The Little Duke: Richard the Fearless

Charlotte M. Yonge was an English teacher and Victorian era author of many fiction and non-fiction works, who dedicated her talents as a writer to the service of the church and was widely read and respected in the nineteenth century.
 “The Little Duke: Richard the Fearless” is a historical tales for children, published as a serial in “The Monthly Packet” magazine in 1851. The main character is Richard Duke of Normandy, the great grandfather of William the Conqueror. At the beginning of the tale he is a boy of eight, who succeeds to the dukedom when his father is murdered in 943 A.D. His overlord King Louis carries the boy off to the French court. There his life seems to be in danger, and he is rescued by his faithful squire and returns to Normandy…