The sword decides: A chronicle of a queen in the Dark Ages, founded on the story of Giovanna of Naples: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition
The sword decides: A chronicle of a queen in the Dark Ages, founded on the story of Giovanna of Naples: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.
The sword decides: A chronicle of a queen in the Dark Ages, founded on the story of Giovanna of Naples is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Bowen, Marjorie (1888–1952).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
The sword decides by Marjorie Bowen is a historical novel written in the early 20th century. It dramatizes the rise of Queen Giovanna of Naples and the clash with her Hungarian husband, Andreas, amid factional intrigue, church politics, and street-level passions in medieval Naples. Early figures at the center include Andreas, Giovanna, her sister Maria, the ruthless Conte Raymond de Cabane, and allies and rivals such as Konrad of Gottif, Carlo di Durazzo, and Luigi of Taranto. The opening of the novel follows Andreas of Hungary as he nears Naples to claim power, only to discover through an intercepted letter that Giovanna’s faction already scorns and plans to outmaneuver him. A peasant girl, Hippolyta, warns him in dread and gives him an amulet, while a secret note from Maria d’Anjou urges him not to come. His entry into Naples is hostile and overshadowed by King Roberto’s dying, and in the death chamber the will declares Andreas and Giovanna joint sovereigns—yet, at the King’s last breath, Raymond de Cabane rouses the court and people to hail Giovanna alone. Andreas and Maria, appalled, weigh appeals to the Pope and Hungary; Andreas confronts Giovanna, and they part as declared enemies. Giovanna then binds herself to Raymond’s power, promising Maria to him in return for securing her coronation. In the gardens, court gossip shows Andreas isolated and humiliated, while Raymond openly threatens Maria with a forced marriage. The section ends with Giovanna staging lavish jousts to win popular favor as rival princes parade, while Andreas remains conspicuously absent, hunting and stewing in defeat.
Book and edition facts
- Title: The sword decides: A chronicle of a queen in the Dark Ages, founded on the story of Giovanna of Naples
- Author credits: Bowen, Marjorie (1888–1952)
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- Joanna I, Queen of Naples, -1382 -- Fiction
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View the complete Gutenberg catalogue record. Project Gutenberg identifies this edition as public domain in the United States; that designation does not establish its copyright status in every country.
Source notes
Catalogue metadata is public domain and is supplied through Gutendex, which imports Gutenberg's machine-readable catalogue. The automated synopsis is source-supplied, not an independently verified review. Author dates above describe the credited people; no ebook release date is presented as the book's original publication date.
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