
A lively portrait of fifteenth‑century England unfolds through the eyes of the restless young scholar Marmaduke Neville. Fresh from the countryside, he arrives at the bustling court of King Edward IV, eager to test his wit and ambition against the seasoned players of power. Along the way he encounters a cast of vivid characters—rambunctious merchants, cunning courtiers, and a mysterious wizard—each offering a glimpse of the era’s tangled mix of chivalry, intrigue, and emerging ideas. Marmaduke’s restless curiosity and occasional missteps provide both humor and a keen commentary on the clash between old customs and new aspirations.
Beyond his personal journey, the narrative weaves together the grand tapestry of royal politics, scholarly debates, and the subtle machinations of families vying for influence. The story captures the tension between lofty ideals and the gritty realities of court life, while hinting at the larger forces that will shape the kingdom’s future. Listeners will be drawn into a world where ambition, love, and intellect collide, setting the stage for the dramas yet to come.
Language
en
Duration
~25 hours (1491K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Tapio Riikonen and David Widger
Release date
2004-11-26
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1803–1873
Best remembered for vivid historical and supernatural fiction, this prolific Victorian writer also left a surprising mark on everyday language with phrases that people still quote today. His stories mix drama, mystery, politics, and the occult in a way that helped shape popular fiction in the 19th century.
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