'Beautifully written ... a unique tale told in a unique voice' - S.G. Maclean

Summer, 1522. In a wave of pomp, Henry VIII's court welcomes the Imperial emperor, Charles V. Anthony Blanke, the son of the king's late 'black trumpet', John Blanke, is called to Hampton Court by his former employer, Cardinal Wolsey. The cardinal is preparing a gift for King Henry: a masque of King Arthur and the Black Knight. Anthony is to take centre stage.

The festive mood, however, quickly sours. Wolsey's historian, charged with proving the king's descent from King Arthur, is found murdered, his body posed in a gruesome tableau. A reluctant Anthony is charged with investigating the affair. His mission takes him on the path trod by the historian, through ancient monastic libraries and the back streets of London.

On a journey that takes him from Hampton Court to Windsor and Winchester, and which sees him lock horns with secretive monks, historian Polydore Vergil, and a new face at court, Anne Boleyn, he must discover the murderer, secure the great masque, and avoid King Henry's wrath.

About the Author

Steven Veerapen was born in Glasgow to a Scottish mother and a Mauritian father and raised in Paisley. Pursuing an interest in the sixteenth century, he was awarded a first-class Honours degree in English, focussing his dissertation on representations of Henry VIII's six wives.

Reviews

'A crisp evocation of Renaissance-era London which has just enough period detail to bring it to life but not so much as to overburden it... in Anthony Blanke, Veerapen has come up with a protagonist who could sustain several sequels'

* The Herald *

'A splendidly enjoyable novel crying out for a sequel'

-- Allan Massie * The Scotsman *

'This is a wonderfully evocative portrait of the earlier Tudor world, beautifully written with at times startlingly refreshing use of language and imagery. A unique tale told in a unique voice'

-- S.G. Maclean

'Steven Veerapen is a new name on the fiction scene, but one of whom we'll surely be hearing much, much more'

-- Sarah Gristwood

'This rip-roaring account of murder and monastic intrigue in the court of Henry VIII reels with atmosphere and a thoroughly refreshing voice.'

* LoveReading *

'A sparkling historical thriller, beautifully crafted and delivered with verve'

* Aspects of History *

'A must read for all Tudor enthusiasts'

* FIVE STARS, GoodReads *

'A great, historically accurate novel with a tense, twisty ending'

* FIVE STARS, Amazon *

'Such an excellent read'

* FIVE STARS, Amazon *

'A fascinating protagonist ... If you enjoy Tudor murder mysteries, you will be enthralled with Of Blood Descended'

* Adventures of a Tudor Nerd *

'Immerses us in the origins of the Arthurian legends while providing a hierarchy of authentic characters who squelch their way through a genuine Tudor London'

-- Robert Stedall, author and historian

'There is much to enjoy in this fast-moving thriller, well-located in its period and settings'

-- Ben Bergonzi * Historical Novel Society *



Book Information
ISBN 9781846976131
Author Steven Veerapen
Format Paperback
Page Count 384
Imprint Polygon An Imprint of Birlinn Limited
Publisher Birlinn General
Weight(grams) 270g
Dimensions(mm) 198mm * 129mm * 1mm