Books

English Free Company series:

The English Free Company is led by Geoffrey Hotspur, an orphan-squire and ward of the mighty Duke of Lancaster, whose driving ambition is to become a knight and serve a great lord. This captivating historical narrative not only follows the path to knighthood of a lonely English squire, but also considers some of the great issues of the day, from the many manifestations of fidelity to the meaning of faith during a period of political turmoil. Supported with extensive research done by a professional historian, Of Faith and Fidelity utilizes true personages and events to weave a vivid tapestry of this exciting time of transition between periods.

Of Faith and Fidelity: Geoffrey Hotspur and the War for St. Peter’s Throne takes place in 1394, at the height of the schism of the Western Church when the throne of St. Peter was contested by rival claimants in Rome and Avignon. For nearly sixteen years the papacy has been divided between claimants in Rome and Avignon. Unable to settle the dispute peacefully, both sides resorted to war. The key to winning the throne of St. Peter was always control of the Patrimony, a band of territory stretching the breadth of Italy that owes fealty to whichever pope who can rule it. From Scandinavia to Sicily, there is great anticipation that the campaign of 1394 will culminate in a battle that will secure the Patrimony of St. Peter for one man.

Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 978-0-9567901-5-6

Format: Paperback
ISBN: 978-0-9567901-6-3

Format: eBook (ePUB and ePDF)
ISBN: 978-0-9567901-7-0

Publishers: Knox Robinson Publishing

Of Fathers & Sons: Geoffrey Hotspur and the Este Inheritance, the second adventure in the series, takes place in 1395 when the conflict between rival branches of the mighty Este family over the succession to the strategic Marquisate of Ferrara reaches its climax. The Este lands are vulnerable. The unexpected death of the powerful Marquis Alberto d'Este in 1393 has left his ten-year old son, Niccolo, as his sole direct heir. Though born out of wedlock, the pope himself legitimized the boy’s birth, but in an age when great lords ruled by the sword as much as by the laws of inheritance, having a boy lead the family can be a sign of weakness.

Made unhappy by the father, several Este vassals want to humble the son, and they see their opportunity in the essential weakness of Niccolo’s minority rule. Championing their cause is the head of a humiliated branch of the Este family who is not only a famous condottiere, but also a powerful captain of the ambitious lord of Milan. Fearing that civil war will lead to a shift in the already fragile balance of power in favor of the hated Milan, the city-states of Florence, Venice and Bologna combine to keep the Este inheritance in Niccolo’s hands. If Niccolo falls, the great powers of Italy will be plunged in to war.

Geoffrey and Niccolo are confronted by the same questions: How can an orphan find his place in a society informed by patriarchal relations? For how long must a son honor the wishes of his father? When does the boy become the man?

 

Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 978-1-9084831-5-7

Format: Paperback
ISBN: 978-1-9084831-6-4

Publishers: Knox Robinson Publishing