Almodis

Repudiated, kidnapped, excommunicated, desired.

At a time when a noblewoman's purpose is to produce heirs, Almodis resolves to create her own dynasty. Almodis' path to power and happiness is fraught with drama. Forbidden love and murder underpin this extraordinary story based on the life of a scandalous female lord whose descendants went on to rule in France, Spain and England.

Almodis de la Marche was 'afflicted with a Godless female itch', according to the monk chronicler William of Malmesbury but she was 'radiant upon Earth', according to her third husband, Ramon Berenger, count of Barcelona. What were the motivations, triumphs and griefs behind her scandal? A novel based on the life of the real eleventh-century Almodis de la Marche, countess of Toulouse and Barcelona.

'Almodis is feisty. She takes any situation by the scruff of the neck and shakes the best out of it that she can. Warr brings her off the page … I read the book over a couple of days when I really should have been doing something else.' The Book Bag