The Blanket of the Dark

Set in early sixteenth-century England, the narrative follows Peter Pentecost, a young clerk who discovers his royal lineage as a descendant of Henry of Buckingham. The story unfolds with themes of intrigue and identity, as it explores the dark and oppressive atmosphere of a kingdom ruled by the tyrannical Henry VIII, depicted vividly as an ogre. Buchan masterfully captures the essence of the era, highlighting the struggles of the people living under such a formidable monarch, where anonymity and shared humanity prevail in the shadows.