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The Scarlet Lion (William Marshal #3)

by Elizabeth Chadwick (Goodreads Author)

4.23 of 5 stars 4.23 · rating details · 1,921 ratings · 172 reviews

Following early beginnings as a knight in the English royal household and a champion of the tourneys, William Marshal's prowess and loyalty have been rewarded by the hand in marriage of Isabelle de Clare, heiress to great estates in England, Normandy and Ireland. Now a powerful magnate, William has weathered the difficult years of King Richard's absence on crusade and is c...more

Hardcover, 592 pages

Published December 7th 2006 by Little, Brown & Company

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The Greatest Knight by Elizabeth Chadwick

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Mar 27, 2010 Heather rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, historical-fiction, hfbrt, england, 13th-c

The Scarlet Lion picks up shortly after The Greatest Knight leaves off. I would HIGHLY recommend that you read The Greatest Knight first! I am so glad that I found time to squeeze The Greatest Knight in. If you don’t, you will lose out on so much back-story that makes you really care about the characters and you learn the motives for many of the things that occur in this story. I have heard several people make this complaint, so I wanted to warn you right off of the top.

The Scarlet Lion takes p...more The Scarlet Lion picks up shortly after The Greatest Knight leaves off. I would HIGHLY recommend that you read The Greatest Knight first! I am so glad that I found time to squeeze The Greatest Knight in. If you don’t, you will lose out on so much back-story that makes you really care about the characters and you learn the motives for many of the things that occur in this story. I have heard several people make this complaint, so I wanted to warn you right off of the top.

The Scarlet Lion takes place mostly in Ireland and England. I had not read anything set in Ireland, so it was very interesting to see some of this Irish history. For much of the story, William and Isabelle are in different countries and you see them living separate lives. When they are together, it is for a very short period of time and usually revolves around the marriage bed. One of the things that I miss from the previous book is the unity between William and Isabelle. They were able to build off of each other and make each other stronger – here there is more conflict. I really did find myself enjoying two of their children – John and Mahelt. I’m excited that Mahelt will be featured in an upcoming book, To Defy a King.

While I LOVED The Greatest Knight (you can find my review here), I didn’t enjoy The Scarlet Lion quite as much. I still really enjoyed it, but it was lacking the action and tourney excitement of the previous. This story was more character driven and less action driven – so it was a little slow going at times. One of the strengths of Chadwick’s writing is her ability to make you feel for the characters. As the story came toward the end I found myself in going back and forth between being choked up and crying – definitely a hanky novel!

Overall, an enjoyable Chadwick read and I can’t wait to get my hands on some more. For those of you who read this book first and found it hard to get into, do yourself a favor and pick up The Greatest Knight, you won’t regret it and everything will make more sense!

This book was received for review from the publisher - I was not compensated for my opinions and the above is my honest review.(less)

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Aug 20, 2008 Misfit rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-and-keep-for-a-reread, historical-fiction

Historical fiction just doesn't get any better than this. This is a wonderful tale of one of the most honorable men to grace this earth, William Marshal and his true partner in all things, his wife Isabelle. The first novel, Greatest Knight, covered more of William Marshal's early life as a knight and courtier. This novel covers his life with Isabel and the dangers and terrors of living in the court of the King John, and then as regent for the young Henry III. I have to admit shedding more than...more

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Jan 01, 2012 Ellen Ekstrom rated it 5 of 5 stars

William Marshal was an extraordinary man for his time, yet he gets a page here and there in the chronicles you and I read while in school. Fortunately, we have authors like Chadwick to make the people and the time come alive. "The Scarlet Lion" continues the story of Marshal until his death in 1219 at the age of 75. Again, the writing is entertaining, well-researched, though the ebook copy I have could have used better editing - some phrases and paragraphs were repeated, but formatting is not th...more

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Jul 08, 2012 Kim rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: medieval-fiction

An excellent sequel to The Greatest Knight, I was enthralled by the story of the later years of William Marshal and his wife, Isabelle de Clare.

Chadwick continued to weave history and storytelling together, bringing the time period to life in breathtaking detail. William Marshal was a man who held his honor as sacrosanct, and managed to keep it close to his heart for the entirety of his life, even as he danced the dance of politics with some of the most (in)famous men of the age, such as Richar...more

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Feb 22, 2010 Laura rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Scarlet Lion is a stand-alone second novel detailing the later half of William Marshal’s life. William Marshal used his great skills as a knight as well as his honesty and integrity to gain power and the hand of Isabelle de Claire, a very wealthy heiress. At the beginning of The Scarlet Lion, William and Isabelle are happily married and busy multiplying their family. William has not settled down as a country squire, he is always at the beck and call of King Richard helping out and leading th...more The Scarlet Lion is a stand-alone second novel detailing the later half of William Marshal’s life. William Marshal used his great skills as a knight as well as his honesty and integrity to gain power and the hand of Isabelle de Claire, a very wealthy heiress. At the beginning of The Scarlet Lion, William and Isabelle are happily married and busy multiplying their family. William has not settled down as a country squire, he is always at the beck and call of King Richard helping out and leading the way as needed.

Tragedy strikes when King Richard suddenly dies, and his brother, King John takes over. Honor compels William to serve England’s King, even though King John does not rule with integrity or honor himself. The Marshal family faces many perils, including King John taking the two eldest sons, William and Richard, as hostages. These perils cause friction between William and Isabelle as they try to keep their power and their family intact.

Unlike The Greatest Knight, The Scarlet Lion focuses a lot on Isabelle and the Marshall children. I liked the new approach as William is now a family man. Isabelle is a very strong heroine in a time when women did not have a lot of power. I loved reading about her and how she was able to rule without William at home.

The battle sequences in The Scarlet Lion were thrilling from the assault on the castle at Milli at the start of the book to the Battle of Lincoln at the end of the book. I was riveted and loved the detail. The historical detail throughout the book was intriguing. It was interesting to me to see how much power the Catholic Church influenced over nations at that point in time.

I also loved the romance. William and Isabelle’s love faces trials, but they are able to weather the storm and find their love growing stronger. I also love the realization of the passage of time. One of my favorite quotes is Isabelle thinking, “The years had flown with the swiftness of summer swallows on the wing.”

Overall, The Scarlet Lion is a fantastic novel. This is great historical fiction; wonderful characters, fascinating history, and detailed beautiful writing. I feel like I know William and Isabelle quite well now and only wish I could read more about them or their family!
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Jun 12, 2012 Nisareen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Nisareen by: deborah o'regan

The sequel to The Greatest Knight is an impressive and enthralling account of the later part of William Marshal’s life until his death in 1219 at the age of 75. The Scarlet Lion follows William and his wife Isabelle’s turbulent years under the tyrannical King John. Chadwick delivers another well-constructed and well-researched novel with expertly-crafted characters that leap off the page.

William Marshal has proved himself a worthy opponent on the battlefield, a gallant knight at court, an admira...more The sequel to The Greatest Knight is an impressive and enthralling account of the later part of William Marshal’s life until his death in 1219 at the age of 75. The Scarlet Lion follows William and his wife Isabelle’s turbulent years under the tyrannical King John. Chadwick delivers another well-constructed and well-researched novel with expertly-crafted characters that leap off the page.

William Marshal has proved himself a worthy opponent on the battlefield, a gallant knight at court, an admirable overlord to his vassals, and a loving husband and father to his family. However, when Richard suddenly dies, there are two potential claimants to the Angevin throne: John, whose claim rests on being the sole surviving son of Henry II, and young Arthur of Brittany, who holds a claim as the son of Geoffrey, John's elder brother. When William De Braose declares that Richard upon his deathbed, named John as his heir, William is honour bound to pledge his fealty to John. William’s relationship with John is an uneasy one which is further aggravated when William (who owns substantial holdings in Normandy) swears fealty to Phillip II in the hopes of keeping them. Despite John giving William permission to do so beforehand, John later retracts his consent and accuses William of treachery. To punish William and Isabelle, John strips the Marshals of their lands, imprisons his two boys, sends support to Ireland to usurp their lands there placing Isabelle and the children in mortal danger. William displays inhuman patience and restraint throughout these trials but his marriage to Isabelle comes under immense strain as does his relationship with his eldest son, Will. William walks a lonely path as he struggles to maintain his integrity by honouring his fealty pledge towards the faithless and mistrustful John.

The ultimate irony was that John held nothing but contempt for William's values and his integrity and preferred to believe that everything William did was for William's own gain. That John should die handing his son's guardianship over to William shows that he was counting on that same sense of honour and duty. It was probably one of the most decent things that John did. Chadwick doesn't explain how William after years of humiliation, becomes once more in the favour of King John, but it wasn't a moment too soon in my opinion as it was painful to read those dark years when he was out of favour.

Chadwicks portayal of the last days of William's life was beautiful and poignant as the story winds to a close with the greatest knight of England on his deathbed, having served four English kings faithfully and preserved his honour through good times and bad. (less)

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Oct 23, 2012 Jennifer rated it 5 of 5 stars

I loved every page of this novel which depicts the second half of William Marshal's story, perhaps even more than I did the first novel "The Greatest Knight". In this novel we are shown a somewhat altered man; after weathering so many storms in his volatile youth, Marshal wishes for peace and security for himself and his family. However, King John decides this is not to be and tests Marshal almost to the end of his strength. The bond between Marshal and his wife Isabelle de Clare is shown to be...more

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Mar 18, 2011 Ginny Palmieri rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is the sequel to The Greatest Knight. I have to admit a weakness for well-researched, well-written historical novels. Chadwick's 2 volume series, a fictionalized history centered on the life and times William Marshal was more than satisfying. Not only did I gobble these novels up, but spent a good deal of time while I was reading them delving further into the history behind them - an endeavor which served to show just how masterfully the author embroidered the story with imagination while s...more

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Sep 09, 2011 Rosanne Lortz rated it 4 of 5 stars

Elizabeth Chadwick is considered by most historical fiction readers to be IT. She’s the top of the field. She’s the cream of the crop. And this is one instance where I agree with the popular voice. Chadwick’s novels are beautiful in their historical accuracy, their characterizations, and their storytelling ability.

The Scarlet Lion follows The Greatest Knight as the second book in Elizabeth Chadwick’s William Marshal series. It took me a few chapters to get into the story, but once I did, I was h...more Elizabeth Chadwick is considered by most historical fiction readers to be IT. She’s the top of the field. She’s the cream of the crop. And this is one instance where I agree with the popular voice. Chadwick’s novels are beautiful in their historical accuracy, their characterizations, and their storytelling ability.

The Scarlet Lion follows The Greatest Knight as the second book in Elizabeth Chadwick’s William Marshal series. It took me a few chapters to get into the story, but once I did, I was hooked. In the previous book, William married Isabella de Clare and discovered that she was the perfect companion, his safe haven in the storms. In The Scarlet Knight, both William and Isabella find many storms to weather.

King Richard dies soon after the story opens, and William supports John in taking the kingship (despite the complaints of John’s nephew Arthur). John is as mean, nasty, and debauched as any devotee of Robin Hood movies would have expected, and even though he is indebted to William Marshal, he will not prove grateful. John wrangles with Philip II of France, losing nearly all the English lands across the water. William, who owns substantial holdings in Normandy, can only keep them by swearing fealty to Philip for them. John gives him permission to do this, but later retracts his consent and accuses William of treachery.

To punish William for treating with Philip, John uses his justiciar in Ireland to harass the de Clare lands there. When William and Isabella wish to visit their Irish lands, he demands two of their sons as hostages. William displays an inhuman patience throughout these trials, refusing to rebel in any way against his sovereign. Isabella is not so restrained. She bitterly resents it when William agrees to turn their sons over to John, and the Marshals’ perfect marriage is sorely tested during these times.

I was rather surprised to discover towards the end of the book that my favorite character was actually King John. As loathsome as he was, he lent a lot of interest to the story. After his death, William is forced to take the reins of government as regent for John’s young son Henry III. The story winds to a close with the greatest knight of England on his deathbed, having served four English kings faithfully and preserved his honor through good times and bad.(less)

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May 09, 2013 Betsy Cherepko rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is the second Elizabeth Chadwick novel I've read and it was a great example of historical fiction. Her style is somewhere between Penman and Gregory, striking just the right balance of detail and characterization. This novel is a great telling of William Marshall's peak and his family's struggle to maintain their place and honor in a world imbalanced by greed and political dishonor. Very applicable to the current American political climate. Chadwick's characterization of William Marshall cr...more

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Mar 26, 2011 Liz rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: history lovers of henry VIII era

Recommended to Liz by: self

Shelves: historical-fiction, nook-book

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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May 01, 2010 Lori rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Lori Hill

Recommended to Lori by: Sharon Kay Penman

Shelves: medieval-fict

Historical fiction and Elizabeth Chadwick at their best! Wow! This stand alone sequel to The Greatest Knight (it's not necessary to have read The Greatest Knight to understand and enjoy The Scarlet Lion, but it is highly recommended) covers the latter part of William Marshal's incredible life. William Marshal was not only the greatest knight ever, but I would argue on of the greatest men ever. He exemplified the definition of honor and strength. Chadwick's vivid characterizations and exquisitely...more

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Feb 17, 2011 Toni Osborne rated it 5 of 5 stars

Book 2 in the life of William Marshal

The first novel "The Greatest Knight" followed William Marshal through his early career and his rise to fortune and noble status. In this novel, we are drawn further into his amazing and inspiring life it also includes some details of his family and those who crossed his path.

Ms. Chadwick describes William Marshal as a dashing knight and a champion of tournaments, an easy-going and courteous man, and one who enjoyed the simple pleasures of life but also pre...more Book 2 in the life of William Marshal

The first novel "The Greatest Knight" followed William Marshal through his early career and his rise to fortune and noble status. In this novel, we are drawn further into his amazing and inspiring life it also includes some details of his family and those who crossed his path.

Ms. Chadwick describes William Marshal as a dashing knight and a champion of tournaments, an easy-going and courteous man, and one who enjoyed the simple pleasures of life but also presented himself as a great magnate when it suited his purposes. He was a man of many talents, an accomplished soldier and a natural commander on battlefields, also a skilled diplomat with a dextrous ability to negotiate. He cared about his men and was very generous towards them. He was fiscally astute and he managed to keep the country from bankruptcy during his period of regency. In a nut shell, he was a respected hero who left behind a legacy hard to follow.

Isabelle de Clare, Countess of Pembroke, was not only William`s wife but also his partner and equal. She always maintained her present during council meetings and stayed closed to her husband. She was a woman of strong character and very present in the day to day decisions. In William's absence, she governed the estate with the same dexterity as he would have. 10 pregnancies did not deter her willpower; she was his "Belle amie" throughout their married life, up till his dying breath. She survived him by one year despite their twenty year age difference.

The author also covers a mix of individuals that influenced them during their life whether by choice or obligation. The list of people that crossed their path includes: Kings and Queens, Chaplains, members of the aristocracy, as well as some loyal and not so loyal followers.

Once again Ms. Chadwick has given me hours of pleasure with this engaging historical fiction. The writing is colourful and lively and the author has stayed as close to history as possible but openly admits to have embellished parts of the facts to make William's life more memorable. This novel can stand on its own but to truly appreciate this time period; I would recommend reading "The Greatest Knight" first.

Ms. Chadwick has thrilled me once more with this stunning and captivating story

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Mar 24, 2010 Svea rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, favorites, john-marshall, medieval

Read my full review on my blog: Book Review of The Scarlet Lion
In this sweeping tale of medieval England, Elizabeth Chadwick creates a intriguing and delightful story full of gallantry, tournaments, treachery and a love story for the ages. The words flow freely from the pages and envelope you in a story so real that you find yourself having the same intense emotions as the characters. William Marshall was such an endearing and three dimensional figure that after reading 549 pages I was sad to f...more

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Feb 22, 2010 Terra rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Scarlet Lion by Elizabeth Chadwick is more than just a novel. It is a story of one man and his honor, his dedication to family and country and to all the things that a true Knight of the Realm should be. A man that treads the fine line between wealth or poverty, high court standing or disgrace. An honor bound man that knows that patience brings rewards that could be snatched away so easily by giving into anger and impatience. This is a story that will grab you from the first word to the very...more The Scarlet Lion by Elizabeth Chadwick is more than just a novel. It is a story of one man and his honor, his dedication to family and country and to all the things that a true Knight of the Realm should be. A man that treads the fine line between wealth or poverty, high court standing or disgrace. An honor bound man that knows that patience brings rewards that could be snatched away so easily by giving into anger and impatience. This is a story that will grab you from the first word to the very last and make you savour each delicious morsel in between.

This is the second book in the series with the first being "The Greatest Knight". You must read these in order or you will be completely lost in "The Scarlet Lion".

The Scarlet Lion starts right from where it's predecessor finished without much time loss in between. This is a meaty book that you will read more slowly than that of the light fluffy purely imaginative fiction books that are so readily available.

Our story starts out with Richard as King and William Marshall being more or less his right hand man. With the death of Richard, John is crowned King and William swears allegiance to him just the same as he has done with the four previous Kings before him.

There is quite a bit of turbulence in this book between King John and William Marshall as well as between William and his beautiful wife Isabelle. The latter caused by the earlier for King John is extremely paranoid.

The author has done an extreme amount of research here and it most certainly shows. From the colors, scents, sounds, emotions of people, places and things you can't help but feel as if you are a bystander watching the entire story unfold right before your very eyes. You will laugh, cry, cringe, hate, loathe and want to really ring someones neck. The author has made this story so viable that you cannot help but feel every emotion tingle throughout your being.

If you enjoy Historical Fiction then this is a story of caliber that you really should not miss.(less)

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Mar 23, 2012 Tish rated it 5 of 5 stars

This wonderful book is Chadwick's second book about William Marshall that covers, roughly, his life from the death of Richard I until his death. Chadwick makes the era and the people come alive. I loved the story of his relationship with his wife Isabella. This is a re-read for me, but this time I listened to an audible.com version on a very long car trip. The narrator, Christopher Scott is marvelous. He lends a mild Irish accent to Isabella and her motherr which reminded me of her Irish roots....more

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Jan 31, 2012 Shelli rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, read-in-2012

What a great author! After finishing The Greatest Knight earlier this month, I immediately needed to spend more time with William Marshall and learn more about his life. This is perfect, because it starts up right where the first leaves off. I didn't find it as exciting and fast-paced as The Greatest Knight, but as the story goes on it becomes so involved that you get completely taken in by William, Isabelle, their family and all the political upheaval of the time. The story progresses through W...more

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Dec 22, 2009 Hanna rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, books-i-recommend-for-kelsey, uk

Kelsey- This is what I'm reading right now, the one about the husband and wife during the reigns of King Richard and King John in England/France/Ireland. Really good so far.

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Jun 08, 2011 Stephanie Dray rated it 5 of 5 stars

This was a little less of an emotional roller-coaster than The Greatest Knight, but I still learned a tremendous amount about the time period and in an entertaining fashion. The relationship between William and Isabel was lovely--truly a model of how romance can be portrayed even after the happy marriage. Beautiful narrative voice, funny, and deeply insightful into human character. Chadwick idolizes William Marshal a wee little bit too much, but who cares. He was truly a knight in shining armor,...more

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Jul 19, 2012 Liz rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: his-fic-11th-14th-c, ccc

I read this book along with many wikipedia entries so, of course, I knew the ending before finishing the book. Have you ever been so enamored of characters in a novel that you want to change the outcome of historical events? I found myself doing this many times while reading this sequel to The Greatest Knight especially when it came to matters concerning King John ... I kept hoping someone would stealthily put a dagger through his evil heart yet we all know that's not how the story went.

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Mar 17, 2010 Sensitivemuse rated it 3 of 5 stars

To me, this book felt like I was reading one of Sharon Kay Penman's novels. There were some differences but the writing is almost similar and so is the idea of following a family through several years and how they have evolved through that time. It was an interesting historical read, I have never heard of William Marshal and it was a nice history lesson for me. The plot was well written although not as rich in history as say, for example, Sharon Kay Penman's When Christ and his Saints Slept. How...more To me, this book felt like I was reading one of Sharon Kay Penman's novels. There were some differences but the writing is almost similar and so is the idea of following a family through several years and how they have evolved through that time. It was an interesting historical read, I have never heard of William Marshal and it was a nice history lesson for me. The plot was well written although not as rich in history as say, for example, Sharon Kay Penman's When Christ and his Saints Slept. However, this book is a wonderful family saga as it takes you through William and Isabelle's life with their children, and the historical events surrounding them. There isn't much court intrigue here that I was expecting but I was willing to accept this, as the book was well written.

The battle scenes are all right, although I expected a little more detail and more action. What was more central to the plot was mainly William and Isabelle's relationship, their family, and their endless fight against King John and his schemes. King John was every bit the villain here as I expected. He wasn't the explosive tempermental character that I thought he would have been, but more of a cunning, sly, scheming one that was constantly thinking of plots against his men or to have them turn against each other. It's a sneaky sly version of King John. An interesting side of him that I have heardly seen. It's a nice sight to read, as I'm used to seeing a different version of him altogether. I'd have to say, Isabelle is my favorite character. For a woman, and especially one during those times, she's extraordinarily strong and supportive towards William even when it came to her sons becoming "hostages". There was a very strong bond between the two and their love never failed. I thought they were both meant for each other, and complimented each other perfectly. My favorite part would be Isabelle holding off a potential invasion in Ireland. It showed her strength and determination to hold onto her beloved homeland.

A few shortfalls do happen in this novel, I thought it was long in some parts, and it seemed to have dragged. It did take me quite a while to finish this book. I guess because it didn't have the intrigue and constant plotting of court life. I also expected a story rich with historical descriptions and lots of historical detail, but it was more of a family saga set in a historical setting. Nevertheless I do suggest fans of historical fiction to give this a read, I did learn quite a few things here and there, especially of the life of William Marshal. Also, there is an element of romance in the novel, it's really nothing that explicit. It's to be expected as William and Isabelle were central to the story.

Overall, a good historical read that centralizes around a family saga. I do recommend this to those who enjoy reading stories of Medieval England.(less)

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Aug 22, 2010 Steven Peterson rated it 4 of 5 stars

What a nice historical novel! This is the story of William Marshal, The Earl of Pembroke in his full maturity. The first time we see him, he is a fierce warrior, leading his men up a ladder as part of a siege. He serves King Richard--and serves him well. This rich novel traces the life of William and his wife, Isabelle, from hius maturity until the end of their days together. In the process, we see the burgeoning of their line (Isabelle, to be it mildly) is quite fertile. The challenges facing t...more

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May 26, 2012 Lauren rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction

(originally published at http://storybound.blogspot.com/2012/0...)

The Scarlet Lion is the sequel to The Greatest Knight, the story of William Marshal, the greatest knight to ever live. I loved the first book and, unsurprisingly, I loved this second book. The first book deals with Marshal's younger life - his upbringing, his competition in tournaments, his role in battles, and his marriage. The Scarlet Lion is about the latter portion of Marshal's life. Since he's no longer a young man, his days...more (originally published at http://storybound.blogspot.com/2012/0...)

The Scarlet Lion is the sequel to The Greatest Knight, the story of William Marshal, the greatest knight to ever live. I loved the first book and, unsurprisingly, I loved this second book. The first book deals with Marshal's younger life - his upbringing, his competition in tournaments, his role in battles, and his marriage. The Scarlet Lion is about the latter portion of Marshal's life. Since he's no longer a young man, his days of tournaments are over, and there is much more about his role as Earl and landowner and all the political intrigue that comes with his positions, but there are still battles, both on the field and at court. Elizabeth Chadwick has a wonderful way of bringing history to life and I found myself completely absorbed in the story, rooting for Marshal, swooning over his and his wife's love, and wanting to physically harm King John and his henchmen. I absolutely adore the marriage between William and Isabelle. I love that he turned to her for guidance, support, and advice in a time (the late 1100s and early 1200s) when women were not treated like equals. Their love and devotion to one another was wonderful to read about. In the first book, William serves under three kings - Henry, Henry 2, and Richard (the Lionheart). In this book, he serves John (as in evil Prince John from Robin Hood) and then becomes regent for John's son, Henry. Let me just say that the kings back then were crazy, and that's putting it very, very mildly. Reading about Marshal's devotion and loyalty was amazing, especially when he knew the people he served were cruel, and petty, and spoiled, and hurting their country. But Marhsal never once went back on his oath to serve his king, even when it cost him. The end of the book had me sobbing. I knew he would die, as it was the story of his life from beginning to end. He lived a long life, especially for back then, but oh man, to read it, to read the events surrounding his death, to see poor Isabelle and their children heartbroken - it tore me up! This is a fantastic book and I definitely recommend it to historical fiction lovers!
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Oct 09, 2012 Rebecca rated it 1 of 5 stars

I didn't finish. Couldn't be bothered

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Feb 05, 2012 Elaine rated it 5 of 5 stars

As ever, Chadwick impresses and enthralls with the second installment in the Marshal series. Here we follow William's rise at court and his beautiful relationship with his wife and children, surely an exception in these times? If I have one (minor) criticism of Chadwick, she does make her characters, both male and female, rather modern at times. This however doesn't detract from the overall appeal of her work-from which much can be learned, and much there is to be enjoyed.

Some of the best scenes...more

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Jul 24, 2011 Chrissi rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I enjoyed this book much more then The Greatest Knight I'm not sure whether this was because I knew a bit more about the story. It is about the later career of William Marshal. The story carries on well, it's full of intrigue, politics and love. I think I enjoyed this book a bit more because I really like the character Isabelle, William's wife. I think she's a strong female character and the love between them is written extremely well by Elizabeth Chadwick. The ending is very touching and finish...more

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Jun 22, 2010 Kristen rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010, historical-fiction

This was the second book of William Marshal's life, following The Greatest Knight. This one focused more on his middle and later years as an earl through good times and bad, and his eventual position as regent of England to the young King Henry III.

And I was reading the final pages while sitting in the waiting room at the dealership, waiting for my car, and had to do deep breathing to keep from bursting into tears.

Highly recommended for anyone interested in medieval history, chivalry or simply...more

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Sep 24, 2012 Cynthia Haggard rated it 5 of 5 stars

THE SCARLET LION takes up from where THE GREATEST KNIGHT leaves off. Now married to wealthy heiress Isabelle of Leinster, and seasoned by his many accomplishments at court, we see William at the height of his powers, rushing in to save a siege that is going badly wrong, and earning the wry gratitude of King Richard the Lionheart. (Wry because the King was poised to rush in to save the day himself).

Everything is going well until Richard dies suddenly of a festering arrow wound. (If this sounds fa...more

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May 12, 2012 Stacy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Whatever criticisms I directed toward Chadwick's writing style in The Greatest Knight, I felt none of that here. The second half of William Marshal's life was told in a clean and compelling fashion. And impressive as the first half of his life was, the second was nothing short of awe inspiring. You can't help but wonder where England would be now had William Marshal's constancy not been there behind Richard and John, and as the original regent for Henry III.

We all know the story of the English b...more

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Mar 30, 2012 Tarotemp rated it 4 of 5 stars

What can I say about this book that already hasn't been said, time and time again? More than once while reading The Scarlet Lion a lump formed in my throat - especially the last few chapters, when a much older, much more careworn William (age 72) was "getting his affairs in order" so he could finally, finally say goodbye to a beloved wife, children, and empire.

This is the real stuff of history, to be sure. Deliciously presented in great detail by the author, giving voice and "believable" persona...more

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About Elizabeth Chadwick

Best selling historical novelist Elizabeth Chadwick won a Betty Trask Award for her first novel The Wild Hunt. She has been shortlisted for the UK's mainstream Best Romantic Novel of the Year Award 4 times and longlisted twice. Her novel The Scarlet Lion about the great William Marshal and his wife Isabelle de Clare, has been selected by Richard Lee, founder of the Historical Novel Society as one...more

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Books by Elizabeth Chadwick

The Greatest Knight (William Marshal, #2)

A Place Beyond Courage (William Marshal, #1)

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BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1309082.The_Scarlet_Lion?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1252193338l/1309082.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1309082.The_Scarlet_Lion?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]The Scarlet Lion by Elizabeth Chadwick[/url]

The Scarlet Lion (William Marshal #3)

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