It is the aftermath of the Roman occupation of Britain. Kings are now jockeying for position, for title, for land and for power. A young boy confounds the most famous knights of the realm when he pulls a jewelled sword from a cleft in a stone and claims the throne left vacant by the death of Uther Pendragon. In this new vision of the Arthurian story, Camelot is set on the River Tweed and Merlin who disapproves of his knights' yearning for battle and their quest for the Holy Grail. With great humour and energy, Massie has created a bold and original new tale from the stuff of legend.

Author Biography

Allan Massie is the author of seventeen highly praised novels, as well as several non-fiction works. Born in Singapore, he was brought up in Aberdeenshire and educated at Glenalmond School and Trinity College, Cambridge. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and has been a judge of the Booker Prize. He is also a journalist contributing to the national press. He is married, has three children and lives in the Scottish Borders.