{"title":"David Blixt","description":"Repeated Editor's Choice from the Historical Novel Society (VOICE OF THE FALCONER, FORTUNE'S FOOL, THE FOUR EMPERORS) and 2015 Finalist for the M.M. Bennetts Award for Historical Fiction (THE PRINCE'S DOOM). Author David Blixt's work is consistently described as \"intricate,\" \"taut,\" and \"breathtaking.\" A writer of Historical Fiction, his novels span the Roman Empire (the COLOSSUS series, his play EVE OF IDES) to early Renaissance Italy (the STAR-CROSS'D series) up through the Elizabethan era (his delightful espionage comedy HER MAJESTY'S WILL, starring Will Shakespeare and Kit Marlowe as hapless spies). His novels combine a love of the theatre with a deep respect for the quirks and passions of history. As the Historical Novel Society said, \"Be prepared to burn the midnight oil. It's well worth it.\" David continues to write, act, and travel. He has ridden camels around the pyramids at Giza, been thrown out of the Vatican Museum and been blessed by John-Paul II, scaled the Roman ramp at Masada, crashed a hot-air balloon, leapt from cliffs on small Greek islands, dined with Counts and criminals, climbed to the top of Mount Sinai, and sat in the Prince's chair in Verona's palace. But David is happiest at his desk, weaving tales of brilliant people in dire and dramatic straits. Living in Chicago with his wife and two children, David describes himself as \"actor, author, father, husband. In reverse order.\" For more about David and his novels, visit www.davidblixt.com.","products":[{"product_id":"we-all-fall-down-stories-of-plague-and-resilience-paperback","title":"We All Fall Down: Stories of Plague and Resilience - Paperback","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eFrom acclaimed authors David Blixt, Jean Gill, Kristin Gleeson, J. K. Knauss, Laura Morelli, Katherine Pym, Deborah Swift, Melodie Winawer, and Lisa J. Yarde\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlague has no favorites.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn this anthology, USA Today, international bestselling, and award-winning authors imagine a world where anyone--rich, poor, young, old--might be well in the morning and dead by sundown.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eReaders will follow in the footsteps of those who fought to rebuild shattered lives as the plague left desolation in its wake.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e* An Irish woman tends her dying father while the Normans threaten her life and property--\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e* A Hispano-Muslim doctor fights the authorities to stem the spread of the deadly pestilence at great personal cost--\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e* A Tuscan street hawker and a fresco painter watch citizens perish all around them even as they paint a better future--\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e* A Spanish noblewoman lives at the mercy of a jealous queen after plague kills the king--\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e* The Black Death leaves an uncertain legacy to Dante's son--\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e* In Venice, the artist Titian agonizes over a death in obscurity--\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e* A Scottish thief loses everything to plague and repents in the hope of preventing more losses--\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e* Two teenagers from 2020 time-travel to plague-stricken London and are forever changed--\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e* And when death rules in Ottoman-occupied Greece, a Turk decides his own fate.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNine tales bound together by humanity's fortitude in the face of despair: a powerful collection of stories for our own time.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIn dark and deadly times, love and courage shine bright.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"BooksCloud","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":68280515985631,"sku":"9781939138217","price":16.18,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0813\/8958\/4607\/files\/SOTsPGboGg9781939138217.webp?v=1792745514"},{"product_id":"the-four-emperors-hardcover","title":"The Four Emperors - Hardcover","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eUnder Emperor Nero's rule, Rome is a dangerous place. His cruel, artistic whims border on madness, and anyone who dares rise too high has their wings clipped with fatal results.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFor one family, this means either promotion or destruction. While his uncle Vespasian goes off to put down a rebellion in Judea, Titus Flavius Sabinus struggles to walk the perilous line between success and notoriety as he climbs Rome's ladder.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhen Nero is impaled on his own artistry, the whole world is thrown into chaos, and Sabinus must navigate shifting allegiances and murderous alliances as his family tries to survive the year of the Four Emperors.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"BooksCloud","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":68326681346271,"sku":"9784867502617","price":43.18,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0813\/8958\/4607\/files\/UwKkpmEfom9784867502617.webp?v=1793191873"},{"product_id":"the-master-of-verona-paperback","title":"The Master Of Verona - Paperback","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eRomeo \u0026amp; Juliet\u003c\/i\u003e is the greatest love story ever told. \u003cbr\u003eEvery story has a beginning...\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"A novel of intricate plot, taut narrative, sharp period detail and beautifully realized characters.\"\u003c\/b\u003e - Publishers Weekly\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"A delightful romp through the backstory of 'Romeo \u0026amp; Juliet.'\"\u003c\/b\u003e - Chicago Sun-Times\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDive into a captivating fusion of literary worlds for an unforgettable journey that intertwines the iconic characters of Shakespeare's Italian plays with the real-life figures of Dante's \u003ci\u003eInferno\u003c\/i\u003e to unveil the astonishing origin of the legendary Capulet\/Montague feud. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e1314. Verona is a city brimming with political intrigue, forbidden love, and unrelenting vendettas. Pietro Alighieri arrives with his father, the infamous poet Dante, at the invitation of Verona's leader, the legendary Cangrande della Scala. Cangrande is everything a man should be: Daring. Charming. Ruthless. To Pietro, he is the ideal Renaissance prince - until Pietro discovers a secret that could be Cangrande's undoing.\u003cp\u003ePietro is drawn into a web of deception involving Cangrande, his sister Katerina, and a star-crossed child. Meanwhile, his friends Mariotto Montecchio and Antonio Capulletto are torn as they feud over a woman. Pietro must navigate a rivalry that severs a friendship, divides a city, and sparks a feud that will produce Shakespeare's famous star-crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eInspired by the plays of Shakespeare, the poetry of Dante, and the events of history, \u003ci\u003eThe Master Of Verona\u003c\/i\u003e is a sweeping novel of Renaissance Italy that breathes new life into the iconic tale of the star-crossed lovers and their feuding families. Filled with swashbuckling adventure and unrequited love, this epic journey recalls the best of Bernard Cornwell, Sharon Kay Penman, and Dorothy Dunnett.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"Intricate plotting, well-staged scenes, and colorful descriptions enhance head-spinning but lively entertainment.\"\u003c\/b\u003e - Kirkus Reviews\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"Blixt is a man of many talents - actor, director, author. In his hands, history comes to bright, blazing life.\"\u003c\/b\u003e - Sharon Kay Penman, author of \u003ci\u003eLionheart\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eThe Sunne In Splendour\u003c\/i\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"Be prepared to burn the midnight oil. It's well worth it.\"\u003c\/b\u003e - Historical Novel Society \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"David Blixt bursts onto the historical fiction scene with this masterful tale of adventure, love, and intrigue. This is high adventure at its best.\"\u003c\/b\u003e - C.W. Gortner, author of \u003ci\u003eThe Last Queen\u003c\/i\u003e","brand":"BooksCloud","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":68327647871199,"sku":"9781944540357","price":24.23,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0813\/8958\/4607\/files\/HpIRL58js_9781944540357.webp?v=1793202676"},{"product_id":"the-master-of-verona-paperback-1","title":"The Master Of Verona - Paperback","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eRomeo \u0026amp; Juliet is the greatest love story ever told. Every story has a beginning. \u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e A sweeping novel of Renaissance Italy, THE MASTER OF VERONA follows Pietro Alaghieri, eldest son of the poet Dante, as he's caught up by the charisma and genius of Verona's ruler, Cangrande della Scala. Pietro risks battles, duels, and murder to impress his new lord. At the heart of the story is an infernal plot against Cangrande's bastard heir, and the rivalry of two friends over the affections of a girl - a rivalry will sever a friendship, divide a city, and spark a feud that will someday produce the star-cross'd lovers. \u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e Based on the plays of William Shakespeare, the poetry of Dante, and the history of Italy, THE MASTER OF VERONA is a novel of brutal warfare, lost friendship, and dire conspiracy, combining to create an epic journey into the birth of the Renaissance that recalls the best of Bernard Cornwell and Dorothy Dunnett.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"BooksCloud","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":68335785476319,"sku":"9781944540005","price":24.79,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0813\/8958\/4607\/files\/F8q-NV319L9781944540005.webp?v=1793263920"},{"product_id":"her-majestys-will-a-novel-of-will-kit-paperback","title":"Her Majesty's Will: A Novel of Will \u0026 Kit - Paperback","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"\u003ci\u003eHer Majesty's Will \u003c\/i\u003eis a heady, silly romp that works!\"\u003c\/b\u003e - \u003ci\u003eChicago Tribune\u003c\/i\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"I loved \u003ci\u003eHer Majesty's Will\u003c\/i\u003e, a delightful romp through Elizabethan England. The fun is non-stop, an irresistible mix of suspense, surprises, and humor. I just hope we get to see this zany team again!\"\u003c\/b\u003e - Sharon Kay Penman, \u003ci\u003eThe Sunne In Splendour \u003c\/i\u003eand\u003ci\u003e Lionheart\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"I LOVE this book. I'm laughing and on the edge of my seat and turning e-pages so fast, I'm gonna fry my iPad.\"\u003c\/b\u003e - C.W. Gortner, \u003ci\u003eThe Tudor Conspiracy\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eThe Queen's Vow\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"\u003ci\u003eHer Majesty's Will \u003c\/i\u003ehas everything-swashbuckling sword fights, witty banter, a nefarious (and true!) plot, a dash of romance, narrow escapes, sudden reversals, and an incredibly plausible origin story for one of the greatest writers in history. It's huge fun-a summer blockbuster action-adventure combined with dazzling outdoor Shakespeare, all in handy-dandy book form.\" \u003c\/b\u003e- Austin Tichenor, \u003ci\u003ePop-Up Shakespeare \u003c\/i\u003eand \u003ci\u003eWilliam Shakespeare's Long Lost First Play (abridged)\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eBefore he was famous, he was a fugitive.\u003cbr\u003eBefore he wrote wild adventures, he lived them.\u003cbr\u003eBefore he was The Bard, he was a spy.\u003cbr\u003eA truly terrible spy. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eEngland, 1586. Swept up in the skirts of a mysterious stranger, Will Shakespeare becomes entangled in a deadly and hilarious misadventure as he accidentally uncovers the Babington Plot: an attempt to murder Queen Elizabeth herself.\u003cp\u003eAided by the mercurial wit of Kit Marlowe, Will enters London for the first time, chased by rebels, spies, his own government, his past, and a bear. Through it all he demonstrates his loyalty and genius, proving himself to be - Her Majesty's Will.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis irreverent comedy imagines Shakespeare's \"lost years\" as a rousing romp through the streets and across the stages of Elizabethan London. Combining the whimsy of William Goldman's \u003ci\u003eThe Princess Bride\u003c\/i\u003e with the swashbuckling panache of Rafael Sabatini, and inspired by the Hope\/Crosby Road Movies, this rollicking novel takes solace in knowing that these events surely never happened, while secretly hoping that they did.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePraise from readers: \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003e★★★★★ - \"Anyone who enjoys the down-to-earth aspects of Shakespeare will love this book, the puns, bon mots, double entendres, and witticisms fly fast and furious throughout. His Majesty's Will is a book worth savoring more than once.\"\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003e★★★★★ - \"Her Majesty's Will is an Elizabethan buddy comedy\/drama\/romance\/adventure. Like ya do. It's Hope and Crosby meets Errol Flynn and Douglas Fairbanks. It belongs on the shelf alongside The Princess Bride.\"\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003e★★★★★ - \"David Blixt is on the top of his game with this romp. A rollicking good read.\"\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"BooksCloud","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":68340287144159,"sku":"9781944540227","price":17.48,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0813\/8958\/4607\/files\/mJ7gbIsVCk9781944540227.webp?v=1793292744"},{"product_id":"voice-of-the-falconer-paperback","title":"Voice Of The Falconer - Paperback","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"New readers, beware! Once you start reading one of David's books, real life comes to a screeching halt until you finish it.\"\u003c\/b\u003e - Sharon Kay Penman, \u003ci\u003eHere Be Dragons \u003c\/i\u003eand\u003ci\u003e The Sunne In Splendour\u003c\/i\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003eFrom bestselling author David Blixt (\u003ci\u003eThe Master Of Verona, What Girls Are Good For\u003c\/i\u003e), a thrilling novel of Renaissance intrigue!\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eItaly, 1325. Eight years after the tumultuous events of \u003ci\u003eThe Master Of Verona\u003c\/i\u003e, Pietro Alighieri is living in exile in Ravenna, grieving the loss of his famous poetic father by studying law. Secretly, Pietro is also raising Cesco, bastard heir to Verona's prince, the magnificent Cangrande della Scala. When word of Cangrande's sudden death reaches their sleepy seaside town, Pietro must abandon his studies to race north before rivals can usurp Cesco's rightful place on Verona's throne.\u003cp\u003eBut young Cesco refuses to be anyone's pawn. Headstrong, willful, and devious, he defies even the stars. Determined to enter Verona in his own way, Cesco risks his life to display his mercurial wit to the city he's meant to rule. Meanwhile, far behind the scenes, a mastermind pulls the strings, moving all the players towards a bloody finale. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBorn from Shakespeare's Italian plays, the poetry of Dante, and the events of history, \u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eVoice Of The Falconer\u003c\/i\u003e \u003c\/b\u003eexplores the danger, deceit, and deviltry of early Renaissance Italy, and the terrible choices one must make just to stay alive. Filled with swashbuckling adventure and unrequited love, this epic journey recalls the best of Bernard Cornwell, Sharon Kay Penman, and Dorothy Dunnett.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePraise for the Star-Cross'd Series: \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"A novel of intricate plot, taut narrative, sharp period detail and beautifully realized characters.\"\u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003e- Publishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"Intricate plotting, well-staged scenes, and colorful descriptions enhance head-spinning but lively entertainment.\"\u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003e- Kirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"A delightful romp through the backstory of\u003ci\u003e 'Romeo \u0026amp; Juliet.'\u003c\/i\u003e\"\u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003e- Chicago Sun-Times\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"Be prepared to burn the midnight oil. It's well worth it.\"\u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003e - Historical Novel Society\u003c\/i\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"David Blixt bursts onto the historical fiction scene with this masterful tale of adventure, love, and intrigue -- this is high adventure at its best, an epic novel filled with the breathtaking feats and evanescent beauty of the early Renaissance.\"\u003c\/b\u003e - C.W. Gortner, \u003ci\u003e The Last Queen \u003c\/i\u003eand\u003ci\u003e The Tudor Secret\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"Shakespearean actor David Blixt traces the genesis of the famous feud between the Montagues and Capulets in this sharp, arresting novel that is completely impossible to put down.\"\u003c\/b\u003e - Michelle Moran, \u003ci\u003e Nefertiti \u003c\/i\u003eand \u003ci\u003eMadame Tussaud\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"Dante's Italy and the internecine, blood-feuding struggle of the dominant families of the northern city states. This story of corruption and the quest for power is as compelling as Mario Puzo's\u003ci\u003eGodfather\u003c\/i\u003e and as thrilling as any of Rafael Sabatini's historical adventures.\" \u003c\/b\u003e - Peter Tremayne, \u003ci\u003eThe Chalice Of Blood\u003c\/i\u003e","brand":"BooksCloud","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":68340606697695,"sku":"9780615783154","price":24.23,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0813\/8958\/4607\/files\/Qwl_kXOW7l9780615783154.webp?v=1793299929"}],"url":"https:\/\/blackandbarhe.com\/collections\/david-blixt.oembed","provider":"Black \u0026 Barhe Bookstore","version":"1.0","type":"link"}