With a Sword in My Hand

Description

Marguerite's father is desperate for a son. Instead he's stuck with a feisty, stubborn, red-headed daughter who refuses to behave like a lady. Shaking off the strict expectations of court life, Marguerite roams free - learning to ride, fence and outwit the boys. But the Count of Flanders has plans for his wayward daughter. Will Marguerite be able to resist the combined pressure of politics, power and a foreign prince? And has she met her match in Philip, the valiant knight in shirtsleeves? Based on the real life of Marguerite van Male (1348-1405), With a Sword in My Hand is an intense medieval adventure, and Marguerite herself is a brave, headstrong and thoroughly charming heroine.

Jean-Claude van Rijckeghem and Pat van Beirs have written a lot together - young adult novels, the script for the historical graphic novel series, Betty and Dodge, and the Cannes film festival prize-winning screenplay for the hit film Aanrijding in Moscou (Moscow, Belgium). Jean-Claude is also a screenwriter and film producer who has contributed to the screenplays of such successful feature films as Man zkt. Vrouw (Man Seeks Woman), Kruistocht in Spijkerbroek (Crusade in Jeans) and De Bal (The Ball). Pat also works as a translator. John Nieuwenhuizen is an Australian-based award-winning translator of Dutch and Flemish literature. In 2006 John was shortlisted for the Marsh Award for Children's Literature in Translation (UK) for The Book of Everything by Guus Kuijer.

Has everything the older reader (10 upwards) might want from an historical novel, from the fast-paced adventure of sword fights and secret escapades to romance, rebellion and the period detail of everyday casual violence or the erupting pustules of the plague. School Librarian