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Elizabeth Chadwick Bundle: The Greatest Knight, The Scarlet Lion, and For the King's Favor
Hailed by the Times of London as "an author who makes historical fiction come gloriously alive," Elizabeth Chadwick is a gifted storyteller who captures the passion, deceit, honor, and heartbreak of Medieval England like none other.
Now, get three books from historical fiction powerhouse Elizabeth Chadwick at one low price. This bundle includes The Greatest Knight, The Scarlet Lion, and For the King's Favor, each on their own a shining example of a novelist at the peak of her powers. Taken collectively, you'll witness an era you won't want to leave.
"Just like a fine wine Chadwick is to be savored all the way down to the last drop...what more could a reader ask for?" --Historically Obsessed
"Elizabeth Chadwick is a gifted novelist and a dedicated researcher...I rank her with such historical novelist stars as Dorothy Dunnett and Anya Seton." --Sharon Kay Penman, New York Times bestselling author of Devil's Brood
"Elizabeth Chadwick is to Medieval England what Philippa Gregory is to the Tudors and the Stuarts, and Bernard Cornwell is to the Dark Ages." --Books Monthly
About the Books in This Bundle:
The Greatest Knight
Royal protector. Loyal servant. Forgotten hero.
A penniless young knight with few prospects, William Marshal is plucked from obscurity when he saves the life of Henry II's formidable queen, Eleanor of Aquitaine. In gratitude, she appoints him tutor to the heir to the throne, the volatile and fickle Prince Henry. But being a royal favorite brings its share of danger and jealousy as well as fame and reward.
A writer of uncommon historical integrity and accuracy, Elizabeth Chadwick resurrects the true story of one of England's greatest forgotten heroes in a captivating blend of fact and fiction. The Greatest Knight restores William Marshal to his rightful place at the pinnacle of the Middle Ages, reflecting through him the triumphs, scandals, and power struggles that haven't changed in eight hundred years.
The Scarlet Lion:
A page-turning novel of honor, intrigue, treachery, and love, continuing the story of England's greatest knight of the Middle Ages, William Marshal.
By 1197 William Marshal's prowess with a sword and loyalty with his heart have been rewarded by the hand in marriage of Isabelle de Clare-heiress to great estates-and their brood is growing. But their contentment and security is shattered when King Richard dies. Forced down a precarious path by the royal injustices of the vindictive King John, the Marshals teeter on a razor-thin line of honor that threatens to tear apart the very heart of their family.
For the King's Favor:
A Bittersweet Tale of Love, Loss, and the Power of Royalty
When Roger Bigod arrives at King Henry II's court to settle a bitter inheritance dispute, he becomes enchanted with Ida de Tosney, young mistress to the powerful king. A victim of Henry's seduction and the mother of his son, Ida sees in Roger a chance to begin a new life. But Ida pays an agonizing price when she leaves the king, and as Roger's importance grows and he gains an earldom, their marriage comes under increasing strain. Based on the true story of a royal mistress and the young lord she chose to marry, For the King's Favor is Elizabeth Chadwick at her best.
Now, get three books from historical fiction powerhouse Elizabeth Chadwick at one low price. This bundle includes The Greatest Knight, The Scarlet Lion, and For the King's Favor, each on their own a shining example of a novelist at the peak of her powers. Taken collectively, you'll witness an era you won't want to leave.
"Just like a fine wine Chadwick is to be savored all the way down to the last drop...what more could a reader ask for?" --Historically Obsessed
"Elizabeth Chadwick is a gifted novelist and a dedicated researcher...I rank her with such historical novelist stars as Dorothy Dunnett and Anya Seton." --Sharon Kay Penman, New York Times bestselling author of Devil's Brood
"Elizabeth Chadwick is to Medieval England what Philippa Gregory is to the Tudors and the Stuarts, and Bernard Cornwell is to the Dark Ages." --Books Monthly
About the Books in This Bundle:
The Greatest Knight
Royal protector. Loyal servant. Forgotten hero.
A penniless young knight with few prospects, William Marshal is plucked from obscurity when he saves the life of Henry II's formidable queen, Eleanor of Aquitaine. In gratitude, she appoints him tutor to the heir to the throne, the volatile and fickle Prince Henry. But being a royal favorite brings its share of danger and jealousy as well as fame and reward.
A writer of uncommon historical integrity and accuracy, Elizabeth Chadwick resurrects the true story of one of England's greatest forgotten heroes in a captivating blend of fact and fiction. The Greatest Knight restores William Marshal to his rightful place at the pinnacle of the Middle Ages, reflecting through him the triumphs, scandals, and power struggles that haven't changed in eight hundred years.
The Scarlet Lion:
A page-turning novel of honor, intrigue, treachery, and love, continuing the story of England's greatest knight of the Middle Ages, William Marshal.
By 1197 William Marshal's prowess with a sword and loyalty with his heart have been rewarded by the hand in marriage of Isabelle de Clare-heiress to great estates-and their brood is growing. But their contentment and security is shattered when King Richard dies. Forced down a precarious path by the royal injustices of the vindictive King John, the Marshals teeter on a razor-thin line of honor that threatens to tear apart the very heart of their family.
For the King's Favor:
A Bittersweet Tale of Love, Loss, and the Power of Royalty
When Roger Bigod arrives at King Henry II's court to settle a bitter inheritance dispute, he becomes enchanted with Ida de Tosney, young mistress to the powerful king. A victim of Henry's seduction and the mother of his son, Ida sees in Roger a chance to begin a new life. But Ida pays an agonizing price when she leaves the king, and as Roger's importance grows and he gains an earldom, their marriage comes under increasing strain. Based on the true story of a royal mistress and the young lord she chose to marry, For the King's Favor is Elizabeth Chadwick at her best.
1288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2010
105 people are currently reading
320 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Chadwick
49 books3,280 followersBest 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 of the landmark historical novels of the last ten years.
When not at her desk, she can be found taking long walks with the dog, baking cakes, reading books (of course!) exploring ruins, listening to various brands of rock and metal music, and occasionally slaving over a steaming cauldron with re-enactment society Regia Anglorum.
When not at her desk, she can be found taking long walks with the dog, baking cakes, reading books (of course!) exploring ruins, listening to various brands of rock and metal music, and occasionally slaving over a steaming cauldron with re-enactment society Regia Anglorum.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
May 8, 2015
The Greatest Knight begins the story of William Marshal as a newly-made knight, learning skills in battle and in court, making his own path in each. It shows his loyal relationship with Eleanor of Aquitaine, his early relationship with her sons, and the influence he had upon them as he gave them military and political training. At every stage William sought to stay true to himself, never breaking his word or forsaking his honour for the easier or more glorious path, and the rewards that ultimately came his way.
The Scarlet Lion covers a period more people know from the Robin Hood mythology: Richard's reign, the political upheaval during his Crusades. Granted a wife and lands, the second part of William's life begins as he serves England and the King, trying to minimize conflict between John and Richard despite their very different attitudes, and required to continually prove his loyalty to suppress traitorous whispers at court. Their family must survive the Angevins, despite John's best efforts at poisoning Marshal's family the same way Henry poisoned theirs.
The incredible physical feats he performed at seventy years old would be impressive today, but even more so when you consider the average life expectancy was 45-60 years, and he spent most of his life as a warrior.
"For the King's Favor" changes the angle, overlapping somewhat, but now focusing on another family: that of Roger Bigod and Ida de Tosney, unwilling mistress of King Henry. This may be one of the first books that shows a king's royal concubine as a young woman without choice in the matter, and it's a testament to both Chadwick's writing and to Ida herself that she was able to remain true to herself and unsullied by the court which surrounded her. It's also the first book which seems to focus more on women, especially the hardships in parting from their men as they ride off to war, leaving for weeks, months or even years, and from the children as circumstances force a parting or it's time for them to become squires or betrothed. Although the connection to William Marshal is more tenuous, and takes a while to develop, we can see his influence on Roger Bigod.
This fourth book of the Marshal series connects characters and plots, as well as acting as a bridge to Sharon Penman's works, especially her Welsh princes trilogy, showing the other side of the Marcher lords, and the Earl of Salisbury.
The Marshal's famed loyalty shines through, a truer knight than even Lancelot because he kept his integrity despite numerous temptations, and the life of Roger Bigod, a contemporary of William Marshal, ran parallel for quite a while, with each influencing and building the other; their wives are not exempt from this.
These books are filled with details about daily life and historical figures, from Henry's disregard for clothes or fancy food (or drinkable wine!) to the sensory effect of Eleanor's chambers, Ida's embroidery, even the wearing of a foxtail under a dress for modesty. The comparison of court politics to a two-edged sword seems apt, these being most treacherous times, clearly showing the politics and greed that pit sons against fathers and brothers. I still marvel at the selfishness of lords who would rather burn a town - not their own houses, note - causing their vassals to lose everything rather than allow a rival to take it.
Elizabeth Chadwick aptly sums the three older Angevin sons as "angry, fickle Henry; Richard, bright and sharp as a sword blade; Geoffrey, the deep thinker" and John as one whose "moods are fickle and [who] trusts no one".
The Scarlet Lion covers a period more people know from the Robin Hood mythology: Richard's reign, the political upheaval during his Crusades. Granted a wife and lands, the second part of William's life begins as he serves England and the King, trying to minimize conflict between John and Richard despite their very different attitudes, and required to continually prove his loyalty to suppress traitorous whispers at court. Their family must survive the Angevins, despite John's best efforts at poisoning Marshal's family the same way Henry poisoned theirs.
The incredible physical feats he performed at seventy years old would be impressive today, but even more so when you consider the average life expectancy was 45-60 years, and he spent most of his life as a warrior.
"For the King's Favor" changes the angle, overlapping somewhat, but now focusing on another family: that of Roger Bigod and Ida de Tosney, unwilling mistress of King Henry. This may be one of the first books that shows a king's royal concubine as a young woman without choice in the matter, and it's a testament to both Chadwick's writing and to Ida herself that she was able to remain true to herself and unsullied by the court which surrounded her. It's also the first book which seems to focus more on women, especially the hardships in parting from their men as they ride off to war, leaving for weeks, months or even years, and from the children as circumstances force a parting or it's time for them to become squires or betrothed. Although the connection to William Marshal is more tenuous, and takes a while to develop, we can see his influence on Roger Bigod.
This fourth book of the Marshal series connects characters and plots, as well as acting as a bridge to Sharon Penman's works, especially her Welsh princes trilogy, showing the other side of the Marcher lords, and the Earl of Salisbury.
The Marshal's famed loyalty shines through, a truer knight than even Lancelot because he kept his integrity despite numerous temptations, and the life of Roger Bigod, a contemporary of William Marshal, ran parallel for quite a while, with each influencing and building the other; their wives are not exempt from this.
These books are filled with details about daily life and historical figures, from Henry's disregard for clothes or fancy food (or drinkable wine!) to the sensory effect of Eleanor's chambers, Ida's embroidery, even the wearing of a foxtail under a dress for modesty. The comparison of court politics to a two-edged sword seems apt, these being most treacherous times, clearly showing the politics and greed that pit sons against fathers and brothers. I still marvel at the selfishness of lords who would rather burn a town - not their own houses, note - causing their vassals to lose everything rather than allow a rival to take it.
Elizabeth Chadwick aptly sums the three older Angevin sons as "angry, fickle Henry; Richard, bright and sharp as a sword blade; Geoffrey, the deep thinker" and John as one whose "moods are fickle and [who] trusts no one".
October 14, 2012
These are wonderful books if you love historical fiction. They are based on real people and real events. They are classified as fiction because of their character development...the day to day musings of the characters. I would read them again!
March 13, 2011
FOR THE KING S FAVOR[return]Elizabeth Chadwick,Sourcebooks Landmark, September 2010, $14.99,pb,544p, 978-1402244490[return][return]Synopsis the cover jacket:[return]When Roger Bigod arrives at King Henry II s court to settle a bitter inheritance dispute, he becomes enchanted with Ida de Tosney, young mistress to the powerful king. A victim of Henry s seduction and the mother of his son, Ida sees in Roger a chance to begin a new life. But Ida pays an agonizing price when she leaves the king, and as Roger s importance grows and he gains an earldom, their marriage comes under increasing strain. Based on the true story of a royal mistress and the young lord she chose to marry.[return][return]Review:[return]I was simply enchanted and swept away as Chadwick captured my attention and introduced me into the world of Ida de Tosney. There is such a clear vision in your mind of Ida s thoughts, her agony and the fear she has upon first meeting King Henry. It s painful to witness her self loathing consume her. She shivers at times knowing the word whore is attached to her name. This way of life will never bring her happiness,
February 2, 2012
This refers to ONLY For the King's Favor.....another excellent Chadwick book
January 22, 2013
I am reviewing For The King's Favor. If you like Historical Romance, this one is for you.
May 20, 2018
My first real venture into historical novels.... what a ride.
The level of detail, colour of characters and trueness to factual to history were a revelation.
The plots plotting and scheming would seem excessive in a purely fictional novel but were commonplace through the cut and thrust of the Plantagenet dynasty.
William Marshall is expertly brought to life and portrayed as the architypal chivalric knight with all it’s attributes.
Loved it from start to finish.
These comments refer to The Scarlet Lion and The Greatest Knight together as that is how I read them and would recommend reading them.
The level of detail, colour of characters and trueness to factual to history were a revelation.
The plots plotting and scheming would seem excessive in a purely fictional novel but were commonplace through the cut and thrust of the Plantagenet dynasty.
William Marshall is expertly brought to life and portrayed as the architypal chivalric knight with all it’s attributes.
Loved it from start to finish.
These comments refer to The Scarlet Lion and The Greatest Knight together as that is how I read them and would recommend reading them.
October 17, 2018
Loved it!
I just read For the King's Favor and so this review is just for this book. As always I greatly enjoyed Elizabeth Chadwick's historical details. I kept bouncing back and forth between Google searches on the characters to get more information and am always satisfied that Ms. Chadwick is weaving fact with fiction. Her storytelling immerses you in the period and for me, whisks me away for a few hours to another time and place.
I just read For the King's Favor and so this review is just for this book. As always I greatly enjoyed Elizabeth Chadwick's historical details. I kept bouncing back and forth between Google searches on the characters to get more information and am always satisfied that Ms. Chadwick is weaving fact with fiction. Her storytelling immerses you in the period and for me, whisks me away for a few hours to another time and place.
January 15, 2019
This is an excellent book about William Marshall who first became important when he rescued Eleanor of Aquitaine, who was married to King Louis of France. Later she divorced Louis and married Henry 2nd of England and her sons, King Richard the Lionhearted and then King John were also served by William Marshall. This is the later part of the 1100's in England and France and it is a fascinating period about which I never get tired of reading. I will read more of Elizabeth Chadwich's books.
December 11, 2018
I enjoyed this series. It made me wish I could read the original biography commissioned by William the Marshall's son way back when.
Read
July 11, 2021I love these books - a blend of fantasy and history. I love the description of the geography and want to visit these historical places. well written and keeps you interested from beginning to end
January 8, 2022
Interesting view on the Marshalls.
November 20, 2013
The Greatest Knight.
THE GREATEST KNIGHT
Elizabeth Chadwick
In her author's note at the end of the book Chadwick comments that the life of William Marshall was so full of incident that to recount it in full detail would require thousands of pages. She adds that it has been necessary, therefore, to sketch some of it fairly briefly. This, I think, encapsulates the main weakness of the novel. A great deal happens, but it was not until halfway through that I began to feel a real connection with the hero.
The early chapters describe William's rise from the position of a penniless knight, dependant on the patronage of wealthy relatives, to that of tutor and later principal adviser to the son of Henry ll, heir to the throne and crowned in his father's lifetime as Young King Henry. This is achieved largely through William's success at the tourney, the dangerous jousting through which knights displayed their prowess with lance and sword. We see him develop from a lad known to his companions as 'slugabed' and 'guzzleguts' to a man respected for his martial skills and his unswerving loyalty to his lord. It is this loyalty and devotion to his conception of honour that chiefly characterise him, but apart from that I felt that the picture I was given lacked depth. He seems to have no close friends and his relationships with women are casual. Even when he takes a mistress she is marginal to his interest in fighting.
As the young King's behaviour becomes more erratic and his enmity with his father more bitter, William's character comes into greater focus. He is torn between his loyalty, indeed his love, for the young man and his horror at the depravity of his actions and I began to feel more involved with him. His devotion when Henry is dying and his grief at his death are genuinely moving.
It is when William decides to set out on pilgrimage to Jerusalem that the problem of fitting so much into one book becomes most acute. Chadwick points out that little is known about this chapter in his life and she therefore dismisses it in one chapter. Such an expedition would warrant a whole book in other hands and I felt slightly cheated by the lack of detail.
The turning point in the story for me came when William marries Isabelle de Clare. She is portrayed as a fully rounded and deeply sympathetic character and as William learns to love her and respect her judgement I found myself warming towards him. But there are still significant lacunae in the story. Frequently we are brought to a point where fates hang in the balance, only to find that in the next chapter the problem has been resolved 'off-stage' and the story moves on.
I think this is in part a problem for those writers who set out to fictionalise the lives of known historical personages. There are either too many facts, or too few; and the author has to choose between embroidering some and skating over others. In this case, I think Chadwick might have done better to begin her story later in William's life, with flashbacks to earlier days, rather than taking us through a succession of tourneys, which have little to distinguish one from the other.
At the end of the book William is only halfway through his eventful life and, in spite of these criticisms, I shall look forward to reading the next episode.
THE GREATEST KNIGHT
Elizabeth Chadwick
In her author's note at the end of the book Chadwick comments that the life of William Marshall was so full of incident that to recount it in full detail would require thousands of pages. She adds that it has been necessary, therefore, to sketch some of it fairly briefly. This, I think, encapsulates the main weakness of the novel. A great deal happens, but it was not until halfway through that I began to feel a real connection with the hero.
The early chapters describe William's rise from the position of a penniless knight, dependant on the patronage of wealthy relatives, to that of tutor and later principal adviser to the son of Henry ll, heir to the throne and crowned in his father's lifetime as Young King Henry. This is achieved largely through William's success at the tourney, the dangerous jousting through which knights displayed their prowess with lance and sword. We see him develop from a lad known to his companions as 'slugabed' and 'guzzleguts' to a man respected for his martial skills and his unswerving loyalty to his lord. It is this loyalty and devotion to his conception of honour that chiefly characterise him, but apart from that I felt that the picture I was given lacked depth. He seems to have no close friends and his relationships with women are casual. Even when he takes a mistress she is marginal to his interest in fighting.
As the young King's behaviour becomes more erratic and his enmity with his father more bitter, William's character comes into greater focus. He is torn between his loyalty, indeed his love, for the young man and his horror at the depravity of his actions and I began to feel more involved with him. His devotion when Henry is dying and his grief at his death are genuinely moving.
It is when William decides to set out on pilgrimage to Jerusalem that the problem of fitting so much into one book becomes most acute. Chadwick points out that little is known about this chapter in his life and she therefore dismisses it in one chapter. Such an expedition would warrant a whole book in other hands and I felt slightly cheated by the lack of detail.
The turning point in the story for me came when William marries Isabelle de Clare. She is portrayed as a fully rounded and deeply sympathetic character and as William learns to love her and respect her judgement I found myself warming towards him. But there are still significant lacunae in the story. Frequently we are brought to a point where fates hang in the balance, only to find that in the next chapter the problem has been resolved 'off-stage' and the story moves on.
I think this is in part a problem for those writers who set out to fictionalise the lives of known historical personages. There are either too many facts, or too few; and the author has to choose between embroidering some and skating over others. In this case, I think Chadwick might have done better to begin her story later in William's life, with flashbacks to earlier days, rather than taking us through a succession of tourneys, which have little to distinguish one from the other.
At the end of the book William is only halfway through his eventful life and, in spite of these criticisms, I shall look forward to reading the next episode.
April 2, 2012
The book I am reviewing is "For the King's Favor". For some reason, Goodreads is not showing it as an individual book even though I downloaded it individually on my Kindle.
Anyhow, I enjoyed this historical fictional book that is based on true people and events. It was well written, and the author brought the characters to life in a believable way. I would consider reading more books by Elizabeth Chadwick.
Anyhow, I enjoyed this historical fictional book that is based on true people and events. It was well written, and the author brought the characters to life in a believable way. I would consider reading more books by Elizabeth Chadwick.
May 14, 2016
Although there were interesting parts in each of the stories, the books were too long and went into too many battles. I have never taken so long to read anything. I skipped over parts as there was so much redundancy and things I truly did not care about. Each book could have been shorter which would have made them more readable. Books definitely should not have been bundled. At least if they were separate, would not have seemed so repetitious and slow.
September 20, 2012
The Greatest Knight is a colorful story of William Marshall, advisor to several Plantagenet Kings, factually correct, an interesting read. William Marshall truly defines knighthood and chivalry.
Scarlet Lion was a good continuation of Marshall's career and subsequent marriage to Isabelle de Clare. A good read, factually sound.
Scarlet Lion was a good continuation of Marshall's career and subsequent marriage to Isabelle de Clare. A good read, factually sound.
January 1, 2014
For The Kings Favor far exceeded my expectations. As an avid and loyal reader of author Philippa Gregory's work I was hesitant at first. Chadwick blends both history and relatable emotion masterfully. A must read!
August 4, 2011
Fun, historical novel about a lesser-known mistress of King Henry II. Characters, setting feel more real than in many books of this genre.
November 1, 2012
Amazing look at the life and times of William Marshall.
December 20, 2012
Excellent read!
November 21, 2013
Good Reads does not show 'For the King's Favor' separately. I enjoy a good fiction with historical truths.
January 8, 2014
For The King's Favor
February 12, 2014
I read "For the King's Favor." I really enjoy Chadwick's historical fiction!
January 4, 2015
Loved this book. So much history...and learned about a time that I knew so little about.
April 13, 2017
How wonderful was this 3 book bundle? I put aside everything else to finish.. Nothing is better, nothing..
From Library
From Library
April 20, 2015
Good solid historical fiction without some of the really obvious anachronistic romance.
July 5, 2012
For the King's Favor
Read
September 9, 2012Great Book!!!
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews