Legend has long told the story of Blondel the Lute Player who found
the lost soldier-king Richard Coeur-de-Lion-kidnapped on the way
back from the great crusade to the Holy Land.
Blondel found his king by travelling for months across Europe
singing the first part of a love-song which Richard and he had
composed together. One day, from behind castle walls, the voice of
Richard responded to the strain.
But why would a minstrel embark on such a risky pilgrimage to
find his king? Norah Lofts weaves a fascinating back-story to the tale
of the Lionheart who strode out of the courts of twelfth-century
Europe to lead his knights onto the Saracen battlefield-inspired by
a vision of the Holy Land.
The Lute Player tells of the courageous Richard and his ill-fated
union with Berengaria, Princess of Navarre-of his mother, Eleanor
of Aquitaine and her possessive love-and, above all, it tells of
Blondel whose life was woven in with all of them and who set out
on his mission as an act of great love-but not a love for the King...
