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A King's Gamble: The Neville's Cross Campaign, 1346
Nick McLean
Ambition. Betrayal. Bloodshed.
In 1346, while Edward III is fighting the French at Crécy during the opening years of the Hundred Years’ War, Scotland’s King David II sees an opportunity too good to ignore. England’s armies are overseas, the northern counties appear dangerously exposed, and victory seems almost assured.
It is anything but.
What begins as a bold and opportunistic invasion soon starts to unravel. Poor decisions, bitter rivalries and stubborn English resistance combine to turn David’s campaign into catastrophe, culminating in one of the most devastating defeats in medieval Scottish history.
A King’s Gamble is a fast-paced work of narrative history telling the remarkable true story of the Scottish invasion of northern England in 1346. From the brutal siege of Liddel Strength and the ravaging of the border counties to the climactic Battle of Neville’s Cross, it recreates the confusion, violence and extraordinary human drama of medieval warfare.
Blending vivid storytelling with sharp historical analysis, Nick McLean cuts through the romance of chivalry to reveal war as it was actually experienced: chaotic, brutal and frequently absurd. Written with dark humour and a soldier’s eye for detail, A King’s Gamble introduces kings, knights, raiders, rebels and rogues while uncovering the story of one of Britain’s most decisive, yet surprisingly forgotten, medieval battles.
Praise for A King's Gamble:
"McLean is to be congratulated on producing a readable account of a murky episode. It was an enjoyable read and I feel better informed for having tackled it." - Dr Mark Egan, Durham Historical Society
"Never dull...the way history is meant to be written." - Amazon Review
"This is the book I wish I had written." - Goodreads Review
"Funny, accessible...very enjoyable read." - Amazon Review
"One of the best history books I have ever read." - Amazon Review
"A masterpiece..." - Amazon Review.
Forged in the North
Nick McLean
Northumberland, 1317. Rebellion is spreading across a fractured realm.
When Sir Gilbert de Middleton turns against the Crown, the northern borderlands descend into violence. Castles are attacked, loyalties shift, nobles are dragged into rebellion, and royal authority begins to buckle.
Caught in the middle is Walter de Selby, a hardened soldier forced to navigate treacherous alliances, dangerous enemies and the brutal realities of war on England’s northern frontier.
From sudden ambushes and bloody raids to desperate sieges and bitter betrayals, Walter’s choices will determine where his loyalties lie and whether he survives what follows.
Based on real people and events, Forged in the North blends meticulous historical research with fast-paced storytelling, dark humour and memorable characters to bring one of medieval England’s most turbulent and overlooked rebellions vividly to life.
Praise for Nick McLean's writing:
“Move over Bernard Cornwell, a new kid is in town.” – Amazon Review
“It has all the grace of Bernard Cornwell at his best. You can practically feel the mud sticking to your boots.” – Goodreads Review
“This book is an extraordinary achievement.” – Amazon Review
“Spectacularly entertaining.” – Amazon Review
“Could not put it down.” – Goodreads Review
Meet Walter de Selby
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