Harold the King by Helen Hollick
Two men. One Kingdom. One Crown. England Harold Godwinesson, a young respected Earl, rides to inspect his new Earldom of Essex and East Anglia. He meets and falls in love with beautiful Edyth Swannhaels - Edyth the Fair. She will become the mother of his children despite the disapproval of his sister, the future Queen. Normandy William, the bastard son of a Duke, hungers for power. A charismatic leader, but brutal and determined, he cares for nothing and no one except his own greed for ambition and self advancement. Which includes gaining the Crown of England. 1066 When the old King, Edward, dies, England is left to the mercy of fate - and the stubborn will of two powerful men. Only one of whom can be King. In this wonderful, skillfully crafted tale, Helen Hollick sets aside the propaganda of the Norman Conquest and brings to life the English version of the events that led to the most famous date in British history. This is the remarkable story of the last Saxon King: his tender love, determination and loyalty, all shattered by the demanding need of a vulnerable Kingdom.Forced to give up his beloved wife and risk his life for England, the chosen king led his army into the great Battle of Hastings in October 1066 with all the proud honour and dignity that history remembers of its fallen heroes.
A novel of enormous emotional power.. Helen Hollick is a fabulous writer of historical fiction. - Elizabeth Chadwick Helen Hollick has it all! She tells a great story, gets her history right and writes consistently readable books! - Bernard Cornwell If only all historical fiction could be this good. - Historical Novels Review An epic re-telling of the Norman Conquest. - The Lady Don't miss Helen Hollick's colourful recreation of the events leading up to the Norman Conquest in Harold the King. - Daily Mail Hollick's enormous cast and meticulous research combine to create a convincing account of the destructive reign of the hapless Edward and the internecine warfare that weakens England as William prepares to invade. Thanks to Hollick's masterful storytelling, Harold's nobility and heroism enthrall to the point of engendering hope for a different ending to the famous battle of 1066. - Publisher's Weekly What the readers say - The genius of Hollick's writing is her rare ability to combine accurate historical fact with damned good storytelling. One thing for certain, reading a historical novel by Helen Hollick will leave you feeling satisfied if a little sad that the novel has ended. Even though you basically know the ending before you start the novel, it is in the telling of the story in between that will captivate you and keep you reading. I felt I was kidnapped by this story of the Saxon England. When I couldn't read the book, I thought about it during the day, I researched what I didn't know online and when sleeping, I dreamed about the characters. I think it will not be an exaggeration when I say that Helen cast a spell on me.
Helen Hollick is a USA Today bestselling author. She lives in northeast London on the edge of Epping Forest with her husband, adult daughter, and a variety of pets, which include several horses, a cat and a dog. She has two major interests: Roman/Saxon Britain and the Golden Age of Piracy - the early eighteenth century. Her particular pleasure is researching the facts behind the small glimpses of history and bringing the characters behind those facts to full and glorious life. She has an honours diploma in early medieval history and may one day, if ever she finds the time, go on to obtain her full degree.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9781906236595 |
| ISBN 10 | 1906236593 |
| Title | Harold the King |
| Author | Helen Hollick |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Paperback |
| Publisher | SilverWood Books Ltd |
| Year published | 2011-05-19 |
| Number of pages | 558 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |