached himself with a history, including quotes from a wealth of history books, about St Cuthbert (Cuddy), his death on Lindisfarne, the subsequent pilgrimage of monks who travelled for years with his coffin to keep him safe from Viking marauders, and their eventual resting place in Durham where his shrine is still in the cathedral. Fascinating as the first few chapters were, I wasn’t sure I could sustain interest over a whole book. But I should have had more faith. For Myers moves on through the centuries taking in the interlinked stories of a stonemason working on the cathedral, a Professor haunted by strange visions while participating in the exhumation of Cuddy’s coffin, and finally to the present day where a young man caught in the grip of austerity struggles to work and nurse his dying mother. The layers of stories build up and the past repeats itself and descendants, ghosts and reincarnations of the main characters show that life, in all its earthy glory and pain, stays fundamentally the same throughout the centuries. Moving, mystical and poetic, this builds in momentum and sweeps you along until the very last page. Gorgeous and melancholy.

This was my fourth experience of Myers’ writing. I began with The Gallows Pole when I was part of the panel that longlisted the book for The Republic of Consciousness prize in 2018. It didn’t win that prize in the end, but it did win The Walter Scott Prize for historical fiction. Then I read Under The Rock and was really impressed with Myers’ writing about nature and place. We’ll skip over Male Tears because that one didn’t really work for me.

But here, in Cuddy, I feel that Myers has excelled himself. Here we have all the poetry and intensity of his writing, all the excellence of his historical fiction and it is all mixed together with some literary experimentation that makes you think Myers is really going place with his writing.

You might guess that I really enjoyed reading this book.

Cuthbert of Lindisfarne (St. Cuthbert) is a central character in the book. Which sounds strange when you realise that the book starts on a small island near Lindisfarne with Cuthbert’s death (AD687). This is prose poetry which is the first of several literary forms used through the book (watch out also for stories told through quotes from text books, plays in which a building is a character, a Victorian journal/diary and Myers’ intense prose).

Several more sections follow in which we follow a young girl with her visions of a cathedral and her visitations from Cuthbert (AD995); we live in the shadow of that cathedral (Durham cathedral as we know it) with a woman (AD1346) whose husband is a famous archer but is also abusive and she falls for another, more gentle, man; we read the journal of an Oxford antiquarian (AD1827) as he travels to the north of England (which he despises) to witness the disinterment of a body in the cathedral; and we follow Michael Cuthbert in AD2019 as he cares for his mother and scratches a living as a labourer, eventually finding more stable work at the cathedral.

Cuthbert is a central character linking the stories. But so is the cathedral. So much so that in one short section that is presented to us as a play, the cathedral has a speaking part. A dead person and an inanimate building are the central pillars around which the story flows. And, to a large extent, what we read is the history of the cathedral as it is built, corrupted, invaded and restored. And this story is told via a number of excellent and memorable supporting characters.

The second section, AD995, was the highlight for me with its beautiful poetic prose. And the AD2019 section is very moving. The AD1827 section felt a bit weaker to me as I read it and I started to think the book might lose a star. But the reality is that I got to the end of the book and couldn’t really justify anything other than the full 5 stars.

I first came across Ben Myers when part of a panel longlisting his 5th novel – the literary historical fictional “Gallows Pole” - for the 2018 Republic of Consciousness Prize – a book which deservedly went on to win the 2018 Walter Scott Prize for historical fiction.

This is his 8th novel and I think will only serve to further his literary reputation as I felt it was an excellent read, which blends the deeply empathetic and grounded historical writing for which he is best known with literary experimentation and imagination.

The eponymous subject of the novel is (St) Cuthbert of Lindisfarne (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuthbert) who is also intimately connected with the founding and subsequent fame of Durham Cathedral (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuthbert) – and this book is something of a retelling of the Saints and Cathedral (and town’s) intertwined history, told in a series of linked extracts over something like 1300 years and using a variety of forms: free form verse, compiled historical excerpts, soaring visionary prose, plays, Victorian diary, modern novel and in first, second and third person.

The book to me is also remarkable for its nuanced exploration of religious faith alongside religious abuses – subjects, particularly when relating to Christianity, which are glaringly absent from most literary fiction.

The story opens in AD687 on Inner Farne – in a short piece of prose poetry, Cuthbert dies and his spirit separates from his body, already able to observe the competitive mourning of his followers.

The second section, and one of the two most impressive, then moves to AD995 – with the scene being set by 8 pages of short extracts from a variety of sources about the life – and even more so death and post death - of Cuthbert. Subsequent chapters of this section start similarly. We then join, again via prose poetry/free form verse, the first party thoughts of a girl (Ediva) who acts as a cook to a group of seven wandering monks (including the Bishop will become the first Bishop of Durham – Aldhun (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aldhun) – the monks carrying Cuthbert’s body while looking for a safe and appropriate place to lay it permanently. The other member of the group is a strange Owl-Eyed boy with a particular ability with horses (like the girl a foundling taken in by the monks in exchange for service). The girl has two sets of spiritual experiences: she is able to communicate with the voice of the long dead Cuddy and she is from time to time struck by stunning visions of a magnificent building – which we, she and the Bishop come to realise are of the future Cathedral in which Cuddy’s remains will lie, eventually sensing that it will be on the hill of Dun Holm (where she also tells Owl Eyes she will have their child).

A small extract then has Cuddy speaking to a descendant of that child – working on the early stages of the Cathedral and this sets the scene for subsequent sections where in each one we trace the presence of an Ediva and an Owl Eyes.

The third section moves to AD1094, in the shadow of the now built Cathedral. Rendered in more conventional, historical prose but using a second person voice – the subject is a beer maker married to a bullying, abusive archer (Fletcher Bullard) and surrounded by an increasingly corrupt church, and who forms an increasing attachment to a stonemason (Frances) in her husband’s absence.

An Interlude in AD1650 tells the story of a group of Scottish prisoners imprisoned, with little of no food, heat or water, in Durham Cathedral after the Battle of Dunbar – with the stones of the Cathedral itself acting as one of the Dramatis Personae.

The oddest section is in AD1827 and tells of a firmly atheist and Northern-hating Oxford antiquarian, who against his better judgement, agrees to act as a witness to the disinterment of Cuddy’s body (in an aim by the Cathedral authorities to disprove the Catholic views that the Saint’s his body has been preserved for around a 1000 years). There he is haunted by strange visitations of a group of monks voices and by warnings issued by a mysterious owl eyed boy to let the body lie – and in his terror discovers a religious faith.

The final section (which together with the second was the highlight for me) is set in 2019 and moves to third person. 19-year-old Michael lives with his mother, who despite being in her 40s, is dying of cancer. He works as an agency-employed casual labourer on building sites, living very much hand to mouth – but having impressed one of his supervisors is offered a job working at the cathedral, assisting a group of stone masons working on its restoration. In the canteen there, the owl eyed Michael encounters Evie, a student (and Christian) working there and the two begin a friendship which plays out against the inevitable but desperately moving progress of his mother’s disease and Michael’s encounter with the comforting voice of Cuddy.

Overall this novel, like the Cathedral itself is a towering and magnificent creation.

This is another fabulously written, dark, daring, mythological and historical tale by Ben Myers, which traverses hundreds, if not thousands of years with imaginative, interlinked stories. With its main foundation stone centred around the hermit St. Cuthbert and his eventual resting place at Durham Cathedral, Ben allows us to unfold his beautifully sinister tales of romance, love, death, revenge, class, place, nature, environment, society and religion whilst adding a humorous, and often political twist.

I’d be confident that anyone who has enjoyed Ben’s previous books would surely enjoy this one. I powered through it in just a few sittings, but will admit I felt some initial concern at the number of quotes from other (historical) books, in the first part. On reflection these are absolutely necessary for you to immerse yourself in the depth of the story that unfolds. I found myself utterly absorbed, even more than Gallows Pole. Cuddy truly is an amazing mix of historical fiction leaving a breadcrumb trail between four stories which are, at times, hauntingly realistic and completely gripping.

With huge thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Such an amazing book. Part poetry, part playscript, part Victorian memoir and all wrapped up in the splendour of Durham Cathedral. This is the first Benjamin Myers that I have picked up and it won't be the last. The book has at its heart St Cuthbert, affectionately known as Cuddy, whose bones are laid within Durham Cathedral. Basing the book on some historical facts, the author takes us from AD 687 t0 2019 in four parts. We hear from the monks who are carrying Cuddy's bones to a safe haven, we hear from a woman who befriends a stonemason working on the cathedral, we hear from soldiers who have been imprisoned in the cathedral, a professor who hears the 'voices' of monks, and a young man who looks after his dying mother and goes to work as a labourer at the cathedral. Though the book the link is Cuddy whose voice we hear - the voice of the saint is heard over the centuries and is at the heart of everything. So too are the people in the various chapters we spot faces that might recognise. This is a wonderful work and the descriptions of the nature, the cathedral, the landscape are truly beautiful. I know some have struggled with the first part which is part poetry and part extracts from historical documents, but persevere. For me, the addition of the extracts were the foundations upon which the novel was built while the poetry was the rhythm of the monks as they walked the countryside with Cuddy's bones. This is such a fabulous read.

DO NOT GIVE UP ON THIS BOOK IN THE FIRST SECTION.

In a book that uses a diversity of styles to tell its tales of Durham and st cuthbert over the centuries, the opening section is the most challenging to get to grips with, and I admit to being rather fazed - the mixture of quotes from other books, poetry and prose is an uncompromising start. Whilst challenging, the quotes are a great way to get a lot of exposition over quickly, and interspersed with the story of the monks travelling with st cuthbert’s body is a fascinating introduction and early study of faith and devotion.

The mixture of second person point of view, script, diary and narrative that follows takes us up to the current day in an intellectually and emotionally stimulating way. Each section adds more texture and depth in terms of the sense of history, but also through the presence of characters that echo down the generations.

I loved this novel. Do not be put off and instead lose yourself in this rewarding novel .

Is there anything this man can't write beautifully?

I saw a review that said it felt like homework and the reader had given up at 20%. What a mistake.

I admit I was a little daunted by the style when I first started but then Gallows Pole unnerved me to begin with.

Cuddy is an absolute masterpiece in my opinion. I am, admittedly, a Benjamin Myers fan and have read nearly every book he's published so far. So I was excited to see this come out so soon after The Perfect Golden Circle.

Cuddy is a return to epic historical fiction and it didn't surprise me to learn that this labour of love took several years in different locations to write. I imagine as a son of the area that Benjamin Myers grew up steeped in the Cuddy mythology.

The book itself is separated into distinct times during which many people take centre stage. I love the differences I language and behaviour that he's captured, along with the changes in the story of how Cuthbert ended up at Durham and why the cathedral was built there.

I loved the way certain characters find their way down the centuries in differing guises.

But through all the changes the one voice that never leaves is that of the saintly Cuthbert who never quite seems to get his wish to be left alone to worship God.

All in all I loved this book. If you are struggling with the early sections I urge you to continue. There's so much packed in that I've no idea how Mr Myers kept it so short. He is most definitely in a class of his own and I can't wait to see where his writing takes me next.

Highly recommended for historical fiction fans, those who love Myers' work or simply readers who love a great story.

Cuddy by Benjamin Myers is beautifully ambitious. The stories of St Cuthbert and Durham Cathedral are told in four books, in prose and poetry, fiction, and ‘factual’ excerpts from historical references.

It features, as we’ve come to expect, Myers love of the countryside - its flora and fauna. There’s a rhythm to the language, punctuated with alliteration, that brings beauty to the landscape.

The four books switch formats effortlessly. Tied together by spirits and incarnations, themes and places, it becomes a cohesive one. The only part that didn’t work so well for me, was the play script format for the story of the Scottish soldiers. But that’s being really picky.

This is an incredible love letter to Durham Cathedral. To Lindisfarne. And, of course, to Cuddy himself.

Thank you to @netgalley and @benmyers76 for this early proof and letting me review it in my own words.

#cuddy #benjaminmyers #NetGalley #bloomsberry #durhamcathedral #lindisfarne #stcuthbert #bookreview #recommendation

I love historical fiction, especially when it is about eras/ situations that I previously knew nothing about and this was definitely one of those books. It was so well researched and so compelling in its narrative that not only did I love reading it but I felt that I learned too. A really enjoyable read and perfect for any fans of historical fiction. This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and would read more of their work.

The E-Book could be improved and more user-friendly, such as links to the chapters, no significant gaps between words some text written has been typed in red and a cover for the book would be better. It is very document-like instead of a book. A star has been deducted because of this.

The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

3.5/5.

Benjamin Myers is a fantastic writer. His tales take you to a different place entirely, they are rich and I can really get my teeth into them. This one, Cuddy, has been my least favourite. I couldn’t get into it as well as the others. It could have been the format of the first chapters, or that it was just too long. I don’t know but it hasn’t put me off Myers. .

A perfect example of the difference between Literature and a good read. This book will receive acclaim but few will manage to read it to the end. It does drone on in places. Four hundred words used to describe something when a hundred words would be better employed. It did make me want to know more about St Cuthbert. However that came not from Mr Myers but from the quoted works of other St Cuthbert admirers. I found myself reading these but only skimming Mr Myers words. I hate doing this to a writer but I found it all too pretentious.

Travelling through the wilderness, a young woman has visions of a cathedral on a hill.

The downtrodden wife of an archer seeks the truth in stone walls, in meadows full of garlic flowers.

A group of soldiers sit out their last hours before their death under a vaulted ceiling.

The professor receives unwelcome night-time visitors.

A young man bids his dying mother goodbye, and sets off on his first day of work as a labourer.

From these seeds of historical truth and strange mythology, Benjamin Myers spins an unforgettable story of love and loss that breaks free of realism, entering a thrilling space both hilarious and terrifying. Unfolding over centuries, deploying a panoply of voices, Cuddy is written with Myers’ inimitable humour, pathos and grace – and confirms him as one of the most important writers of his generation.

This book was sent to me electronically by Netgalley for review. Thanks to the publisher for the copy. What a gorgeous book!

This was one of those books that you get truly immersed in the subject matter, through different forms of writing styles and I'm definitely itching to read it all over again as I'm sure I'll get more out of it again 2nd time around.

Centred around St Cuthbert, who I am now excited to research more about!, this is a tale told over different time periods, in different formats, that focus on the humans around Durham Cathedral and how their lives are so different, yet often quite similar, over hundreds of years. The different issues facing humans no matter what period of time they are living in, and how St Cuthbert hangs over them and his legend.

It features religion and the things that are done in the name of it, both good and bad, and it was fascinating to dip into these different characters and see what drives them to 'devote' themselves to others, be it spiritually or physically.

I also loved the little snippets about St Cuthbert that gave you an insight into the legend that surrounded him and how his 'cult' following grew at the time he was around, and how it continued to settle round the area of the cathedral with many stories told of him in his life and after.

There are darker aspects to the story which do shock and show the darker side of humanity, which works so well against those who are showing their caring side, and sums up the human experience quite perfectly. The author has a wonderful way with words, and exploring the story using poetry, plays, diary entries really add an extra depth to the reading experience! A fabulous piece of work.

I just adore discovering a book that is so perfect that I keep stopping to enjoy perfectly composed sentences .This is why I read so much .I read lots and lots of 4 star really good books but for me the joy is finding the 5 star ones .Cuddy is one of these books it is a perfectly crafted beautifully poetic book of loveliness .
I knew nothing about St Cuthbert before reading the novel although I was vaguely aware of the Early Christian church and Lindesfarne..This book manages to be about his cult following but to encompass so much more .It touches on amongst other things belief ,on love .on family and on early Christian architecture.The novel moves through time concentrating on a collection of characters who share characteristics through time but are mostly living in the area around Durham Cathedral .We meet an owl eyed boy in modern times who appeared in early historical sections likewise an orphan girl who cooks and provides for our characters is seen accompanying the itinerant passage of St Curhbert’s bones and repeatedly through time until she appears in our own time working in the Durham cathedral tea shop .i loved the way these stories disappeared and returned ,the author is able to change their writing style to match the time period so there is modern story telling towards the end but gothic Victorian In the middle .So clever I really appreciated the intellectual experience of reading it .Having said that don’t let it put you off as it is an easy comfortable read throughout
Another high point for me was the use early on of multiple excerpts from other writers writing about St Cuthbert ,these feel like a cacophony of voices like the chatter of the Ancestors ,almost another character themselves
Some sections are written as poetry with typesetting enhancing the reading experience and others as play scripts with st Cuthbert a voice appearing from beyond the grave
All in all a fabulous book one I would hope would appear on prize lists such as the Booker prize .The book defiantly classes as a literary novel
I read an early copy on NetGalley Uk the book is published by Bloomsbury Uk in February 2023

Initially it took me a moment or two to get into this book but as I carried on I was gripped. Admittedly as an ex student of Durham, I have a connection to the source material but I found it a really beautiful and evocative piece of writing.

The ever present Cuddy throughout the novel and the different characters which then interlink to tell the story of Durham was a really interesting narrative device.

I adored this book and intend to purchase a copy as it’s one I want to read again. Thanks to Net Galley for this ARC.

I found this very difficult to read, in part due to bad formatting on the kindle version I had, although what I did manage to read seemed very disjointed and hard to understand. However I didn’t read enough to form a conclusive opinion.
I have read and enjoyed Benjamin Myers previous books and so I will attempt to read again when published.

I’m sorry but I just didn’t understand this at all. At what point is a book too arty? The lack of any identifiable structure was very jarring and I cannot see how this is a story at all, to be quite honest.