The rhyme posted in explanation of this attack, makes the protagonist Richard ('Dick') Shelton, ward of Sir Daniel, curious about the death of his father Sir Harry Shelton. The story begins with the Tunstall Moat House alarm bell, rung to summon recruits for its absent lord Sir Daniel Brackley, to join the Battle of Risingham at which the outlaw 'fellowship' known as 'the Black Arrow' begins to strike with its 'four black arrows' for the 'four black hearts' of Brackley and three of his retainers: Nicholas Appleyard, Bennet Hatch, and Sir Oliver Oates, the parson. The novel is set in the reign of 'old King Henry VI' (1422–1461, 1470–1471) and during the Wars of the Roses (1455–1487).

Left|250px|thumb| A crucial moment in the novel when Sir Oliver, Sir Daniel, and Dick Shelton are surprised by a black arrow in the Moat House refectory hall (Summary from Wikipedia)įor further information, including links to online text, reader information, RSS feeds, CD cover or other formats (if available), please go to the LibriVox catalog page for this recording.įor more free audiobooks or to become a volunteer reader, please visit librivox.The Black Arrow: A Tale of the Two Roses by Robert Louis Stevenson The story of the Wars of the Roses is told in miniature by The Black Arrow.

This struggle sweeps him up into the greater conflict surrounding them all. Dick’s suspicions are enough to turn Sir Daniel against him, so he has no recourse but to escape from Sir Daniel and join the outlaws of the Black Arrow against him.

Outlaws in Tunstall Forest organized by Ellis Duckworth, whose weapon and calling card is a black arrow, cause Dick to suspect that his guardian Sir Daniel Brackley and his retainers are responsible for his father’s murder. The Black Arrow tells the story of Richard (Dick) Shelton during the Wars of the Roses: how he becomes a knight, rescues his lady Joanna Sedley, and obtains justice for the murder of his father, Sir Harry Shelton. Librivox recording of The Black Arrow a Tale of Two Roses by Robert Louis Stevenson read by Jeremy Pavier and Esther.

The black arrow a tale of the two roses