In this historical thriller set against the rich background of the 13th century Inquisition, the last living troubadour, condemned by the church as a heretic, must rescue a holy Christian relic from a crusading king. Seamlessly weaving the history of the Cathar Crusade with the historical origins of the Tarot deck, this fascinating, genre-bending epic brings symbols of the Tarot to life.
“Tales about the Inquisition are not supposed to be amusing and entertaining, but Armstrong (The Game) manages to make them just that while keeping historical integrity... recommended for all” —Library Journal
“The 13th-century French inquisition provides the backdrop for Armstrong’s action-packed second novel (after The Game).” —Publishers Weekly
“Brilliance in which Armstrong blends comedy, parody, and adventure in genuinely innovative ways. A writer of abundant talent.” —David Pitt, Booklist
About the Author — Derek Armstrong
Best known for historical and mystery thrillers, Derek Armstrong is also a screenwriter, publisher and well-known marketing guru. He is the author of the popular Song of Montségur historical trilogy and the Alban Bane thrillers, including The Game and MADicine.
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LOGLINE In this historical thriller set against the rich background of the 13th century Inquisition, the last living troubadour, condemned by the church as a heretic, must rescue a holy Christian relic from a crusading king. Seamlessly weaving the history of the Cathar Crusade with the historical origins of the Tarot deck, this fascinating, genre-bending epic brings symbols of the Tarot to life.
Review Snippets
"More than a few moments of near-brilliance in which Armstrong blends comedy, parody, and adventure in genuinely innovative ways. A writer of abundant talent."Booklist, David Pitt
"Tales about the Inquisition are not supposed to be amusing and entertaining, but Armstrong (The Game) manages to make them just that while keeping historical integrity... recommended for all." — Library Journal Review
"If I didn't know better, I'd say that Derek Armstrong wrote his novel, The Last Troubadour – Song of Montségur, purely for my own amusement and pleasure. With wit, wisdom (and more than an occasional wink) he has written a novel that panders to nearly every one of my cultural, spiritual, and historical prejudices. Set in thirteen century France – that hotbed heroes, heroines, and heresy – it's a wide-screen Technicolor adventure worthy of a full Errol Flynn treatment… an adventure for spiritual grownups that educates as much as it delights. I can't wait for the next in the series."
"The 13th-century French inquisition that targeted the heretical Cathar sect provides the backdrop for Armstrongs action-packed second novel (after The Game)." Publishers Weekly Review
Derek Armstrong is good." Michael Korda, editor in chief emeritus, Simon & Schuster, author Charmed Lives and Another Life
"A wonderful work of art." Aceclectic Tarot Book Review, Bonnie Cehovet
"The tarot-themed characters are inspired. An author to watch."Films & Books
"Derek Armstrong has managed to weave the characters of the Tarot Major Arcana into an adventure for the mind, heart and soul. I loved it!" Review on The Tarot Channel
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Book Flap Copy
Ramon Troubadour returns to his devastated home city of Carcassonne to rescue the holy Dame of the Cathars from the flames of the Inquisition. His famous voice and sense of humor help him make new allies in his quest to prevent a bloody crusade
Only the Dame knows the secret of the holy relic of Montségur. A king will go to war for the relic. A dying pope will kill for it.
Helped by a nameless one-eyed knight, a fighting damsel, a witch and a circus of colorful entertainers on dancing horses, Ramon must stand against a terrifying army led by Death incarnate, complete with archetypal scythe.
Based on the true history of the Inquisition and the legend of the Tarot, The Last Troubadour assembles a magnificent cast right out of the Tarot deck: the Fool, the Magician, The Emperor, The Pope, Death and even The Devil. Don’t miss this tale of knightly valor, Tarot symbolism, tragic history and exciting quests.
Armstrong brings his "genre-bending" skills to the thirteenth century, quilling a laugh-out-loud historical thriller that is at once genuine, amusing, tragic and exciting. The last living troubadour, condemned by the church as a heretic, must rescue the Holiest Christian relic from a crusading Sainted King and "flaming" Pope Innocence. With him are a disgraced Templar and a luscious Temptress. Together, the Troubadour, the Templar and the Temptress—a heretic, athiest and pagan—are the last hope to save the Holy of Holies from powerful men who would exploit it to provoke a new crusade to Jerusalem.
Armstrong somehow retains his trademark "prose style that keeps us chuckling"(Booklist) while pointing his satirical wit at a Church that believes the answer to faith is to burn any who do not believe. With larger-than-life characters that manage not to become caricatures, Armstrong sets his heroes against the Diableteur, a witch hunter who resembles the archetypal "Death and his sickle", a lecherous archbishop who believes the relic can make him the next Pope, and a Pope who knows the true nature of the relic will destroy the Church. With Ramon Troubadour and his Templar/Temptress duo are an eclectic cast of characters—the one-eyed "white" knight who falls in love with the virgin Holy Lady, a Novgorodian wandering sorceress, and famous rebels, Doré the Dandy and Osric the Hammer. Oh, not to forget little Mauri, a "rat-like" mongrel of a dog who often "saves the day", and Izzy and Wizi, two "nearly human" horses.
If you enjoy your thrills and history—crusading knights, romantic-but-funny troubadours, fighting damsels, evil archbishops and roasting "heretics" on the pyre—mixed with a generous dollop of humor, large dashes of historical tragedy, and a big splash of satire, you'll adore The Last Troubadour, a genre-bend if there ever was one.
Note: If your favorite bookseller is not on this list—or if you ARE a bookseller and would like to be on this list—please email us link information. If your favorite retailer doesn't have a copy of The Last Troubadour, please ask them to order! We support all booksellers. Thank you!
USA and International Distribution: Indepedent Publishers Group (IPG) Canadian Distribution: Canadian Manda Group
*Please allow Canadian retailers time to adjust pricing.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Armstrong, Derek Lee. The last troubadour : a novel / Derek Armstrong. -- 1st ed. p. cm. -- (Song of Montsegur ; bk. 1) Summary: "Historical thriller focused on the 13th century Cathar crusade, the development of tarot cards, Pope Innocent IV, Saint Louis of France, the Holy Grail, based on true history"--Provided by publisher. ISBN 978-1-60164-010-9 1. France--History--13th century--Fiction. 2. Carcassonne (France)--History--Fiction. 3. Troubadours--Fiction. 4. Albigenses--Fiction. 5. Inquisition--France, Southern--Fiction. 6. Tarot cards--Fiction. I. Title. PS3601.R575L37 2007 813'.6--dc22 2007028101
The Tarot and The Cathars
Armstrong seemlessly blends true history and historical characters—Pope Innocent, Dame Esclarmonde de Foix, Ramon Troubadour, Archbishop Amiel, Viscount D'Arci—with a little whimsical "possible history." It has long been reported by scholars that one possible source of Tarot symbolism were the Christian Cathars who feature in Armstrong's novel as the persecuted people "burned as heretics" by the Church. Armstrong cleverly weaves a "possible" history of the Tarot, making historical characters come alive as the Fool (Ramon Troubadour), the Magician (Nevara), Death (Diableteur), the Pope (Pope Innocent IV), the High Priestess (Dame Esclarmonde de Foix), Chariot (Arnot, the Templar) and many other eclectic and fascinating characters. Not only is the "mystical" history possible, it's clever and funny, adding rich dimension and imagery to The Last Troubadour.
The Holy of Holies
The Cathars of Montségur are famous as the "guardians" of holy relics of Christianity, and Armstrong uses this "fact" to weave a historical epic of great intensity and joy.
The Quest and The Last Stand
Don't miss the sequels to The Last Troubadour—The Quest (Second Book of the Song of Montségur Cycle) and The Last Stand, scheduled for spring and fall 08 respectively.
Derek Armstrong
Best known for historical thrillers and mystery thrillers, Derek Armstrong is also a screenwriter, publisher and well-known marketing guru. His defining signature style was described by Booklist as "brilliance in which Armstrong blends comedy, parody, and adventure in genuinely innovative ways." Armstrong is the creator of Alban Bane, featured in the Alban Bane thrillers The Game and MADicine, a character affectionately compared by critics to House M.D., the TV character. He is the author of the popular Song of Montségur historical trilogy, including The Last Troubadour and The Last Quest. He is also author of two non-fiction titles: Blogertize—A Leading Expert Shows How Your Blog Can Be A Money-Making Machine and The Persona Principle: How to Succeed in Business with Image-Marketing. Forthcoming in 2009 is a breakthrough Harry Potter competitor: Magick Inc.
Derek Armstrong has won many awards for advertising copywriting Internationally and wrote The Persona Principle (Simon & Schuster) with co-author Kam Wai Yu, now translated to five languages.
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Tuesday, May 20, 2008 at 04:46PM 
