When reading through the ample "historical context" notes that follow each volume of Katherine Ashe's utterly remarkable tetralogy of novels based on the life of Simon de Montfort, one thing becomes obvious: she could easily have produced the most authoritative English-language biography of her subject ever written. Historical Novel Society reviewRestored to his titles Earl of Leicester, Steward of England, Simon as permanent ambassador to France is living contentedly in Paris when Prince Edward commits an atrocity and the Earl must return to save him and his friends from Llewellyn. In England again, unbidden, Simon becomes entangled in the barons' revolt against King Henry's misrule. But, when the barons recklessly abandon their project, he alone rescues the Provisions of Oxford, and newborn democracy, at risk of his life.… (more)