For King and Country [Hardcover]

Kate Sedley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2006

Two great forces fight for England ? and one woman is torn between them It is 1642, and civil war is beginning to split England in half. The dashing Cavaliers swear loyalty to the Crown; the stern Puritans vow to risk all for liberty and their mighty, wrathful God . . . and beautiful, fiery Lilias Pride will face the hardest choice of her life. Married to Richard Pride, MP for Bristol, she devotes her loyalty to him and to the Puritan cause. Yet Priam Lithgow, Royalist Earl of Chelwood, stirs her deeply, and when he falls into danger, she risks her life to save his. With the Restoration, Lilias hopes to flee love and peril and find safety in the New World of America. Yet she cannot escape her heart ? or her destiny.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

For readers unfamiliar with British history, Sedley's latest may be tricky to follow, but there's no doubt it's a gripping and engaging read. Set in seventeenth-century England, it provides a seemingly authentic portrayal of the political upheaval and religious turmoil of the time. It is also a love story starring Cornish beauty Lilias Pengelly, who is just 16 when she and her Puritan father must flee Cornwall to avoid religious persecution. The pair plans to sail for America and a better life, but before embarking, tragedy strikes--a tragedy that will change the course of Lilias' life. Her wild, dark beauty attracts plenty of men, but she eventually marries solid, reliable politician Richard Pride. Once she meets the dashing Earl of Chelwood, though, her heart belongs only to him. But the Earl is married, Cromwell comes to power, a civil war ensues, and Lilias finally flees to America, vowing to return one day. For historical-romance fans interested in English history beyond the Regency period, this is a novel to savor. Not only does Sedley deliver enlightening social commentary and an insightful glimpse into a turbulent historical period not usually covered in the romance genre, she also provides all the necessary staples: handsome heroes, passionate heroines, great tragedy, deep love, shattering heartbreak, and the horrors of war. A top-notch pick for all romance collections. Emily Melton
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About the Author

Kate Sedley, a student of Anglo-Saxon and medieval history, lives in England. She is married and has a son, a daughter, and three grandchildren. "The Saint John's Fern" is the ninth novel in her critically acclaimed series featuring Roger the Chapman.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 416 pages
• Publisher: Severn House Publishers; 1 edition (September 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0727864068
• ISBN-13: 978-0727864062
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.8 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,818,525 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An Enjoyable Read, January 6, 2007

By 

J. Chippindale (England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: For King and Country (Hardcover)

Kate Sedley has written a number of books featuring Roger the Chapman. She lives in the Bristol area which features in many of the Chapman books. The books take place in the 15th century and feature Roger as a medieval detective.

For King and Country is a new venture for the author and moves the reader forward a couple of hundred years, to 1642 and a time when the civil war is beginning to not only split the country of England in half, but is doing the same to many families throughout the land, father's or uncles favouring the Cavalier forces who side with the King and son's and brother's who have no love for a king they hardly even know and take sides with the Puritan cause. One such person caught in the turmoil is Lilias Pride, married to Richard Pride, the MP for Bristol. She devotes her loyalty to her husband and the Puritan cause. But she also has strong feelings for Priam Lithgow, the Royalist Earl of Chelwood and when Lithgow falls into danger, Lilias risks everything, including her own life to save him. Lilias hopes to flee to safety with the many who are making the journey to the Americas, but nothing is ever that simple and she cannot escape her destiny . . .

I enjoyed the book very much, but admit that my own personal taste is for the Roger Chapman books of the mid 15th century. This is the period of history i like the most. However the author is an excellent story teller and I am sure many reader's will love it.

2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing, June 20, 2011

By 

llp - See all my reviews

This review is from: For King and Country (Hardcover)

This is the first time I have written a review, and I regret that it is prompted by sheer disapointment. As a total fan of the Roger the Chapman series, I looked forward to reading this book. From what I can tell, the historical research is pretty solid, but the plot is contrived and cheesy.The "romance" on which the story rests is tawdry and unsatisfying. I read the entire 416 pages--hoping to find some redemptive theme or sympathetic character, but aside from some references to recognizable hisotrical figures, I found nothing particularly believable.

I would truly recommend any of the Roger the Chapman books and hope that Kate Sedley writes many more for our reading pleasure. But, please, please...no more romances!