1564: Devon sailor Francis Drake sets out on a journey of adventure.
Drake learns of routes used to transport Spanish silver and gold, and risks his life in an audacious plan to steal a fortune.
Queen Elizabeth is intrigued by Drake and secretly encourages his piracy. Her unlikely champion becomes a national hero, sailing around the world in the Golden Hind and attacking the Spanish fleet.
King Philip of Spain has enough of Drake’s plunder and orders an armada to threaten the future of England.
Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex, is one of the most intriguing men of the Elizabethan period. Tall and handsome, he soon becomes a ‘favourite’ at court, so close to the queen many wonder if they are lovers.
The truth is far more complex, as each has what the other yearns for. Robert Devereux longs for recognition, wealth and influence. His flamboyant naïveté amuses the ageing Queen Elizabeth, like the son she never had, and his vitality makes her feel young.
Based on extensive research, original letters and records of the Elizabethan Court, this new account explores the life of Tudor adventurer, courtier, explorer and poet, Sir Walter Raleigh, who has been called the last true Elizabethan.
He didn’t dance or joust, didn’t come from a noble family, or marry into one. So how did an impoverished law student become a favourite of the queen, and Captain of the Guard?
The story which began with the Tudor trilogy follows Walter Raleigh from his first days at the Elizabethan Court to the end of
the Tudor dynasty.
Riches has a way of portraying history in a manner that is highly engaging. I could not put this book down. The descriptions of those treacherous sea journeys where often Drake was faced with disaster, danger and heartbreak were so vivid I had a tear in my eye on more than one occasion.
Amy, Book Blogger
If you are looking for your next Tudor fix, then look no further. Drake - Tudor Corsair (The Elizabethan Series Book 1) by Tony Riches is a novel that will enthral you with its brilliance and leave you gasping for more.
Beatrice Rivers., Candlelight Reading
I was totally immersed in this world of barques, caravels and galleons as they sailed the Spanish Main and other faraway places. This is my favourite of his books so far. Fans of nautical and biographical fiction will certainly be captivated by this tale of courage and adventure. It is a great start to a new series.
Yvonne at 'A Darn Good Read'
Tony Riches has given us a Francis Drake that is the closest thing readers will get to the real historical figure.
Carolina Casas at Tudors & Other Histories
The sweeping narrative, the poetic prose and the vivid sense of time and place made this story not only a gripping read, but it really did feel like I had been transported back in time. The setting was so vivid that I fancied I could feel the rolling deck under my feet. I could hear the splash of the waves as it crashed against the bow of the ship. This is a book that fooled my senses into believing that what I was reading was actually happening, and that is something that I always look for in a novel.
Mary Anne Yarde - The Coffee Pot Book Club
