This is a story of persecution and poetry, love and war set in thirteenth century southern France. A troubadour, Bertran, witnesses the brutal murder of the Pope's legate, and risks his life to warn others of the war that he knows is certain to follow this act. The lands of the peaceable Cathars - deemed heretics - are now forfeit and under threat from crusaders who have been given authority by the Pope to take the Cathar domains by force. But the Pope is trying to track Bertran down and so is somebody else: Elinor, a young noblewoman, in love with Bertran but facing a loveless arranged marriage, flees her family and becomes a minstrel herself. Soon both Bertran and Elinor find themselves enveloped in a rising tide of bloodshed that threatens the very fabric of their society.

Shortlisted for the Costa Book Award and nominated for the 2010 Carnegie Medal Full of drama and action, this novel will appeal to all fans of The Falconer's Knot The Falconer's Knot was shortlisted for the Guardian Fiction Award Mary Hoffman has a huge fanbase with her Stravaganza sequence, repackaged recently with a dramatic new cover look

About the Author
Mary Hoffman is an acclaimed children's author and critic. She is the author of the internationally bestselling picture book Amazing Grace. Her Stravaganza sequence for Bloomsbury has its own fan forum and the latest, Stravaganza - City of Secrets, was longlisted for the Carnegie Medal and The Falconer's Knot was shortlisted for the Guardian Fiction Award. She has three grown-up children and lives with her husband in west Oxfordshire.

Reviews
'A wonderfully old-fashioned romance' Telegraph 'Well researched and rivetingly readable, this runaway bride makes the perfect read' The Times



Book Information
ISBN 9780747592525
Author Mary Hoffman
Format Paperback
Page Count 304
Imprint Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing PLC