The Champion

By: Elizabeth Chadwick

Narrated by: Jill Tanner

Alexander and Hervi de Montroi, half-brothers with no inheritance, meet in France. Hervi is a professional jouster and Alexander, fleeing the beatings of an English monastery, needs a trade. Despite misgivings, Hervi takes him on as his squire, introducing him to the travelers' immoral lifestyle. He befriends a girl, Monday, taking care of her after her parents die until, pregnant with Alexander's child, she leaves, finding shelter in a castle as a seamstress. Noticed by King John, she becomes his mistress in England, bearing his son and gaining a house.

Meanwhile, Stefan has returned to England too, in the pay of an earl—they meet again at court and, now older, fall in love. They have the King's blessing, but Monday's grandfather, now heirless, sees her as a way to gain power. She escapes his kidnapping to be reunited with Alexander on the land granted to him by the earl.

©1997 Elizabeth Chadwick (P)2024 Recorded Books

Love her books! So satisfying and more!

I love that Chadwick’s books don’t follow the same old pattern of conflict, then virgin wooed, another conflict, and then happily ever after.
She fully develops her characters, women are strong and able, characters are intelligent and detailed, and she writes about a much broader life of the characters than the usual 8-10 hour historical fiction novel.
She writes with amazing period detail and atmosphere, and brings intelligence and wit. My favorite historical fiction author for years! 🤩💗

great story

well told of struggles of old. Good men did exist in days of old. Unfortunate for humanity this tale has much truth woven into it concerning the treatment of women throughout history and even today in some cultures.

From beginning to end - such a fantastic story

Jill Tanner is terrific reader who showcases Elizabeth Chadwick’s beautiful writing. So well researched with a rich cast of characters to enjoy.

Good story well read

The heroine was complex while her love rose to the occasion and his brother went through a significant transformation.

A Riveting Medieval Tale of Knights and Courage

The Champion by Elizabeth Chadwick was riveting. I do not know why it took me so long to read one of her books, but I will definitely be reading more. This is also a time period that is not written about as often, which made it even more enjoyable.

This book had a little of everything that makes for an absorbing knight story. You have a dashing young man who can read and write, sing, and grow into a charming and skilled knight. I personally loved the detail about him singing, as it added depth to his character. Alongside him is a strong willed, capable, and talented heroine who, despite the odds and limitations of the time, manages to survive and stand on her own.

I also found myself doing research while reading, especially regarding Richard the Lionheart and the long debated idea among historians that he may have preferred men. I appreciated how the author handled historical figures. I was concerned that Richard’s younger brother John might be painted in too positive a light, since most historical accounts portray him as a poor king. In this book, you do see him as a lover, but not much more, which felt balanced. It was also interesting to see him portrayed slightly differently from the typical Robin Hood stories.

Another aspect I enjoyed was the mention of food throughout the story. I actually kept a list of dishes mentioned so I could look up recipes and try them myself. I have always been fascinated by the history of food and recipes, so this added another layer of enjoyment for me.

This book had me looking forward to my nightly reading, often staying up later than I intended just to read one more chapter. I am already looking forward to reading more from Elizabeth Chadwick.