Step into a sun-drenched Provence where poetry is conquest and song is currency. Evaleen Stein crafts a loving portrait of medieval France at its most romantic: a world where noble poet-singers called troubadours compete in the courts of King René, their clever verses and stirring melodies matters of life and honor. Count Reynaurd, a joyful nobleman and troubadour, rides toward the palace with his quick-witted page Pierrot, saddlebags full of lutestrings and expectations high for the great singing contest. But standing in his path is Count William of Auvergne, a rival whose ambition matches his own. What follows is a gentle battle of wit and wordplay, set against landscapes of wildflowers, castle walls, and olive groves. Stein writes with evident affection for this vanished world, trading in the charm of courtly manners, playful banter between master and servant, and the idea that a well-turned verse might be the finest treasure a person can possess. These are tales that believe deeply in the romance of art and the dignity of beauty.
