1610 - A Sundial in a Grave - first UK edition
by Mary Gentle - signed
In an effort to expose the newly crowned queen Marie de Medici's ruthless
plot to assassinate her husband, French king Henri IV, professional duelist and
court spy Valentin Rochefort inadvertently carries it out. Now the noble yet
unscrupulous swordsman must plan a perilous escape from Paris, reluctantly
paired with the insolent, insouciant youth Dariole, who also swings a mean epee.
Their journeys take them to the glittering London court of King James Stuart,
where they become involved in another assassination attempt; to a wind-swept
Japanese beach, site of a duel between noble and samurai; and back to Paris.
This sweeping and absorbing historical novel takes minor characters from The
Three Musketeers and tells their breathless story 15 years prior--this novel is
the supposed restored translated text of actual memoirs and related historical
papers.
Book has blue boards with the title in gold on the spine. Flat-signed by the
author on the title page.
Jacket is price-intact at £18.99, mylar-protected.