The reign of Philip Augustus at the turn of the 12th–13th centuries became a turning point in the history of France. An intelligent and far-sighted politician, he managed to transform his scattered feudal possessions into a large state, one of the strongest in medieval Europe. The novel by Ernest Duplessis is dedicated to his struggle against internal and external opponents (primarily against the treacherous English king John the Landless). The author manages to combine historical accuracy with a fascinating plot in the best traditions of the knightly novel, originating from Walter Scott's Ivanhoe. Together with the heroes of the book, the reader will have to participate in battles and sieges, tournaments and duels, witness treacherous intrigues and true nobility.