Historical Fiction Novels - Compare offers for Books near you, and across Ireland

A Life for a Life - Cora Harrison, 2005 'What can I do? yelled O'Malachy. 'I can't march on Limerick. It would take thousands of men to sack King John's castle. 'If Sir John is going to hang Shane, we can hang this Norman knight here at Drumshee.'  Can Shane escape from the dungeon before he is hanged? Why won't Sir John de Courcy agree to ransom his stepson? Will Shane's sister, Fidelma, be able to save Hugh, the handsome young Norman knight? Will Hugh's sister, Isabelle, be forced to marry Sir Piers St Leger? The country is in turmoil - Celtic Irish on one side, Norman English on the other. Is there any future for four young people whose love stretches across this boundary?   The battle of Dysart O'Dea , close to Ennis took place on 18th May 1318. Every time that I go from my home to Ennis the market town of Clare, I pass the marshy ground where it was fought and I often wonder what would be found there if archaeologists excavated it. Would there be swords, arrows, a brooch that pinned a chieftain's cloak, a piece of silver from the time of Edward II, or perhaps the bones of the people and horses that died there? The story of the battle is as I have related it in the book - the Normans led by de Clare, were enticed on to the marshy land beyond the river by the sight of a small force of men driving a herd of cattle across the ford at that spot. No one knows who thought of that strategy - various clans have claimed it, but in my story I have given the credit to Shane O'Malachy from Drumshee. The Irish forces, who had lain hidden in the woods and bushes around the lake, emerged and fell upon the Normans once the horses were plunging and sticking in the heavy mud. Richard de Clare, six of his knights and many of his advance guard were killed instantly. The people of County Clare are very proud of this battle as the Anglo-Normans were driven out of the kingdom of Thomond (Clare) on that day and did not return until th

 'A beautifully woven and exquisitely detailed story' HEATHER MORRIS, author of The Tattooist of Auschwitz'A hugely entertaining, emotionally satisfying story of love and loyalty' DAILY MAIL'A poignant, fictional reimagining of a woman condemned by history, with plenty of modern-day echoes' MAIL ON SUNDAY___________She Came From Nothing . . . and Raised a QueenThe drama of the Abdication, the glamour of the Coronation, the trauma of World War II - Marion Crawford, affectionately known as Crawfie, stood by the side of the royal family through it all.In 1933, a progressive young teacher became governess to the little Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret. Determined to give her pupils a fun and normal childhood, she took them on buses, swimming at public baths and Christmas shopping at Woolworths.For seventeen years she served at the heart of the royal family. But her devotion and loyalty counted for nothing when a perceived betrayal brought everything crashing down.This sweeping, sumptuous novel brings her long-buried story to life and shines a completely new and captivating light into the world's most famous family.___________'Brilliantly researched . . . I was completely absorbed and transported' ADELE PARKS, author of Just My Luck'Compelling characters and a wonderful blend of historical accuracy and real narrative drive . . . a heart-breaking study of loyalty and love' SALLY MORRIS, Daily Mail'[A] beautifully researched and captivating novel . . . Wendy Holden's tender and intimate portrait of Lilibet, the future Queen Elizabeth II, is masterly' RACHEL HORE'I adored this wonderful book. What a great story Wendy Holden has told' JILLY COOPER'A great book for escaping into . . . I loved this!' KATIE FFORDE'Sensitive, funny and fascinating - this masterful novel gives the reader fly-on-the-wall privileges into the early life of the Queen' FREYA NORTH'A brilliantly imagined and poignant novel . . . of sacrifice, deep affection, strained loyalties and divided Eng