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Westmoreland Saga
historical romance
Series · historical fiction
The Crowning Mercy Trilogy
The Crowning Mercy Trilogy series by Bernard Cornwell has 3 known books (3 published) and is best read in publication order, starting with A Crowning Mercy (1983).
- Books
- 3 known books (3 novels)
- Published
- 3
- First published
- 1983
- Status
- completed
- Shelved under
- Historical Fiction
- Last checked
Start here: A Crowning Mercy (1983) — then read straight through in publication order.
Reading order
The date order of published books and any announced future entries — the default way to read the series.
- Book 1:
A Crowning Mercy
A Crowning Mercy opened the trilogy in 1983 at 577 pages -- its longest volume -- co-written by Bernard and Judy Cornwell under the pseudonym Susannah Kells, setting a young woman's fate against a hidden fortune during the English Civil War.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of A Crowning Mercy - Book 2:
Fallen Angels
Fallen Angels followed a year later, in 1984, at 489 pages, carrying the same family's story forward a century into the turbulence of the French Revolution.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Fallen Angels - Book 3:
Coat of Arms (The Aristocrats)
Coat of Arms, also published as The Aristocrats, closed the trilogy in 1986 as its shortest entry at 352 pages, following Georgian-era descendants through questions of inheritance and legitimacy.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Coat of Arms (The Aristocrats)
About The Crowning Mercy Trilogy
Long before Sharpe or the Saxon Stories, a young Bernard Cornwell co-wrote three historical novels with his wife, Judy Cornwell, publishing them under the joint pseudonym "Susannah Kells." The trilogy follows generations of an English family across the upheavals of the 17th and 18th centuries: A Crowning Mercy opens during the English Civil War, where a young woman's fate becomes entangled with a hidden fortune and Oliver Cromwell's rising Puritan cause; Fallen Angels carries the family's story into the turbulence of the French Revolution a century later; and Coat of Arms (also published as The Aristocrats) follows their Georgian-era descendants through questions of inheritance, class, and legitimacy in 18th-century England.
Written in the early-to-mid 1980s before Cornwell's Sharpe books made his name, the trilogy is more romantic and character-driven than his later military fiction, closer in spirit to sweeping historical family sagas than to the battlefield-focused adventure novels he'd become known for. Modern reissues credit Bernard Cornwell directly as author (alongside the original Susannah Kells attribution), and the books are now generally catalogued and sold as part of his backlist.
Frequently asked questions
How many books are in the Crowning Mercy trilogy?
Three: A Crowning Mercy (1983), Fallen Angels (1984), and Coat of Arms, also published as The Aristocrats (1986).
Why is this trilogy credited to 'Susannah Kells'?
Susannah Kells is a joint pseudonym Bernard Cornwell used with his wife, Judy Cornwell, who co-wrote all three novels with him. Modern editions and most retailers now credit Bernard Cornwell as the primary author, sometimes alongside the original Kells byline.
How does this trilogy differ from Bernard Cornwell's later books?
It's more romantic and family-saga-driven than his signature military historical fiction (Sharpe, The Last Kingdom), written earlier in his career before those series established his battle-focused reputation. It's still historical fiction, but with less emphasis on set-piece warfare.
What order should I read the Crowning Mercy books in?
Publication order: A Crowning Mercy, Fallen Angels, then Coat of Arms (The Aristocrats). Each follows a different generation of the same family, so reading in order gives the clearest sense of the overall saga, though each book can also be read individually.
Is this trilogy connected to any of Bernard Cornwell's other series?
No. It's a self-contained early-career trilogy with no shared characters or setting with Sharpe, The Last Kingdom, the Warlord Chronicles, the Grail Quest, or the Starbuck Chronicles.
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