William Kennedy

The Crown and the Scepter William Kennedy

World War II is the backdrop of a story of intrigue and adventure that begins when Adolf Hitler decides in 1940 to invade England. His plans call for his first stealing the Crown Jewels of England so he can personally destroy these historic symbols of Great Britain's constitutional monarchy in full view of their British Parliament. He wants it to be a clear sign to the world that the British Empire would be a vanquished nation and under the iron-handed rule of Nazi Germany. When the British become aware of the Nazi plans, they decide that the Crown Jewels are no longer safe in England. They arrange for the collection to be sent to the United States for safekeeping. Guenther Strasser, a heroic and much-honored U-boat commander, successfully masterminds a shrewd and daring plan for stealing England's national treasures. The scheme undergoes severe complications when Strasser's boat becomes disabled off the coast of the United States. It takes all of his ingenuity and skill to survive when left alone in a strange land with his precious contraband. Conflicting emotions constantly disturb him. His dilemma becomes a question of doing his duty or following his conscience and doing the morally right thing. Finding romance in this unlikely scenario becomes both a challenge and an inspiration. Bill Kennedy has take his signature style of blending strong fictional plots and characters into a time that has been described as the worst tragedy in the annals of recorded history. The horrors of World War II are vividly recaptured in this fast-paced work of fiction that is a reminder that "those who do not learn from the mistakes of history are doomed to repeat them."