'Beautifully written...a unique tale told in a unique voice'- S.G. Maclean
Summer,1522. In a wave of pomp,Henry VIII's court welcomes the Imperial emperor,Charles V. Anthony Blanke,the son of the king's late'black trumpet',John Blanke,is called to Hampton Court by his former employer,Cardinal Wolsey. The cardinal is preparing a gift for King Henry: a masque of King Arthur and the Black Knight. Anthony is to take centre stage.
The festive mood,however,quickly sours. Wolsey's historian,charged with proving the king's descent from King Arthur,is found murdered,his body posed in a gruesome tableau. A reluctant Anthony is charged with investigating the affair. His mission takes him on the path trod by the historian,through ancient monastic libraries and the back streets of London.
On a journey that takes him from Hampton Court to Windsor and Winchester,and which sees him lock horns with secretive monks,historian Polydore Vergil,and a new face at court,Anne Boleyn,he must discover the murderer,secure the great masque,and avoid King Henry's wrath.
Publisher: Birlinn GeneralISBN: 9781846976131Number of pages: 384Weight: 270 gDimensions: 198 x 129 x 1 mm
MEDIA REVIEWS
'A crisp evocation of Renaissance-era London which has just enough period detail to bring it to life but not so much as to overburden it... in Anthony Blanke,Veerapen has come up with a protagonist who could sustain several sequels'
'A splendidly enjoyable novel crying out for a sequel'
'This is a wonderfully evocative portrait of the earlier Tudor world,beautifully written with at times startlingly refreshing use of language and imagery. A unique tale told in a unique voice'
'Steven Veerapen is a new name on the fiction scene,but one of whom we'll surely be hearing much,much more'
'This rip-roaring account of murder and monastic intrigue in the court of Henry VIII reels with atmosphere and a thoroughly refreshing voice.'
'A sparkling historical thriller,beautifully crafted and delivered with verve'
'A must read for all Tudor enthusiasts'
'A great,historically accurate novel with a tense,twisty ending'
'Such an excellent read'
'A fascinating protagonist...If you enjoy Tudor murder mysteries,you will be enthralled with Of Blood Descended'
'Immerses us in the origins of the Arthurian legends while providing a hierarchy of authentic characters who squelch their way through a genuine Tudor London'
'There is much to enjoy in this fast-moving thriller,well-located in its period and settings'
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