The Shame of Motley

The Shame of Motley is a historical novel written by Rafael Sabatini. The story is set in the 15th century and follows the life of Gaston de Luynes, a young Frenchman who becomes a court jester, or motley, to King Louis XI. Despite his lowly position, Gaston is a skilled swordsman and a man of honor, which earns him the respect of many at court, including the king's daughter, the Princess Joan. However, Gaston's loyalty to the king is tested when Louis XI orders him to spy on the Duke of Burgundy, a powerful rival. Gaston is torn between his duty to the king and his own sense of honor, and he must navigate a dangerous political landscape to maintain his integrity and protect those he loves. The novel is full of action, intrigue, and romance, and Sabatini's vivid descriptions of medieval France bring the setting to life. The Shame of Motley is a timeless tale of loyalty and honor, and a must-read for fans of historical fiction.1926. Being the memoir of certain transactions in the life of Lazzaro Biancomonte, of Biancomonte, sometime fool of the Court of Pesaro. After a brief stint in the business world, Sabatini went to work as a writer. He wrote short stories in the 1890s, and his first novel came out in 1902. It took Sabatini roughly a quarter of century of hard work before he attained success with Scaramouche in 1921. This brilliant novel of the French Revolution became an international bestseller. It was followed by the equally successful Captain Blood in 1922. A prolific writer, he produced about a book a year. This historical novel begins: For three days I had been cooling my heels about the Vatican, vexed by suspense. It fretted me that I should have been so lightly dealt with after I had discharged the mission that had brought me all the way from Pesaro, and I wondered how long it might be ere His Most Illustrious Excellency the Cardinal of Valencia might see fit to offer me the honourable employment with which Madonna Lucrezia had promised me that he would reward the service I had rendered the House of Borgia by my journey. See other titles by this author available from Kessinger Publishing.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.