A Knight and a Spy 1414 “Beware of secrets and daggers” These words of warning come back to haunt Sir James de Grispere. Sir James is thrust into a world of betrayal both in the English court and in France. Alliances are made and treaties are broken, all in the name of ambition. With no one to trust, he must navigate the corridors of power within the Court of Aragon. As military might builds for the greatest battle to conquer France, the navy is imperilled, as is King Henry V as plots against him fester. All hangs on the Council of Constance where treachery abounds, and Sir James must protect the English Embassy at all costs. Even with his own life. Buy A Knight and A Spy 1414 now to discover medieval England and France at their most devious and deadly!
A PIRATE WAR, TRAITORS AT COURT, A SPY IN PERIL. In the midst of the Hundred Years War, with Henry IV threatened by revolts in the north and the precious English wool trade imperiled by pirates in the English Channel, Sir Jamie de Grispere, newly appointed Royal Household Knight, is secretly tasked by Royal Spymaster Sir Richard Whittington to infiltrate and inform on the rebels. Jamie soon uncovers a plot to seize the crown for the young Prince Henry. With the court a swirl of rumours and treachery, Jamie must decide who to follow: the king to whom he has pledged his allegiance, or the strong prince who knighted him. The wrong choice will cost him his life. Buy A Knight and a Spy 1411, now to read the second book in the new medieval series by Simon Fairfax.
A new war with France. A deadly assassin. A kingdom to claim. With Henry the Fourth’s hold on the English throne weakening, his putative heir must choose a side as a new conflict with France threatens. Sir James de Grispere, knight of the royal household and spy for Sir Richard Whittington, is forced to deal with treachery and deceit on the dark streets of London, Paris and Florence. Sir James faces his nemesis at the Parisian court, a hotbed of murder, intrigue and duplicity, where Whittington warns him that ‘not all that is deadly is clothed in maille.’ The Western Schism within the papacy brings England to the point of financial ruin, and Sir James is tasked with a perilous mission – to take the papal levy overland to Italy to secure stability for the realm. The road to Florence is long and perilous and not all are as they seem. With spies and assassins in every shadow, can Sir James and his companions survive the deadly journey to Italy, or is he - and those he holds dear - destined to fall? A Knight and a Spy 1412 is the third book in the new Medieval series by Simon Fairfax
England 1413: the king is dead, long live the king! Household knight and spy Sir James de Grispere has never faced such overwhelming odds. The turbulent reign of Henry IV has finally come to an end, yet his son inherits a kingdom riven with debt and dissension. The Scots threaten to breach the treaty of peace, raising a banner under the imposter Richard II to unite with English rebels. Paris is torn apart by a terror that could unite France against the English king; and in England, a deadly heretical sect threatens to undermine the fabric of all society linking these forces to assassinate the new King Henry V. Sir James must face a charge of treason and his own mortality to save his family and the king. Buy A Knight and a Spy 1413 now to enter a deadly medieval world.
The thrilling third instalment in the epic LIONHEART series from Sunday Times Bestselling author, Ben Kane! 'A rip-roaring epic' PAUL FINCH 'A truly vibrant and gripping read' HELENA GUMLEY-MASON 'An epic tale' MATTHEW HARRFY 'Historical fiction has never been more visceral' JAMES ROLLINS 'A tour de force on an epic scale' DOUGLAS JACKSON Forged in battle. Made in glory. Warleader Autumn 1192. With Jerusalem still in the Saracens' hands, and a peace treaty agreed with their leader Saladin, Richard the Lionheart is free at last to travel back to his strife-ridden kingdom. By his side at every turn is the loyal knight Ferdia, also known as Rufus. Together they will face not just Richard's archenemy Philippe Capet of France, but also the king's treacherous younger brother, John. Captive Shipwrecked on the Italian coast, the king and his small group of companions are forced into a perilous journey through lands controlled by their enemies. Shortly before Christmas 1192, Richard is taken prisoner near Vienna by Duke Leopold of Austria. Kept prisoner for several months, the king is then handed over to Henry VI, the Holy Roman Emperor. His captivity lasts for another year, fanning the flames of unrest in his territories in England and beyond. Negotiator Talks between Richard's mother Queen Alienor and Henry VI last for months, but finally reach a bitter agreement. The extortionate sum demanded to free the king will empty the treasury and bleed England dry. Philippe Capet and Richard's brother John collude, offering vast sums to see the king kept captive for longer. Their efforts are in vain, leading Philippe to pen a letter to John including the famous line: 'Look to yourself, the devil is loose.' King Crowned for a second time to wash away the shame of his captivity, Richard restores order in England, forgiving John his shameful behaviour. His next task is to recover territories lost to Philippe Capet, and to re-establish his dominance over the French king. Forging clever alliances, building strategic castles and when obliged, waging war, the Lionheart carves a unique path into history. *** Readers are loving Ben Kane: 'Powerful evocation of our history' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'An engaging and exciting read' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Gripped me from start to finish' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Epic tales, gorgeous prose, non-stop action' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Rich in period detail and lively in narrative' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
An examination the life of the mid-12th-century Gaelic-Norse lord and his cultural and historical significance, by the author of Galloglas . Through almost eight hundred years, Somerled of Argyll has been variously denounced as an intractable rebel against his rightful king and esteemed as the honored ancestor of the later medieval Lord of the Isles. But now he can be recognized as a much more complex figure of major prominence in twelfth-century Scotland and of truly landmark significance in the long history of the Gael. In this book, author John Marsden investigates Somerled’s emergence in the forefront of the Gaelic-Norse aristocracy of the western seaboard, his part in Gaeldom’s challenge to the Canmore kings of Scots, his war on the Manx king of the Isles, his importance for the church on Iona, and his extraordinary invasion of the Clyde, which was cut short by his violent death at Renfrew in 1164. Marsden also demonstrates how almost everything that is known of or has been claimed for Somerled reflects the same characteristic fusion of Norse and Celt that binds the cultural roots of Gaeldom. It is this recognition that has led Marsden to propose Somerled’s wider historical importance as the personality who most represents the first fully-fledged emergence of the medieval Celtic-Scandinavian cultural province from which is directly descended the Gaelic Scotland of today.
In 1100, King William II died in a tragic accident... or was it murder? In The Death of the Red King , acclaimed historian Paul Doherty investigates the suspicious death of William II in a masterful 'faction' - a mix of both fact and fiction. Concentrating on both old and new evidence, Paul Doherty explores the highly suspicious elements surrounding the death of King William II of England, nicknamed "Rufus the Red King". Through the eyes of the great philosopher Anselm, a secret admirer of the Red King, a far more chilling interpretation of his death is put forward that challenges everything we think we know. What readers are saying about Paul Doherty: 'An interesting look at a little known real-life mystery ' 'The book is interesting , well written , fact and fiction coming easily together to form a well-argued case' ' Doherty proves that he is a scholar as well as a writer of novels'
An illustrated overview of the Hundred Years War, the longest-running and the most significant conflict in western Europe in the later Middle Ages. There can be no doubt that military conflict between France and England dominated European history in the 14th and 15th centuries. The Hundred Years War is of considerable interest both because of its duration and the number of theatres in which it was fought. Drawing on the latest research for this new edition, Hundred Years War expert Professor Anne Curry examines how the war can reveal much about the changing nature of warfare: the rise of infantry and the demise of the knight; the impact of increased use of gunpowder and the effect of the war on generations of people. Updated and revised for the new edition, with full-colour maps and 50 new images, this illustrated introduction provides an important reference resource for the academic or student reader as well as those with a general interest in late medieval warfare.
The thrilling new historical adventure from New York Times bestselling author Boyd Morrison and expert medievalist Beth Morrison. Fox and Willa find themselves on a dangerous quest for the treasure of the Templar Knights. A Perilous Quest. A Deadly Legacy. Italy, 1351. English companions, knight Gerard Fox and the resourceful Willa, have come through a death-defying journey across war-torn Europe. Now looking towards a future together, they must first find a way to reconcile with their difficult pasts. In a small village between Florence and Siena, Fox and Willa are caught up in a deadly ambush. After rescuing Luciana, the target of the attack, they take refuge in her opulent villa and learn her heartbreaking story – a tale of loss, deception, and a burning desire for freedom. Soon, Fox and Willa are involved in a perilous quest to save Luciana's family legacy. To do so, they will have to solve a mystery that points the way to the fabled lost treasure of the Knights Templar. 'Complete with mysteries, secrets, and adventure, rich in detail, delivering exactly what a reader craves. This writing duo knows all the right chords to touch.' Steve Berry, #1 New York Times bestselling author 'A mesmerizing sequel to the hugely entertaining The Lawless Land .... There is action galore. What a ride!' Elizabeth George, #1 New York Times bestselling author 'Any lover of historical mysteries or great tales of adventure will find much delight in this novel!' James Rollins, #1 New York Times bestselling author 'A triumphant follow-up to The Lawless Land , with a puzzle that will dazzle fans of The Da Vinci Code . There's so much breathtaking excitement that the book should come with an oxygen tank.' Lee Goldberg, #1 New York Times bestselling author Reviews for the TALES OF THE LAWLESS LAND series: 'The Morrisons bring the Middle Ages to life in vivid detail.' Graham Brown 'A novel full of both authenticity and thrills.' Mark Greaney 'Historical fiction fans will eagerly await the couple's further adventures.' Publishers Weekly 'Combines the rich historical tapestry of Umberto Eco and the relentless pace and adventure of Clive Cussler.' J.T. Ellison
'A rollicking adventure [with] the inventive twists and turns of a satisfyingly bustling plot.' New York Times 'Fantastic... Gerard Fox could be Jack Reacher's ancestor, 700 years ago. Highly recommended!' Lee Child First in a fast-paced historical adventure series from New York Times bestselling author Boyd Morrison and expert medievalist Beth Morrison. Live by the sword. Die for the truth. England, 1351. The Pestilence has ravaged the land. Villages lie abandoned but for crows and corpses. Highways are patrolled by marauders and murderers. In these dark and dangerous times, the wise keep to themselves. But Gerard Fox cannot afford to be wise. The young knight has been robbed of his ancestral home, his family name tarnished. To regain his lands and reputation, he sets forth to petition the one man who can restore them. Fate places Fox on the wrong road at the wrong time as he hurtles towards a chance encounter. It will entangle him with an enigmatic woman, a relic of incalculable value, and a dark family secret. It will lead him far from home and set him on a collision course with one of the most ambitious and dangerous men in Europe – a man on the cusp of seizing Christendom's highest office. And now, Fox is the only one standing in his way... 'A novel full of both authenticity and thrills, and readers are sure to clamor for more from this writing duo.' Mark Greaney 'A hugely entertaining historical novel!' Eric Jager, author of The Last Duel ' The Lawless Land combines the rich historical tapestry of Umberto Eco and the relentless pace and adventure of Clive Cussler.' J.T. Ellison 'Boyd and Beth Morrison bring the Middle Ages to life in vivid detail with historical authenticity and a sense of fun... This thriller has it all!' Graham Brown '[An] exceptional series launch.' Publishers Weekly 'A winning combination of author and expert medievalist... Thoroughly enjoyable.' Historical Novel Society 'A simply riveting action/adventure novel... The stuff of which blockbuster movies are made.' Midwest Book Review
With Ranulf's life at stake, can Sir Hugh hope to save him? An exclusive digital novella featuring Sir Hugh Corbett, the medieval sleuth of acclaimed historian Paul Doherty's most popular series. Includes an exclusive extract from the eighteenth Corbett novel Dark Serpent . Perfect for fans of Susanna Gregory and Ellis Peters It is 1311 and England seethes with unrest. Sir Hugh Corbett, former keeper of the Secret Seal, has been absent from royal service for over six years. Content to live a life more relaxed with his wife and children in the country Corbett has enjoyed his time away from the machinations of court and the secrets men will kill to keep. But a visit from his new King, Edward II, brings about change. His former protégé, Ranulf Atte-Newgate, now Senior Clerk in the Chancery, has been implicated in the death of a young novice, and Edward has made it clear that Corbett must resume his post and solve the case if Ranulf is not to hang for the murder... Corbett knows that resuming his post will bring him to the fore of Edward's political machinations but with Ranulf's life at stake, does Corbett have any choice but to accept the Seal once more? What readers are saying about Paul Doherty: 'Doherty manages to build in plot twists and misdirection and the whole thing moves at a tremendous pace to the final conclusion' ' A magical author ' ' Master storytelling from one of the best authors '
With Ranulf's life at stake, can Sir Hugh hope to save him? An exclusive digital novella featuring Sir Hugh Corbett, the medieval sleuth of acclaimed historian Paul Doherty's most popular series. Includes an exclusive extract from the eighteenth Corbett novel Dark Serpent . Perfect for fans of Susanna Gregory and Ellis Peters It is 1311 and England seethes with unrest. Sir Hugh Corbett, former keeper of the Secret Seal, has been absent from royal service for over six years. Content to live a life more relaxed with his wife and children in the country Corbett has enjoyed his time away from the machinations of court and the secrets men will kill to keep. But a visit from his new King, Edward II, brings about change. His former protégé, Ranulf Atte-Newgate, now Senior Clerk in the Chancery, has been implicated in the death of a young novice, and Edward has made it clear that Corbett must resume his post and solve the case if Ranulf is not to hang for the murder... Corbett knows that resuming his post will bring him to the fore of Edward's political machinations but with Ranulf's life at stake, does Corbett have any choice but to accept the Seal once more? What readers are saying about Paul Doherty: 'Doherty manages to build in plot twists and misdirection and the whole thing moves at a tremendous pace to the final conclusion' ' A magical author ' ' Master storytelling from one of the best authors '