The Outlaw of Torn

Edgar Rice Burroughs (1875 - 1950)

The story is set in 13th century England and concerns the fictitious outlaw Norman of Torn, who purportedly harried the country during the power struggle between King Henry III and Simon de Montfort. Norman is the supposed son of the Frenchman de Vac, once the king's fencing master, who has a grudge against his former employer and raises the boy to be a simple, brutal killing machine with a hatred of all things English. His intentions are partially subverted by a priest who befriends Norman and teaches him his letters and chivalry towards women.

Otherwise, all goes according to plan. By 17, Norman is the best swordsman in all of England; by the age of 18, he has a large bounty on his head, and by the age of 19, he leads the largest band of thieves in all of England. None can catch or best him. In his hatred for the king he even becomes involved in the civil war, which turns the tide in favor of de Montfort. In another guise, that of Roger de Conde, he becomes involved with de Montfort's daughter Bertrade, defending her against her and her father's enemies. She notes in him a curious resemblance to the king's son and heir Prince Edward.

Finally brought to bay in a confrontation with both King Henry and de Montfort, Norman is brought down by the treachery of de Vac, who appears to kill him, though at the cost of his own life. As de Vac dies, he reveals that Norman is in fact Richard, long-lost son of King Henry and Queen Eleanor and brother to Prince Edward. The fencing master had kidnapped the prince as a child to serve as the vehicle of his vengeance against the king. Luckily, Norman/Richard turns out not to be truly dead, surviving to be reconciled to his true father and attain the hand of Bertrade (Summary by Wikipedia)

Genre(s): Action & Adventure Fiction, Historical Fiction

Language: English

Section Chapter Reader Time
Play 01 01 - Chapter 1 Susan Umpleby
00:09:05
Play 02 02 - Chapter 2 Susan Umpleby
00:06:57
Play 03 03 - Chapter 3 Susan Umpleby
00:18:27
Play 04 04 - Chapter 4 Susan Umpleby
00:10:58
Play 05 05 - Chapter 5 Susan Umpleby
00:38:02
Play 06 06 - Chapter 6 Richard Kilmer (1942 - 2022)
00:20:26
Play 07 07 - Chapter 7 Richard Kilmer (1942 - 2022)
00:34:02
Play 08 08 - Chapter 8 Richard Kilmer (1942 - 2022)
00:14:28
Play 09 09 - Chapter 9 Richard Kilmer (1942 - 2022)
00:31:27
Play 10 10 - Chapter 10 Richard Kilmer (1942 - 2022)
00:28:41
Play 11 11 - Chapter 11 Richard Kilmer (1942 - 2022)
00:14:49
Play 12 12 - Chapter 12 Richard Kilmer (1942 - 2022)
00:31:36
Play 13 13 - Chapter 13 Richard Kilmer (1942 - 2022)
00:27:34
Play 14 14 - Chapter 14 Richard Kilmer (1942 - 2022)
00:26:54
Play 15 15 - Chapter 15 Richard Kilmer (1942 - 2022)
00:26:27
Play 16 16 - Chapter 16 Richard Kilmer (1942 - 2022)
00:12:06
Play 17 17 - Chapter 17 Richard Kilmer (1942 - 2022)
00:12:17
Play 18 18 - Chapter 18 Richard Kilmer (1942 - 2022)
00:26:49
Play 19 19 - Chapter 19 Richard Kilmer (1942 - 2022)
00:28:35