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 Captain'
Interview with Mark Turnbull by Michael Bully
Author interview from September 2020
Mark Turnbull webpages
Historical Writers org webpage
Twitter : Author @1642author.
Other blogs by Michael Bully
13th century history not currently updated.
1685 Monmouth Rebellion not currently updated
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