The Talisman

In the arid wastes near the Dead Sea, a solitary Crusader knight of the Sleeping Leopard rides under the burning Syrian sun, his heavy armor a testament to the Northern warriors' defiance of the Eastern climate. This tale of the Third Crusade contrasts the wild, generous, yet violent Richard the Lionheart with the deep policy and prudence of Saladin, each vying in knightly bravery and generosity. Amidst the desolation of the plain, the knight's journey toward a distant well is interrupted by a mounted Saracen, setting the stage for a conflict that probes the chivalric codes of both worlds. Scott weaves a story of amulets, sacred relics, and the clash of civilizations, where the legendary Lee-penny talisman holds healing powers and the fate of kings hangs in the balance.

A public-domain text edition with newly prepared typography and a typographic cover. Original printed illustrations are not reproduced.