Nigel Tranter's last book: the enthralling story of Thomas Hope, who counselled three kings. He first came to court to serve James VI and I, as he piloted Scotland through the union with England; he counselled Charles I through his tragic reign, witnessed Cromwell's rule in Scotland and finally, the restoration of Charles II.
The son of an Edinburgh merchant, Hope had a spectacular beginning to his career: at the age of seventeen, before he had even finished his legal education, he travelled to France to triumph in his first court case and caught the attention of his young king, James VI. It was the beginning of a life at the heart of the government of Scotland.
From James VI and I to Cromwell, from John Knox to Montrose, Lord Advocate Hope was a rock in a fast-changing world. He witnessed the reigns of Charles I and Charles II, the founding of the East India Company, affairs of state and affairs of the heart, matters political and diplomatic. No dry-as-dust-lawyer, he was a friend as well as an advisor to the three kings he served.
An age of change, violence and upheaval brought vividly to life in this gripping historical novel. HOPE ENDURES is the last novel Nigel Tranter completed before his death in January 2000.
'Through his imaginative dialogue, he provides a voice for Scotland's heroes' Scotland on Sunday
He has an amazingly broad grip of Scottish history - Daily Telegraph
One of Scotland's most prolific and respected writers - The Times
An accomplished writer of compelling and unforgettable historical novels - She magazine
Through his imaginative dialogue, he provides a voice for Scotland's heroes - Scotland on Sunday
Tranter's popularity lies in his knack of making historical events immediate and exciting - Historical Novels Review
An informative, entertaining read - Daily Examiner
He treats history with respect - Financial Times