Of Blood Descended

In 1522, Cardinal Wolsey calls Anthony Blanke to Hampton Court to create a masque of King Arthur and the Black Knight for King Henry VII. When the historian investigating the king's ancestry is murdered, Anthony is tasked with solving the case and securing the masque. He must navigate through ancient monastic libraries and London's back streets, encountering secretive monks, historian Polydore Vergil, and Anne Boleyn, while avoiding King Henry's wrath.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 384 pages
Publication date: 05 May 2022
Publisher: Birlinn General

In the summer of 1522, Henry VII's court welcomed the Imperial emperor, Charles V, with a grand spectacle of pomp and ceremony. Among the guests was Anthony Blanke, the son of the late "black trumpet," John Blanke, who had been called to Hampton Court by his former employer, Cardinal Wolsey. The cardinal was preparing a gift for King Henry: a magnificent masque depicting King Arthur and the Black Knight, with Anthony set to take center stage. However, the festive atmosphere quickly soured when Wolsey's historian, entrusted with proving the king's descent from King Arthur, was found murdered, his body posed in a gruesome tableau.

Anthony, reluctant to become involved, was nonetheless charged with investigating the affair. His journey took him through ancient monastic libraries and the back streets of London, where he encountered secretive monks, historian Polydore Vergil, and a new face at court, Anne Boleyn. As he pursued the murderer, secured the masque, and navigated the treacherous waters of court politics, Anthony found himself caught up in a web of intrigue and danger.

From Hampton Court to Windsor and Winchester, Anthony traversed a landscape filled with historical significance and political machinations. He faced challenges and obstacles, including the wrath of King Henry, who was suspicious of anyone who might challenge his authority. But Anthony was determined to uncover the truth and secure the masque, using his skills as a historian and his wits to outmaneuver his opponents.

In the end, Anthony emerged victorious, having discovered the murderer and secured the masque. His triumph was celebrated with great fanfare, and he was hailed as a hero by the court. But his journey had taken a toll on him, and he knew that he could never return to his former life. As he bid farewell to his friends and colleagues, Anthony left England with a newfound appreciation for the complexity of the past and a determination to use his knowledge to shape the future.

Weight: 270g
Dimension: 130 x 198 x 28 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781846976131