Please join Mercedes Rochelle as she
tours the blogosphere with HF Virtual book Tours for Heir to a Prophecy,
December 8-30, 2014.
Publication Date: December 12, 2014
Publisher: Top Hat Books
Paperback: 418p
ISBN: 978-1-78279-754-8
Genre: Historical Fiction
Shakespeare's
Witches tell Banquo, "Thou Shalt 'Get Kings Though Thou Be None".
Though Banquo is murdered, his son Fleance gets away. What happened to Fleance? What
Kings? As Shakespeare's audience apparently knew, Banquo was the ancestor
of the royal Stewart line. But the road to kingship had a most inauspicious
beginning, and we follow Fleance into exile and death, bestowing the Witches'
prophecy on his illegitimate son Walter. Born in Wales and raised in disgrace,
Walter's efforts to understand Banquo's murder and honor his lineage take him
on a long and treacherous journey through England and France before facing his
destiny in Scotland.
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the Book
Watch the Book Trailer
THE
REAL MACBETH BY MERCEDES ROCHELLE
Let
me start by saying that Macbeth is my favorite play, hands down. But that
doesn't mean I was disappointed to discover that most of it is not true! I like
Macbeth (especially the Jon Finch Macbeth), even though he is pretty wicked in
the play. Yes, he really existed and had an apparently successful 17-year reign
starting in 1040. No, he was not killed at the battle of Dunsinane, although
the battle did take place and he lost.
Did
Macbeth kill Duncan? There is a good chance he did, but not in his bed. As it
turns out, Duncan in his 30's was a reportedly rascally king. He fought five
wars in five years and lost them all, then really got into trouble trying to
claim Caithness which was rightfully ruled by his cousin Thorfinn of Orkney. Duncan
met his end at the Battle of Burghead on the Moray Firth, where he faced either
Thorfinn or Macbeth (or both). It was also recorded elsewhere that Duncan
was killed by his own men immediately after the battle.
Did
Macbeth have a claim to the throne? Yes, through possibly his own and definitely
his wife's ancestry. It was thought that Macbeth's mother may have been the
second daughter of Malcolm II, so he may have been cousin to Duncan. The
stronger claim was through Grouch (Lady Macbeth). Until the early 11th century,
the Scottish kings were essentially elected from a group of nobles in a Celtic
tradition known as the Tannist Succession. Grouch was descended from the
rightful King Kenneth III, killed by Malcolm II along with her father, who was
recognized as the Tanist candidate of his branch.
The
Battle of Dunsinane took place in 1054, and it was led by the great Earl Siward
of Northumbria in the company of Prince Malcolm. Macbeth escaped and retained
his crown. It seems he kind of skulked around for the next couple of years
until Malcolm caught up with him in Aberdeenshire at the battle at Lumphanan.
After a short and bloody encounter Macbeth met his end; he may have been
beheaded, or he may have expired a few days later, 60 miles south at Scone. No
one knows for sure. He was succeeded by his stepson Lulach, who needed to be
dispatched before Malcolm III could be declared King of Scotland.
THE REAL MACBETH BY MERCEDES ROCHELLELet me start by saying that Macbeth is my favorite play, hands down. But that doesn't mean I was disappointed to discover that most of it is not true! I like Macbeth (especially the Jon Finch Macbeth), even though he is pretty wicked in the play. Yes, he really existed and had an apparently successful 17-year reign starting in 1040. No, he was not killed at the battle of Dunsinane, although the battle did take place and he lost.Did Macbeth kill Duncan? There is a good chance he did, but not in his bed. As it turns out, Duncan in his 30's was a reportedly rascally king. He fought five wars in five years and lost them all, then really got into trouble trying to claim Caithness which was rightfully ruled by his cousin Thorfinn of Orkney. Duncan met his end at the Battle of Burghead on the Moray Firth, where he faced either Thorfinn or Macbeth (or both). It was also recorded elsewhere that Duncan was killed by his own men immediately after the battle.Did Macbeth have a claim to the throne? Yes, through possibly his own and definitely his wife's ancestry. It was thought that Macbeth's mother may have been the second daughter of Malcolm II, so he may have been cousin to Duncan. The stronger claim was through Grouch (Lady Macbeth). Until the early 11th century, the Scottish kings were essentially elected from a group of nobles in a Celtic tradition known as the Tannist Succession. Grouch was descended from the rightful King Kenneth III, killed by Malcolm II along with her father, who was recognized as the Tanist candidate of his branch.The Battle of Dunsinane took place in 1054, and it was led by the great Earl Siward of Northumbria in the company of Prince Malcolm. Macbeth escaped and retained his crown. It seems he kind of skulked around for the next couple of years until Malcolm caught up with him in Aberdeenshire at the battle at Lumphanan. After a short and bloody encounter Macbeth met his end; he may have been beheaded, or he may have expired a few days later, 60 miles south at Scone. No one knows for sure. He was succeeded by his stepson Lulach, who needed to be dispatched before Malcolm III could be declared King of Scotland.
About the Author
Born in St.
Louis MO with a degree from University of Missouri, Mercedes Rochelle learned
about living history as a re-enactor and has been enamored with historical
fiction ever since. She lives in Sergeantsville, NJ with her husband in a log
home they built themselves. For more information please visit Mercedes
Rochelle's website and blog. You can also find her on Facebook and Goodreads.
Heir
to a Prophecy Blog Tour
Monday, December 8Interview & Giveaway at Mina's Bookshelf
Wednesday, December 10
Review at Back Porchervations
Guest Post at Boom Baby Reviews
Thursday, December 11
Spotlight at CelticLady's Reviews
Saturday, December 13
Spotlight at I'd So Rather Be Reading
Monday, December 15
Spotlight & Giveaway at Passages to the Past
Tuesday, December 16
Review at Book Nerd
Guest Post at Queen of All She Reads
Wednesday, December 17
Spotlight & Giveaway at Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus More
Friday, December 19
Review & Giveaway at Broken Teepee
Saturday, December 20
Review at With Her Nose Stuck in a Book
Monday, December 22
Guest Post at Historical Fiction Connection
Tuesday, December 23
Review at Svetlana's Reads and Views
Friday, December 26
Review at Flashlight Commentary
Tuesday, December 30
Review at Unshelfish
Review at The True Book Addict
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