Title: The Greatest Knight
Subtitle: the unsung story of the queen's champion
First published: 2006
Description: 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.WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT ELIZABETH CHADWICK AND THE GREATEST KNIGHT:The Greatness of William Marshal: The descendants of the Greatest Knight himself include George Washington and Winston Churchill, as well as the Stuart kings of England and Scotland. He was partly responsible for the Magna Carta. He vowed his body to the Templars and is buried in Temple Church in London.The Appeal of the Time Period: There are very few novels about Marshal, and no one has covered him as in depth as Elizabeth Chadwick has. In addition, unlike the Tudor era, there are not extensive amounts of historical fiction set in the 13th century.The Integrity of the Research: Elizabeth Chadwick's research is impeccable. She not only visited many locations, but she re-enacted with a living history society where a quarter of the membership are either historians or archaeologists, and she collected and used replica artifacts from the period and engaged in experimental archaeology. She has taken courses in various medieval studies to facilitate her knowledge.The Breadth of the Audience: Readers who are fans of Sharon Kay Penman, Anya Seton, Diana Gabaldon, Phillipa Gregory, and Jean Plaidy will like Elizabeth Chadwick. She appeals to readers who are looking for historical accuracy and strong, believable characters, readers who want to feel that they are being immersed in the period with well-rounded characters.PRAISE FOR ELIZABETH CHADWICK:"The best writer of medieval fiction currently around."Richard Lee, founder of the Historical Novel Society"The reader is well aware on every page that this is life as it was lived eight hundred years ago, yet the characters are a fresh and natural as if they were living in the present time..." The Historical Novels Review"There's no better writer of medieval fiction than the marvelous Elizabeth Chadwick."Lancashire Evening Post"Elizabeth Chadwick is a gifted novelist and a dedicated researcher; it doesn't get any better than that."Sharon Kay Penman, bestselling author of Devil's Brood
Subjects: Courts and courtiers, Fiction, Knights and knighthood, Historical Fiction, History, Royal Favorites
Places: Great Britain
People: Eleanor of Aquitaine, Queen, consort of Henry II, King of England (1122?-1204), William Marshal Pembroke Earl of (1144?-1219)
Time periods: Henry II, 1154-1189
LC classification: PR6053.H245 G74 2009