Making of England: Lionheart

Lionheart is the latest thrilling historical novel in Stewart Binns' epic Making of England series.

1176 - England King Henry II reigns over a vast empire that stretches the length of Britain and reaches the foothills of the Pyrenees. But he is aging, and his powerful and ambitious sons are restless. Henry's third son, Richard of Aquitaine, is developing a fearsome reputation for being a ruthless warrior. Arrogant and conceited he earns the name Richard Lionheart for his bravery and brutality on the battlefield. After the death of his brothers, Richard's impatience to take the throne, and gain the immense power that being King over a vast empire would bring him, leads him to form an alliance with France. And so, Richard begins his bloody quest to return the Holy Land to Christian rule.

Praise for Stewart Binns: "A fascinating mix of fact, legend and fiction ...this is storytelling at its best" (Daily Mail). "Stewart Binns has produced a real page-turner, a truly stunning adventure story" (Alastair Campbell).

Stewart Binns began his professional life as an academic. He then pursued several adventures, including a stint at the BBC, before settling into a career as a schoolteacher, specializing in history. Later in life, a lucky break took him back to the BBC, which was the beginning of a successful career in television. He has won a BAFTA, a Grierson, an RTS and a Peabody for his documentaries. Stewart's passion is English history, especially its origins and folklore. His previous novels Conquest, Crusade and Anarchy published to great acclaim.