The Emerald Key - By Christopher Dinsdale Page 0,91
soon sent their sons to Ireland in order to learn. The Irish, in turn, became very wealthy themselves as they used their higher knowledge to craft the finest books, art, and jewellery in all of Europe.
The little island flourished, but their growing wealth did not go unnoticed. To the north, tales of riches on a far western island reached the most feared raiders of the time, the Vikings. Starting in the late eighth century, waves of Viking raids washed over the once thriving communities of Ireland. Villages were ransacked. Irish families were slaughtered or captured and enslaved. Universities were plundered and buildings were burned. Fortunately for the rest of Europe, Irish education had been exported continuously for two centuries, and the educational monasteries founded by Irish monks in both Scotland and mainland Europe were able to continue their teachings.
Although Ireland’s golden age came to an end with the Viking raids, those ancient Irish can be proud that their work helped bring the rest of Europe out of the Dark Ages and into the Renaissance.
Acknowledgements
I would first and foremost like to thank my amazing wife and front line editor Amanda for her unending patience when I frequently tucked myself away to write during the summer holidays.
To my wonderful daughters, Sarah, Johanna, and Stephanie for their constant encouragement and their willingness to slog through my rough drafts in order to give me early feedback on the developing storyline. It was much appreciated!
To Sylvia McConnell and Allister Thompson of Dundurn Press who believed in The Emerald Key. I would not be a published author if it were not for their encouragement. A huge thanks to you both and the rest of the Dundurn team.
There were many excellent sources of historical information while I wrote The Emerald Key. The Newmarket and Aurora Public Libraries in York Region are always my starting points for researching a new novel. The McCord and Pointe-à-Callière Museums in Montreal, the Huron-Wendat Museum, Parks Canada, the National Library of Ireland, and the St. Lawrence Seaway Corporation also provided crucial information so that the story could remain as historically accurate as possible.
To the students, staff, and schools of the York Region District School Board, the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario, and the Ontario Library Association, who were a constant, encouraging presence while I was writing. After each book, I always feel as if it might be my last, but their enthusiasm for my stories is a great reason to persevere.
I would especially like to thank my mom, whose unwavering love and support has been crucial in allowing me to pursue my goal of becoming a published writer.
Copyright © Christopher Dinsdale, 2012
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise (except for brief passages for purposes of review) without the prior permission of Dundurn Press. Permission to photocopy should be requested from Access Copyright.
Editor: Sylvia McConnell
Design: Jesse Hooper
Epub Design: Carmen Giraudy
Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication
Dinsdale, Christopher, 1965-
The emerald key [electronic resource] / Christopher Dinsdale.
Electronic monograph.
Issued also in print format.
ISBN 978-1-4597-0536-4
I. Title.
PS8607.I58E44 2012 jC813’.6 C2012-901550-4
We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts and the Ontario Arts Council for our publishing program. We also acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Book Fund and Livres Canada Books, and the Government of Ontario through the Ontario Book Publishing Tax Credit and the Ontario Media Development Corporation.
Care has been taken to trace the ownership of copyright material used in this book. The author and the publisher welcome any information enabling them to rectify any references or credits in subsequent editions.
J. Kirk Howard, President
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More Adventure from Christopher Dinsdale
Stolen Away
978-1894917209
$10.95
Keira, kidnapped from Ireland by Vikings, is a slave living in legendary Vinland. Two Native bands, the Beothuck and the Thule, are also fighting over the land, thrusting the Norsemen into war. While the Vikings search for a new home, an accident at sea leaves Keira miraculously saved by a Beothuck warrior. Keira settles into the Beothuck way of life, learning their customs and coming to care for them. But she dreams of risking everything in order to find a way home. Ultimately, she is torn between the cultures in which she has lived — her homeland, the Viking world in which she was welcomed, and her new Beothuck family. This is a thrilling adventure and an exciting introduction to the history of Canada.
Shortlisted for the Red Maple Award
Betrayed: The Legend of Oak Island
978-1894917919
$10.95
Connor MacDonald and his mother have encountered Henry Sinclair, Norwegian prince and Earl of Orkney, who rescues them from highwaymen. Prince Henry is an adventurer who has sailed to the farthest reaches of the known world. On a dark Egyptian beach, he was given a treasure so precious that kings would sacrifice everything in order to acquire it. But unlike the warmongering monarchs of Europe, Prince Henry intends it to become an everlasting beacon of peace and devises a plan so bold that only the exiled Order of the Knights Templar could even dare conceive of it. Events soon lead Connor, now a squire, his friend Angus, and Prince Henry to the shores of Vinland and to Oak Island. The fate of the Templar Knights rests in the hands of two Scottish teenagers and their Mi’kmaq friend, Na’gu’set, as they desperately try to identify the dark forces that threaten not only to destroy them but the entire Templar Order.
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Definingcanada.ca
@dundurnpress
Facebook.com/dundurnpress
Table of Contents
Dedication
Epigraph
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Epilogue
Author’s Notes
Acknowledgements
Copyright
More Adventure from Christopher Dinsdale
Table of Contents
Dedication
Epigraph
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Epilogue
Author’s Notes
Acknowledgements
Copyright
More Adventure from Christopher Dinsdale