Historical Fiction
Published: February 28, 2022
Publisher: Austin MacCauley
March 1471, Rogue Malory is dead. His friends, the Newgate Three, set out
to fulfil their promise to him to deliver the finished manuscript of Le
Morte D’Arthur to the friars of Winchester. But national events
intrude and the three find themselves cast out from England. Advised by
their old friend, Sir Anthony Tanner, and his betrothed, Margaret Limpsett,
they set out to Bruges in Flanders where they seek advice on how to proceed
to protect the manuscript. New characters are introduced, including William
Caxton who becomes integral to their lives. Previous friends – and
enemies – reappear and play their parts. But not all is well. At the
end, there is a shocking discovery. Will the quest be fulfilled?
‘Malory’s Quest’ is an historical novel set in 15th century England at the
time of the fractious struggle for the throne. It is the second in the
‘Malory Trilogy’ and continues where ‘Rogue Malory’ ended. Accurately
researched, it contains a host of lively fictional characters, as well as
major players in the labyrinthine politics of the era. The manuscript,
written in Newgate Jail, is entrusted to the care of his three greatest
friends, who pledge themselves to fulfil his dying wish that they take it to
Winchester Priory. Their journey diverts considerably, carrying them to
France and Bruges, where they meet William Caxton, a pioneer of printing who
becomes an integral character in this and the final book. The trilogy takes
a fictional look at how the manuscript disappeared for fifteen years before
it was eventually published by Caxton in 1485. The final part: ‘Malory’s
Grail’ is in production and due out next year.
Also from Helen Lewis:
London, 1469. Rogue Malory sets out to show how, ‘comfortably
imprisoned’ in Newgate Jail, Sir Thomas Malory works on his magnum
opus, Le Morte D’Arthur, with the help of his scribe, Montmorency
Pickle, his servant, John Appleby, and his stationer, Jack Worms. The story
is an imagined account of the preparation of the famous manuscript, the true
revelations of Sir Tom’s disreputable past and the factual events
covering the final two years of the ongoing tussle for the crown between the
Earl of Warwick and King Edward IV. A combination of real and imaginary
events brings to life this arresting period of history.
Reluctantly, Monty and Jack become embroiled in Malory’s political
machinations whilst also contending with his dissolute yet magnetic
character. Whores, pimps, spies and officials pass in and out of Sir
Tom’s cell, where he sits at its centre like a hilarious old spider
weaving mischief.
About the Author
Writing under her maiden name, Helen Lewis began writing novels after
retiring from a career in education. She has previously published two novels
of a trilogy set in Victorian England, but she has always been drawn to the
fifteenth century. She has a PhD from Birmingham University; her thesis:
Warwick the Kingmaker in Shakespeare’s ‘Henry VI’. Later she wrote a quartet
of novels on Warwick’s life – Lodestar – and it was while researching them
that she came across the lively character Sir Thomas Malory.
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