Set during the Wars of the Roses, the story follows young Dick Shelton as he discovers that his guardian, Sir Daniel Brackley, murdered his father. Dick flees into Tunstall Forest, where he encounters the Fellowship of the Black Arrow, a band of outlaws led by Ellis Duckworth who use archery to exact vengeance on corrupt local knights. As the conflict between the houses of York and Lancaster intensifies, Dick must navigate forest skirmishes and political betrayals to rescue Joanna Sedley and reclaim his rightful inheritance.
This historical adventure serves readers interested in the internal dynamics of medieval warfare and the feudal code of chivalry. Young adults looking for a narrative about moral development find a protagonist who must distinguish between blind institutional loyalty and personal integrity. The reader gains a detailed view of fifteenth-century English life, weaponry, and the chaotic reality of civil war. It provides a specific look at how ordinary soldiers and aspiring knights managed competing oaths during a period of total political instability.
- Published
- 1888
- Language
- EN
