Jean Plaidy Boeken

Ruim een eeuw geleden komt door de dood van haar moeder een abrupt eind aan het heerlijke leventje van de enige dochter van een beroemde musical-actrice.

Een gevierd kunstenares, die zeer nare ervaringen met een man gehad heeft, ziet haar gevoelens voor hem langzaam veranderen.

Een jonge vrouw die in Engeland les gaat geven op een meisjesinternaat ontmoet een vreemde jongeman.

Een jonge Engelse vrouw reist incognito naar Duitsland nadat zij vernomen heeft dat haar zuster, die is getrouwd met een Duitse baron, is vermoord.

Historical novel set during the Wars of the Roses, based on the life of Anne Neville, daughter of the great Earl of Warwick. Suitable for adult literacy and learners of English as a second language.

A recreation of the life of Marie Antoinette through her letters and memoirs. Other work by the author includes Lord of the Far Island, Snare of Serpents and Mistress of Mellyn.

Charles II, the Merry Monarch, is determined that his people shall know peace and religious freedom. But the shadows cast over the throne by his son Monmouth and his wayward, Papist brother, the Duke of York, are proving too much for his popularity. Amidst these dramatic events that shaped Restoration England our promiscuous regent was often to be found in the company of his many woman. Including the ready arms of little Nell Gwyn, his buxom, pretty and witty mistress. Here Plaidy brings to life the various loves and political losses of one of our most amorous Kings.

Against the backdrop of a civil war-torn England during the era of Cromwell and the Stuart Restoration, the passionate story of Arabella Tolworthy unfolds, intertwining her fate with that of her nation. Following the execution of Charles I and the rise of Oliver Cromwell, many royalists fled their confiscated lands, including young Arabella, whose family sought refuge in France to serve the exiled Charles II. Separated from her parents and facing the hardships of exile, she finds solace in the company of the captivating actress, Harriet Main, unaware of the threat Harriet poses to her future happiness. Arabella's life takes a dramatic turn when she marries the dashing Edwin Eversleigh, a Cavalier, in a whirlwind romance. However, after Edwin's death, she returns to England with a new child, only to be confronted by Edwin's cousin Carleton, whose bitterness over his lost inheritance complicates her life. The return of the scheming Harriet further threatens Arabella's connection to her past. Amidst the devastation of the St. Giles Plague and the Great London Fire, Arabella discovers the courage for personal renewal, seeking to reconcile her past and find peace with her homeland.

When Cordelia Grant returns from an exclusive school in Switzerland to carry on her duties as a schoolmistress, she finds her feelings torn between a dashing landowner, Sir Jason Verringer and the memory of a mysterious stranger.

When Caroline of Ansbach arrives in England, King George is old and sour, his mistress ugly and his wife imprisoned at his own hand for over twenty years. She has grown up watching her mother Eleanor's loveless and dangerous marriage, and is determined to avoid a similar situation. So she marries the Prince of Wales, George Augustus, and they are popular among the people, leading the King to resent them. In what will become typical Hanoverian style, father and son loathe each other and exist in a state of constant competition for power. She quickly realizes that her husband is unintelligent and sees that she will be able to control him to some extent. Despite plenty of obstacles, including her father-in-law's control of her children, she refuses to lose sight of her aims.

The affair of the diamond necklace shook the throne of France, probably precipitating the French Revolution and the execution of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. But why should these events fall so neatly into place? And why was an ambitious, predatory woman allowed to steal the famous piece?

This volume brings together all three of Jean Plaidy's novels about Katharine of Aragon, offering a comprehensive look at the life of the first wife of Henry VIII. The narrative explores her struggles, resilience, and the political intrigue surrounding her marriage, providing insight into her character and the tumultuous times she lived in. Readers will experience the rich historical detail and emotional depth that Plaidy is known for, making it a compelling read for fans of historical fiction.

A young widow takes a job with an unusual family at their seaside estate hoping to find her sister who had disappeared in the same area of Kent.

Mount Mellyn stood as proud and magnificent as she had envisioned... But what about its master--Connan TreMellyn? Was Martha Leigh's new employer as romantic as his name sounded? As she approached the sprawling mansion towering above the cliffs of Cornwall, an odd chill of apprehension overcame her. TreMellyn's young daugher, Alvean, proved as spoiled and difficult as the three governesses before Martha had discovered. But it was the girl's father whose cool, arrogant demeanor unleashed unfamiliar sensations and turmoil--even as whispers of past tragedy and present danger begin to insinuate themselves into Martha's life. Powerless against her growing desire for the enigmatic Connan, she is drawn deeper into family secrets--as passion overpowers reason, sending her head and heart spinning. But though evil lurks in the shadows, so does love--and the freedom to find a golden promise forever...

Richard the Second is losing his hold on the crown and Henry of Bolingbroke, previously exiled by the king, returns to England to claim it. When the king dies, Harry became King Henry the Fifth, and the change is dramatic for both him and Oldcastle.

Reckoned by those about him to be the most handsome man in the country, Edward the fourth has risen to the throne with the help of Warwick, the kingmaker. Despite his mistresses, Elizabeth is loyal to the illustrious king, providing him with many children, among them Edward the fifth and Richard Duke of York.

Richard of Bordeaux, young heir to the throne after Edward the Third, is surrounded by ambitious uncles who believe it would be better for the country if they could take the crown. While Richard shows himself capable of reckless bravery in defeating the Peasants' Revolt, his extravagance soon brings him into conflict with his people.

At the decadent French court of King François, the young Anne Boleyn grows into an enigmatic and striking woman, a temptation to many courtiers. But whilst Anne's ambitions are high, she has learned from her sister's unfortunate reputation. Unlike Mary, Anne refuses to become even a King's mistress. So when Anne returns to the English court of Henry VIII, it is the King who is led a dance by this mysterious young beauty. Before long Henry is lured away from his stale marriage to Katharine of Aragon. But the new Queen Anne is not loved by the people, and it is only a matter of time before Henry's patience runs out...

This glorious novel chronicles the life of William the Conqueror, the bastard son of the Duke of Normandy, from childhood until his death in 1087. He is destined to succeed his father as the Duke of Normandy but questions about his legitimacy mean he consistently faces challenges from potential usurpers in the Duchy to retain the title. He marries Matilda, the equally intelligent and ambitious daughter of the King of Flanders, and together they have many children. In 1066, he crosses the channel from Normandy to England and seizes the crown from King Harold, Edward the Confessor's popular successor. This is the roller coaster account of his efforts to become sovereign and the events in his life afterwards, including his turbulent relationships with various members of his family.

Isabella 23, Queen of Castile and jealous greedy Consort Ferdinand 22, Prince of Aragon, dream of a united Christian Spain. She brings law, order, peace, the Catholic Inquisition that tortures and banishes Jews. He conquers Moorish strongholds, in Grenada helped by a Castilian harem slave ambitious for her son Boabdil. Columbus finally sails to the New World.

The stirring story of Henry VIII's final marriage, to Katharine Parr. Already twice widowed, Katharine finally dares to hope that she might find love with the dashing Thomas Seymour - but Henry has decided he must have a sixth wife and Seymour's intentions to marry Katharine have not gone unnoticed.

One of history's most complex and alluring women comes to life in this classic novel by the legendary Jean Plaidy.Young Anne Boleyn was not beautiful but she was irresistible, capturing the hearts of kings and commoners alike. Daughter of an ambitious country lord, Anne was sent to France to learn sophistication, and then to court to marry well and raise the family's fortunes. She soon surpassed even their greatest expectations. Although his queen was loving and loyal, King Henry VIII swore he would put her aside and make Anne his wife. And so he did, though the divorce would tear apart the English church and inflict religious turmoil and bloodshed on his people for generations to come.Loathed by the English people, who called her "the King's Great Whore," Anne Boleyn was soon caught in the trap of her own ambition. Political rivals surrounded her at court and, when she failed to produce a much-desired male heir, they closed in, preying on the king's well-known insecurity and volatile temper. Wrongfully accused of adultery and incest, Anne found herself imprisoned in the Tower of London, where she was at the mercy of her husband and of her enemies.

The untimely death of Richard the Lionheart left his nephew Arthur and his younger brother John in contest for the throne of England. And in the tempestuous years that follow many men come to believe that the House of Anjou was tainted by the Devil's blood, the loathsome monarch was himself Evil Incarnate, the very Prince of Darkness...

Edward the Second has been barbarously murdered in Berkeley Castle on the orders of his wife, Queen Isabella, and her lover Roger de Mortimer, and fifteen-year-old Edward the Third is now king.

Pippa Ewell had left behind the dark and forbidding Greystone Manor -- also the memories of Conrad, the handsome stranger who had swept her breathlessly into his arms and heart. But Pippa returned to find the truth behind her sister's mysterious death. And suddenly the fairy-tale kindgom glittered with evil and danger . . .

Based on the life of Henry I, King of England.

Overwhelmed by the change in her fortunes, bewildered and flattered by the honours which were showered upon her, Katherine settles down to enjoy her new life. But her enemies were watching. There were too many and they knew too much. This is the 11th book in the "Queens of England" series.

The first book in the captivating Spanish Trilogy, focusing on the remarkable lives of Spain's most famous monarchsIn the 15th Century, Spain is full of intrigue and threatened by civil war.

Sullen-eyed and broken-hearted, fourteen-year-old Catherine de' Medici arrives in Marseilles to marry Henry of Orleans, second son of the King of France.

Another splendid Tudor novel from Jean Plaidy - departing from her usual tales of passions and scandal in the court of Henry VIII, Saint Thomas's Eve tells the story of Sir Thomas More and his ambitious daughters.

When Catherine de' Medici was forced to marry Henry of Orleans, her's was not the only heart broken. And so both Catherine and Jeanne's lives are set on unwanted paths, destined to cross in affairs of state, love and faith, driving them to become deadly political rivals.

All too often, Isabella found herself torn between his brilliant plans and her love for her children. During the last years of Isabella's reign it seemed there was a curse on the royal house which struck at the children of the sovereigns.

Tensions are running high between the Catholic Parisians and the visiting Huguenots. Margot's marriage to Henry has not brought about the peace that the sickly King Francis so longed for and, fearing that she is losing control over Francis, Catherine sets about persuading him of a Huguenot plot against his life. Originally published: London: Hale.

The fourth of Jean Plaidy's Tudor novels in which Henry VIII secretly plots his divorce from Katherine of Aragon.

As a young girl in India, beautiful, high-spirited Susanna Pleydell had first became aware of her special gifts to soothe the sick. But she had sacrificed that calling when she married the dashing and sophisticated Aubrey St. Clare. When they return home to London, however, Aubrey has changed. Susanna discovers she has married a man with a weakness for opium and the occult. And even more menacing, Aubrey has met the sinister Dr. Damien Adar, whose hold over him is fierce and frightening....

A sudden tragedy changes the course of Ellen Kellaway's life. Leaving London for an island off the coast of Cornwall, she finds herself caught up in an atmosphere of mystery and intrigue. Exactly who is the magnetic Jago Kellaway, and what are his intentions towards her?

According to ancient Black Forest legend, on the Night of the Seventh Moon, Loke, the God of Mischief, is at large in the world. It is a night for festivity and joyful celebration. It is a night for singing and dancing. And it is a night for love. Helena Trant was enchanted by everything she found in the Black Forest -- especially its legends. But then, on the Night of the Seventh Moon, she started to live one of them, and the enchantment turned suddenly into a terrifying nightmare . . .

News of Thomas a Becket's martyrdom has spread throughout Christendom and the blame is laid at the feet of Henry Plantagenet, King of England.

At the age of thirty-two, Richard the Lionheart has finally succeeded Henry II to the English throne. Leaving England to begin his crusade, Richard's kingdom is left in the hands of his brother, John, who casts covetous eyes on the crown, and his sister, Joanna, who is willing to defy even a king.

On the death of Henry the fifth, a nine-month-old baby is made King of England. Ambitious men surround the baby king, including his two uncles, the Dukes of Bedford and Gloucester. and Eleanor of Gloucester is drawn into a murder plot and becomes the centre of a cause celebre.

Written by the historical novelist, this is the second book in the Mary Queen of Scots series. Widowed at an early age, Mary Stuart, jailed Queen of Scots, finds herself ensnared by her enemies.

In 1470, a reluctant Lady Anne Neville is betrothed by her father, the politically ambitious Earl of Warwick, to Edward, Prince of Wales. A gentle yet fiercely intelligent woman, Anne has already given her heart to the prince’s younger brother, Richard, Duke of Gloucester. Unable to oppose her father’s will, she finds herself in line for the throne of England—an obligation that she does not want. Yet fate intervenes when Edward is killed at the Battle of Tewkesbury. Anne suddenly finds herself free to marry the man she loves—and who loves her in return. The ceremony is held at Westminster Abbey, and the duke and duchess make a happy home at Middleham Castle, where both spent much of their childhood. Their life is idyllic, until the reigning king dies and a whirlwind of dynastic maneuvering leads to his children being declared illegitimate. Richard inherits the throne as King Richard III, and Anne is crowned queen consort, a destiny she thought she had successfully avoided. Her husband’s reign lasts two years, two months, and two days—and in that short time Anne witnesses the true toll that wearing the crown takes on Richard, the last king from the House of York.

Albert is dead and the queen is preparing to spend the rest of her life in mourning. Yet the last years of her reign are to be momentous years. The court at Windsor, Balmoral, Osborne or Buckingham Palace is perpetually shocked by the Prince of Wales, forever in pursuit of horses, women and scandal, the heady harbinger of Edwardian years to come.

Drusilla Delaney, the daughter of an impoverished minister, becomes fascinated with the wealthy Framling family—especially with the son and daughter, the mysterious Fabian, and the beautiful, impetuous Lavinia. Through them, she finds herself the unlikely heir to an extraordinary bejeweled fan made of peacock feathers. But though priceless and dazzling to behold, the fan bears a curse that promises ill fortune—and even death—to whoever possesses it....

For centuries the tombs of the Pharaos were haunted by a deadly curse. And when two eminent archaeologists have died mysteriously, Judith Osmond was certain that it was the curse at work. Then, overnight, her life changed. There was an unexpected inheritance. Then Tybalt, a young archaeologist and the man she adored, asked her to marry him. But Tybalt planned a honeymoon amid the tombs of the Pharoahs, and suddenly it looked as if the curse of the kings had come to haunt Judith . . .

Based on the lives of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine.

When Henry VI ascends to the throne, it becomes evident that he is ill-suited for kingship. Richard, Duke of York, believes he has a stronger claim to the crown and is determined to seize it by any means necessary.

The first half of the thirteenth century is dominated by two women, as proud and ambitious as they were beautiful, yet different in all other qualities. Blanche of Castile, serene and virtuous Queen of France, wife of Louis VIII and mother of Louis IX...

The young Princess Victoria, strictly confined within the boundaries of Kensington Palace, is being moulded for her awesome future as Queen of England. her mother's sinister friend, Sir John Conroy, makes her uneasy .

France eagerly awaits the day the young King, Louis XV, comes of age and breaks free from the rule of his ministers. The country hopes Louis will bring back glory and prosperity to France. However, he is too preoccupied with the thrills of hunting and gambling to notice the power struggle going on in his own court. Soon, the King is introduced to the pleasures of mistresses and a succession of lovers follows. From the gentle persuasions of Madame de Mailley to her overtly ambitious sister, Madame Vintimille, France stands by and watches a King ruled by his women.

Eighteen year old Jane Shore's beauty is known around London. She is well-educated and intelligent, and when she catches the eye of a wealthy goldsmith her father sees in her an opportunity for an advantageous marriage. But the marriage is soon annulled and she becomes the favourite mistress of Edward IV.Her compassion for London's poor brings her widespread popularity, and she uses her favour with the king to beg forgiveness for those who have angered him. When Edward suddenly dies, she seduces other men, namely Thomas Grey, 1st Marquess of Dorset and William Hastings, 1st Baron Hastings. But when Hastings loses the new King's favour she is punished and imprisoned in Ludgate prison. There, away from the protection of her loves, she can only face the horrors of those she once protected. And pray for salvation.

The author follows the tragic character of Mary, Queen of Scots, from the charming child-queen who longed for excitement through a tumultuous and tragic adulthood. Mary stood at the center of political intrigues and in the sights of dangerous rivals, but her understanding of her court and the world lends a heartwarming aspect to this tale of power, peril, and love.

Based on the life of Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester.

Legendary historical novelist Jean Plaidy brings to life the story of Princess Mary Tudor, a celebrated beauty and born rebel who would defy the most powerful king in Europe--her older brother.Princess Mary Rose is the youngest sister of Henry VIII, and one of the few people whom he adores unconditionally. Known throughout Europe for her charm and good looks, Mary is the golden child of the Tudor family and is granted her every wish.Except when it comes to marriage. Henry VIII, locked in a political showdown with France, decides to offer up his pampered baby sister to secure peace between the two mighty kingdoms. Innocent, teenage Mary must become the wife of the elderly King Louis, a toothless, ailing man in his sixties. Horrified and furious, Mary has no choice but to sail for France. There she hones her political skills, bides her time, and remains secretly in love with Charles Brandon, the Duke of Suffolk. When King Louis dies after only two years of marriage, Mary is determined not to be sold into another unhappy union. She must act quickly; if she wants to be with the man she truly loves, she must defy the laws of church and state by marrying without her brother's permission. Together, Mary and Charles devise a scheme to outwit the most ruthless king in Europe and gain their hearts' desire, not knowing if it will lead to marital bliss or certain death.

From the pen of the legendary historical novelist Jean Plaidy comes the story of Princess Margaret Tudor, whose life of tragedy, bloodshed, and scandal would rival even that of her younger brother, Henry VIII.Princess Margaret Tudor is the greatest prize when her father, Henry VII, negotiates the Treaty of Perpetual Peace with neighboring Scotland. The betrothal is meant to end decades of bloody border wars, but it becomes a love match: To Margaret's surprise, she finds joy in her marriage to the dashing James IV of Scotland, a man sixteen years her senior. But the marriage, and the peace it brings to both nations, does not last. When King James is struck down by the armies of Henry VIII, Margaret--Princess of England, but Queen of Scotland--finds herself torn between loyalty to the land and family of her birth and to that of her baby son, now King of the Scots. She decides to remain in Scotland and carve out her own destiny, surviving a scandalous second marriage and battling with both her son and her brother to the very end. Like all the Tudors, Margaret's life would be one of turmoil and controversy, but through her descendants, England and Scotland would unite as one nation, under one rule, and find peace.

The news of Henry III's death reached his son Edward on the long road home from the Holy Land. Through all the years of his reign, through stark personal tragedy and chill forebodings as his son grew into a weak, corrupted price, Edward I strove to weld a nation united from England, Scotland and Wales.

Noelle Tremaston, daughter of famous actress Désirée, turns to Roderick Claverham, the man she loves, for solace when her mother dies. She then finds out that the revelation of a dark secret prevents them from marrying.

It is 1651 and Charles II, the most fascinating of England's rakes, is in exile. With him are his younger sister Minette and his buxom mistress Lucy Water and together they traverse the political and romantic minefield of the French courts. Minette soon falls passionately in love with Louis, the young Sun King. Yet her affections are not returned and heartbroken she must mollify herself with a marriage to his secretly gay brother, Phillippe. But at what cost? These years are given Plaidy's wonderful technicolour treatment as an enthralling story of love and intigue unfolds.

In this unforgettable novel of Queen Victoria, Jean Plaidy re-creates a remarkable life filled with romance, triumph, and tragedy. Born fourth in line for the throne, Victoria was the often-overlooked daughter of a prince who died shortly after her birth. She and her mother lived in genteel poverty, exiled from court due to her mother’s disdain for her uncles, George IV and William IV. A strong-willed child, Victoria was determined to break free from her uncles' control and her mother’s oppressive influence. At eighteen, she awoke to the news of her uncle William’s death, transforming from a forgotten princess into the Queen of England, finally liberated from her mother’s iron grip. Her first act as queen was to demand a room—and a bed—of her own. Victoria's marriage to her German cousin, Prince Albert, was blissfully happy, yielding nine children. Albert was her steadfast companion and trusted advisor. His untimely death left her in profound grief, leading her to wear black for the remainder of her life. Throughout her reign, Victoria faced several assassination attempts and witnessed the expansion of the British Empire across the globe. Initially mocked as a “girl queen,” by the end of her sixty-four-year reign, she embodied the empire's glory. In this novel, presented as a “memoir” by Victoria herself, she emerges as a truthful, sentimental, and relatable figure—both a lovable woman and a great queen.

HISTORICAL FICTION. France eagerly awaits the day the young King, Louis XV, comes of age and breaks free from the rule of his ministers. The country hopes Louis will bring back glory and prosperity to France. However, he is too preoccupied with the thrills of hunting and gambling to notice the power struggle going on in his own court. Soon, the King is introduced to the pleasures of mistresses and a succession of lovers follows. From the gentle persuasions of Madame de Mailley to her overtly ambitious sister, Madame Vintimille, France stands by and watches a King ruled by his women.

Light on Lucrezia is the compelling story of a beautiful woman caught up in a tortuous web of fear and love. Now, married for the second time at just eighteen she hopes for happiness with her handsome husband Alfonso. But faced with brutal murder she's soon torn between her love for her husband and her devotion to her brother Cesare ...

Rosetta knew little of life beyond the schoolroom...until she found herself shipwrecked off the African coast. Saved from the raging seas by the ship's handsome, mysterious deckhand, she soon discovered her hero was fellow-Londoner Simon Perrivale, an infamous fugitive accused of murder.Her hopes of rescue were dashed when they were abducted by pirates...and the lovely fair-haired Rosetta was sold to a Turkish Pasha. Locked away in his harem, she would risk her life to save her virtue -- and to unravel the mystery that had wrongfully imprisoned Simon.But though she plotted her escape from the exotic Middle East to the elegant mansions of London, Rosetta was still bound by a consuming passion that would forever make her love's captive...

The third of Jean Plaidy's Tudor novels, continuing the story of Katherine of Aragon's failing marriage to the adulterous Henry VIII ... Henry's affection for his older wife soon strays, and the neglected Katherine decides to use her power as Queen to dangerous foreign advantage.

Davina Glentyre's happy young life in Edinburgh was shattered by her mother's death and made even more unbearable by her father's sudden marriage to her new governess. Her one joy was her friendship with a poor but charming student, Jamie, whom her father forbade her to wed. When her father suddenly died from arsenic poisoning, the means, motive, and opportunity all pointed to Davina herself. Alone, she escaped to the colonies in Africa. But with the Boer War came danger and the return of dark secrets from the past that threatened her reputation and her very life . . .

Edward the Second's first act on coming to the throne is to recall Piers Gaveston from exile, and the new king's devotion to the shrewd and avaricious young man soon becomes a scandal.

Exploring the complexities of a ruthless ruler, the narrative delves into the psyche of a monarch driven by ambition and a chilling capacity for violence. The story examines the paradox of love and obsession, questioning who could be drawn to such a dark figure. Themes of power, morality, and the nature of affection intertwine, offering a gripping look at the darker side of human relationships and the allure of those who wield power without conscience.

The first of Jean Plaidy's much-loved Tudor series - Henry Tudor finally unites the warring Houses of York and Lancaster.In the aftermath of the bloody Wars of the Roses, Henry Tudor has seized the English crown, finally uniting the warring Houses of York and Lancaster through his marriage to Elizabeth of York.

Rebecca Mandeville The story of The Changeling is told by Angelet's daughter, Rebecca, who was born in Benedict Lansdon's house in an Australian gold-mining township. Before Rebecca was born, her father had died saving another man's life. She had always looked up to him as a great hero and when she heard that her mother was to marry Benedict Lansdon, she was deeply shocked. The prolific British author of historical romances (The Pool of St. Branok) continues her lavishly entwined narrative of the families connected to Benedict Lansdon, now a recently bereaved widower, absentee father and wealthy seeker of a Parliament seat. Narrated by Benedict's aggrieved stepdaughter, Rebecca, this complex tale of love and betrayal concerns a three-cornered sibling relationship involving Rebecca, her half-sister, Belinda and Lucie, a country waif informally adopted by Benedict. Aware that her father blames her for her mother's death in childbirth, Belinda takes refuge in michievous behavior. Placid Lucie, however, fits in well with the family, though her lineage is suspect and clouded with mysterious events at St. Branok's pool. Although Belinda seems the most obvious "changeling," Carr sustains an air of doubt and intrigue. The ambience of the Cornish countryside and of Victorian London permeate this piquantly Gothic family saga.

Marguerite, eldest daughter of the Count of Provence, had married a king of France - and now her sister Eleanor is determined to make just as grand a match. Good fortune and wily cunning bring her Henry of England. A good and generous husband but a weak king, he rules a nation that still remembers his cruel and foolish father, King John. As Henry showers gifts on his new bride his extravagance forces him to levy ever greater taxation on the land, and the spectre of revolt soon looms against him. For Simon de Montfort, the adventurer who will give England its first true parliament, the house of destiny is at hand.