To the millions of readers who have found themselves entranced by Jack Whyte's historical novels over the past twenty years, this first collection of Jack Whyte short stories might seem like a radical change of direction, if not an absolute contradiction in terms. But that simply isn't true. There is no change of direction on Whyte's part in these shorter tales, merely an adjustment of focus, from the panoramic perspective to the personal, intimate viewpoint.

The ten stories featured here are distilled from all the elements that have earned Whyte a worldwide readership among lovers of epic historical fiction, an audience that has remained loyal to him for decades. The people they deal with are real - credible and utterly, convincingly human - and the existential realities that govern their lives are as demanding and immutable as such things have always been. Yesterday's battles are no different from those of tomorrow.