Becket: Rebel

De: Jemahl Evans

Narrado por: Bill Allender

Becket, Book 2

“Evans turns Becket into a flesh and blood character.” (Richard Foreman, author of Band of Brothers)

1164.

Northampton.

Thomas of London, the reluctant Archbishop of Canterbury, was an ambitious courtier who thought of nothing but pleasing his King. Now he must prove to the English church and his former master that he has been directed towards a new calling.

The fiery King Henry II and calculating Archbishop were once as close as brothers. But their professional duties impinge upon their personal relationship.

Crown and church, embodied in the persons of King and Archbishop, must confront one another.

Henry aims to subdue the rebellious clergyman in Northampton, but Thomas plans to escape to the Pope in France.

King Louis of France and Pope Alexander are both wary of supporting the Archbishop and angering the vindictive Henry.

As agents scour England for the rebel, Thomas must evade them and find allies in his perilous dispute with the English King.

The road to liberty will be a bloody one.

Recommended for fans of Ben Kane, Angus Donald, and Michael Jecks.

Praise for Jemahl Evans:

“The research is impeccable and the writing full of verve.” (Antonia Senior, The Times)

“It's great fun and a rollicking good read.” (Historical Novel Society)

“Frankly, glorious.” (Michael Jecks)

"Warrior is a swift, breathless plunge into the high medieval period." (J.A. Ironside, author of The King's Knight)

Jemahl Evans is the author of the acclaimed Sir Blandford Candy series of novel. He lives in West Wales.

©2020 Sharpe Books (P)2020 Jemahl Evans

To Serve God or King

In this book, Evans chronicles the epic battle between King Henry and Archbishop Becket. It's a well written book of fiction that scrupulously follows the established history and helps to add some clarity as well as a good deal of humanity and "colour" to two of the most widely discussed characters in English medieval history.
I really enjoyed this book although I can't quite decide whether I like Becket better or worse seeing him through Evans' eyes. He was clearly driven by his conviction that the rights of the church needed to be protected from the rising secular power of Europe's monarchs, but it would be easy to see this portrayal of Becket as a master manipulator, carefully orchestrating events and playing the role into which Henry had forced him like a master thespian.
If you're a student of English history or just want to have a closer look at some of it's greatest characters, this book is well worth your time.