Douglas Blackmore

The Ex The Extraordinary Franks Douglas Blackmore

A must read for all those Franks, Franklin, Francis, Frankland...

Born of a treasure hunt into an ancient family name this work painstakingly unpicks a remarkably detailed story of hundreds of years of family history. From pirates blindly negotiating the cloying mists of the lower Rhine the name Frank became synonymous with empire and the creation of France. Born of a flower of the river the Franks adoption of the Fleur de Lys became an emblem of dynasties and kings.

Utilising the family line the work debates issues of moral conduct, subjugation, the civilizing process and its effect upon equal and fair society. As the story unfolds so more of the reality of the Franks as a family are revealed. In many ways mere ordinary folk, by their mien theirs is a tale of more than just ordinary people.

The early revelation of a little known knight, retinue of Robert de Brus forbearer to the Scottish throne, Robertus Francais and his brother knights follow the Norman Conquest across Britain. As the story of the Franks arrival in Yorkshire and dispersal across the north unfold so we see disparate battles, bloodshed, land-grabs, famine and glory.

This book is a fascinating read, a true story of the past written into the landscape of today and all the tomorrows.