314 pages, illustrated with black and white sketches, second impression. The jacket is chipped with loss to the edges and to the head of the spine. The body of the book is in excellent condition, clean, unmarked and solid, apart from an award sticker from Xavier College for excellence in Latin. Very appropriate for this title. "Barbara Leonie Picard (17 December 1917 - 15 December 2011) was a British writer of children's books, best known for historical fiction and for retellings of ancient myths and medieval legends. Her works were meticulously researched. She also wrote original fairy tales. Three of her books, including Ransom for a Knight, were commended runners up for the annual British Carnegie Medal, one collection of her fairy tales and two historical novels."