The Last of the Barons — Volume 01

"The Last of the Barons — Volume 01" by Edward Bulwer Lytton is a historical novel that transports readers to the chaotic era of the Wars of the Roses, where the mighty Earl of Warwick, nicknamed the "King-maker," manipulates the throne of Edward IV. The story weaves together the threads of devotion, vaulting desires, and societal transformation during the waning days of the feudal system, painting a portrait of an England on the cusp of change. The book starts with a lively festival in London, filled with games and archery contests, and introduces Nicholas Alwyn, a common merchant, alongside Marmaduke Neville, a youth proud of his noble heritage; here Sibyll Warner, a scholar's daughter, is scorned by the merrymakers, setting the foundations for a tale that pits class against honor during the fifteenth century.