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The Hanse Rival
In 14th century Flanders, Ajit from Asia battles bigoted French kings, murderous Teutonic Knights, and Machiavellian business rivals from the Hanseatic League, a confederation of German merchants who monopolized trade in Northern Europe for centuries.
303 pages, Paperback
First published September 21, 2019
About the author
Jeffrey Perren
14 books33 followersJeffrey Perren is the author of Tellen Song, a novel about the Wilhelm Tell legend and the founding of Switzerland.
[http://www.amazon.com/Tellen-Song-edu...]
He wrote his first short story at age 12 and went on to win the Bank of America Fine Arts award at 17. Since then, he has published Cossacks In Paris, Clonmac's Bridge, and other fine novels from ClioStory Publishing.
Educated in philosophy at UCLA, he lives in Fort Worth, Texas.
[http://www.amazon.com/Tellen-Song-edu...]
He wrote his first short story at age 12 and went on to win the Bank of America Fine Arts award at 17. Since then, he has published Cossacks In Paris, Clonmac's Bridge, and other fine novels from ClioStory Publishing.
Educated in philosophy at UCLA, he lives in Fort Worth, Texas.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
November 30, 2019
I loved this book and highly recommend it. The heroine, Ajit, is a woman with an unwavering determination to be the master of her own destiny. She is truly inspiring. The obstacles she faces, along with the twists and turns of the plot, make this book a page-turner from beginning to end. Things were not always what they seemed to be. I could not stop reading once I began.
December 1, 2019
Have you ever met someone that is observant, quiet, competent, and persistent? she's often the kind of woman who makes her dreams the engine of her life, yet she is not a boisterous personality.
That is Ajit in the Hanse Rival, a mysterious woman from South Asia who comes to Flanders as a young woman- and becomes a financial titan in the Middle Ages. Yes, there were such women, rare then as they are now.
Just as today, such a person wouldn't let her appearance be a handicap. She knows her value lies in her skill and integrity, not her beauty - even though some do think her beautiful - especially the men who love her mind.
Teenage Ajit arrives by ship in Bruges in 1287 AD, a city already teeming with commercial activity.
The novelist paints a vivid scene. He describes even more vividly her personality. Despite her youth she's been well educated to appreciate what she's seeing, and value even more between right and wrong.
She quickly becomes entangled with one of the local powerful families, headed by the Machiavellian merchant Endris. His daughter, Haeywych, soon proves even more villainous. Beautiful and rich, yet a social climber, she instantly despises the virtuous Ajit, heaping scorn repeatedly on 'the little monkey'.
Unfortunately for Ajit, she is forced by circumstances to live a time as adopted daughter in this house of evil. After her escape, a fair portion of the plot is taken up with her efforts to block and harm Ajit at every opportunity. The historical background is rich, interesting, and accurate and serves to provide plenty of chances for them to do so.
Along the way, we see Ajit battle larger foes - participating in Flanders' struggles culminating in the famed Battle of the Golden Spurs. What a battle. That turning point in the series of wars between France and Flanders is well integrated into the story, as it affects all the characters in multiple ways.
As sub-theme, it shows how determined group can overcome a far more powerful foe through intelligence and grit. It gives hope that oppression need not be permanent, and you don't need superhuman ability to throw off tyranny. It's one of the many parallels to modern events the author sprinkles throughout the story.
For this, along with his fascinating characters, interesting historical drama and deep emotion, The Hanse Rival captivated me from the star. I can't wait to read the second book in this planned trilogy.
That is Ajit in the Hanse Rival, a mysterious woman from South Asia who comes to Flanders as a young woman- and becomes a financial titan in the Middle Ages. Yes, there were such women, rare then as they are now.
Just as today, such a person wouldn't let her appearance be a handicap. She knows her value lies in her skill and integrity, not her beauty - even though some do think her beautiful - especially the men who love her mind.
Teenage Ajit arrives by ship in Bruges in 1287 AD, a city already teeming with commercial activity.
The novelist paints a vivid scene. He describes even more vividly her personality. Despite her youth she's been well educated to appreciate what she's seeing, and value even more between right and wrong.
She quickly becomes entangled with one of the local powerful families, headed by the Machiavellian merchant Endris. His daughter, Haeywych, soon proves even more villainous. Beautiful and rich, yet a social climber, she instantly despises the virtuous Ajit, heaping scorn repeatedly on 'the little monkey'.
Unfortunately for Ajit, she is forced by circumstances to live a time as adopted daughter in this house of evil. After her escape, a fair portion of the plot is taken up with her efforts to block and harm Ajit at every opportunity. The historical background is rich, interesting, and accurate and serves to provide plenty of chances for them to do so.
Along the way, we see Ajit battle larger foes - participating in Flanders' struggles culminating in the famed Battle of the Golden Spurs. What a battle. That turning point in the series of wars between France and Flanders is well integrated into the story, as it affects all the characters in multiple ways.
As sub-theme, it shows how determined group can overcome a far more powerful foe through intelligence and grit. It gives hope that oppression need not be permanent, and you don't need superhuman ability to throw off tyranny. It's one of the many parallels to modern events the author sprinkles throughout the story.
For this, along with his fascinating characters, interesting historical drama and deep emotion, The Hanse Rival captivated me from the star. I can't wait to read the second book in this planned trilogy.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews