The Scoundrel and the Thief tells a tale of deception and conspiracy, set in the backdrop of the great famine of 1316, in the reign of Edward II. But this story isn't about kings and queens, it is about the people on the furthest end of the scale, the peasantry. Although the events in the story are fictitious the themes and many of the individuals are historical. I have researched it to the best of my ability while making it also accessible to read not just for history enthusiasts but also for a wider audience. The book deals with themes of desperation. When forced with severe famine some people will resort to desperate measures in order to survive. The setting is based in Somerset and Wiltshire, notably the towns of Frome and Warminster as well as the city of Salisbury.