Lion Heart - Softcover

One of the finest novelists currently at work. "The Guardian"

Justin Cartwright is a senior member of a masterful generation of English novelists that includes Martin Amis, Ian McEwan, Salman Rushdie and Kazuo Ishiguro. "The Los Angeles Times"

[A] deeply involved and involving quest tale . . . Remarkable . . . Cartwright has created a work that deftly locates the parallels between the politics of the 12th century and those of the 21st but that is ultimately more about the frailties and foibles of the human heart. "Library Journal"

Cartwright's writing has qualities not to be found in conventional thrillers like "The Da Vinci Code" the pathos of Richie's quest for family, and a self-aware, self-effacing sense of humor, as when a lover encourages Richie to write about his experiences but leave out certain plot turns, as 'nobody would believe that anyway.' It's a striking formula that gives this literary thriller uncommon depth--and makes it uncommonly satisfying. "Publishers Weekly"

[A] highbrow Da Vinci Code. "Booklist""

"One of the finest novelists currently at work." "The Guardian"

"Justin Cartwright is a senior member of a masterful generation of English novelists that includes Martin Amis, Ian McEwan, Salman Rushdie and Kazuo Ishiguro." "The Los Angeles Times"

"A deeply involved and involving quest tale . . . [a] remarkable novel . . . Cartwright has created a work that deftly locates the parallels between the politics of the 12th century and those of the 21st but that is ultimately more about the frailties and foibles of the human heart." "Library Journal"

"Cartwright s writing has qualities not to be found in conventional thrillers like "The Da Vinci Code" the pathos of Richie s quest for family, and a self-aware, self-effacing sense of humor, as when a lover encourages Richie to write about his experiences but leave out certain plot turns, as 'nobody would believe that anyway.' It's a striking formula that gives this literary thriller uncommon depth--and makes it uncommonly satisfying." "P""ublishers Weekly"

"[A] highbrow "Da Vinci Code."" "Booklist""

"One of the finest novelists currently at work." --The Guardian

"Justin Cartwright is a senior member of a masterful generation of English novelists that includes Martin Amis, Ian McEwan, Salman Rushdie and Kazuo Ishiguro." --The Los Angeles Times

"A deeply involved and involving quest tale . . . [a] remarkable novel . . . Cartwright has created a work that deftly locates the parallels between the politics of the 12th century and those of the 21st but that is ultimately more about the frailties and foibles of the human heart." --Library Journal

"Cartwright's writing has qualities not to be found in conventional thrillers like The Da Vinci Code the pathos of Richie's quest for family, and a self-aware, self-effacing sense of humor, as when a lover encourages Richie to write about his experiences but leave out certain plot turns, as 'nobody would believe that anyway.' It's a striking formula that gives this literary thriller uncommon depth--and makes it uncommonly satisfying." --Publishers Weekly

"[A] highbrow Da Vinci Code." --Booklist

Richard Cathar recalls his recently deceased father, Alaric, as a delusional hippie, one who fancied himself an intellectual and a historian. One of many far-fetched claims was that he had discovered--and then lost--documentation of a meeting between his hero, Richard the Lionheart, and Robin Hood after the Third Crusade.

In a quest to sort out the fact and fiction of his father's life, Richard (named for the legendary king) leaves London and travels to Jerusalem, where he falls in love with the mysterious Noor, a journalist who herself has many secrets. Back in England, he continues his research, finding his own evidence that Richard the Lionheart recovered the True Cross from Saladin. Again he sets out, this time on the trail of the True Cross, which leads him through the Middle East and Europe--and to the powerful sense that myth and history may be inseparable.

Justin Cartwright's latest novel is an utter original. Full of insight into the life and times of Richard the Lionheart, it is exciting, deeply moving, funny, and profound.