WALTER OF GUTHRIE, BASTARD SON OF AN ENGLISH PEER, IS FORCED TO FLEE FROM OXFORD FOR HIS PART IN THE UNIVERSITY RIOTS OF 1273. INSPIRED BY FRIAR BACON, HE DETERMINES TO TRAVEL TO CHINA. WITH HIS FRIEND TRISTAM, HE FIGHTS HIS WAY TO THE HEART OF THE MONGOL EMPIRE AND RETURNS FAMOUS, TO FIND THAT HE MUST CHOOSE BETWEEN THE FIRST LOVE HE THOUGHT HE LOST AND THE EXOTIC FLOWER HE FOUND IN THE AST. THIS HARDCOVER NOVEL, THE BLACK ROSE BY THOMAS COSTAIN, WAS PUBLISHED IN 1945 BY DOUBLEDAY AND COMPANY. IT IS 403 PAGES WITH NO CRACKING OF THE SPINE HAVING BEEN READ PROBABLY ONCE OR NOT AT ALL. OTHER BOOKS ARE AVAILABLE. FOR OTHER ITEMS OF HOUSEHOLD INTEREST, VINTAGE COLLECTABLES AND ANTIQUES PLEASE VISIT MY OTHER ADS.