The Squire of Ravensmark

the long version

THE SQUIRE OF RAVENSMARK by Edouard Sandoz English historical romance in the days of Henry III, when fighting was bitter over the right for a French King to rule England. Gerald is a young squire whose personal adventures make up the book — a superficial love story which involves him with a beautiful blonde heiress and her wicked and unscrupulous French guardian. The loose construction permits the two men an undying hatred, rivalry for the maiden and several turns at hand-to-hand combat. Gerald gets the girl at the end of the story after a brief moment of suspense. Little is gained in understanding of the period, there is little historical color, satisfactory description of costume and atmosphere are almost entirely absent, and the story and the characters are undistinguished