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William Marshal #Omnibus 1-3
William Marshal: Guardian of England. The Complete Series.
The Knight Banneret
"The general reader will be engrossed in the narrative, while students of the era will admire Woodman’s accurate eye for historical detail and vocabulary and his incisive reveals of the customs and attitudes of the time." Paul Bannister
William Marshal was born in a time of civil war. In a time of bloodshed and honour.
As a boy he is used as a pawn, during the conflict between Stephen and Matilda. But as a young man he trains as a knight.
Marshal learns his trade in England and Normandy, fighting in tournaments and war-games, gaining friends and enemies alike.
Marshal soon finds himself embroiled in the campaigns of Henry II and the rivalry between French Kings.
Where once he fought for fame and riches, the young knight finds himself fighting for his life.
The King’s Knight
“This series could develop into something very special. Richard Woodman knows how to tell a story, but has a healthy respect for history... Compulsive reading.” Saul David
William Marshal returns from the Holy Land to witness a country - and a father and son - at war.
The knight is torn between his ambition and duty.
Henry II's powers are diminishing and the King finds himself fighting against both Richard the Lionheart and Philip Augustus of France. Yet Marshal keeps his oath to serve his monarch.
But, after the death of Henry, Marshal pledges his allegiance to Richard and vows to protect England, as the Lionheart journeys east to re-take Jerusalem.
Marshal learns that the political landscape can be as perilous as any battlefield, especially as England clasps a viper to its bosom, in the form of John, Richard's self-regarding brother.
And, as Prince John becomes King John, William Marshal's life and fortunes will change forever.
Guardian of the Realm
Bound by deep loyalties to the House of Anjou, William Marshal, Earl of Pembroke, stands by the despotic King John as he is driven out of his hereditary lands on the continent by Philippe of France and is compelled to yield to the demands of the Barons at Runnymead in 1215.
England is divided.
Repudiating Magna Carta, John’s disastrous reign reaches its climax as he loses his Crown and Treasure in the Wash and dies at Newark, leaving his nine year-old son Henry as King.
There is only one man who can save the realm from anarchy as the Barons sense their moment has come and invite Prince Louis of France to invade and take the throne.
Ever faithful, William Marshal takes on the burden. As Guardian of the Realm and at the age of seventy-two he charges into Lincoln and hurls the French out of the city in an epic pell-mell battle, driving Louis across the Channel in a war of cut and thrust, securing the throne for Henry III.
'Woodman has done justice to a remarkable story and man. William Marshal is portrayed as being brave, intelligent - but flawed and human too.' Michael Arnold
'Brings medieval Europe to life. The well-crafted action and historical insights enthral and entertain.' Richard Foreman, author of Band of Brothers.
‘If 'Neptune’s Trident' sets the standard for what is to follow - we can at least rest assured that there is a series that truly does justice to our proud merchant maritime past.’ Nautilus UK Telegraph
Captain Richard Martin Woodman LVO is an English novelist and naval historian.
"The general reader will be engrossed in the narrative, while students of the era will admire Woodman’s accurate eye for historical detail and vocabulary and his incisive reveals of the customs and attitudes of the time." Paul Bannister
William Marshal was born in a time of civil war. In a time of bloodshed and honour.
As a boy he is used as a pawn, during the conflict between Stephen and Matilda. But as a young man he trains as a knight.
Marshal learns his trade in England and Normandy, fighting in tournaments and war-games, gaining friends and enemies alike.
Marshal soon finds himself embroiled in the campaigns of Henry II and the rivalry between French Kings.
Where once he fought for fame and riches, the young knight finds himself fighting for his life.
The King’s Knight
“This series could develop into something very special. Richard Woodman knows how to tell a story, but has a healthy respect for history... Compulsive reading.” Saul David
William Marshal returns from the Holy Land to witness a country - and a father and son - at war.
The knight is torn between his ambition and duty.
Henry II's powers are diminishing and the King finds himself fighting against both Richard the Lionheart and Philip Augustus of France. Yet Marshal keeps his oath to serve his monarch.
But, after the death of Henry, Marshal pledges his allegiance to Richard and vows to protect England, as the Lionheart journeys east to re-take Jerusalem.
Marshal learns that the political landscape can be as perilous as any battlefield, especially as England clasps a viper to its bosom, in the form of John, Richard's self-regarding brother.
And, as Prince John becomes King John, William Marshal's life and fortunes will change forever.
Guardian of the Realm
Bound by deep loyalties to the House of Anjou, William Marshal, Earl of Pembroke, stands by the despotic King John as he is driven out of his hereditary lands on the continent by Philippe of France and is compelled to yield to the demands of the Barons at Runnymead in 1215.
England is divided.
Repudiating Magna Carta, John’s disastrous reign reaches its climax as he loses his Crown and Treasure in the Wash and dies at Newark, leaving his nine year-old son Henry as King.
There is only one man who can save the realm from anarchy as the Barons sense their moment has come and invite Prince Louis of France to invade and take the throne.
Ever faithful, William Marshal takes on the burden. As Guardian of the Realm and at the age of seventy-two he charges into Lincoln and hurls the French out of the city in an epic pell-mell battle, driving Louis across the Channel in a war of cut and thrust, securing the throne for Henry III.
'Woodman has done justice to a remarkable story and man. William Marshal is portrayed as being brave, intelligent - but flawed and human too.' Michael Arnold
'Brings medieval Europe to life. The well-crafted action and historical insights enthral and entertain.' Richard Foreman, author of Band of Brothers.
‘If 'Neptune’s Trident' sets the standard for what is to follow - we can at least rest assured that there is a series that truly does justice to our proud merchant maritime past.’ Nautilus UK Telegraph
Captain Richard Martin Woodman LVO is an English novelist and naval historian.
749 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 27, 2018
87 people are currently reading
20 people want to read
About the author
Richard Woodman
132 books70 followersCaptain Richard Martin Woodman was an English novelist and naval historian who retired in 1997 from a 37-year nautical career, mainly working for Trinity House, to write full-time.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 9, 2018
Broadly speaking the author's case for a fictionalised trilogy based on the life of William Marshal is that:
He was the first commoner in Europe to have a memoir devoted to him.
Developed a reputation for being the greatest knight of the day
It was an era which saw the 'tentative stirring of democracy that gave birth to the Magna Carta.
The society was Anglo-Norman and mainly feudal . Many barons owned lands in both France and England, there were continual tensions between Angevin England and Capetian France, which by the end of King John's reign saw a French invasion which gained large swathes of England.
William Marshal begins life as an illiterate young hostage at King Stephen's court. Grew to become one of the most powerful men in England, also owning lands in Wales, Ireland and France. His loyalty to the kings of England was not appreciated but particularly in the last few years of his life - he died in 1219- William Marshal's role was crucial in seeing the defeat of the rebel lords and their French allies and the establishment of Henry III on the throne.
There's the standard Medieval fiction devices such as gruesome battle and siege scenes, a Celtic nurse whose psychic , a loyal but passionate wife, dramatic jousting scenes.
Overall I thought the series worked well as fiction but raised enough history to encourage the reader to explore this era
Found myself dipping back into the books once I had read them. Recommended.
He was the first commoner in Europe to have a memoir devoted to him.
Developed a reputation for being the greatest knight of the day
It was an era which saw the 'tentative stirring of democracy that gave birth to the Magna Carta.
The society was Anglo-Norman and mainly feudal . Many barons owned lands in both France and England, there were continual tensions between Angevin England and Capetian France, which by the end of King John's reign saw a French invasion which gained large swathes of England.
William Marshal begins life as an illiterate young hostage at King Stephen's court. Grew to become one of the most powerful men in England, also owning lands in Wales, Ireland and France. His loyalty to the kings of England was not appreciated but particularly in the last few years of his life - he died in 1219- William Marshal's role was crucial in seeing the defeat of the rebel lords and their French allies and the establishment of Henry III on the throne.
There's the standard Medieval fiction devices such as gruesome battle and siege scenes, a Celtic nurse whose psychic , a loyal but passionate wife, dramatic jousting scenes.
Overall I thought the series worked well as fiction but raised enough history to encourage the reader to explore this era
Found myself dipping back into the books once I had read them. Recommended.
October 26, 2018
A truly great book.
A trilogy of books.I thoroughly enjoyed all of them.A wonderful account of an exceptional man,I even shed a few tears at the end ,such was the emotion i felt at his end.
A trilogy of books.I thoroughly enjoyed all of them.A wonderful account of an exceptional man,I even shed a few tears at the end ,such was the emotion i felt at his end.
October 31, 2022
The Greatist knight
From start to finish these books were exciting and informative. Britain could do with a William Marshall in our government, as there is no leader. He seemed to have the right answers all the time. Brilliantly written very interesting read
From start to finish these books were exciting and informative. Britain could do with a William Marshall in our government, as there is no leader. He seemed to have the right answers all the time. Brilliantly written very interesting read
August 28, 2019
Great history
Living in Chepstow William Marshal is important to me and this series clearly writing and very informative has been a great experience.
Living in Chepstow William Marshal is important to me and this series clearly writing and very informative has been a great experience.
April 14, 2021
Totally brilliant
A totally amazing trilogy. I lived every page. I was tearful at the last page. Would that such a man lived amongst us now.
A totally amazing trilogy. I lived every page. I was tearful at the last page. Would that such a man lived amongst us now.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews