Hell or Some Worse Place: Kinsale 1601

A fascinating new insight into the epic conflicts between Spain’s Philip III and Elizabeth I of England, culminating in the Spanish invasion of Ireland, the fateful Battle of Kinsale and the downfall of the Gaelic insurgent chieftains O’Neill and O’Donnell. Kinsale, Ireland: Christmas Eve, 1601 ‘When the devil took our saviour Jesus Christ to the pinnacle of the temple and showed him all the kingdoms of the world, he kept Ireland hidden … to keep it for himself. For I believe that it is the inferno itself, or some worse place.’ – Don Juan del Águila, Spanish Commander As thunder crashes and lightning rakes the sky, three very different commanders line up for a battle that will decide the fate of a nation. General Juan del Águila has been sprung from prison to lead a Spanish invasion of Ireland. Its mission: to seize a bridgehead in Queen Elizabeth’s territory and to hold it. Facing him is Charles Blount, a brilliant English strategist whose career is under a cloud. His role in a conspiracy has brought him to within a hair’s breadth of the gallows. Meanwhile, Irish insurgent Hugh O’Neill knows that today is his final chance to defeat the English. For each man, this is the last throw of the dice. Tomorrow they will be either heroes – or has-beens. A true-life story of courage and endurance, of bitterness and betrayal, and of high-level intrigue in the courts of England and Spain. ‘Enthralling.’ The Irish Independent Kinsale, Ireland: Christmas Eve, 1601 As thunder crashes and lightning rakes the sky, three very different commanders line up for a battle that will decide the fate of a nation. General Juan del Águila has been sprung from a prison cell to command the last great Spanish Armada. Its mission: to seize a bridgehead in Queen Elizabeth's territory and hold it. Facing him is Charles Blount, a brilliant English strategist whose career is also under a cloud. His affair with a married woman edged him into a treasonous conspiracy – and brought him to within a hair’s breadth of the gallows. Meanwhile, Irish insurgent Hugh O’Neill knows that this is his final chance to drive the English out of Ireland. For each man, this is the last throw of the dice. Tomorrow they will be either heroes – or has-beens. These colourful commanders come alive in this true-life story of courage and endurance, of bitterness and betrayal, and of intrigue at the highest levels in the courts of England and Spain. Praise for The Stolen Village '...a harrowing tale that sheds light on the little-known trade in white slaves ... a fascinating exploration of a forgotten chapter of British and European history' Giles Milton - BBC History Magazine

Pages: 432, Edition: Geïllustreerd, Paperback, O'Brien Press