The latest book from island-based historian Derek Winterbottom will soon be available in bookshops.

Entitled ’The Mighty Montagus, Earls of Salisbury and Kings of Man 1301-1428’, it tells the story of six generations of the family, two of whom were ’Kings of Man’ for 60 years, during which time most of the Castle Rushen we see today was built.

The Montagus played a central part in the political and military events of their time and were close confidants of the English kings from Edward II to Henry V.

They lived very eventful lives against a colourful background of tournaments and jousting as well as the battles, sieges, atrocities and intrigues that were part of everyday life in a period when England was almost continuously at war with Scotland and France and the Isle of Man played an important strategic role.