"The yardstick by which all historical novels are measured."* Seeking power and prestige, grim, ambitious Yorkshireman Edward Morland arranges a marriage between his meek son Robert and spirited Eleanor, young ward of the influential Beaufort family. Eleanor is appalled at being forced to marry a mere "sheep farmer"; she is, after all, secretly in love with Richard, Duke of York. Yet from this apparently ill-matched union, Robert and Eleanor form a surprising connection that soon will be tested by a bloody civil war that divides families, sets neighbor against neighbor, and brings tragedy close to home. What Readers Are Saying: * "As a big fan of historical fiction, I found this to be one of the best in the genre." "Brilliant, a definite page turner. They combine real historical events with fascinating fictional characters." "The founding is a masterpiece of research into life in Middle-Age England. It is also a great start to a wonderful Dynasty-every time I buy a new book in this series, I read the whole lot again from the start." "Well researched and well written, this book simply does not allow you to stop until you reach the last page-and then rush to find the next in the series."