The Dark Keep

by Robert Edmond Alter

THE DARK KEEP is a story of 13th-century England. The hero is Martin of Tressling, an orphan raised by a Norman uncle, yet kept at an indefinable distance by the same uncle, while strangely befriended by their Saxon enemies. Martin struggles with divided loyalties until he must choose sides in the inevitable climax. Finally, he learns the mysterious circumstances surrounding his own background and why he has always felt more secure in the presence of his supposed enemies than in the company of his uncle and the men-at-arms of the great castle. The author weaves an adventure-filled tale of medieval Britain, depicting the customs and hardships of serfdom, feudal life in a moated castle, and the amazing siege machines of the Age of Chivalry.

192 pages, Paperback

Published October 15, 2017

About the author

Robert Edmond Alter is remembered chiefly for two novels, paperback originals from the 1960s: "Swamp Sister" (1961) and "Carny Kill" (1966). He also wrote children's novels and sold stories to some of the top magazines of his day, including the "Saturday Evening Post" and "Argosy". Alter died suddenly at the age of 40 (some sources state it was Cancer). Some of his later works were published for the first time many years after his death. He was survived by his wife, Maxine and his daughter Sand.