The King's Cavalier

by Samuel Shellabarger

With rich imagination, excellent scholarship and his rare gift for narrative, Samuel Shellabarger tells here the story of a young Frenchman and a young Englishwoman who were caught in the wild plots and counterplots surrounding the Bourbon conspiracy against Francis I.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Fiction, 16th Century, Action, France, Renaissance

377 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1950

About the author

AKA:
John Esteven
Peter Loring

Samuel Shellabarger was an American educator and author of both scholarly works and best-selling historical novels. He was born in Washington, D.C., on 18 May 1888, but his parents both died while he was a baby. Samuel was therefore raised by his grandfather, Samuel Shellabarger, a noted lawyer who had served in Congress during the American Civil War and as Minister to Portugal. Young Samuel's travels with his grandfather later proved a goldmine of background material for his novels.

Shellabarger attended private schools and in 1909 graduated from Princeton University, where he would later teach. After studying for a year at Munich University in Germany, he resumed his studies at Harvard University and Yale University. Despite taking a year off to serve in World War I, he received his doctorate in 1917. In 1915 he married Vivan Georgia Lovegrove Borg whom he had met the year before during a vacation in Sweden. They had four children, but the two boys died: one as an infant and the other serving in World War II. Shellabarger himself died of a heart attack in Princeton, New Jersey, on 21 March 1954.

Having already published some scholarly works and not wanting to undermine their credibility by publishing fiction, Shellabarger used pen names for his first mysteries and romances: "John Esteven" and then "Peter Loring." He continued to write scholarly works and to teach, but his historical novels proved so popular that he soon started using his own name on them. Some of them were best-sellers and were made into movies.

Reviews

[Ambrosia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a delightful little chivalric romance, featuring a thoroughly likable main character, a plot full of juicy court intrigue, and the sorts of neat historical flourishes and turns of phrase you get when a story is written by a true scholar of the period. The story itself is well-constructed, with a satisfying amount of both swashbuckling action and political maneuvering; while its female characters are perhaps not greatly developed (it only passes the Bechdel test in form rather than spirit), they do exercise agency and have bearing on the plot, enough that I was genuinely surprised to learn that it was first published in 1950. If you like this sort of thing, it's an excellent read for a recuperation day or a long plane ride.

[Randhir · Rating 5 out of 5]

I must have read this book 40 years ago and find it as excellent now. A grand swashbuckling of a book set during the reign of Francis I of France. France is facing a great conspiracy led by the Bourbon Constable to dethrone the feckless Francis. Blaise de Lalliere is caught in the middle as he tries to help Anne Russell, Francis' latest interest, escape his clutches. De Norville, the Constable's confidante and Ann's fiance is at the soul of the conspiracy. The suspense mounts and Blaise's fortunes change as he tests his loyalty to France with that of his love for Ann. The Author writes with a sure touch and keeps one biting their knuckles right to the end. Worth reading again.

[Joseph Raborg · Rating 5 out of 5]

One wonders why Samuel Shellabarger is not more well known. Both this novel and Prince of Foxes are great literary achievements. Shellabarger really immerses the reader into the renaissance period and manages to craft lively portraits of the personages therein. Moreover, the stories contain much high adventure which keeps the pages turning. I greatly look forward to reading what is considered his third great masterpiece: The Captain from Castile.

[Karen-Leigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

With rich imagination, excellent scholarship and his rare gift for narrative, Samuel Shellabarger tells here the story of a young Frenchman and a young Englishwoman who were caught in the wild plots and counterplots surrounding the Bourbon conspiracy against Francis I.

First read in late 50s.

[Lori · Rating 1 out of 5]

Went over 100 pages. Boring. Kept falling asleep.

[Dean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book, great to read at a day on the beach or lake. Have been reading another book by this author off and on but will continue to read his books if I come across them.

[GeoffD · Rating 4 out of 5]

Of the four Shellabarger books, this one is a solid third place lagging well behind Captain from Castile and Prince of Foxes.

[Lauren Stoolfire · Rating 4 out of 5]

I totally read The King's Cavalier by Samuel Shellabarger because of the cover when I spotted it at a local used bookstore. Turns out it was a really cool historical story. It's got plenty of likable characters and lots and lots of intrigue. I think I'll have to try more from this author in the future.

[Mina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unlike Prince of Foxes, where long narrations were matched with sharp dialogue and insightful commentary, this fish-out-of-the-water adventure just gets tedious. Moreover, Blaise's pragmatic perspective as a soldier and courier lacks the draw of Andrea's view of a gaudy and flamboyant Italy.

There are some moments of humor, foremost being De Norville being caught flat-footed by an appeal to self-respect ("I fail to understand.") and a hefty dollop of blatant insanity shared between Blaise and the Marquis de Vaulx (The King wrenched his chair around from the table. His eyes burned; his long nose quivered. "And who's to blame for it? Who's to blame that Bourbon isn't in my hands at this moment?"

"You are, Sire.") that strikes at the eeriest of moments. The intrigue is by turns splendid and devilish, to the point where the poor protagonist becomes the target of many an unwarranted imprecation, but alas, he has good friends and, the novel, a somewhat happy ending.

Minus one star: Alas, if only he coupled the killing and permanent maiming of some more important characters with more than a passing mention one could hope their end was not only for the sake of grabbing attention

[Rosemary Forester · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shellabarger has given us another intriguing picture of 16th century France when the Bourbon dynasty revolted against King Francis. The narrative is excellent and although the book got off to a slow start I found myself becoming more and more engrossed. It is a pleasure to read the work of a thorough historian; a book of imagination, color and depth of characters. Enjoy!

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't put this book down. I started reading it with low expectations but it blew me away. It is fantastic. The characters are especially well done and endearing. And I think there is a villain more evil than Umbridge in this...

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many swashes buckled, good times!

[Sergio Alonso Méndez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un joven francés y una dama inglesa inmersos en tramas de intriga en la corte francesa. El Paladín de la Corona en español es un excelente libro y me atrajo a la literatura desde chico.

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very enjoyable romance set in France about a young cavalier and an English spy who fall in love but are on different sides of the fight. Not deep but fun and clean.

[Anita Estes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good historical novel centered on medieval France.