Blood Royal by Vanora Bennett

Blood Royal by Vanora Bennett

The story of a great queen, a woman of enormous courage who made her own rules, and a true survivor. This is the first in a series of late medieval novels by Vanora Bennett, the author of Portrait of an Unknown Woman. 1420, and a young princess is offered in marriage to her country's enemy, her nation's conqueror. She is Catherine of Valois, he is Henry V. She is a princess of the French blood royal, he is the son of the usurper of the English throne. Fresh from battle he claims his bride and the right to the throne of France. Now Catherine must live as queen to a man more comfortable with war than anything else and as the wife of a man determined to destroy her people. Alone and friendless, she finds the only man who can understand what she feels: a young Welshman, Owain Tudor, who is as much adrift among the English as she is. It's a matching of souls but this friendship will turn out to be as dangerous as it is irresistible…

Praise for ‘Blood Royal’:

‘Bennett writes thoughtful, well-researched historical fiction, finding connections between past and present without too much silliness or fact-bending, and with plenty of romanceEnormous, in every sense of the word’ The Times

‘A page-turning story, successfully evoking the atmosphere of intrigue and fear that beset the times’
Daily Mail

'A skilful blend of fact and fiction. [Bennett's] characters, story, and fluid writing style sweep you along in a pageant of medieval life. This is quite simply an excellent read!' Historical Novel Society

Praise for ‘Portrait of an Unknown Woman’:

'Bennett's background detail is impeccable – part love story, part thriller, all excellently imagined and written.' The Times

'There is plenty to admire and enjoy in Bennett's portrayal of a society convulsed by radical change…Vanora Bennett is a writer to watch.' Times Literary Supplement

'Distinguished…Romance, intrigue and art history are confidently blended, and Holbein canvases are afforded starring roles.' Daily Mail

‘If you want a classier-than-average romantic read, one contender is this fine historical debut, a ‘Girl with a Pearl Earring’-style tale.’
Sunday Times

'An atmospheric, passionate novel set against a backdrop of religious and political upheaval.' Woman and Home

Vanora Bennett is a journalist and writer. She lived and worked in Russia for 7 years, writing for Reuters and the LA Times. She has been a foreign correspondent and feature writer and contributed to publications including The Times, the LA Times, the Guardian, the Observer and the Evening Standard. She lives in London with her husband and two sons. She has written two previous novels: Portrait of an Unknown Woman and Queen of Silks.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9780007281923
ISBN 10	0007281927
Title	Blood Royal
Author	Vanora Bennett
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Paperback
Publisher	HarperCollins Publishers
Year published	2010-02-18
Number of pages	608
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.