Bücher von Nicole Galland

From the author of The Fool's Tale comes a brilliantly crafted retelling of the legend of Lady GodivaAccording to legend, Lady Godiva lifted the unfair taxation of her people by her husband, Leofric, Earl of Mercia, by riding through the streets of Coventry wearing only a smile. It's a story that's kept tongues wagging for nearly a thousand years. But what would drive a lady of the court to take off everything and risk her reputation, her life, even her wardrobe—all for a few peasants' pennies?In this daringly original, charmingly twisted take on an oft-imagined tale, Nicole Galland exposes a provocative view of Godiva not only in the flesh, but in all her glory. With history exonerating her dear husband, Godiva, helped along by her steadfast companion the abbess Edgiva, defies the tyranny of a new royal villain. Never before has Countess Godiva's ride into infamy—and into an unexpected adventure of romance, deceit, and naked intrigue—been told quite like this.

In Venice, tens of thousands of crusaders set sail for Jerusalem to liberate the great city from Muslim rule. Among them is a British vagabond grudgingly taken under the wing of a pious knight who believes that the mission is truly blessed by God. Before leaving, the vagabond rescues a woman who is pretending to be an Arab princess.

In the summer of 1199, Willem, a young nobleman, is summoned to the court of Konrad, the Holy Roman Emperor, whose realm spans much of Europe. Willem's guide to courtly life is minstrel Jouglet, a longtime admirer of his sister. Willem wins great honors for his knightly prowess, but soon he himself is the unwitting pawn in an elaborate scheme.

Provides an entertaining saga adeptly weaving together political intrigue and deceit, love that both unifies and divides, loyalty that teeters on treason, and the desire for freedom. This novel, set in Wales, 1198, is a story about the time of treachery, passion, and uncertainty. It presents a king's struggle to protect his small kingdom.