Book Excerpt for the Day

    As he stood shaving at the open window of his room, a crossbow quarrel had passed beneath his elbow, demolishing a set of Venetian-case bottles before burying itself in the far wall.  Henry, infuriated by the attack on his person but even more by the loss of so much fine and irreplaceable glass, had ordered an immediate search for the marksman.  His soldiers unearthed a handful of malcontents, all of which had resisted arrest in a more or less desultory way...

(from Pavane, by Keith Roberts)

The complete review is here.