The Royal Griffin

This is the second book of the author's Plantagent series. The first is "A Pride of Kings." This novel concerns the beautiful and temperamental Princess Eleanor, who is born the year before her father, King John, died. She remembers no other King than her Brother Henry III. She was pampered all of her childhood and grew up very conscience of being a Plantagenet Princess. Tragedy strikes her first marriage and she is shattered and only gradually does she eventually fall in love with a man who had his own place in history, Simon de Montfort.He is the younger son of a Norman family who rose to a position of power in England. His friendship with the story King changes to bitter hatred. Simon becomes the champion of all those who wanted a curb set on the King's power, from the lowest peasant to the some of the highest lords of the land. He was also he who called a great gathering to 'parley' - the first beginnings of Parliment. Eventually, he grew too powerful in his own right and came to blows with both Henry III and his son Edward I, who was also known as "Longshanks" and "The Hammer of the Scots."This books covers most of the 13th century. It's unfortunate that Simon and Edward I became such staunch enemies as they were once very good frieds and, after all, Simon was his uncle by marriage. Eleanor stays true to her husband and his beliefs and stands against even her brother and nephew.Another out-of-print novel that is well worth searching for and reading!