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The Token
A tale of knights and nobility in medieval France; published posthumously by this prolific author of historical novels.
The last gift given Lady Blanche from her beloved father as a token of his love was a silver girdle – “wrought with figures men and beasts” – to be worn by one who knows lonely sorrow and the pain of toil, but also granting the strength to endure and the right of lordship. Lady Blanche dons the silver girdle after discovering that her new husband, Count Raoul de Roche-Bernard, has not been true to his vows and has betrayed her. Though unhappy in her marriage, when the Count leaves for the Crusades, she is duty bound to take his place as lady of the castle and wisely and boldly guides the struggling manor to prosperity and harmony.
Episodically told in chivalric prose, the story unfolds, treasured step by treasured step, as a lifetime on the manor passes.
The last gift given Lady Blanche from her beloved father as a token of his love was a silver girdle – “wrought with figures men and beasts” – to be worn by one who knows lonely sorrow and the pain of toil, but also granting the strength to endure and the right of lordship. Lady Blanche dons the silver girdle after discovering that her new husband, Count Raoul de Roche-Bernard, has not been true to his vows and has betrayed her. Though unhappy in her marriage, when the Count leaves for the Crusades, she is duty bound to take his place as lady of the castle and wisely and boldly guides the struggling manor to prosperity and harmony.
Episodically told in chivalric prose, the story unfolds, treasured step by treasured step, as a lifetime on the manor passes.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
135 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1955
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About the author
Samuel Shellabarger
72 books45 followersAKA:
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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
December 14, 2020
What a gem of a book. I read it every few years to renew myself. Every word is carefully selected by the Author and he builds up the atmosphere as the string of tales, based on the Chatelaine of Roche-Bernard proceeds. The pathos and strength of the slim book takes you in its grip and never lets go till the end. Chivalry, love, loyalty, faith and selfishness all come into play as Lady Blanche preserves her husband's patrimony as he goes on the First Crusade to the Holy Land in Medieval France.Read it. You will repeatedly do so. It is my most valuable book and I don't loan it.
February 5, 2026
Enjoyable short read
This is not quite as captivating as some other Shellabarger novels (Prince of Foxes, etc). However, it was a pleasant adventure with believable characters.
This is not quite as captivating as some other Shellabarger novels (Prince of Foxes, etc). However, it was a pleasant adventure with believable characters.
July 11, 2013
Told in Chivalric prose, there is not a false step in this book! A treasure of a tale about a gift given from a father to a daughter about to marry and the strength it imparts to her. They say that less is best. A tour-de-force.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews