Sarum
Sarum is an epic story that tells the history of the Salisbury region in particular and England in general from the end of the Ice Age through the current period. It traces the story of several interconnected local families over the centuries as their fortunes rise and fall with the vagaries of time. It is also an excellent overview of the major historical events and eras of England.
Themes & atmosphere
What you might want to know about Sarum
The questions readers send us most often, answered without spoilers.
From the last Ice Age to modern Britain, Rutherfurd traces the Salisbury area through Stonehenge, Roman roads, the cathedral, the Wars of the Roses, and the World Wars, following five families across the centuries.
Sarum was written by Edward Rutherfurd and published in 1987. It was Rutherfurd's debut novel and established his career writing sweeping historical novels following one geographic location across millennia.
Sarum is around 900 pages, covering 10,000 years of history at the site of modern Salisbury, England. The structure follows multiple families across generations rather than a single continuous narrative.
Sarum is 897 pages in standard print editions, though page counts vary slightly between hardcover, paperback, and large-print formats.
At an average reading pace of about 250 words per minute, Sarum takes most readers 13 to 19 hours to finish.
Sarum is a standalone novel by Edward Rutherfurd, not part of a series.
Sarum is available in hardcover, paperback, ebook, and audiobook formats from Amazon, Bookshop.org, ThriftBooks, and most major bookstores.