Yorkshire’s historic Bolling Hall provided the back drop for the launch of a new book by businessman and fledgling writer Peter Algar this weekend (Dec 11).
Peter, from Horsforth ,Leeds, UK was joined by a plethora of guests including stars from stage and screen to launch his first novel The Shepherd Lord.
IBM and The Shepherd Lord
Peter, who writes under the nom-de-plume George Peter Algar, a client services manager for IBM, wrote the novel for an hour a day before dawn over the course of a year.
It is set in Yorkshire during the War of the Roses and features the historic feudal families of the period.
He was inspired to write the book by researching his own family connection into the Bolling family, and chose famous Bolling Hall as the launch venue.
Bolling Hall and the War of the Roses
Bolling Hall was a Royalist stronghold in the sea of Parliamentarian fervour in Bradford in the Civil War, but also has strong connections with the War of the Roses.
Peter’s book tells the tale of young Henry Clifford who becomes a shepherd in the wilds of Yorkshire to escape persecution.
Amazon
He says: “It’s an old tale which has been bursting to be told for a long time and I feel an immense sense of achievement having finally brought it to print.”
Olde England and Feudal Lords
Key to the heart of the novel is the clash between the historic Clifford family and their feudal loyalties in the 1400s of Olde England.
The story also has a wider appeal, bringing into play wide elements of semi-religious, and an almost Jedi-like appeal, alongside a stupendously fast moving plot.
The backdrop to the whole affair is the bloody feud between the warring factions of the leading families of England, with especial reference to the Battle of Towton.
York and Leeds
The Battle of Towton, and the Battle of Ferrybridge, near York and Leeds respectively, were two of the bloodiest and most proximate encounters in the War of the Roses, the long running clash between the Houses of York and Lancaster.
The Lancastrians eventually won the battle for the crown, with the defeat of Richard III at Bosworth Field, but Henry Tudor (VII) managed to unite the rivals factions through marriage.
Bollings and the United States
Peter believes he has family ties with the Bollings of Bradford's Bollings Hall, hence his extensive research.
Bradford is a major city in the north of England and has ancient Bolling Hall at its fringes It is now owned by the local council. After the English Civil War, many Bollings emigrated to the United States and a number of such are still resident there
The Shepherd Lord is available at good book shops and notably online at amazon.co.uk. Peter is already planning a sequel.
It is published by melrosebooks.com ISBN 978-1-906561-96-3.
Martin Hickes - English Yorkshire based journalist and publicist available for PR, journalism or publicity.
