Fandom/Canon Name: The Ramsay Scallop - Frances Temple
What's awesome about it: If you like historical fiction, children's literature, travelogues, ships with age gaps, or discussions of religion, I think you ought to give The Ramsay Scallop a try.
The year is 1300. Elenor of Ramsay is a noble's daughter who spends her days gallivanting around her estate and trying not to think about how she's betrothed to a boy called Thomas of Thornham. She hasn't seen him since he went to fight in the Crusades, and she's not looking forward to seeing him now that word's come that the Crusaders are returning. But Thomas isn't the boy he was--the Crusades have broken him, and it's with shame that he tells their priest of the sins he witnessed.
Plenty of sinning's been happening back home, too, let's be real here, so it's decided that Elenor and Thomas will make a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela as penance for their people. What follows is the story of a very long walk through France and Spain and a slowly deepening respect and affection for each other. Elenor and Thomas meet people from all walks of life, from peasants to troubadors to a pair of shepherds who are Muslim and Albigensian, respectively. They see a cathedral being built, explore the world of books (just a little--they're expensive!), and get fleas. It's a quiet story of traveling and new experiences for two people reacquainting themselves with each other.
Where to find: So, unfortunately, this book has been out of print for years, and there isn't an ebook edition unless I can get around to transcribing mine at some point. ON THE UPSIDE, that also means that it starts at $1.99 right now on Amazon.
The Ramsay Scallop - Frances Temple
What's awesome about it: If you like historical fiction, children's literature, travelogues, ships with age gaps, or discussions of religion, I think you ought to give The Ramsay Scallop a try.
The year is 1300. Elenor of Ramsay is a noble's daughter who spends her days gallivanting around her estate and trying not to think about how she's betrothed to a boy called Thomas of Thornham. She hasn't seen him since he went to fight in the Crusades, and she's not looking forward to seeing him now that word's come that the Crusaders are returning. But Thomas isn't the boy he was--the Crusades have broken him, and it's with shame that he tells their priest of the sins he witnessed.
Plenty of sinning's been happening back home, too, let's be real here, so it's decided that Elenor and Thomas will make a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela as penance for their people. What follows is the story of a very long walk through France and Spain and a slowly deepening respect and affection for each other. Elenor and Thomas meet people from all walks of life, from peasants to troubadors to a pair of shepherds who are Muslim and Albigensian, respectively. They see a cathedral being built, explore the world of books (just a little--they're expensive!), and get fleas. It's a quiet story of traveling and new experiences for two people reacquainting themselves with each other.
Where to find: So, unfortunately, this book has been out of print for years, and there isn't an ebook edition unless I can get around to transcribing mine at some point. ON THE UPSIDE, that also means that it starts at $1.99 right now on Amazon.