An epic novel telling the story of a clash of cultures from New York Times bestselling author Sharon Penman.
1172. The Kingdom of Jerusalem, also known as Outremer - the land beyond the sea.
A young realm, Outremer was baptized in blood when the men of the First Crusade captured Jerusalem from the Saracens in 1099. The crusaders who stayed have adapted to an utterly new world: a landscape of blazing heat and enemies who are also neighbours.
Seeking retribution for the massacre in 1099, Saladin, leader of the vast Saracen army, launches a campaign to reclaim the sacred land from its current ruler, Baldwin IV. But while the young king proves to be intelligent, courageous and dedicated to the welfare of his people, he lives his life under the terrible affliction of leprosy.
While the scheming of rival factions and fierce political deception plague the royal court, the ever-present threat from Saladin weighs heavily on the young king's shoulders. Furthermore, there are few that Baldwin can trust, including Lord Balian d'Ibelin, a charismatic leader who has been one of the few to maintain the peace. But war is coming . . .
'Penman has created a saga of epic proportions' Historical Novel Society
She manages to illuminate the alien shadowland of the Middle Ages and populate it with vital characters whose politics and passions are as vivid as our own
