To William Rufus’ corrupt and opulent court comes the young Norman Ralph des Aix – Eager to win his knight’s fee from the new English king. But although fortune – and King Rufus – seems to smile on him, Ralph rapidly discovers that to be King’s favourite is bewildering – and not always pleasant. And many feel that the rundown holding of Chenna’s Tun, deep in the heart of the New Forest, is a poor reward for his services. In the remote heart of the great wood, Ralph and his passionate young wife, Sybil of Fallowdene, are relentlessly drawn into the growing conflict between the greedy sophistication of the Norman court and the dark world of the Saxon forest with all its hidden rites. A net of danger closes round Ralph, Sybil and the glittering, lonely figure of King Rufus. And to be truly lord of his own manor, Ralph learns that he must bear the ancient title, King of the Wood, with all its mysterious and barbaric responsibilities…

King of the Wood

Literature & Fiction

Anand, Valerie

British & Irish

St Martins Pr

Crown of Roses A SWEEPING HISTORICAL SAGA OF RICHARD III Petronel Faldene, married off at fourteen to the dour and spiteful Lionel Eynesby and taken far away from home to be chatelaine of his estate, never suspected that her destiny would become entangled with the future of England and the most powerful men in the land. But in the England of King Edward IV, torn by civil war and the bitter conflict between the houses of York and Lancaster, anything can happen, as public and private lives alike are touched by treacherous intrigue that hangs like a disease over the court, blighting loyalties, ruining lives, and dividing the people. And when King Edward marries Bess Woodville—graceful, beautiful, but lowly born—even his own supporters are incensed, and Edward must learn to rely on only a few loyal followers, among them his brother Richard of Gloucester and Petronel Eynesby, sent on a perilous undercover mission to France on behalf of the King. Having gained royal favor, however, does not win Petronel the esteem of her cruel husband who, desperate for a son and heir to his estate, holds his young wife responsible for their childlessness. But Petronel, having fallen in love with Lionel's nephew Geoffrey, has her own plans for producing the longed-for child—and taking her secret revenge against her husband. Soon, as dramatic events bring Richard of Gloucester to the throne, not only Petronel but also her young son are once again embroiled in the turbulent affairs of court. Crown of Roses is a stunning achievement, a rich and compelling saga weaving together public and private lives in the cataclysmic years leading up to the reign of Richard III.

Crown of Roses

Put to work on the farm of Dane Eric Olafson after his defeat in the Gildenford Massacre, Sir Ivon de Clairpont, the great Norman knight, settles into a life of servitude but refuses to forget his freedom.

The Proud Villeins (Bridges over Time, Book I)

Isabel of Northfield is bound to a feudal lord, but family stories about yeomen in her bloodline fan the flames of dissatisfaction in her, causing her to dream about freedom

The Ruthless Yeomen (Bridges over Time, Book 2)

Incorporates historical information and tales into the story of Suzanna Whitmead and her granddaughter, Christina, who both achieve success during the Middle ages

Women of Ashdon (Bridges over Time, Book 3)

Traces the history of the Whitmead family, focusing on Lucy-Anne Whitmead, who lives in the late 1700s, as she uses an unexpected legacy to win freedom from an abusive husband

The Cherished Wives (Bridges over Time/Valerie Anand, Bk 5)

West of Sunset

Contemporary

Hodder & Stoughton General Division

Told from the perspective of a Saxon peasant, this is a story about the ruling family of England and the changing succession during the early 11th century prior to William the Conqueror taking the throne in 1066 from the Earl of Wessex.

Gildenford

Scribner

The Norman Pretender

Charles Scribner's Sons., NY

This richly and authentically detailed chronicle of the establishment of the rule of William the Conqueror over England traces the struggles of the English people to choose between fealty to the Norman and rebellion

The Disputed Crown

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Books by Anand, Valerie