Godwine Kingmaker: Part One of The Last Great Saxon Earls
Description
<p><span><span>Harold Godwineson, the Last Anglo-Saxon King, owed everything to his father. Who was this Godwine, first Earl of Wessex and known as the Kingmaker? Was he an unscrupulous schemer, using King and Witan to gain power? Or was he the greatest of all Saxon Earls, protector of the English against the hated Normans? The answer depends on who you ask. He was befriended by the Danes, raised up by Canute the Great, given an Earldom and a wife from the highest Danish ranks. He sired nine children, among them four Earls, a Queen and a future King. Along with his power came a struggle to keep his enemies at bay, and Godwine's best efforts were brought down by the misdeeds of his eldest son Swegn. Although he became father-in-law to a reluctant Edward the Confessor, his fortunes dwindled as the Normans gained prominence at court. Driven into exile, Godwine regathered his forces and came back even stronger, only to discover that his second son Harold was destined to surpass him in renown and glory.</span></span></p>
Story Behind The Book
The late Virginia Chute thoroughly researched this historic novel. The details and even the dialect are correct for the era of the first European settlement of Maine.
Reviews
<p>“[Virginia] Chute proved to be a knowledgeable historian on both sides of the Atlantic...she is an excellent storyteller and the creator of believable and enjoyable characters...T<em>he Remembrances of Marietta Lufford</em> is solid historical context. It has a good strong story. The language is sustained and believable...this is an impressive work and a delightful read. Finally, it reveals much about the first European settlement in our region .”<br />
William David Barry, <em>Maine Sunday Telegram</em></p>
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