Review of The Kings Cavalier

                                           The latest novella by Mark Turnbull 

For various reasons, I had a break from history blogging this Summer. Pleased to be back starting with a review  -The King's Cavalier' - featuring Captain Maxwell Walker, the third novella in the 'Rebellion' series by Mark Tunrbull. Opening at a time  when the Royalists have seemingly lost the Civil War but the King still lives. Mr Turnbull  is currently completing a biography of Charles 1. 




The novella opens on 4th November 1647  with Royalist veteran Captain Maxwell Walker foraging for wood with his two young sons in a forest near Selby near Yorkshire, The story soon shifts to the household of King Charles I. 

Various key Civil Wars  events are woven into the story. Personally I have differences of opinion with the author's portrayal of The Levellers calling for every man to have the vote, but the significance  of the Putney Debates, where rank and file soldiers are debating politics is conveyed well. And this is one of Mark Turnbull's strengths, he has the ability to show how incredible the late 1640's were . The all prevailing uncertainty with the sovereign being held to account by ordinary subjects is something new, exciting and alarming. 

At the same time, the corruption of the new authorities and the hideous amount of espionage and police surveillance are much in evidence and the suppression of the Levellers does not bode well. There is a sense of lost idealism on both sides of the divide. 

The depiction of King Charles in captivity is well done. There is something endearing about Charles's mixture of  vulnerability and stubbornness, contrasted with his endless scheming and far fetched optimism. King Charles' blundering escapes attempt from both Hampton Court and  Carrisbroke Castle also emerge in the story, with all their comic elements.

And there is also some  old fashioned swashbuckling with the frantic clanking of swords, the odd trick or two played on dunce like dungeon  turnkeys , a villain getting bludgeoned now and then. The key ingredients that we need in novel set in such times. 

The novel ends with the New Model Army arriving on the Isle of Wight to remove the captive King  in order to stand trial. Captain Walker faces his own showdown as several plot threads from the series rush and converge  to a dramatic conclusion. 

Overall a much recommended novel. 


'The King's Chevalier' is available via kindle and paperback ( published by Sharpe Books) 

Review of Mark Tunbull's other work by Michael Bully 

Review of 'The King's Spy'

Review of 'The King's Captain'

Interview with Mark Turnbull by Michael Bully 

Author interview from September 2020

Mark Turnbull webpages

author website

Historical Writers org webpage

Twitter : Author @1642author. 



Other blogs by Michael Bully 

13th century history   not currently updated.

1685 Monmouth Rebellion not currently updated 


As always so pleased to see that visitors from all over the world have come to explore this blog. Please consider following 'A Burnt Ship' to be alerted to new posts. 

Twitter:  A Burnt Ship@ShipBurnt 


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Review -The Wisest Fool by Steven Veerapen

Image
                                        The Lavish Life of James VI and 1                                           Steven Veerapen is an esteemed Scottish academic and fiction writer drawing on the late 16th century. His biography of Anna of Denmark, wife to James VI/1 was published in 2022, and Mr Veerapen has also written a non fiction book on Mary Queen of Scots-'Blood Feud-Mary Queen of Scots and Lord Moray' amongst other works . Over half the book deals with James's upbringing in Scotland and his kingship there. The focus on Scottish history is well done. The author works hard to try and explain the complex rivalries between the factions of Scottish nobility that could easily break out into armed fighting. The author makes an important distinction is made between the English Reformation largely being imposed from above whilst broadly speaking the Scottish Reformation was instigated by popular acclaim,which helps to explain the precarious position a Scottish monarch co
Read more

'Drei Dezennin' (Three Decades) CD by Hâl

Image
              German  Black Metal referencing Thirty Years War 1618- 1648          Painting of Magdeburg  by Jan van de Velde the Elder - Public Domain courtesy of Wikipedia   Hâl, the project run by German language Black Metal vocalist/ multi instrumentalist Vandergrift, from Magdeburgh, has just released an impressive CD titled 'Drei Dezennin' ( Three Decades). Most tracks are related to  the Thirty Years 1618 - 1648. I have decided to focus on the fourth track 'Knecht und Magd' ('Servant and Maid')  about the 1631 Sack of Magdeburg, with some lyrics translated below. Black Metal seems the most appropriate channel to convey the sheer horror of the event.  The Thirty Years Wars has not really grabbed the attention of British 17th century enthusiasts or the wider public. Have to admit that this blog, going since 2017, has only managed one post about the Thirty Years War ,which looked at the film 'The Last Valley' from 1971, directed by James Clavell. The
Read more

A little more on the Duke of Monmouth

Image
                                                           But oh unlucky fate                                                           ah Curse upon Ambition:                                                         The busie Fops of State,                                                         have ruin'd his condition :                                                         For glittering hope he left his shade,                                                         his glorious hours are gone :                                                        By flattering Fools and Knaves betray'd,                                                        poor  Jemmy  is undone - Aphra Behn's  Young Jemmy: OR, The Princely Shepherd         'The Morning of Sedgemoor ' by Edgar Bundy  (1905) , Tate Britain, courtesy of 'Wikipedia'  Strangely prophetic words written by Aphra Behn and published in 1681, concerning the Duke of Monmouth. Ironically, after being defeated
Read more