The Bastard King - Norman, Bk 1 Author:Jean Plaidy First in the Norman Trilogy series, this book chronicles the life of William the Conqueror, illegitimate son of Robert the Magnificent, Duke of Normandy, and the daughter of a tanner. — Robert dies on his way to the Holy Land, leaving William, only eight years old at the time, as heir to the Duchy of Normandy. William, with the aid of a few loyal... more » men, is forced to fight ruthless, ambitious usurpers in order to retain his title. He looks death in the face more than once, but Fate has decreed he would be Duke of Normandy.
Then, in 1066, William crosses the channel from Normandy to England, defeats King Harold, Edward's popular Saxon successor and forever changes the course of England's history.
William and his descendants will control both Normandy and England for centuries to come.
Jean Plaidy was a pen-name of Eleanor Alice Burford Hibbert, who also published as Victoria Holt, Philippa Carr, and others.« less