Europe’s leading publisher Bertelsmann has just published Quest For The True Cross through its Euromedia imprint in the Czech Republic. Three hardback copies arrived for me in the post today – very exciting! Unfortunately, I don’t speak a work of Czech though I can make out what’s going on vaguely. So – for you Czech speakers, a great Templar day!!
Not since the movie Kingdom of Heaven or the novel Ivanhoe has there been a Templar adventure as thrilling as Quest for the True Cross !! We are immersed in the dangerous politics and violent crusades of the 12th century following the quest of a young Templar knight – William de Mandeville – on his quest to find the True Cross – stolen by the Saracens.
Years of research and visiting Templar sites all over Europe and the Middle East informed this medieval rollercoaster ride of a novel. William, our hero, is a troubled young man looking for meaning in life. Joining the Templars seems to be the answer. He becomes part of a disciplined world of tough military drills and ceaseless prayer. But this isn’t enough to slay his inner demons. He needs a much bigger purpose.
Then news comes that the Saracens in Syria have stolen the True Cross of Jesus from Edessa – the actual wood upon which Our Lord was crucified. It has passed through several hands and is now under lock and key in the city of Al-Usbunna, at the westernmost end of the Islamic caliphate. This city will one day be Lisbon, capital of Portugal, but for now it’s ruled by a Moorish emir. However, a Christian king – Afonso Henriques, is besieging Al-Usbunna, determined to take it for his new kingdom of Portugal.
This is based on real-life events that happened in the year 1147. William journeys from England to be part of the action – but he also wants to be the Templar who finds and retrieves the True Cross. He is assisted by two very different companions. Pathros is a Syrian “Turcopole”, a native to the Middle East who is an eastern Christian and works for the Templars as a brilliant archer and learned physician. He is rejected by other Syrians as a collaborator with the enemy and yet not wholly accepted by the western “Frankish” crusaders who see him as a foreigner. Pathros is trapped between opposing worlds.
William’s other companion is Nicholas, a snotty-nosed Saxon boy who is rescued from being branded as a thief. His ability to root out treasure – and steal it – is invaluable to William. It is Nicholas who will scamper over the roofs of Al-Usbunna and find the True Cross, while almost getting himself murdered.
The world has been waiting for Quest for the True Cross – a book you won’t be able to put down. Through William’s eyes, you will experience the medieval world at close range. Join him in battle. See him fight off vicious family intrigue. Witness the horrors of war and plague. Learn about life eight hundred years ago.
Congratulations.
Who did the translation/ Publisher?
Hi – the publisher did the translation, not me! I think they edited it down a bit, maybe I should release the author’s version at some point. But it looks good. Can you read Czech? I can’t, so a bit in the dark as to how it comes across. But there are reader reviews on the Czech books sites and they look positive.
I cannot read Czech, but Google does a fair job; I will copy some of your material, and check it out (if I can get access to some online stuff…Amazon?
Good luck to you.
BTW…can we get your work on a Nook or Kindle venue?
Oh, man! Well, I’ll just have to wait until it arrives on American shores. However, if a Spanish-language version comes out in México, I’d make a trip across the border, since I’m relatively close. 🙂