'Iron kings and strangled queens, battles and betrayals, lies and lust, the curse of the Templars, the doom of a great dynasty - and all of it (well, most of it) straight from the pages of history, and believe me, the Starks and the Lannisters have nothing on the Capets and Plantagenets. Whether you are a history buff or a fantasy fan, Druon's epic will keep you turning pages. This was the original game of thrones' George R.R. Martin 'Blood-curdling tale of intrigue, murder, corruption and sexual passion' The Sunday Times 'Dramatic and colourful as a Dumas romance but stiffened by historical accuracy and political insight' The Sunday Times 'Barbaric, sensual, teeming with life, based in wide reading and sound scholarship...among the best historical novels' The Times Literary Supplement

Maurice Druon was a French resistance hero, a Knight of the British Empire and a holder of the Grand Croix de la Legion d'Honneur. He was also a member of the Academie francaise and a celebrated novelist, best known for his series of seven historical novels under the title of The Accursed Kings, which were twice adapted for television. A passionate Anglophile, he was a great expert on all things English, including its medieval history, which provides great inspiration for the series. His many and diverse fans include George RR Martin, Nicolas Sarkozy and Vladimir Putin.