Bertha Runkle

The Helmet of Navarre

"The Helmet of Navarre" by Bertha Runkle is a historical novel published in 1901. Set during the siege of Paris by Henry of Navarre, this dramatic romance unfolds across four critical days before the king enters the city to accept the Catholic faith. Written by Runkle at just twenty-one years old, the tale combines love and adventure against the backdrop of French religious conflict. The novel became the third bestselling book in America in 1901 and was quickly adapted for Broadway.