King in Splendour

Agamemnon #2

by George Shipway

Historical fiction set in Mycenaean Greece; based on Greek mythology and Homeric sequel to Warrior in Bronze.Agamemnon has now established himself as King of Mycenae, but he has many problems to deal with. The wild Goatmen and their Dorian allies are raiding his lands. More seriously, he faces food shortages due to the trade embargoes imposed by the rulers of Thebes and Troy. At the same time he faces enemies nearer home in his wife Clytemnaistra and his bastard cousin Aegisthus. To defeat his enemies he must forge an alliance greater than Greece has yet known.ABOUT THE AUTHORGeorge Frederick Morgan Shipway was in 1908 in India and was educated at Clifton. He then attended the Royal Military College, Sandhurst and was commissioned into the Indian Army in 1928. He was attached the 2nd Battalion The Prince of Wales's Volunteers (South Lancashire), for one. After his year Shipway was posted to the 13th Duke of Connaught's Own Lancers. He spent two years (1936-1938) as Adjutant of the Mekran Levy Corps. In 1940-41 he became a General Staff Officer, at General Headquarters, India. He remained on the staff until 1944 when he was posted to serve with the Hyderabad Lancers.Shipway retired as a Major and honorary Lieutenant-Colonel in 1948, following Indian independence. After retiring he became a teacher at Cheam School in Berkshire before becoming a novelist at the age of 60.His first novel Imperial Governor brought him immediate success and recognition as an author of historical fiction of the highest order. His other works include the bestselling Knight in Anarchy and The Chilean Club.See more about this author on WikipediaSee discussion of his work by Alan Fisk in Solander magazinePraise for Warrior in “Splendidly successful…the details are distinct and convincing, the motivations skilfully developed, the action exciting.” Northern Echo“Alongside the late C. S. Forester as a descriptive writer.” Evening Standard“A natural writer with superlative powers” Sunday ExpressKirkus review “The old heady stuff of scholars and poets in an easy-open container.”

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction

292 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1979

About the author

George Shipway (1908–1982) was a British author best known for his historical novels, but he also tried his hand at political satire in his book The Chilian Club.

Shipway was born in 1908, and served in the Indian Imperial Cavalry until 1946. He died in 1982. His cavalry background served him well when he took up writing; his descriptions of cavalry battles are full of minute detail and his works generally were meticulously researched.

IN his 1969 novel Knight in Anarchy Shipway describes the life of Humphrey de Visdelou as he follows Geoffrey de Mandeville to his doom. In the book Shipway indicates that he lives on the estates that de Visdelou once owned.

Reviews

[Paul Magnussen · Rating 4 out of 5]

King in Splendour is the story of Agamemnon, King of Mycenæ, told in the first person from the end of the author’s earlier Warrior in Bronze until Agamemnon’s return from the Trojan War (the sticky end he met when he arrived is covered by a short epilogical quotation from The Odyssey). The account does not invoke any interventions by supernatural beings (although of course all the characters believe in their own gods); rather, the narration is cleverly constructed of secular events that might easily have given rise to the myths we all know.

Agamemnon in this sequel makes Machiavelli look like Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm. Again, the tale is told in a lively narrative style, supported by very clear maps and family trees.

[Andy Casey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Andy's review

Absolutely brilliant - a very worthy sequel to Warrior in Bronze. It was £5.95 (for both e-books) well spent. Shall probably download his Walter Tirel duo soon.

[Gerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've loved tales of Troy and the Trojan War ever since I read the Iliad at twelve, and many other books on the Trojan War since then (even the comic books). I don't know the depth of research and learning author Shipway had on Bronze Age warfare, especially chariots, but his descriptions seemed real enough and had my attention. His coverage of the war as nine years of naval action and one of land combat seems acceptable; it's hard to imagine ten years away from home is something to endure in 1000-ish B.C. Too bad there's no copy of Trojan War Absence and Leave Policy to be had. New to me to appreciate are the responsibilites regarding shipping, trade, agriculture, and defense that entertained a ruler's mind; we're not reading about a bunch of primitives here (except the occasional Goatman).

[Jose Marquez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Le doy calificación muy buena a este libro porque arma muy coherente e inteligente la organización de la invasión y destrucción de Troya por las huestes Aqueas dirigidas por Agamenón; además que cohesiona en armonía el bloqueo comercial con el rapto de Helena como motivación para la guerra.
Se fundamenta muy estructurada en diferentes aspectos como las incursiones dorias, la hambruna acechando por el monopolio del grano por parte de Tebas, y el ya mencionado bloqueo comercial tebano, el aislamiento de los reinos, la falta de comunicación entre ellos y en general de las polis.
Es una novela en la que a diferencia de otras el papel del astuto no es propiedad absoluta de Odiseo.
Recomendado a ojo cerrado

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another entertaining light read … Greek myth from a (very) male perspective.

[Jerry Mercer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another Interesting Book

The author has cleverly incorporated pseudo facts into the classic lore of the destruction of Troy. The result is an entertaining version that offers a possible alternative to what we have read. An enjoyable read!

[Diane Cranson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sequel to Warrior in Bronze.. Both terrific books