THE FALCON OF PALERMO

Bordihn's scrupulously researched debut brims with drama, passion and personalities ranging from the scandalous to the sublime. After the untimely deaths of his parents (his father was the tyrannical German emperor Henry of Hohenstaufen), emperor-to-be Frederick II is on his own, mingling with street urchins in 13th-century Sicily's Muslim quarter as his homeland is besieged by German warlords. When Pope Innocent sends Archbishop Berard to quell the chaos, the green-eyed boy-king and the avuncular bishop become fast friends. Surprisingly, German princes and the pope elect Frederick Holy Roman Emperor, but he's not the malleable leader they were hoping for. Brilliant and headstrong, Frederick aspires to build an empire to equal Rome, even if it means defying the church (he was excommunicated twice). Frederick's appetite for power is nearly rivaled by his lust for beautiful women (marriage doesn't preclude him from bedding a bevy of fair-skinned lovelies). He also studies Roman history and astrology, writes poetry and excels at falconry. When, on his deathbed, Frederick laments his failures as a leader, lifelong confidante Berard reminds him of his triumphs: "You gave men a vision of enlightenment, justice and tolerance. You gave them hope." Bordihn renders vivid descriptions of the medieval era (bejeweled costumes, bloody battles, the pomp of the royal court) in this engrossing account of a legendary ruler both revered and reviled. Agent, Rogers, Coleridge and White. (Feb.)