About the Book:

The story takes place in the years 714AD to 741AD in the very middle of the Dark Age. It traces the history of Charles Martel (Charlemagne's Grandfather) from his arrest for the murder of his half-brother to his death. In the process he escaped, raised and army deposed his father's widow, united much of Northern Europe, and turned back the second Arab invasion of the North at Tours.

The battles of Toulouse (725) and Tours (732) are described in detail, at lease in one of the historical versions. Both Frank and Arab accounts have been used. The military reader will find the discussion of weapons and tactics woven into the plot. Several fictional characters interact with Martel to tell the story. Historical characters appear as they affect history and the plot. A list in the appendix keeps them strait.

Martel's conversion is dramatized when he receives the lance. It is instant and dramatic. Several references are made to the real nature of the Merovingians (acting anything but the descendants of Jesus as Dan Brown has portrayed them). Orsin, a Druid sage, is continually plotting to gain the lance for himself, claiming it to be “Gungir” the lance of Oden. There is even a historical basis for this.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Louis deMartelly

Email: lou@demartelly.com

Charles Martel and the Lance of Destiny

New Book Gives Unprecedented Look at an Old Historical Figure

AURORA, Ill. – Charles Martel is widely known as the hero of the Battle of Tours in the 8th century. His deeds are often eclipsed by and sometimes confused with those of his grandson, Charlemagne. In his new book, Charles Martel and the Lance of Destiny (published by AuthorHouse), author Louis deMartelly takes a new, more candid look at this important historical figure.

In this historic novel, deMartelly sees this warrior-leader, who altered the course of history with the help of an enchanted lance, as true to his Dark Age period although he is often glamorized as a king of the Middle Ages. Remembered mainly for his victory in the 732 AD Battle of Tours, the facts of Martel’s life read more like fantasy fiction than true fact, deMartelly asserts.

Charles Martel and the Lance of Destiny cuts through the commonly-held beliefs about Martel as a hero of the Middle Ages to view him as the near-barbarian warrior torn between paganism and the Christianity of Rome. Borrowing from folklore of the period, deMartelly adds likely characters and subplots to accent historical fact, creating an engaging, unique novel. An especially interesting point is the “enchanted” lance. A real, existing religious relic, the lance was traced by Hitler’s archaeologists, along with its powerful legend, all the way back to Martel.

“The first half of the Eighth Century was a turning point in European history,” deMartelly writes. “It decided whether Europe was to become Christian, Muslim or remain Pagan. Martel was instrumental in the outcome which laid the groundwork for the European Union of today. The book focuses on the events and people that made it happen.”

A must-read for history buffs, Dark Age fantasy enthusiasts, as well as those who appreciate a solid argument against the “blood line” theory of the Holy Grail, Charles Martel and the Lance of Destiny is sure to inform and entertain readers.

About the Author: Louis deMartelly lives in Aurora, Ill., where he works as an occasional teacher after a long career in the computer industry. Until now, his writing was limited to satire and marketing pieces. deMartelly serves as an instructor in the Coast Guard Auxiliary and graduated from Aurora University where he met his wife, Joyce. He holds a bachelor’s degree in history and political science, and has six children and nine grandchildren. Charles Martel and the Lance of Destiny is his first book.

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