About the book

Edinburgh celebrates the return of James V with his French queen in 1537, and Jane Seton anticipates the return of Roland Vipont, the King's Master of Ordnance. Beneath the pageantry, Sir Adam Otterburn's feelings and political position create a threat to their happiness. Grant builds a Scottish historical romance around the misuse of authority, mixing courtly life, violence, and accusations shaped by the fears of the period. His preface explicitly describes the combination of recorded history, local legend, and invention, and the reader should retain that distinction. The story's energy comes from the unequal struggle between personal loyalty and public machinery that can be bent to serve a private grievance. Detailed streets, ceremonies, and strongholds give that struggle a densely imagined setting.

Abuse of legal power
Love and political danger
History and legend

Why read it

The public celebration and concealed hostility establish a clear contrast between the court's ceremonial unity and the rivalries underneath it.

English George Routledge and Sons new edition of 1865

Contents and reading sections

About the book

Why read it

Read next