Fields of Glory by Michael Jecks

 

"Archers were already positioned in their order of a staggered harrow, with wedges of men rather than straight lines, in order that each man in the fore should have the maximum field of fire... Already now the archers were bending their bows, drawing and loosing a deadly storm upon the walls. The arrows rose thick in the sky.

It was beautiful - and horrifying, Ed thought."

"He watched the attack grimly. The professional English soldiers cut through the townspeople like knives through soft French cheese. They could not defend themselves against professionals".

Fields of Glory by Michael Jecks is a gripping historical novel set in 1346, during the Hundred Years War.

Blurb:

1346. France. King Edward III is restless. Despite earlier victories the French crown remains intact. Determined to bring France under his own rule, Edward has devised a new plan of attack - one which he believes will finally bring the French army to its knees: a final, cataclysmic battle...

Berenger Fripper, Vintener of a pox-ridden mob of sixteen who make up the Vintaine of Sir John de Sully, storms the beaches of Normandy to bring victory to their king. But the French are nowhere to be seen...

And so Berenger leads his Vintaine through France and onward to battle - the Battle of Crėcy - one which will both bond and break his men and be a decisive turning point in the Hundred Years War.

Fields of Glory is the first book in The Vintener Trilogy. 

The Knights Templar by Michael Jecks is one of my top favourite historical mystery series. I also enjoyed A Bloody Mary Mystery series and read one of The Art of Murder books too. 

For some reason, The Vintener trilogy was a terra incognita for me, despite the first book appearing ten years ago. It is different in genre and plot-setting.

At the centre of the story is Edward's ambitious and cruel campaign, leading to The Battle of Crėcy.

King Edward III is convinced that France is the land, ripe for the taking. He believes in his claim to the French throne.

Restless after years of war and hungry for the French crown , he comes up with a single brutal plan to draw the enemy out, break them in one savage blow, and gain what should belong to him.

Into this bloody gamble marches the Vintaine of Sir John de Sully, led by a battered vintener Berenger Fripper. His vintaine is just a handful of tough hard-bitten men, sixteen souls who are cynic and without illusions. War is a business for them, they want to get rich, and go home. 

Worn thin by too many campaigns, they crash ashore on the beaches of Normandy, weapons ready and lusting after a fight... which never comes, as the French, it seems, have no wish to engage into a real battle.

The English army is driven deeper into the French territory, surviving hunger, mud, smoke, leaving terrible scars of war carved into the countryside. All roads lead to Crécy, which will be forever remembered in history as the slaughterhouse. There in the chaos, written in blood and iron, some men will rise, others will fall, and the Hundred Years' War will shock the European leaders.

Berenger is a likeable protagonist, complex and multi-dimensional. A seasoned warrior, he questions himself at times, unable to justify the atrocities committed in the name of God and the King. He doesn't glorify the war.

The main plotline is intertwined with secondary strands of narrative, which follow the lives of the supporting cast of characters, including a young English lad Ed who comes to France, set on revenge; Beatrice, the French girl who flees the persecution; Roger, the leader of the second vintaine,who is hiding a dark secret (he's one of the most controversial characters in the story); the gunner Archibald the Serpent, the master of the black powder, etc.

Ed "The Donkey" is an orphan who has witnessed the slaughter of his family by the French. He's burning with desire to avenge his family. He is left disillusioned by the atrocities commited by his own side while marching across the French countryside. 

There is nothing remotedly romantic about the battles described in the novel. 

While reading the book, I had to stop often enough and pause, as I found the battle and massacre scenes resonating with the current wars and atrocities, committed in the name of religion and/or spurred on by the avaricious rulers. Centuries pass, and innocent people are still slaughtered en masse for someone else's greed and zealousness.

Fields of Glory is a thoroughly immersive read, which deftly combines the real historical account with a tale of a dangerous adventure, as seen through the prism of ordinary people, enmeshed in the ambitions of the ruthless rulers.

Many thanks to Michael Jecks, Boldwood Books and Rachel's Random Resources for my e-copy of the book!

Purchase Link - https://mybook.to/Fieldsof

Author Bio –

Studied actuarial science, then became a computer salesman for 13 years- after the 13th company folded, he turned to writing.

He’s the author of 50 novels, 6 novellas, 4 collaborative books and short stories. His tales are inspired by history and legends, but are all grounded in real life and real people, what motivates them, and why they turn to violence.

Founder of Medieval Murderers, he has served on the committees of: Historical Writers’ Association, CWA and Detection Club. He has judged the Debut Dagger, Ian Fleming Steel Dagger and other prizes, as well as serving as Dagger liaison officer and CWA Chair. He has taught writing at Swanwick and Evesham, and tutored for the Royal Literary Fund. He now runs South West Writers in Devon.

His work has been celebrated by Visconti and Conway Stewart pens; 2014 he was International Guest of Honour at the Bloody Words festival in Toronto, and Grand Master of the first parade in the New Orleans Mardi Gras.

Social Media Links –  

Facebook: @Michael.Jecks.author

Twitter: @MichaelJecks

Instagram: @michaeljecks

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/MichaelJecksNews

Bookbub profile: @michaeljecks

Photo diary: Project 365, week 15

 Eventful, that's how I would describe the past week.

In the last couple of years we have enjoyed short holidays in Paris several times. My husband has been working in Paris these couple of  years, and rents a teeny tiny apartment in the Marais. 

I was a very impressionable 25-year-old when I visited Paris for the first time, romantically inclined to see everything through the rose-tinted glasses. 

Fast forward thirty years, my idealistic views have changed, perhaps not entirely, as now I'm discovering it through the eyes of my boys. 

Sasha loves travelling by train, and he keeps showing me his social story about our trip to Paris (many thanks to his disability team who created, printed out and laminated the story, Sasha absolutely loves it). He knows what he wants, yet he doesn't understand the costs, or how much planning it takes.

Sash was so happy when we got on the train, radiating joy and excitement.

We arrived to Paris in the evening, walking from the metro station to the apartment where we stayed.

While my husband and Sasha stayed in the apartment to relax after the trip, Eddie and I ventured out to buy something for dinner, and Eddie practiced his French, ordering a bao bun from the Chinese food vendor (my French is about Mr Bean's level, if you remember Mr Bean's holiday, well, maybe a tiny bit better).

We haven't had any particular plans in mind for Sunday. I was hoping to see Notre Dame at some point, but you cannot book a slot in advance, like I did with the exhibition tickets. They release slots on a daily basis, and you need to keep checking if there are any openings. The reservation slots are free. 

After a quick lunch at the cafe Beaubourg near the Centre Pompidou (five minutes walk from where we stay), we walked towards the Notre Dame to see if there was any chance of getting in without the reservation. The queue was endless, and we didn't bother. Sasha cannot do queueing.

It was a sunny day, and we decided to have a river cruise. We had to wait for twenty minutes, and goodness me, didn't Sasha let us know that he doesn't want to wait. My husband had to leave the queue and take him away. When it was time to get in, I made a quick call and asked if they were still around, and perhaps could join us.

Once on the boat, Sasha was as good as gold, smiling and enjoying the ride. 

It was warm, but not too hot, the sun was shining, the scenery was pretty amazing. I would have loved it much more, if not for the obnoxious Italian woman behind me. She must have been one of the so called influencers/TikTokers, totally oblivious how it might spoil the trip for anyone else, taking video of herself and shouting so loudly that I could hardly hear the guide.

The tour took about an hour, we reached the Eiffel Tower, and then travelled back. 

If you think of taking this tour, you can book tickets in advance, but then you still have to wait in the same crowd before getting on the boat. Tickets cost 17 euros per person. 

Later that day we popped into the Lego store, and admired the Eiffel Tower made of Lego bricks. I was surprised when Eddie asked me if I could get him a small Fortnite/Durr Burger set. 

I booked tickets for Artemisia Gentileschi exhibition at Jacquemart Andre Museum well in advance. She was an important artist in the Baroque, and a true hero, a survivor of rape, who showed a great strength of character. Her works are imbued with rage against male dominance and violence. A powerful exhibition.

Having a pause in one of the rooms at the museum... Can you spot my Hunger Games badge?

My husband has been promising to take me to see Ralph Lauren in St Germain. While there, I took a few photos and shared them with my family. My sister-in-law commented that we were very brave, venturing to the posh boutique store. I replied that we were not brave but brazen. The personnel looked at us with an air of superiority, however, I'm not easily intimidated. 

It's a beautiful house, more like a museum of fashion, with lots of portraits on the walls. 

I loved that suit on the standing mannequin. Such elegant lines. No idea how much it would cost, as they don't display the prices (so vulgar!) and we didn't ask. :)

From fashion to gastronomic pleasures. We had a hot chocolate at Cafe de Flore, apparently, this is one of the top three places in Paris to have a hot chocolate. It is one of the oldest coffeehouses in Paris, and has become iconic as it's associated with Sartre, Camus and Simone de Beauvoir.

Another day, another museum... Eddie and I had tickets to the Degenerate art in Musee Picasso. The term was coined by the Nazis to condemn the modern art. It is an educational exhibition, which makes you think about propaganda and distortion of reality. Topical, and sadly on point, as people are so easily led by all sorts of political agenda, and propaganda is rampant.

We also saw the permanent collection at the Museum. This portrait of Picasso's son is one of my favourites.

Bachir ice cream is all the rage at the moment. We passed by this Lebanese ice cream place a few times, and the queues are unbelievable. By pure chance, we happened to pass it one afternoon, when the queue was considerably shorter. Here is my happy child with the famous pistachio ice cream. It was so big, he struggled with it. It is tasty, but my advice, if you're not hungry, don't go for the grande version. 

More food pics, this is a very pretty avocado toast.

Every morning I checked the Notre Dame site, hoping to get a slot for our visit. When one of the slots became available on Wednesday afternoon, I couldn't believe my eyes. I quickly filled in the form, but by the time I finished, the slot was already gone. Drat. Back to the start of the page, and thankfully a later slot appeared. I booked us in as fas as I could.

For me, the visit to Notre Dame was the highlight of our trip. They've done an amazing job of restoring this historical place after the inferno. 

We moved slowly, and Sasha was very calm and thoughtful. For some reason he feels safe in churches, and loves visiting them. I lit two candles, asking whoever listens up above to be kind to my boys.

In the evening we had a short walk along the river, and talked about our short holiday. 

Sasha was super excited to go back home the next day. He was beaming, getting on the train. 

I was feeling a bit sad to say Good bye to Paris, but also glad to go back home to my comfortable bed. The sofa bed where we slept in the apartment is the most uncomfortable bed ever. Plus the lights outside keep going on and off all the night, like a blinking disco. 

On the train I had a beer, haven't tried Two Tribes brand before, and apparently Nomad is only available on Eurostar.

Friday was the day of unpacking, laundry, groceries and a bit of ink drawing. 

And now back to "normal"... 

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The Sea House by Louise Douglas

 

"Still, it felt to Mila as if Elisabeth's anxiety, real or imagined, had pervaded the very fabric of the house. It was contagious".

The Sea House by Louise Douglas is a captivating psychological thriller, set in the fictional town of Morranez in Brittany.

The Sea House is the third book in the Toussaints Detective Agency series. I have read the first book (The Lost Notebook), which introduces Mila Shepherd, the main protagonist, and tells the story of how she ended up in Morranez.

The blurb:

The Sea House

A mysterious bequest and the legacy of a tragic love - only one person can unravel the hidden secrets of the past before it's too late...

When Elisabeth Quemener dies, she leaves a small parcel with the instructions that it must only be opened by Astrid Oake. The trouble is, no one knows who Astrid Oake is...

Elisabeth's family turn to Touissants detective agency for help but, when Mila Shepherd and Carter Jackson try to track Astrid down, their frustration soon mounts. Their only clue is a photo of two young women holding the hands of a tiny child. The women are smiling but Mila is haunted by the sadness in their eyes. Is this Astrid and Elisabeth and if so, who is the child? And why are there signs everywhere in Elisabeth's home that the old woman was frightened despite her living a quiet life with no known enemies?

As Elisabeth and Astrid's story slowly unfolds, Mila feels the walls of her home The Sea Houe closing in. And as the secrets finally begin to reveal themselves, she is ever more determined to carry out Elisabeth's final wishes. Because what is inside that unprepossessing parcel might just save a life...

Louise Douglas is back in the Brittany seaside town of Morranez with a heart-stopping, heart-breaking, brilliantly written and utterly compelling mystery. Perfect for fans of Kate Morton, Eve Chase and Lucinda Riley.

Mila Shepherd has moved to Brittany to look after her orphaned teen niece Ani, following the tragic death of her step-sister Sophie. They live in a big secluded house on the outskirts of Morranez on their own. Mila works in the Toissaints detective agency, which specialises in tracking down lost family members etc.

When the agency is approached by the daughter of the local lady who has recently died and left a strange request, they take on the case to find the recipient of the mysterious package - someone named Astrid Oake. The instructions are pretty bizarre: if the recipient is not found, then the package should be buried within the grave, and never to be opened.

Who is Astrid Oake? Nobody knows of her, she can't be found on any social media, and any search brings no results.

Mila is starting her search for clues in Elisabeth's house, and feels very uneasy. The empty house has spyholes, security cameras, burglar alarms, a number of bolts on bedrooms and panic buttons. 

"... Being alone in a dead person's house had never made Mila feel vulnerable before... Everything pointed towards Elisabeth having been afraid of someone or something. And that, Mila concluded, was what was making her scared now: fear by proxy."

The investigation seems to draw blanks. The only clue left in the house is an old photo of Elisabeth and Astrid as young women, holding a hand of a little girl. They are smiling in the camera, but their eyes are sad.

"It was, superficially, a lovely picture, with the two young women smiling, but when she looked closely, Mila could see the smiles were guarded; as if they were for  the camera; not from the heart".

The investigation's progress is slow, yet there is a development, which brings Mila to the UK, in search for Astrid's story, as well as getting answers to Mila's personal life issues.

On top of the problems of finding the elusive Astrid, Mila has to deal with very unsettling discoveries in her family's past, related to the death of Sophie and her husband Charlie. 

Will Mila find the elusive Astrid Oake? What's inside the mysterious parcel?

The setting of the sea resort in winter works perfectly as a bleak background to the dark drama that is going to be revealed, both in Mila's family life and the investigation she is conducting for the agency.

This is the fourth book by Louise Douglas that I've read, and as always I admire how the author sets the scene. The backdrop - descriptions of the seaside town out of season, the eerie house, the sinister farm in the English countryside - are evocative, vivid and atmospheric. 

The story is gripping and emotionally-charged, though I couldn't warm up to any of the main characters. Mila is rather insipid, still in thrall to her late step-sister's bossy and selfish behaviour. While reading this story, I remembered how much Sophie irritated me in the first book. 

You know this self-obsessed, fickle and capricious type in real life and try to avoid them at all costs. Growing up in a dysfunctional family, left by her egoistic father, unloved by her narcissistic mother, Mila is looking for crumbs of affection anywhere she can find them, and is not able to assert herself.

Mila has to decide what she is going to do with her life in the long term. She left her boyfried Luke behind in the UK, he is expecting her to come back at some point, yet Mila is uncertain about what she really wants. You feel sorry for Luke, who's been more than patient. The position which was supposed to be temporary until the solution is found turns into an indefinite one.

Mila is not a maternal material, having no children of her own, and her niece Ani is a moody teen, self-centred, totally unappreciative that Mila has sacrificed her job and personal relationship to look after her. Given her own parents' egoism and her sad upbringing, it comes as no surprise that Mila finds it hard to set the necessary boundaries. 

Themes of love and loss, bereavement and coping with grief, continue running through the book. These  topics are dealt with sympathetically and sensitively, and resonated with me, as I lost a very dear friend this year, who was like a family to me. Her death has affected me, and I'm feeling very emotional every time I think of her.  

One last quote from the book which I found very true and heartfelt,

"How easy it was to take people for granted when they were alive. Even when you didn't see someone often, still they were there, living and breathing, laughing and loving... But when they were really gone; when they were dead, and there would be no seeing them ever again, no chance to call them, or even to exchange a quick message, then the absence was something different; the missing became deep-rooted. And the world was different too. It was colder. It was lonelier; lacking something; less than it had been."

The Sea House is a gripping story, full of twists and turns, emotionally-charged and deeply sad at times.

When I see Louise Douglas's name on the book cover, I know it will be a tense psychological read, moving and immersive, and incredibly evocative.

Many thanks to Louise Douglas, Boldwood Books and Rachel's Random Resources for my e-copy of the book!

Purchase Link - https://mybook.to/seahousesocial

Author Bio –

Hello! I'm Louise, author of 12 novels mostly set in the Somerset countryside close to where I live and Sicily. I'm thrilled to have won the RNA Jackie Collins Romantic Thriller award 2021 for The House by the Sea which has sold more than a quarter of a million copies.

Social Media Links –  

Facebook: @louisedouglasauthor

Twitter: LouiseDouglas3

Instagram: louisedouglas3

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/LouiseDouglasNews

Bookbub profile: @lesley119

Musée Carnavalet, Paris

If someone told me just a few weeks ago that I would be staying in Paris soon, I'd have burst into laughter. Yet in the second week of the Easter holidays I found myself wandering the streets of Paris and exploring two of its numerous museums.

The trip itself wasn't a walk in the park, as everything has to be planned, taking into consideration Sasha's needs. His autism means hightened anxiety, even with medication and behavioural techniques for managing stress. 

After a long discussion with my husband, we thought it might be a good idea to expose Sasha to some new experiences and sights, since we tend to do the same things, and visit the same places with him.

Overall, it was a positive experience for him, though I was always on edge, not able to relax for a minute, concerned how our boy will feel and behave.

Eddie and I visited two wonderful museums, Petit Palais and Musée Carnavalet. My husband was a real trooper. While we explored the museums, he took Sasha to cafes and accompanied him on long walks. 

It's been thirty years since I first arrived to Paris, wide-eyed and elated. A total innocent abroad. I loved visiting Le Louvre, Musée de Cluny and Notre-Dame then. I will always cherish the memories of those distant days, when I was young and carefree, and seeing everything through rose-coloured glasses.

Before our trip, we were searching online for smaller museums, that would have a cafe, possibly a garden or park nearby, where Sasha could escape if he found it too much of a sensory overload being in the museums.

Petit Palais and Musée Carnavalet suited our plans perfectly. Both happened to be great choices, and I cannot say which one Eddie and I enjoyed more. They are both splendid, both worth visiting, and I'm so glad I had a chance to see their collections.

 Musée Carnavalet is a museum of history of Paris. Spreading over two town buildings - Hôtel Carnavalet and Hôtel Le Peletier de Saint-Fargeau - it houses an amazing collection of artefacts reflecting the history of Paris, from prehistory to modern day. 

The collection consists of nearly 625,000 works: paintings, sculpture, drawings, models, photos, furniture and more.

It's wonderful that at least 10% of the works are displayed at children's eye level, so that they can enjoy the intricate models and displays.

As you enter the museum, the first rooms show an array of shop signs to reflect the city's heritage.

As Sasha wasn't that interested in the museum, we searched for the museum cafe first, going across the inner courtyard. It was a bit chilly but at least it didn't rain. We found a couple of tables in the corner, away from the other people. 

The choices are quite limited, if you only want a drink and a little bite. Prices are like this: cafe creme - 5 euros, tea - 6, diet coke - 5.50, juice - 6.50, Le Big Cookie - 5 euros (and that is just one cookie). 

We left Sash and my husband to enjoy a bit of sunshine, and began the tour of the museum.

The basement rooms are dedicated to prehistory, antiquity and the period from the Middle Ages to the mid-16th C.

It's impossible to cover everything in a short blog post, so I will highlight a few of our personal favourites, and those historical artefacts that we found fascinating.

I've always found the story of Hėloϊse and Abelard's doomed love affair captivating. At the museum you can see the heads and hands of the effigies of the tragic lovers.

Où est la très sage Heloïs,

Pour qui fut chastré et puis moyne

Pierre Esbaillart à Sainct-Denys?

Pour son amour eut cest essoyne.

This is a fragment of a big mural as you climb the stairs. The murals by Paolo Antonio Brunetti used to belong to the Duc de Luynes' townhouse, which was demolished in 1900. The frescoes were saved and re-assembled in the Musée Carnavalet in 1909-11. 

Portrait of Francis I, who loved arts and fashion, and who invited Leonardo da Vinci to his court. Leonardo brought Mona Lisa with him, which the king has acquired, and this iconic artwork can now be seen in the Louvre.

There are big rooms, showing the interiors of the Parisian homes of the nobility, with the exquisite woodwork and rich silks.

I loved seeing the portrait of Madame Recamier by François Gérard in the 19C rooms. I've seen her portrait many times in art history books, and was thrilled to see the painting in real life. She is absolutely stunning. You can almost see her lips moving mischievously.

Juliette Recamier was a Parisian socialite, who was married at the age of 15 to someone thirty years older than her. She was intelligent, quick-witted, and her beauty inspired many artists of her day.

The French Revolution takes a central stage in the museum. Carnavalet has the world's largest collection of artefacts and objects dating between 1789-1799. It covers a vast selection of historical posters, pamphlets, paintings, sculpted busts, flags, furniture, weapons, models of The Bastille and guillotine, medals etc.

It is sobering to walk from portrait to portrait and read the short biographies, learning that this person was executed, and that one, and that one. Terribles times, tragic deaths, rivers of blood. All in the name of freedom and equality.

The furniture below belonged to Marie Antoinette, when she was a prisoner at the Tour du Temple. The bed looks quite petite. I even checked how tall Marie Antoinette was (168cm, if you're curious). I'm the same height, and I would find the bed short.

This faience ecritoire (writing case with the ink stand) with a motto "Vivre Libre ou Mourire (live free or die)" circa 1791 caught my eye. 

The bust of Napoleon by Charles-Louis Corbet.

The room with this beautiful window is dedicated to the years 1830-50. There is a superb portrait of Franz Liszt on display, and other romantic artwork.

George Fouquet asked the famous artist Alphonse Mucha to design the interior for his boutique at 6 Rue Royale, and what a splendid piece of art is this shopfront! So flamboyant and extravagant.

We loved Marcel Proust's re-created bedroom, with its simple bed and comfy armchair. You can sit on a bench next to it and listen to the extracts from his famous novel, In Search of Lost Time.

Crib of the Imperial Prince Louis-Napoleon. It is very grand, but doesn't look particularly comfy for a baby.

A pretty fan with giraffes.

In a hurry, I didn't take a snap of the name of this portrait of a mime artist. The reverse search of the image doesn't bring any results. If you do know the name of the artist and the mime, please let me know.

Commedia dell'Arte was very popular in Paris from the late 16th C. These are painted wooden sculptures from Dominique Séraphin's theatre. The painting in the background shows the main characters of the Commedia dell'Arte: Harlequine, Colombina, Pulcinella, etc.

By this point of the tour we were hastening our pace, as my husband texted me, asking how long we were planning to explore. I wish we had more time.

This striking portrait of Juliette Gréco, French singer and actress, renown for her bohemian lifestyle, and being an inspiration of the song Michelle by the Beatles.

If you find yourself in Paris and want to escape the crowds of Le Louvre, Musée Carnavalet is worth visiting. 

It is free, and you don't have to book in advance. I hope to explore it in-depth one day, and let's not wait another thirty years until I visit Paris again.