The Young Lion

Birth of the Plantagenets, Book 1

By: Blanche d'Alpuget

Narrated by: Colin Morgan

Length: 14 hrs and 52 mins

Publisher's summary

The first book in the Birth of the Plantagenets series is sumptuous, rich historical fiction.

Queen Eleanor of France, said to be the most beautiful woman in Europe, has not been able to give birth to an heir. A strategic liaison with Geoffrey the Handsome, the virile and charming Duke of Normandy, could remedy that - or lead to her downfall and Geoffrey's death.

What begins with cool calculation becomes a passionate affair. Despite his love for Eleanor, however, Geoffrey has larger plans: to help his warrior son, Henry, seize the English throne.

When Henry saves his father from discovery and execution by the French, he falls foul of Eleanor - and madly in love with her Byzantine maid. Should he become King of England, however, this dazzling woman will never be acceptable as his queen.

These intertwined relationships - heated, forbidden and perilous - are the heart of a vivid story of ambition, vengeance and political intrigue set in the glorious flowering of troubadour culture, mysticism and learning that is 12th-century France.

©2013 Blanche d'Alpuget (P)2019 Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd

Colin Morgan narrates historical FICTION

Interesting historical fiction, light on history, heavy on fiction.
The narrator matters! I have about 1000 audiobooks and choose what I listen to as much by narrator as author or story/topic. While I enjoyed the story, I was more enthralled by the unique and varied characters voiced by Morgan. At times I laughed, “there’s that ‘a’ again” or marveled at the ease and rapidity with which he moved among the characters. All the books in the series are long - I’ve finished two - and without doubt the narration has kept me engaged and entertained.

Really nice overview over the XII century

I really enjoyed this first book about all that could happen amangst France, England and Normandie. The writer goes into a lot of details of all the families involved enriching the plot and the pleasure of the listener. Colin Morgen was again superb in his narration changing tone, voice and tempo when needed. I hope he'll narrate more books for us.

Colin a Morgan delightful!

An absolute joy to listen to his lilting Irish voice as it read this magical story. More please.

Not-so-historical fiction

The history was often wrong; however, when Henry spoke to horses and Highlanders via telepathy, no doubt remained that this historical fiction was much more fiction than history .