The White Cross - Tapa blanda

Praise for the TPB edition: 'Brilliant. Really brilliant! The characterisation was excellent and believable.' 'It's all here - research, descriptive writing, gutsy realism, historical accuracy, enlightening motivations.' Wonderful stuff - you really enter the dark world of those ancient times.' 'It is destined to be a book read several times over, each time giving up another layer of complexity.' 'Stop reading these reviews and read this brilliant historical novel. It's absolutely packed with literary treasures.' 'A knight who isn't skilled in arms can count for nothing in this world, remember that. It is your destiny to fight.' With the words of his dead father ringing in his ears, Sir Garon leaves his new wife, Elise, and their green domain of Haddertun for blood and dust and disillusionment in Palestine. Meanwhile at home Elise is forced to fight for her survival and her honour in the brutal man's world that is twelfth century England. Set against the backdrop of the Third Crusade and a villainous King Richard, The White Cross is a passionate and moving love story, and so much more - a thrilling and engaging novel that shines a fresh light on timeless issues of morality and faith and the futility of war, and offers a whole new reading experience.

Richard Masefield comes from a family of writers - John Masefield was his cousin - and with a love of animals and the outdoors he decided at a young age that he would farm and write, if necessary both at once. It took years of hard work before Richard could realise his dream, and in fact his first published novel was written while milking a herd of Friesian cows. He still lives on his farm in Sussex with his wife Lee and together they spend as much time as possible with their large family of children and grandchildren.