Elizabeth Chadwick Books in Order

Where to Start Reading Elizabeth Chadwick

For readers new to Elizabeth Chadwick's immersive historical fiction, deciding where to start can be intimidating. While she has written dozens of novels set across the Middle Ages, almost all of them can be read as standalones. However, the author herself acknowledges that reading certain books in sequence enhances the experience. There are two primary, highly recommended entry points into her bibliography:

• The Greatest Knight (William Marshal Series): This is Chadwick’s signature novel and a New York Times bestseller. It introduces William Marshal, a real-world historical figure who rose from a penniless younger son to the Regent of England. Starting here lets you dive straight into her most celebrated character arc.
• The Summer Queen (Eleanor of Aquitaine Trilogy): If you prefer to follow one of history's most fascinating and powerful women, start with the first book in this trilogy. It covers Eleanor’s early life, her marriage to King Louis VII of France, and her transition to the English court, offering a brilliant look at 12th-century royal politics.

The William Marshal and Bigod Saga

The largest and most famous web of interconnected stories in Chadwick’s catalog surrounds William Marshal and the Bigod family. These novels can be read in two ways: publication order or chronological order by historical setting. Chronological order is highly recommended for readers who want to watch the generations unfold seamlessly.

Chronological Order by Setting

1. A Place Beyond Courage (2007): Set during the civil war known as the Anarchy, this novel focuses on John FitzGilbert (John Marshal), William Marshal’s fiercely independent father.
2. The Greatest Knight (2005): The definitive biography of William Marshal, covering his early knightly career, his chivalric exploits, and his loyalty to the crown under King Henry II and Richard the Lionheart.
3. Templar Silks (2018): Set in 1183, this novel focuses on William Marshal’s pilgrimage and crusade to the Holy Land. Though written much later, it fits chronologically in the middle of his lifetime.
4. The Scarlet Lion (2006): Picks up the second half of William Marshal's life, tracing his marriage to Isabel de Clare, his navigation of King John’s turbulent reign, his regency, and his death in 1219.
5. The Time of Singing / For the King's Favor (2008): Focuses on Roger Bigod, Earl of Norfolk, who served King Henry II. His life and career closely parallel William Marshal's, and the families intermarry.
6. To Defy a King (2010): Set during the Magna Carta rebellion, this novel follows Mahelt (Maud) Marshal, William’s eldest daughter, who is married off to Hugh Bigod (Roger's son), bringing the Marshal and Bigod families together.

William Marshal Companion Novels

To fully flesh out this era, Chadwick has written two companion books that connect to the Marshal family line:

• The Irish Princess (2019): Focuses on Aoife MacMurrough (Eva of Leinster) and her marriage to Richard de Clare (Strongbow). Aoife is Isabel de Clare's mother, meaning she is William Marshal's mother-in-law. Reading this before The Greatest Knight provides rich background on Isabel's family.
• A Marriage of Lions (2022): Set during the reign of Henry III, this novel follows Joanna de Munchensi and William de Valence. Joanna is William Marshal's granddaughter (the daughter of Joan Marshal and Warren de Munchensi), extending the family saga into the next generation.

The Eleanor of Aquitaine Trilogy

Unlike the Marshal saga, the Eleanor of Aquitaine trilogy is straightforward, following both publication and chronological order perfectly. It traces the long, epic life of one of the most powerful queens in medieval European history:

1. The Summer Queen (2013): Covers Eleanor's youth, her marriage to Louis VII of France, the Second Crusade, and the annulment that set the stage for her marriage to Henry of Anjou (later Henry II of England).
2. The Winter Crown (2014): Follows Eleanor's tumultuous marriage to King Henry II, her court of love in Poitiers, and the bitter rebellion of her sons that led to her long imprisonment by her husband.
3. The Autumn Throne (2016): Details Eleanor's release from captivity upon Henry's death, her role as the matriarch of Europe during the reigns of Richard the Lionheart and King John, and her final years at Fontevraud Abbey.

The Wild Hunt (Ravenstow) Series

The Wild Hunt was Chadwick's debut series. Unlike her later works which center on documented historical figures, this series follows the fictional Ravenstow family in the Welsh Marches. In 2020, Chadwick released a prequel, which shifts the chronological reading order:

1. The Coming of the Wolf (2020): A prequel set in 1069 immediately following the Norman Conquest, detailing how the family's lineage began in the turbulent borderlands.
2. The Wild Hunt (1990): The award-winning debut novel that follows Judith of Ravenstow and Guyon FitzRichard in the late 11th century.
3. The Running Vixen (1991): Follows the next generation of the family during the early 12th century.
4. The Leopard Unleashed (1992): Follows the third generation during the mid-12th century Anarchy.

The FitzWarin and Joan of Kent Series

Chadwick has written two other notable shorter series:

The FitzWarin Duology

Set in the Welsh Marches, this duology centers on the FitzWarin family. Chronologically, the second book published serves as the prequel:

• Shadows and Strongholds (2004): Follows the youth of Brunin FitzWarin during the mid-12th century. Chronologically, this comes first.
• Lords of the White Castle / The Outlaw Knight (2000): Follows Brunin's son, Fulk FitzWarin, and his legendary outlaw rebellion against King John.

Joan of Kent Duology

This series moves into the 14th century, telling the story of Joan of Kent (referred to as Jeanette), a prominent royal figure during the Hundred Years' War:

• The Royal Rebel (2024): Covers Joan's secret, scandalous marriage to Thomas Holland and the courtly battles to keep their union recognized.
• The Crownless Queen (2026): Concludes Joan's life, covering her widowhood and her subsequent marriage to Edward, the Black Prince, and her role as mother to King Richard II.

Standalone Novels and Historical Tapestry

Elizabeth Chadwick’s standalone novels are not isolated; they are woven into the same Anglo-Norman and Plantagenet historical tapestry. For example, Lady of the English (2011) focuses on Empress Matilda and Adeliza of Louvain, running parallel to the events of the civil war in A Place Beyond Courage. Similarly, The King's Jewel (2023) is set in the 11th/12th-century Welsh Marches, featuring Nest ferch Rhys (Princess Nest). These standalones can be picked up at any point, but reading them alongside the corresponding series provides a much richer view of the historical landscape.

What to Know Before You Start

Before diving in, there are a few practical details readers should keep in mind:

• Sole Authorship: Despite the vast scope of her bibliography, Elizabeth Chadwick is the sole author of all her novels. She has not co-authored works, though her books are frequently published under slightly different titles in the US and the UK (such as The Outlaw Knight vs. Lords of the White Castle, and The Time of Singing vs. For the King's Favor).
• Film Novelization: In 1995, Chadwick wrote a novelization of the film First Knight. This is an outlier in her career, based on a cinematic adaptation of Arthurian legend rather than her signature detailed historical research.
• Meticulous Realism: Unlike many writers of historical romance, Chadwick is a member of Regia Anglorum, a medieval reenactment society. She researches primary sources, visits battlefields, and handles historical weapons to ensure that the sensory details of her pages—from the weight of chainmail to the smell of medieval hearths—are completely authentic.