Král turnajů – Stadlerová Juliane (2024)

Juliane Stadler's second novel can be confidently described as a medieval epic. The story takes place less than ten years before the events depicted in the historical fresco Heavenly Crown, which Czech readers may already be familiar with. We will again encounter figures such as Richard the Lionheart, who is not yet the King of England. Stadler does not hide her background as a historian, but she is also a great storyteller. She adds individual plot lines to the carefully verified historical facts and orchestrates a grand play full of intrigues and love. The King of Tournaments is therefore not 'just' an adventurous novel set in medieval backdrops. This time, with the main character, the wandering knight Erec, we will visit the most significant European royal courts of the late 12th century. A time of brave knights, troubadours, and beautiful ladies. Erec and his companions earn their living as tournament knights, and through their courage, they gain the favor of kings and the admiration of noblewomen. However, they also get entangled in the intrigues of the powerful of this world and find themselves in life-threatening situations. How will the secret and forbidden love between Erec and the married Genovefa end? The author intertwines historical events and real personalities with the fictional fates of the novel's characters. The King of Tournaments is the right book for lovers of historical novels, full of...