Beltane the Smith

"Beltane the Smith" by Jeffery Farnol is a romance novel written during the early 20th century. The story is set in a mythical medieval landscape and follows Beltane, a skilled smith who lives a solitary life in the forest, blissfully ignorant of the complexities of human relationships, especially those involving women. The narrative introduces his journey towards self-discovery, honor, and love, particularly in connection with Helen, the Duchess of Mortain. The opening of the story presents a vivid portrayal of Beltane's content life in the woods, where he immerses himself in nature and his craft, while also being influenced by his mentor, Ambrose the Hermit. Beltane's peaceful existence is disrupted by a chance encounter with a mysterious stranger, who expresses a sense of urgency about the state of the world, indicating an impending conflict. Their subsequent training sessions debut a sense of adventure, camaraderie, and foreshadow Beltane's eventual confrontation with broader societal issues. This interaction illustrates the tension between Beltane's cherished solitude and the call to engage in the turbulent events occurring outside his sanctuary. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Jeffery Farnol was a British writer from 1907 until his death in 1952, known for writing more than 40 romance novels, often set in the Georgian Era or English Regency period, and swashbucklers. He, with Georgette Heyer, largely initiated the Regency romantic genre.