They Served the Devil's Brood: A Narrative of 12th Century Wales and Ireland

In 1135, during the civil conflict between the usurper, King Stephen and "Empress" Matilda (the daughter of Henry I), two cousins, Raymond and William (unavoidably, one of the many "Williams" in the story), are born and raised at Carew, in south-west Wales. Their growth through infancy to maturity becomes an important part of the theme of "They Served the Devil's Brood." It is a critical time in England and Wales, as the barons are torn between loyalty to either faction, as well as having to deal with an increase in Welsh opposition to their presence. Calls are also being made for their knights and vassals to join the Crusade against the "infidels", who have taken control of the Holy Land. Henry Plantagenet, the son of Matilda, enters the fray as a youth, but has to be content to wait till Stephen, bereft of a viable heir, agrees to name Henry as his successor. The Welsh Church is also facing increased demands from the centralised hierarchy of Rome. As Henry II takes over the reins of government, his influence on all involvedbecomes apparent. He is kept busy - and with him all his servants - travelling his domains in France and England. An exiled minor Irish king appeals to Henry to help him recover his rightful place and territory. He is given permission to gather such help as he can from the Norman-Welsh barons. Richard de Clare ("Strongbow") - rather "down-on-his-luck" at the time - responds. It takes some time, but with Raymond's help, plus that of Raymond's relations, the FitzGeralds, they invade the south-east corner of Ireland. Raymond proves to be a capable warrior and brilliant commander, but has to struggle with his own troubles, as he seeks the hand of the higher-born sister of Richard, Basilia de Clare.

About the Author :
Warwick Grace was born in 1932 at Wellington NSW, a small country town gradually dwarfed by three other nearby towns - Orange, Dubbo and Mudgee. He nearly died from peritonitis in 1949, when about to sit for his final school exams. He and his parents thanked God and local Dr. Glasson, who used penicillin for the first time in the hospital there, enabling his recovery. Two years later he entered 4-years training as a High School Art teacher, commencing teaching in Sydney. The same year he and Pam (Murphy) were married. Work led them to Newcastle for three years and then back to Sydney, where he worked part-time as well with Stanmore Missionary Press, in editing, layout and illustration. By now they had two children, John and Susanne. In 1961 they moved to Wollongong, after resigning from the Education Department, to assist Warwick's parents in their Hardware Company, Graces of Fairymeadow. Two brothers had joined Wycliffe Bible Translators in Papua New Guinea. He managed the firm for 20 years, during which time Christine, the last of their three children, was born, and a University Degree was completed. In 1982 the business was sold. Warwick took his father, Noel, to England, Wales and Ireland, to further their research into the story that Noel had commenced some years earlier. On return Warwick was invited to join a friend in his Staircase joinery, designing and estimating. In 1991 the Joinery almost closed, but he and Pam were both able to go with other Church friends to USA and UK in 1992, and again to USA in 1994. He joined another friend in his local Funeral Company, where he regularly assisted and, as a Hospital Ward Chaplain, began to conduct services. Hobbies have included the completion of the historical novel, and work on other studies, singing with their Church Choir as well as a Barbershop Quartet and a local Community Men's Choir, the Arcadians Lamplighters. In 2006 he was asked to commence tutoring a free Art Class in the local Baptist Church, where he had been an Elder since 1977 - an enjoyable return to his original vocation.