Books with title The Black Arrow: A Tale of Two Roses

[This is the Audiobook CD Library Edition in vinyl case.] In this swashbuckling novel set in fifteenth-century England, young Richard Shelton discovers that he has been betrayed by the guardian who raised him--a man involved in the murder of his father. Seventeen-year-old Richard joins the fellowship of the Black Arrow to avenge the death, rescue the woman he loves, and participate in the struggle between the Yorks and Lancasters in the War of the Roses. Though history records two sides fighting for control of England, The Black Arrow presents a third side: the exploited commoners joined together by their black-arrow weaponry. To survive the war, Richard must rely on his cunning. Through adventures in castles, villages, forests, and aboard a ship, Richard outfoxes captors, bargains his way out of crises, and ultimately proves himself worthy of knighthood.

The Black Arrow tells the story of Richard (Dick) Shelton during the Wars of the Roses: how he becomes a knight, rescues his lady Joanna Sedley, and obtains justice for the murder of his father, Sir Harry Shelton. Outlaws in Tunstall Forest organized by Ellis Duckworth, whose weapon and calling card is a black arrow, cause Dick to suspect that his guardian Sir Daniel Brackley and his retainers are responsible for his father's murder. Dick's suspicions are enough to turn Sir Daniel against him, so he has no recourse but to escape from Sir Daniel and join the outlaws of the Black Arrow against him. This struggle sweeps him up into the greater conflict surrounding them all.

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This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. To ensure a quality reading experience, this work has been proofread and republished using a format that seamlessly blends the original graphical elements with text in an easy-to-read typeface.We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

ANNOTATIONS•AUTHOR•Summary•Characters Discussed•Analysis•Critical Context•Analysis•Form and Content•Places Discussed•CriticismThe Black Arrow: A Tale of Two Roses is the 1888 historical adventure and romance novel written by Scottish novelist and travel writer Robert Louis Stevenson. Set in fifteenth century England during the Wars of the Roses, the story revolves around Richard (Dick) Shelton as he becomes knighted, rescues his beloved Joanna Sedley, and finds justice for the slaughter of his father, Harry Shelton. An outlaw named Ellis Duckworth equipped with a black arrow as his trademark weapon convinces Dick that his own personal guardian, Sir Daniel Brackley, has been disloyal. As a result, Dick helps a fellowship of outlaws called The Black Arrow to defeat Brackley and win back his lady. The Black Arrow originally appeared as a serial in 1883, subtitled “A Tale of Tunstall Forest” as part of the Young Folks; A Boys’ and Girls’ Paper of Instructive and Entertaining Literature. The novel has been adapted to the big and small screen several times, most famously in the 1948 film starring Louis Hayward, and the 1985 film starring Oliver Reed and Benedict Taylor.Narrated in the third-person limited perspective, the story begins in the area of “Old King George” in England during the fifteenth century. The Wars of the Roses are in full swing. In order to recruit soldiers for the Battle of Risingham, the Tunstall Moat House doorbell is sounded. The Moat House lord, Sir Daniel Brackley, is absent yet needs to fortify the area when a “fellowship” of outlaws called The Black Arrow begins an attack. The Black Arrow aims its strike upon the “four black hearts,” which includes Daniel and his three cohorts: Nicholas Appleyard, Bennet Hatch, and Sir Oliver Oates. After the attack, Daniel’s ward, Richard (Dick) Shelton, becomes suspicious about the death of his father, Sir Harry Shelton.Dick is sent to Kettley, where Daniel, his guardian, resides. Upon returning to the Moat House as ordered, Dick falls in love with a woman named Joanna Sedley, who is disguised as a boy named John Matcham. Daniel has kidnapped Joanna as a means of becoming her guardian, and plans to control her fate by marrying her to Dick. As Dick and Joanna traverse Tunstall Forest, they happen upon the Black Arrow campsite, led by outlaw captain Ellis Duckworth, in Grimstone Manor. When Duckworth claims Daniel killed Dick’s father, Joanna tries to convince Dick to betray the conniving Daniel in support of the fellowship. The following day, Dick and Joanna encounter Daniel in the forest, disguised as a leper, as he returns to the Moat House in defeat following the Risingham skirmish. Dick and Joanna follow Daniel to the Moat House, where Dick ascertains that Daniel, the knight who raised him, murdered his father. Dick gets into a tussle, escapes with injury and is rescued by The Black Arrow outlaws. Joanna remains captured, now to be wedded to Lord Shoreby.The second half of the novel details how Dick rescues Joanna from Daniel with the help of The Black Arrow, as well as the Yorkist army led by future King Richard III of England, Richard Crookback. Primarily set in Shoreby, where the Lancastrian army is posted, Dick and the fellowship steal a barge called The Good Hope and attempt to rescue Joanna by sea. The attempt fails, resulting in Daniel relocating Joanna to his main residence in Shoreby. Dick disguises himself as a Franciscan Friar and visits Joanna. Lord Shoreby is eventually killed by the fellowship, freeing Joanna from unwanted marriage to him. In order to escape Captain Arblaster, owner of the boat they stole, Dick recites the tale of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves.Upon tailing Daniel, Dick and the fellowship battle a rivaling gang of spies desperate for Joanna’s whereabouts. After a melee won by the outlaws, Dick confidently defeats Joanna’s true guardian, Lord Foxham.

Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894), son of a joint-engineer to the Board of Northern Light-houses, was born in Edinburgh. He was admitted advocate in 1875, but had determined to be a writer. Fascinated by Edinburgh low life, he cultivated a Bohemian style. His first work of fiction, “Treasure Island” (1883) brought him fame, which increased with the publication of “The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde” (1886). This was followed by his popular Scottish romances “Kidnapped” (1886), “Catriona” (1893) and “The Master of Ballantrae”(1889). In 1888, Stevenson had set out with his family entourage for the South Seas, and finally settled in Samoa at Vailima, where he temporarily regained his health but died suddenly from a brain haemorrhage, while working on his unfinished masterpiece “Weir of Hermiston” (1896). He suffered from a chronic bronchial condition (possibly tuberculosis). “The Black Arrow” (1888), a historical romance that tells the story of Richard (Dick) Shelton during the Wars of the Roses: how he becomes a knight, rescues his lady Joanna Sedley, and obtains justice for the murder of his father, Sir Harry Shelton.

Sir Daniel and his men lay in and about Kettley that night, warmly quartered and well patrolled. But the Knight of Tunstall was one who never rested from money-getting; and even now, when he was on the brink of an adventure which should make or mar him, he was up an hour after midnight to squeeze poor neighbours. He was one who trafficked greatly in disputed inheritances; it was his way to buy out the most unlikely claimant, and then, by the favour he curried with great lords about the king, procure unjust decisions in his favour; or, if that was too roundabout, to seize the disputed manor by force of arms, and rely on his influence and Sir Oliver’s cunning in the law to hold what he had snatched. Kettley was one such place; it had come very lately into his clutches; he still met with opposition from the tenants; and it was to overawe discontent that he had led his troops that way.