like all of the cadfael chronicles, the book describes events in england and wales at the time of the anarchy, the civil war between king stephen and the empress maud for the throne of england. the battle of lincoln was real and took place as described in the novel, including the defeat of stephen's forces, the capture of stephen, and the involvement of a welsh force under madog and cadwaladr. many other real historical figures who acted in the anarchy are mentioned in the text; for example, ranulf of chester, robert of gloucester, and william of ypres.