The Greatest Knight: The Story of William Marshal - Elizabeth Chadwick

Elizabeth Chadwick is one of the new type of historical authors who have resurrected a few now forgotten names from the past. Historical fiction is a relatively new genre, really sparked off by Ellis Peters with her Cadfael novels and continued by Phillippa Gregory. When I was a lad, one of the few notable historical characters who weren't royality were Thomas Beckett, Wat Tyler, Simon De Montford and William Marshall. Thats not a long list when you consider how famous the various kings and queens were at the time, so it might be an indication of how important that were that their name has been remembered. Now William Marshall is remembered as the ...  Read the complete review

Hailed in Chadwick's afterword as "The David Beckham of the Medival Age", William Marshal lived an action-packed and tumultous life full of loyalty to his King amidst treachery and jealous back-stabbing from his peers. Unbeaten in all the Competition Tourneys he entered, he rightfully earned a reputation for integrity, honour and respect during his time which saw him become The Earl Of Leciester in recognition for his servitude to the monarchy. The Greatest Knight is the first of two novels Chadwick has written abvout him and either can be read as a stand-alone story or as part of a greater whole and still be enjoyed... I was not sure what to expoect ...  Read the complete review