Lawrence L. Schoonover

Based on the life of Isabella of Spain.

The tumultuous story of Guy de Brunne, a young English lord who was disinherited, shanghaied and swept into a maelstrom of wild adventure which carried him into the exotic fastnesses of Cambodia where he was enlaved to a temple priestess. Barely escaping with his life from this silken bondage Guy fought his way to Acre richest city in the Moslem world...

A panorama of the internal turmoil of mid-fifteenth century France and the Orient, which had been opened to Europe by the Crusades. In the first part, this tells of Pierre's childhood, the usual experiments with the other sex, a drunken tavern fight, adventure in Paris. In the second half, the action moves to his activities as special agent to the Near East where he uncovers a smuggling plot, wins fame and fortune to be worthy of his lady love whom, on his return, he rescues from a nunnery.

“...the narrative puts the meat of living flesh on the dry bones of skeletonized history...Schoonover’s best effort to date.” -Chicago Sunday Tribune “Picaresque, romantic recreation of history...” -Kirkus Book Reviews “A real contribution to the history of Spain and the Spanish people...recommended for pubic school and university libraries” -Library Journal “...unfurled in swatches of bright color and sound sentiments, you will like ‘The Queen’s Cross.’ ” -Saturday Review “The tale of the beautiful and able young Isabella of Castile...illuminating, swift-moving, and filled with color” - The New York Times Accident, or Divine Plan? A girl’s unlikely inheritance of Spain’s crown and her arranged marriage to a handsome, rash ally opens the door to her greatest dream: a united, powerful, and enduring kingdom. This is Lawrence Schoonover’s gripping and elegant story of intrigue, hard combat, and the love of a woman for her country, her religion, and her dynamic and flawed partner and husband.

It says book one