The Walking Drum

Blurb

The Walking Drum is a novel by American author Louis L'Amour. Unlike the majority of his over 100 other novels, it is not set in the frontier era of the American West, but is a historical novel set in the Middle Ages—12th century Europe and the Middle East.
The protagonist is Mathurin Kerbouchard of Brittany. In the course of the story he travels from place to place, ultimately in search of his disappeared father . Along the way, he finds himself in the roles of slave, pirate, scholar, physician, merchant, alchemist and yet always a lover. Kerbouchard is a romantic seeker of knowledge and fortune on a challenging journey, full of danger, excitement, adventure and revenge.
Along his long journey the main character is thrust into the heart of the treacheries, passions, violence and dazzling wonders of a magnificent time. From castle to slave galley, from sword-racked battlefields to a princess's secret chamber, and ultimately, to the impregnable fortress of the Valley of the Assassins in the heart of Persia.