{"product_id":"9781444766967","title":"Sword Of State","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe youthful Alexander II, who ascended to the Scottish throne in 1214\u003cbr\u003eat the age of sixteen, was delighted to welcome to his court a young man\u003cbr\u003eof royal blood, heir to the ancient - and all but rival - line of the\u003cbr\u003eCospatricks, Earls of Dunbar. Rather than begrudge Alexander his crown,\u003cbr\u003ePatrick, Master of Dunbar, was to serve his monarch well and become his\u003cbr\u003etrue and closest friend.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAnd Alexander needed such a friend in those turbulent times, with the\u003cbr\u003eever-present threat of King John of England lurking; not to mention the\u003cbr\u003ewarlike Norsemen under King Hakon; the Lords of the Isles in revolt, and\u003cbr\u003ethe Isle of Man and Ireland also causing trouble.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis steadfast royal friendship was to withstand both treachery and\u003cbr\u003edanger, rivalry and heartache during a highly significant period in\u003cbr\u003eScottish history.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eA story of drama and enduring friendship by Nigel Tranter, master of\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eScottish historical fiction.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Hodder \u0026 Stoughton, Ltd.","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47155014500592,"sku":"9781444766967","price":2.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/9781444766967_p0.jpg?v=1763830113","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9781444766967","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}