TRUMPETS AT THE CROSSROADS

This stands out for interesting background reading in English history for a good fighting story takes on special meaning when set in the 13th century. A wicked Baron, unjustly imposing a huge tax on a town, meets with resistance. The young hero -- whose father has been cruelly dragged off by the Baron -- joins forces with the towns- folk who eventually gain their independence. The young hero who had dreamed of becoming a crusading knight instead of a blacksmith like his father matures into a different understanding of his role as he ends up preferring to be a blacksmith rather to ride away on a white horse to do noble deeds. A good yarn of feudal days.