"This is the author's second book and follows on from his very successful biography of Field Marshal James Keith, titled 'Nothing But My Sword.' It tells of another soldier of fortune who was born in the north-east of Scotland on 31st March 1635. General Patrick Gordon's life and times are written in a fast moving, colourful way, which brings this historical figure back to life in full focus as it explores Gordon's character against a well painted backdrop of 17th century scenery. Rather than a dry repetition of dates and a tedious recitation events, which is how history is often written, we have this exciting life story of how 'fortune favours the a brave' and, indeed, richly favoured this courageous man. Sam Coull invites you to return to the 17th century with him to see life as it truly was in close-up. From lives of daily drudgery and epidemic disease to scenes of brutal public executions, the readers are not spared any of the detail which accompanied Gordon from his birth in Scotland to his military escapades in northern Europe and the Russia of Peter the Great. Those readers who enjoyed his first book will not be disappointed with Sam Coull's latest, written in that same engaging style and with his own unique approach to weaving one man's story into the fabric of history."