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The Shepherd Lord

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The Shepherd Lord by George Peter Algar

This story of adventure begins when Tristram Bolling, a lad of 14, rushes from the battlefield to warn the Clifford family that Lord John "Blackface" Clifford is dead. King Edward's revenge toward Lord Clifford is then directed towards the family when he vows that no Clifford heir shall be left alive to inherit and lay claim on the now attainted Skipton Castle. Young Henry must be saved! To hide him he is placed with the trusted local shepherd, Tom, to be reared as one of his own sons.

A great deal of the charm found when reading this book comes from the narrative voice of Tom, as he tells the tale of Henry or Moses as he was known during the many years he was in hiding from King Edward's men. This tale is based on historical reality and the author is a member of the ancient family, the Bollings, on which part of the plot is based. The novel follows Henry as he is raised in hiding as a shepherd, until he finally begins his journey back to becoming Lord Henry Clifford of Skipton Castle.

The inclusion of poetry within the text is unusual and enhances the story that follows. Mr. Algar has skillfully captured the mood of these violent and adventurous times through the use of vivid language and historical accuracy. This book is a compelling read, true to the ways of these turbulent times.

G.P. Algar has written a truly wonderful historic novel that immediately draws the reader in. He has a wonderful way of weaving together characters from vary diverse backgrounds, and brings to life an era of British history of which most Americans know very little. His description of the northern English landscape is beautiful and inspiring. This book is uplifting and very moving, and I can't wait for the sequel!

I have been living in Australia for the best part of fourty years and love the life "down under". Reading this book transported me straight back to my native Yorkshire roots. It actually made me feel homesick for the dramatic beauty of the Yorkshire Dales and my taciturn fellow countrymen. As a rule, I am not into historical novels but this is a ripping yarn that haunts you to the extent that when you think it's time for bed and put it down, you pick it up again just to find out what happens in the next chapter, and the chapter after that. I am reading it now for the second time as there are bits of detail I missed first time around, as I was in such a rush to finish it. It actually has lots of interesting historical facts and taught me some things I did not know about the Wars of the Roses. Thoroughly recommend it.

'The Shepherd Lord' is saturated with passionate understanding of Yorkshire's past in a way that puts more conventional historical accounts to shame. In truth, it is a remarkable achievement: the sights, the voices, the very smell of this turbulent age seem to rise from the page.

With spellbinding realism, George Peter Algar tells the tale of a young Lord, who is spirited away by his murdered father's shepherd, to the safety of the Yorkshire Dales, chased by an ever more malevolent and brutal Yorkist regime. With every chapter, the reader becomes engrossed in a tale of desperation and triumph against adversity. Though it does not shy away from dark themes, the overall effect of this novel is extremely uplifting. With the same gritty realism often found in works of literature (or indeed music or film) from Yorkshire, 'The Shepherd Lord' depicts the adventures of an everyman whose humility and loyalty see him prosper against more powerful, but morally corrupt foes.

I felt the same way when I saw the fantastic film Kes for the first time. Though this was not necessarily a story about things I had experienced, the hero Tom Lawkland, was someone I could identify with, or rather, aspire to be.

In short, this is a top class read by a master of historical drama.

Novels based on the past are quite common. What is uncommon is a historical novel that steers clear of sensationalism and romanticism. `The Shepherd Lord' is an intelligent, pull no punches read that has far more truth and realism than the myths of Robin Hood or King Arthur. Set during the War of the Roses, the reader gets an understanding of the cataclysmic upheaval which impacted upon England so devastatingly, from the perspective of a humble shepherd who finds himself caught up in a mess made by his supposed betters.

This is history that doesn't mind getting its hands dirty rather than the stale and pretentious fare one often comes across in modern historical novels. If talk of a sequel proves true, I will be one of the first in the queue!

Length:: 1:14 Mins

Really great book!