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The Enterprise of England (The Chronicles of Christoval Alvarez) Paperback – June 27, 2014

4.5 out of 5 stars 888 ratings

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Facing the threat of King Philip’s Enterprise of England – Spanish invasion and annexation of the country – Sir Francis Walsingham’s secret service spreads a network of agents across Europe. After caring for hundreds of maimed and wounded soldiers returning from the fall of Sluys, young physician and code-breaker Christoval Alvarez is sent on two dangerous missions to Amsterdam, where, amongst the friendly Hollanders, treason and treachery lurks. Christoval’s ship, sailing home, plays its part in the great sea battle in which the small and inexperienced English navy must confront the most powerful sea force in the world.
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

http: //www.annswinfen.com Ann Swinfen spent her childhood partly in England and partly on the east coast of America. She was educated at Somerville College, Oxford, where she read Classics and Mathematics and married a fellow undergraduate, the historian David Swinfen. While bringing up their five children and studying for a postgraduate MSc in Mathematics and a BA and PhD in English Literature, she had a variety of jobs, including university lecturer, translator, freelance journalist and software designer. She served for nine years on the governing council of the Open University and for five years worked as a manager and editor in the technical author division of an international computer company, but gave up her full-time job to concentrate on her writing, while continuing part-time university teaching. In 1995 she founded Dundee Book Events, a voluntary organisation promoting books and authors to the general public. Her first three novels, The Anniversary, The Travellers, and A Running Tide, all with a contemporary setting but also an historical resonance, were published by Random House, with translations into Dutch and German. The Testament of Mariam marks something of a departure. Set in the first century, it recounts, from an unusual perspective, one of the most famous and yet ambiguous stories in human history. At the same time it explores life under a foreign occupying force, in lands still torn by conflict to this day. Her second historical novel, Flood, is set in the fenlands of East Anglia during the seventeenth century, where the local people fought desperately to save their land from greedy and unscrupulous speculators. Currently she is working on a late sixteenth century series, featuring a young Marrano physician who is recruited as a code-breaker and spy in Walsingham's secret service. The first book in the series is The Secret World of Christoval Alvarez and the second is The Enterprise of England. She now lives in Broughty Ferry, on the northeast coast of Scotland, with her husband, formerly vice-principal of the University of Dundee, a cocker spaniel, and two Maine coon cats.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Shakenoak Press
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ June 27, 2014
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ First Edition
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 312 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0992822858
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0992822859
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.01 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.78 x 9 inches
  • Book 2 of 9 ‏ : ‎ The Chronicles of Christoval Alvarez
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 out of 5 stars 888 ratings

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Ann Swinfen
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Ann Swinfen spent her childhood partly in England and partly on the east coast of America. She was educated at Somerville College, Oxford, where she read Classics and Mathematics and married a fellow undergraduate, the historian David Swinfen. While bringing up their five children and studying for a postgraduate MSc in Mathematics and a BA and PhD in English Literature, she had a variety of jobs, including university lecturer, translator, freelance journalist and software designer. She served for nine years on the governing council of the Open University and for five years worked as a manager and editor in the technical author division of an international computer company, but gave up her full-time job to concentrate on her writing, while continuing part-time university teaching in English Literature. In 1995 she founded Dundee Book Events, a voluntary organisation promoting books and authors to the general public, which ran for fifteen years.

She is the author of the highly acclaimed series, The Chronicles of Christoval Alvarez. Set in the late sixteenth century, it features a young Marrano physician recruited as a code-breaker and spy in Walsingham’s secret service. In order, the books are: The Secret World of Christoval Alvarez, The Enterprise of England, The Portuguese Affair, Bartholomew Fair, Suffer the Little Children, Voyage to Muscovy, The Play’s the Thing, That Time May Cease and The Lopez Affair.

Her Fenland Series takes place in East Anglia during the seventeenth century. In the first book, Flood, both men and women fight desperately to save their land from greedy and unscrupulous speculators. The second, Betrayal, continues the story of the dangerous search for legal redress and security for the embattled villagers, at a time when few could be trusted.

Her latest series, the bestselling Oxford Medieval Mysteries, is set in the fourteenth century and features bookseller Nicholas Elyot, a young widower with two small children, and his university friend Jordain Brinkylsworth, who are faced with crime in the troubled world following the Black Death. In order, the books are: The Bookseller’s Tale, The Novice’s Tale, The Huntsman’s Tale, The Merchant’s Tale, and The Troubadour’s Tale. Both this series and the Christoval Alvarez series are being recorded as unabridged audiobooks.

She has also written two standalone historical novels. The Testament of Mariam, set in the first century, recounts, from an unusual perspective, one of the most famous and yet ambiguous stories in human history, while exploring life under a foreign occupying force, in lands still torn by conflict to this day. This Rough Ocean is based on the real-life experiences of the Swinfen family during the 1640s, at the time of the English Civil War, when John Swynfen was imprisoned for opposing the killing of the king, and his wife Anne had to fight for the survival of her children and dependents. Both are also available as unabridged audiobooks

Ann Swinfen now lives on the northeast coast of Scotland, with her husband, formerly vice-principal of the University of Dundee, a rescue cat called Maxi, and a cocker spaniel called Suki.

You can receive notifications of new books and audios by signing up to the mailing list at www.annswinfen.com/sign-up/ and follow her monthly blog by subscribing at www. http://annswinfen.com/blog/

Learn more at her website www.annswinfen.com

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
888 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers appreciate the historical accuracy of the book, with one noting its impressive research into the 17th-century European era. Moreover, the writing style receives positive feedback, with customers describing it as beautifully and lucidly written. Additionally, they praise the character development, with one review highlighting the expansion of Simon's character.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

14 customers mention "Historical accuracy"14 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the historical accuracy of the book, immersing them in the era, with one customer highlighting the impressive research into the 17th-century European setting.

"...Characters and pacing are just as strong. Again the historical locale captures time and place in a way that involves you in the story...." Read more

"A good solid Christoval Alvarez story, gives an excellent portrayal of the advancing Spanish hold on the Low Countries at the time...." Read more

"...research into this era both enriches the story and gives the reader such a fresh view of history that the well-informed reader lives the adventures..." Read more

"...Swinfen's writing highlights and compassionately illuminates the diverse social, political and religious issues impacting the daily lifestyle of..." Read more

10 customers mention "Value for money"10 positive0 negative

Customers find the book to be excellent and well worth reading.

"This second book of the series is every bit as good as the first. Characters and pacing are just as strong...." Read more

"...This is an excellent second book in the series. However, now that I have read all as of 2017, I worry that the author may not continue the series..." Read more

"...Such a rough, tragic, hard, but worthwhile life." Read more

"A pleasant read, with lots of information about 17th-century Europe, well blended in." Read more

8 customers mention "Character development"8 positive0 negative

Customers find the characters captivating, with one customer particularly appreciating the expansion of Simon's character, while another describes it as a fascinating story of Christoval Alvarez.

"...Characters and pacing are just as strong. Again the historical locale captures time and place in a way that involves you in the story...." Read more

"A good solid Christoval Alvarez story, gives an excellent portrayal of the advancing Spanish hold on the Low Countries at the time...." Read more

"...of England, Book 2 in the series, continues the fascinating story of Christoval Alvarez, young physician and brilliant codebreaker---an admirable..." Read more

"...Love her word-rich writing style. Characters are captivating and so nice to have strong female heroine who manages to pass as a male in order to..." Read more

5 customers mention "Writing style"5 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the writing style of the book, describing it as beautifully and lucidly written.

"...intelligence network. Swinfen's writing highlights and compassionately illuminates the diverse social, political and religious issues impacting the..." Read more

"...Beautifully written, rich with Elizabethan culture and the drama of humanity. I highly recommend submerging yourself...." Read more

"The author has a clear,lucid style & brings all of her characters alive, She clearly evokes Elizabethan England & the events of the period,..." Read more

"...by the navy of Queen Elizabeth I. It also illustrates the great good fortune of the English." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on August 27, 2016
    This second book of the series is every bit as good as the first. Characters and pacing are just as strong. Again the historical locale captures time and place in a way that involves you in the story. The plot is less a single mystery to solve as a series of incidents that build toward the armada of 1588. The defeat of the Spanish has always seemed inevitable, when in reality it was anything but. And, as always, I long for more. Fortunately, there are more books in the series, just waiting for me to come read them.
    5 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on October 21, 2017
    A good solid Christoval Alvarez story, gives an excellent portrayal of the advancing Spanish hold on the Low Countries at the time. This is an excellent second book in the series. However, now that I have read all as of 2017, I worry that the author may not continue the series...
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on November 17, 2014
    The Enterprise of England, Book 2 in the series, continues the fascinating story of Christoval Alvarez, young physician and brilliant codebreaker---an admirable young soul with a burdensome secret. As in Book 1, Ann Swinfen's impressive research into this era both enriches the story and gives the reader such a fresh view of history that the well-informed reader lives the adventures vicariously, intensely involved with the characters and events. The series is likely to continue into the reign of James I. After the death of Walsingham there was a fascinating struggle for power between Essex and the Cecils, who set up rival intelligence services.
    The books in this series, as in most series, should be read in sequence for maximum enjoyment and appreciation.
    6 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on January 6, 2018
    Hooked from book one, I am now on Book 5 of series. Love her word-rich writing style. Characters are captivating and so nice to have strong female heroine who manages to pass as a male in order to practice medicine and work as decoder and undercover agent for Walsingham's
    intelligence network. Swinfen's writing highlights and compassionately illuminates the diverse social, political and religious issues impacting the daily lifestyle of her equally diverse and intriguing story characters. Enjoy!
  • Reviewed in the United States on March 17, 2015
    . . . concealing herself from the eyes of males as she changes costumes, carrying out Sir Francis Walsingham’s undercover assignments in the Low Countries as the Spanish Armada gathers itself for the assault the Spanish monarch hopes will put him on the throne of England, depose Elizabeth I, and restore Catholicism to the English. As Kit, she works with Walsingham’s and his code-breaker Phelippes’ plans to investigate the state of affairs in the English and Dutch ranks near Amsterdam, between times as Dr. Christoval Alvarez serving the sick and wounded of London alongside her father in the months preceding the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588. As Caterina, she must camouflage the stirrings of young womanhood that must eventually lead her closer to acknowledging her a-little-more-than-friendship feelings for Simon Hetherington, an actor with James Burbage’s troop just producing Christopher Marlowe’s Tamburlaine. This is the second book of The Chronicles of Christoval Alvarez.
    4 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on December 26, 2020
    Perhaps shocking would be a better word. So much of the dry history we were taught, brought to stunning, unbelievable real life. Such a rough, tragic, hard, but worthwhile life.
  • Reviewed in the United States on July 25, 2019
    Kit Alvarez is a keeper of secrets, family secrets, community secrets, government secrets, all of which could result in torture or death if exposed.
    Beautifully written, rich with Elizabethan culture and the drama of humanity. I highly recommend submerging yourself. And then, read The Oxford Medieval Mysteries series.
  • Reviewed in the United States on May 1, 2019
    I loved books 1 and 2 in this series but found this one too depressing... it’s of course a depiction of historical events, but it was heavy going because there was too much hardship...

Top reviews from other countries

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  • Evamay
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book
    Reviewed in Australia on November 27, 2023
    I have read three of these books by Ann Swinfen. They are well written and make a very good read and I would recommend them to all who enjoy a spy thriller.
  • Amazon Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Read twice
    Reviewed in Canada on July 24, 2016
    Enjoyed it so much I'm reading it for the third time and I find things I didn't see the first two reads.
  • Catherine Caron
    5.0 out of 5 stars La manière dont l'auteur diversifie tout en étant fidèle à son personnage
    Reviewed in France on March 5, 2019
    J'ai aimé la suite de l'expérience précédente
    Report
  • Ann Victoria Roberts
    5.0 out of 5 stars Author Ann Swinfen brings history alive
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 19, 2017
    A fascinating episode in the life of young Kit Alvarez - Portuguese immigrant, doctor, and code breaker in Tudor England. At the bidding of Sir Francis Walsingham, Kit is despatched across the Channel, where English troops are defending the Protestant Netherlands against invaders from Catholic Spain. If the Netherlands fall, there'll be little to stop an invasion of England - and Philip of Spain is already amassing his ships...
    Carrying secret papers to Amsterdam, Kit becomes involved in murder as well as espionage, and, following a successful battle, faced with treating the sick and injured survivors.
    Author Ann Swinfen writes in an easy style, leading the reader through periods of time we all know a little about. Through charming characters, her books show us the detail behind historic events, as well as shining a light on the reality of everyday life. I'm already a fan of her medieval bookseller, Nicholas Elyot, and young Kit Alvarez has me hooked already!
  • JG
    4.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining fast read, good historical detail
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 30, 2022
    Well written story though quite light and at times not entirely believable but kept me interested to the end with good historical detail, would be a good aeroplane book. Probably more like 3.5 stars.