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English Free Company #3
Venerating a Purpose: Geoffrey Hotspur and the Truce of Leulinghem
Tired of a decades-long war that has sapped the strength of both kingdoms, England and France have finally agreed to create a lasting peace. During the hot summer of 1389 near the village of Leulinghem in northwestern France, powerful lords have gathered on behalf of their respective kings to hammer out a truce that will not only serve the interests of both sides, but also aid in saving Christendom from the latest and most dangerous threat from the east – the Ottoman Turks.
But, of course, the devil lies in the details. Recent political turmoil at the royal court has raised a curtain of suspicion between the two leaders of the English delegation – the king’s uncles John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, and Thomas of Woodstock, Duke of Gloucester. So, when the brothers openly differ on the issue of a joint English-French crusade against the Turks, the resulting tensions run so high that a scandal involving Gaunt, a dubious relic and one of his squires threatens to overturn the peace talks and disgrace the duke.
For fifteen-year-old Geoffrey Hotspur, ward of the Duke of Lancaster, the stakes are equally high. With a place in Gaunt’s famous hall for squires on the line, he must not only serve his lord well in his new rank of relic-keeper, but also redeem himself for a lapse in judgment made involving a strange northern maiden. Failure means a return trip to the stables, whence he came!
But, of course, the devil lies in the details. Recent political turmoil at the royal court has raised a curtain of suspicion between the two leaders of the English delegation – the king’s uncles John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, and Thomas of Woodstock, Duke of Gloucester. So, when the brothers openly differ on the issue of a joint English-French crusade against the Turks, the resulting tensions run so high that a scandal involving Gaunt, a dubious relic and one of his squires threatens to overturn the peace talks and disgrace the duke.
For fifteen-year-old Geoffrey Hotspur, ward of the Duke of Lancaster, the stakes are equally high. With a place in Gaunt’s famous hall for squires on the line, he must not only serve his lord well in his new rank of relic-keeper, but also redeem himself for a lapse in judgment made involving a strange northern maiden. Failure means a return trip to the stables, whence he came!
- GenresHistorical Fiction
67 pages, ebook
First published March 1, 2013
13 people are currently reading
31 people want to read
About the author
Evan Ostryzniuk
7 books9 followersEvan Ostryzniuk is the author of the Geoffrey Hotspur series of historical fiction novels set in the late Middle Ages. The first two: Of Faith and Fidelity and Of Fathers and Sons were published by the UK's Endeavour Press in 2015 and 2016 respectively. They can be found here: amzn.to/21Ga8Nh and amzn.to/1Tf46Sx.
Evan was born and raised in western Canada, where he attended the University of Saskatchewan. After graduating with a B.A. in History and Modern Languages and an M.A. in Modern History, Evan did post-graduate work at the University of Cambridge, concluding five years of research with a doctoral thesis on the Russian Revolution. He eventually found his way to eastern Europe, where he took up positions as a magazine editor, university lecturer and analyst in the financial services sector before finally settling on writing as a career.
Evan was born and raised in western Canada, where he attended the University of Saskatchewan. After graduating with a B.A. in History and Modern Languages and an M.A. in Modern History, Evan did post-graduate work at the University of Cambridge, concluding five years of research with a doctoral thesis on the Russian Revolution. He eventually found his way to eastern Europe, where he took up positions as a magazine editor, university lecturer and analyst in the financial services sector before finally settling on writing as a career.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
July 3, 2016
I am obsessed with the medieval era, and nothing provides more danger, daring, heated debate and heartfelt confusion than the Crusades! Evan Ostryzniuk's clever telling of one man's ambitions against the backdrop of such devastatingly dangerous times is brilliantly written, with real pathos that engaged me and drew me in by the time that I had finished the very first chapter. The sheer level of detail demonstrates the academic mind that this author has, but you don't have them all presented to you in a dry and boring way - you learn as you go with the hero, who is still finding his feet. Inge is an absolutely splendid character who (no spoilers!) I loved and loathed in equal measures. Rarely do I read a book with such well written complex characters, and I cannot wait to read more of Ostryzniuk's books in the same series. I first discovered this through an author's scheme, and I would highly recommend it to anyone who loves a bit of mystery and intrigue with their historical fiction!
December 27, 2020
As one who lives in a world where there is various smells, sounds, and other forms to enlighten ones senses Of Relics and Romances is a totally absence of what is in the world.
The author forgets that he also lives in the same world as I do by telling the reader rather than showing the reader.
There were several times in the story where I had to go to the first page to find out where the story is taking place.
Flat as a pancake characters which if I made the pancake I would definitely toss it in to the garbage disposal along with the book.
The author forgets that he also lives in the same world as I do by telling the reader rather than showing the reader.
There were several times in the story where I had to go to the first page to find out where the story is taking place.
Flat as a pancake characters which if I made the pancake I would definitely toss it in to the garbage disposal along with the book.
May 28, 2019
Boring,
No excitement, Dull and painful to read. Gave book 2 ago as well , same affect , Dull, gave up that as well.
No excitement, Dull and painful to read. Gave book 2 ago as well , same affect , Dull, gave up that as well.
April 1, 2018
The prequel to "Of Faith & Fidelity" and "Of Fathers & Sons", this is the beginning of the tale of Geoffrey Hotspur.
We begin in France, June 1389, where 15yo Geoffrey is a page and ward of John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, as well as Keeper of the Relic (the finger of St Bernard of Clairvaux). It is the time of troubles - the Hundred Years' War is raging throughout France; England was on the brink of financial ruin as a result, and Charles of France was a mad as a hatter. After years of failed negotiations, somehow a new concord was achieved and Leulingheum is the site of the epic meeting.
Into this tense mix off political maneuvering, scuttlebutt, bitter rivalries and petty jealousies, John of Gaunt tasks Geoffrey to seek out a spy within his own household whilst sitting upon a tribunal to decide the veracity of his relic.
The Truce of Leulinghem did take place, on 18th July 1389 - Richard II of England and Charles V of France agreed to launch a joint crusade against the Turks, Richard married Charles' daughter and agreed to leave French soil (except Calais) - and the truce held, until Henry of Bolingbroke seized the throne in 1399.
It was an interesting and easy read and look forward to the next installments in Geoffrey's quest to become a knight and go on crusade.
We begin in France, June 1389, where 15yo Geoffrey is a page and ward of John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, as well as Keeper of the Relic (the finger of St Bernard of Clairvaux). It is the time of troubles - the Hundred Years' War is raging throughout France; England was on the brink of financial ruin as a result, and Charles of France was a mad as a hatter. After years of failed negotiations, somehow a new concord was achieved and Leulingheum is the site of the epic meeting.
Into this tense mix off political maneuvering, scuttlebutt, bitter rivalries and petty jealousies, John of Gaunt tasks Geoffrey to seek out a spy within his own household whilst sitting upon a tribunal to decide the veracity of his relic.
The Truce of Leulinghem did take place, on 18th July 1389 - Richard II of England and Charles V of France agreed to launch a joint crusade against the Turks, Richard married Charles' daughter and agreed to leave French soil (except Calais) - and the truce held, until Henry of Bolingbroke seized the throne in 1399.
It was an interesting and easy read and look forward to the next installments in Geoffrey's quest to become a knight and go on crusade.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews