Saint Cuthbert Trilogy


Book Description

All three books in John Broughton's 'Saint Cuthbert Trilogy', a series of historical fiction set in medieval England, now in one volume! Heaven In A Wild Flower: In 7th century Northumbria, Aella survives war and gains the patronage of the king and friendship of Bishop Cuthbert. Commissioned to create a masterpiece for Lindisfarne, Aella impresses King Aldfrith who sends him to Ireland to learn to read and write. There, Aella makes friends, learns to illuminate manuscripts, and falls in love, but can he achieve his dreams and marry the love of his life? The Horse-Thegn: Set in late 9th century Northumbria, where Viking attacks and Danish settlers are a constant threat, Cynn is a royal Horse-Thegn who aims to bring peace and integration to his estates. Charged by the king to end the violent attacks of a group led by the elusive Edred, Cynn faces open revolt against legitimate rule. In a kingdom facing external threats, can Cynn achieve his goal of a durable and prosperous future as they enter a new century? The Master Of The Chevron: The third novel in John Broughton’s Saint Cuthbert trilogy follows the lifelong friendship of a studious monk and a bluff mason, Thurgot and Kenrick, respectively, after the Norman Conquest. Thurgot senses Kenrick’s destiny when he saves him from drowning near the Farne Isles, and their Christian beliefs and pragmatic talents help them overcome obstacles of revolt, persecution, and hardship in eleventh- and twelfth-century Northumbria. Their legacy is still present today in the work of the first master mason in Durham.




The Horse-Thegn


Book Description

It's the late 9th century, and Northumbria is subject to both Viking attacks and settlers from Denmark. Cynn is the royal Horse-Thegn. Striving for peace and integration on his estates, he is charged by the king to end the pillaging of a foul band of raiders. Led by the elusive Edred, their atrocities have become increasingly violent, resulting in open revolt against legitimate rule. But in the face of many external threats, can Cynn achieve his aim of a durable and prosperous kingdom, as they enter a new century? This is the large print edition of The Horse-Thegn, with a larger font / typeface for easier reading.




The Pillars of the Earth


Book Description

#1 New York Times Bestseller Oprah's Book Club Selection The “extraordinary . . . monumental masterpiece” (Booklist) that changed the course of Ken Follett’s already phenomenal career—and begins where its prequel, The Evening and the Morning, ended. “Follett risks all and comes out a clear winner,” extolled Publishers Weekly on the release of The Pillars of the Earth. A departure for the bestselling thriller writer, the historical epic stunned readers and critics alike with its ambitious scope and gripping humanity. Today, it stands as a testament to Follett’s unassailable command of the written word and to his universal appeal. The Pillars of the Earth tells the story of Philip, prior of Kingsbridge, a devout and resourceful monk driven to build the greatest Gothic cathedral the world has known . . . of Tom, the mason who becomes his architect—a man divided in his soul . . . of the beautiful, elusive Lady Aliena, haunted by a secret shame . . . and of a struggle between good and evil that will turn church against state and brother against brother. A spellbinding epic tale of ambition, anarchy, and absolute power set against the sprawling medieval canvas of twelfth-century England, this is Ken Follett’s historical masterpiece.




Shieldwall


Book Description

A Sunday Times Book of the Year 'Justin Hill's Shieldwall . . . superbly evoked the wordplay of the period's poetry as it unfolds a compelling story of Earl Godwin's battles against the Norse' The year is 1016 and England burns while the Viking armies blockade the great city of London. King Ethelred lies dying and the England he knew dies with him; the warring kingdoms of Mercia, Wessex and Northymbria tremble on the brink of great change. One man lives to bear witness to the upheaval: Godwin, barely out of boyhood and destined to become one of his country's great warriors. When Ethelred's son Edmund takes the throne, determined to succeed where his father failed, he plucks Godwin from domestic peace to be right-hand man in his loyal shield wall. Godwin must traverse the meadows, wintry forests and fogbound marshes of Saxon England, raising armies of monks, ploughmen and shepherds against the Viking invader. With epic courage and ferocity, Godwin and Edmund repel the butchering Danes in three great battles. But an old enemy, the treacherous Earl Eadric, dogs Godwin's footsteps, and as the final battle approaches, around the valiant English the trap begins to close.




The Sterling Directive


Book Description

Captain Charles Maddox returns secretly to London from an exile in disgrace only to be arrested, imprisoned and threatened with the death penalty. He is rescued by a shadowy government agency called the Map Room who give him a choice: return to prison or become an agent, codenamed Sterling, and help them uncover a government conspiracy connected to the Ripper murders. Led by the coolly calculating Milady and her associate Collier, and aided by fellow agent Church and mechanical computer expert Patience, the freshly appointed Agent Sterling must rapidly learn his new trade if he is to survive the murky and violent fringes of Victorian life and uncover a secret that threatens the Empire itself. Set in 1896 in an alternative Victorian timeline where mechanical computers are a part of everyday life, The Sterling Directive blends fact and fiction to create a gripping thriller for fans of espionage and historical adventure alike.




The Horse-Thegn


Book Description

It's the late 9th century, and Northumbria is subject to both Viking attacks and settlers from Denmark. Cynn is the royal Horse-Thegn. Striving for peace and integration on his estates, he is charged by the king to end the pillaging of a foul band of raiders. Led by the elusive Edred, their atrocities have become increasingly violent, resulting in open revolt against legitimate rule. But in the face of many external threats, can Cynn achieve his aim of a durable and prosperous kingdom, as they enter a new century?




The Master Of The Chevron


Book Description

After the Norman Conquest, fate throws a studious monk and a bluff mason together for a lifelong friendship. The monk, Thurgot, senses Kenrick’s destiny, a man who saves him from drowning near the Farne Isles. His Christian beliefs entwine with Kenrick’s pragmatic talents to overcome the obstacles of revolt, persecution and hardship that these turbulent times present. Each is able to leave his mark in late eleventh- and early twelfth-century Northumbria. Even today, the visitor to Durham can admire the work of the first master mason. Follow his trials and tribulations in The Master Of The Chevron, the third novel in John Broughton’s Saint Cuthbert trilogy.




Heaven In A Wild Flower (Saint Cuthbert Trilogy Book 1)


Book Description

Aella is a leatherworker living in 7th century Northumbria. After surviving the war against the Picts, the king becomes his godfather, and Aella befriends Bishop Cuthbert. Aware of Aella's skills, the monks of Lindisfarne commission him to make the cover of the Gospel of St. John as a gift for Cuthbert. Impressed by the masterpiece, Ecgfrith's successor, King Aldfrith, sends Aella to Ireland to learn to read and write. Soon, Aella befriends a fellow student, learns to illuminate manuscripts, and falls in love. But can he achieve his dreams, and wed the love of his life?




THE ROSE TRILOGY


Book Description

Three glorious gripping novels - formerly known as The She-Wolves trilogy, now all in one volume for the first time as THE ROSE TRILOGY 'Here is a novelist at ease with her subject. A compulsive read' Anne O'Brien 'A real tour de force of gripping writing, rich historical detail and complex, fascinating characters' Nicola Cornick 'Carol McGrath excels at sweeping the reader away on an engrossing journey through history . . . she brings her characters vividly to life' Jane Johnson 'A wonderful little piece of time travel for any lover of historical fiction' Joanna Courtney 'Full of intricate details, historical accuracy and complex plotting' Alexandra Walsh Three queens of England - and three women who lived in their shadow. THE SILKEN ROSE They called her the She-Wolf. She'd shape the destiny of England ... 1236. Ailenor of Provence, cultured and intelligent, is only thirteen when she meets her new husband, Henry III of England. Rosalind, a commoner catches the young queen's attention and a friendship blossoms. But she is unprepared for the dangerous ramifications of winning the queen's favour ... THE DAMASK ROSE A beloved wife. A hated queen. A journey to her destiny ... 1266. Eleanor of Castile, adored wife of the Crown Prince of England, is still only a princess when she is held hostage in the brutal Baron's Rebellion, and her baby daughter dies. As she rises to become Queen, Eleanor keeps Olwen - a trusted herbalist, by her side. But it is dangerous to be friendless in a royal household, and Olwen and Eleanor discover that the true battle for Europe may not be a matter of swords and lances, but one fanned by whispers and spies. THE STONE ROSE A queen must know her place, in a court of men . . . London, 1350. Agnes, daughter of a stonemason, is struggling to keep her father's trade in a city decimated by plague. And then she receives a mysterious message from the disgraced Queen Isabella: mother of King Edward III, and widow of Edward II. Isabella has a task that only Agnes can fulfil. She wants her truth to be told. But can either woman choose independence, follow her own desires, and survive?




The London Tram Murders


Book Description

Detective Inspectors Vance and Shepherd reunite in the second book in John Broughton's Vance And Shepherd Mysteries. After a murder is committed in a quiet suburban subway under a tramline, it becomes obvious that the murder squad is dealing with a copycat killer. The murder is an uncanny repeat of their previous case, and their inquiries are complicated by the presence of the main suspect’s doppelganger, Melanie Bradshaw. The brilliant chemistry master student has solid alibis but Shepherd, flying in the face of the contrary evidence, is convinced that the deceased serial killer's sister and Melanie are the same person. As the killings continue, Vance and Shepherd face increasing pressure from above building. Can they apprehend and bring the killer to justice before more lives are lost?