Book One in The Storyteller series
The Storyteller’s War: Geoffrey Chaucer, Reluctant Spy was released May 8, 2025 and can be purchased through these outlets.
March, 1366. Geoffrey Chaucer, page to King Edward the Third and son of a wine trader, leaves his love Pippa Rouet to travel to Bordeaux, and then Navarre, Rioja and Castile. Here he finds himself in the middle of a ten year-old war between King Pedro the Cruel (or Just), and Enrique Trastámara, his bastard half-brother. A war that is about to boil over.
Chaucer seeks the famed Rioja wine for his father’s wine trade, but his true mission as a spy on behalf of King Edward is to find Sir Hugh Calveley, a mercenary fighting for Trastámara, and turn him to Pedro’s cause. Success will aid the ambitions of both Pedro and his ally Prince Edward in Bordeaux.
Most importantly, success will surely mean advancement from page to esquire, ensuring the hand in marriage of Pippa Rouet, the woman he loves. Failure?…the loss of all he holds dear.
The novel was long-listed short-listed a semi-finalist for the Chanticleer Early Historical Fiction award. See the blog post here about my journey to getting published, and see the blog post here about the many things I have Iearned on the research trip where I followed Chaucer's footsteps from London to Bordeaux to northern Spain.These historical fiction authors have this to say about The Storyteller’s War:
“For the love of a woman, Chaucer risks all by becoming a spy for his king. In The Storyteller’s War, John Corry reveals a little-known chapter in the life of Geoffrey Chaucer. The wit and charm of the famed poet, raconteur, and storyteller permeate this deeply researched novel about Chaucer’s early life and his role in the Castilian Civil War which determined the fate of the Spanish succession and England’s future on the continent. The Storyteller’s War is rousing good tale that will delight the most ardent Chaucer enthusiasts and novices alike.”
Donna D. Conrad, bestselling author of The Magdalene Chronicles.
www.donnaconrad.com
“A thoroughly engrossing, well-researched novel which will grip you and hold you from the start. Action and adventure at their best.”
Griff Hosker, bestselling historical fiction author on Amazon.
https://griffhosker.com