Edwin: High King of Britain

Edwin's story begins in the twelfth year of his exile. England is no longer ruled by the emperors of Rome but it has not yet become a single unified kingdom. It is a time of change as kings wrestle for control of land and men even as the new religion tries to do the same by ousting the old religious beliefs. The story moves quickly, at times almost too quickly, as details of events are omitted. At the end of one chapter the widowed Edwin states that it is time he took a new wife and the very next chapter begins with his bride Æthelburgh on her way to their wedding. There is no explanation of how she came to be chosen or any of the negotiations which must have taken place. Edwin's new queen follows the new religion and brings two Roman show more priests, Paulinus and James, with her. Edwin is directly faced with pressure to convert as Paulinus is sure that this is all part of his god's plan. Paulinus is not above lying to the king or the queen if he thinks it will further his conversion efforts. It is interesting that the Anglo-Saxons were comfortable with multiple gods, in fact, the more the better, but the new religion demands exclusivity. Although Edwin converts, and by doing so, brings most of his followers along with him, he never seems entirely sure of his decision.

The pacing is erratic and Albert's writing style is uneven, at times using archaic terms and spellings and at other times employing a jarringly modern tone. He mentions "the cooks had barely any work to do until lunch the next day" but the word lunch did not come into use for almost another thousand years. His description of a confrontation between the priests of the old and new religions — Coifi pointed his bone rattle at Paulinus. "He started it, my lord." — sounds more like squabbling toddlers rather than the king's trusted advisers. At one point Albert offhandedly mentions that the queen had given birth to twins several years earlier and then in the next chapter informs us that the twins have died. Why did he even bother with so meaningless a detail? Paulinus' preaching is a drag and did we really need a whole chapter about the king's baptism? In another conversation, Edwin tells Paulinus that his forefathers were Germans. Paulinus says they must have been the good German barbarians which sounds uncomfortably like a reference to the "good Germans" of Nazi Germany. Yet at other times Albert is capable of lyric passages such as: "The mountains, the unforgiving teeth of rock and scree that gnawed the west of the country and ran down its spine, were different. In them the day could turn from summer to winter in the time it took to spark a fire and huddle against the storm. Upon them were the wraith-haunted tombs of old, tombs that were already old during the days of the emperors, and their cold presence had terrified the soul of a young man, little more than a boy, learning the ways of warriors beneath their unblinking stare."

The book could have benefited from a tighter focus as Albert seemed to bounce between a regnal history and a religious conversion story. The map of the various kingdoms of Britain about 625 AD was helpful. I would have preferred that the list of the Dramatis Personae had been alphabetized and it did seem to include some very minor persons who were mentioned only once in passing. show less

The book Edwin by Edoardo Albert was a gift in more ways than one. I do not usually read historical fiction, but having been given this book I had to give it a go and I loved it. It has opened my eyes to what good historical fiction can be like. From the first page the world of the 600s AD comes alive with the lightest descriptions of the sights, sounds and smells. Scenes, characters and conversations are all completely believable. I felt that if I shut my eyes I might open them to find myself back in time – perhaps Edoardo Albert had a previous incarnation in early Northumbria!
Having found myself in the past, I was captivated by the wonderfully adept storytelling of the events of Edwin’s life. Such a ripping yarn! I was completely show more caught up in the lives and families, friends and foes, conspiracies and battles. The very idea that 30 men was a large army I found extraordinary. There was no avoiding the pretty savage nature of the times and the unpleasant things that happened on occasion but neither was there any glorifying or excessive description. The well balanced writing combining plot, language, description and emotion brought the events to life so well for me that I have to admit to a tear near the end for this High King who lived in such a different time and place from me. I also found it most interesting to read about the spread of Christianity in these islands at that early time.
I was glad to find a dramatis personae, map and glossary at the front, and having looked up the occasional character and event to look at illustrations on line, I was completely reassured at the historical accuracy and I am in awe at the reading and research that Edoardo Albert must have done to be able to produce such a fine story of Edwin’s life and times.
I am not a writer (although a writer’s wife) and feel slightly embarrassed that I should even try to put into words my feelings about this book except to say that I enjoyed it hugely, am about to start Oswald, Book Two of The Northumbrian Thrones, and look forward to more in this wonderful series in the future. show less

I love reading historical fiction in order to learn about history I would have never otherwise be exposed to. This first installment of The Northumbrian Thrones did just that.

Telling the story of Edwin, the King who united Britain in the 600's among a land divided by many rulers and religions. Exiled from his own kingdom, Edwin seeks refuge with King Readwald. When King Readwald is coerced to give Edwin to his usurper, King Aethelfrith, a battle ensues. Edwin comes out on top in the battle after a visit from a mysterious man who offers Edwin the Kingdom in return for the worship of a new God.

I wasn't sure how well I would do relating to a story about people so long ago, but with a dramatic story line that at some points seemed show more magical and intriguing characters with powerful motivations, this time period came to life. Edwin's quest to become the High King of Britain is worth being told, he uses both strength and intelligence to unite the kingdom. When he marries Aethelburh from Kent, he is not only open to allowing her to practice her religion of Christianity, but Edwin is open to learning more about it as well as learning how to read and write. I would be really interesting to know more about Aethelburh's story! One of my favorite characters was Edwin's protector Forthred, he felt very real in addition to being brave and selfless. At the end I found out that Forthred was real, but named Lilla. All of the old English names and pronunciations were a bit tricky for me in the beginning (and there is a guide), but I got a hang of it eventually. Bound to fulfill his promise to a mysterious man long ago, Edwin does his best to unite the rest of his people under this new religion. With a tumultuous ending, Britain is left in an uncertain state and I'll be looking forward to reading the next installment.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review. show less

I read most of this novel in a hotel room when a torrential rainstorm had led us to cancel our plans for the evening, and I probably wouldn't have finished it if I hadn't needed to review it. Good points: the author's prose is competent if unexciting; he's obviously done a lot of research, and gets most of the background details of clothing, jewelry, feast halls, etc. right, although I spotted a few minor errors. Bad points (or at least, things which annoyed me): his pacing is erratic, occasionally making substantial leaps in time without filling in the details; most of the characters are flat if not actual stereotypes (e.g., the bright younger son and the somewhat stupid older one; the drunken and anxious bard; the good Christian show more priests and evil pagan priest; the warriors interested only in loot, rape, and beer). The author's apparent conviction that the Christian conversion was an unmitigated good, providing the hope of Heaven and incidentally the fruits of civilization to a primitive people immersed in a dark and unsatisfying Paganism also jarred, although unsurprising in an account based largely on that of the Venerable Bede. My main criticism of this novel, however, is its lack of passion. I don't mean sex, although sex is barely mentioned outside the marriage bed, and even then no details are supplied. None of the major characters seem particularly passionate about anything, especially Edwin, who becomes increasingly dull and indecisive as the book goes on, until his fatal error when he assumes that an opponent whom he had earlier concluded was a wily tactician has done something stupid. The author throws away scenes which could have been memorable if shocking with the barest of mentions, and after about twenty pages of battle preparation and tactics he describes Edwin's death in two flat sentences. I'm giving this book three stars because of the well-researched and occasionally interesting detail; on the other hand, I found at the end that I mildly disliked the protagonist, and didn't care much about any of the other characters either. As a writer myself, I count that as a failure. show less

Britain 604 AD.
Two centuries after departure of the legions Roman Britannia was gone- its cities abandoned, the land divided into petty kingdoms under barbarian warlords vying for wealth, glory and power. Christianity was a distant memory as the Britons were pushed out by the Anglo-Saxons from across the sea, men who served gods that only loved those that died in battle.

In this land a lonely royal exile, Edwin, heir to the Northern Kingdom of Deira hears of a plot to betray him to the King who killed his father and had sought his life for years. Wandering on the moonlit coast, despairing of his life, Edwin is witness to a remarkable sign which would change his life and the course, and the future of a Kingdom....

Since reading [b:The show more Ecclesiastical History of the English People/The Greater Chronicle/Letter to Egbert|379961|The Ecclesiastical History of the English People/The Greater Chronicle/Letter to Egbert|Bede|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1174322677s/379961.jpg|26217814] a famous work of history by an eighth century monk Bede as a teenager I have been captivated by Edwin of Northumbria’s story. When I discovered a novel about him from a well-known Christian publisher I snapped it up, and the effort of reading was well worth it.
Historian and archeologist Edoardo Albert is clearly familiar with the era,
and has bought this story to life with beautiful description of a long-departed landscape, and a richly detailed representation of the culture, customs and beliefs of the early Saxon people.
Warriors, feasting in the hall, listening to a bard singing tales of the gods and heroes of old, bound by promise of gold- and sometimes bonds of loyalty to their lord. Kings, the chief of warriors, givers of gold to the men who stood beside them on the shield-wall- on whose loyalty their very lives and kingdoms may depend.

In was in this world that Edwin rose to High King of Britain, conquering or gaining most of the Kings and Kingdoms around him with the strength of the sword, marriage or diplomacy. Yet Edwin does not act entirely out of a desire for glory and fame, but a desire to unite his people. He and his fellows are well-drawn and believable characters, coming to terms with a changing world in which they were in many ways behind.

The Christian content and its impact on the lives of the people was well-woven in with the characters of the King’s young wife her Roman priest Paulinus, and his companion James. With a will of Iron, and a pair of woolen drawers to ward off the freezing temperatures Paulinus preached the gospel amongst the pagan men. Though it takes many years, Edwin eventually converts alongside his family, many of his people, and his pagan priest. The presentation of the gospel message tailored to the pagan Saxons was intriguing and sensitive, yet not clichéd or contrived.

My only complaints were some descriptions of the great fortress of Bamburgh which spoke of a garderobe and spiral staircase more at home in a twelfth century castle then a seventh century fortress, and some language that was a little too modern. There is violence, as it was a violent age- but no sex, which is a real plus considering many secular novels of this genre. Christian readers may wish to note that there is some description of the pagan priest having convulsions, cursing people, and other manifestations. I believe though that such things were known in ancient pagan religions, and are clearly regarded by the Christians as false and demonic.

It is the mark of a good writer indeed that I enjoyed this book so much despite knowing what happened to Edwin already from Bede. Recommended for all those interested in the medieval period, the Vikings, the Anglo-Saxons, and Conversion period, accurate, evocative historical fiction or those seeking something different.

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for a review, and was not required to write a positive one. show less

This is the tale of Edwin King of Northumbria in the 7th century: his life, reign, and conversion to Roman Catholicism. Albert bases this wonderful novel on the life and death of Edwin as found in the second part of Bede's Ecclesiastical History of the English People. And this is the best kind of historical fiction. The author fleshes out and humanizes the figures without turning them into larger-than-life heroes and villains. His people are grounded in their century and display few of the sensibilities of the 21st century. Marriages are alliances, not romances; oaths are not to be broken; pity can be a terrible weakness.

The story opens with Edwin in exile and about to be betrayed by his protector. The counsel of the queen who question show more the honour of a king who would turn Edwin over to his enemy causes King Raedwald to keep his pledge to Edwin. Together Edwin and Raedwald's army defeats the king of Northumbria and restores Edwin to his throne. Over the next seventeen years Edwin rules wisely and attempts to unite the various kingdoms on the island of Britain into one grand alliance with himself as high king. He does this through marriage to the 14 year old Aethelburh, the daughter of the king of Kent and a Christian and through winning wars against the weaker kings. Edwin foresees the later invasions of the Vikings, just as his ancestors invaded the island. Only a country united would be able to resist the Norsemen.

Along with the consolidation of his lands, Edwin begins to ponder the question of the new religion of Christianity with its head the Roman Pope and weigh it against the religion of his ancestors which is woven into the fabric of Anglo-Saxon life. It is not so much a disbelief in the old gods as an admiration for the new god. When his mentor Raedwald dies in a riding accident, Edwin knows that Raedwald will not be allowed into Valhalla; only men who die in battle can expect an afterlife. All others, including beloved wives, mothers, children, will becomes hopeless shades with fading memories. His queen's confessor Paulinus patienly answers questions about his religion and teaches by example as well as word. He has a powerful talisman, the words in his book and letters from the Pope. Edwin is in awe that people can hear the words of a man thousands of miles away. And surely, it is wonderful that laws would not have to be relearned every generation, that the laws could be captured on a manuscript for those with the training to readl. But Edwin does not make any decisions for his people. A great council is called to debate the virtues of the new god and the old gods. And then men are free to choose whom they would follow.

The best historical fiction does not hit the reader over the head with an over abundance of minute detail. Detail is seamless to the story. Not every item of clothing is described, only those necessary to the scene. Battles are accurate, but not drawn out. Torture is accepted, not dwelt upon. The marriage bed and sleeping chamber are not described, but a difficult childbirth is because it is integral to the story. There will always be war because it is the only way to a positive afterlife. Death becomes the life-giver to the fallen.

I could not "relate" to any character, but I did not expect to. Albert has, however, given me an insight into their world. After finishing the novel I pulled down my copy of the Venerable Bede and read the second book. It was all there. Only the antagonism between Edwin and his archenemy Cadfan of Wales was imagined by the author as he explains in his afterward. show less

“Edwin: High King of Britain” is a comfortable read in that I found it engaging but not enthralling. Much of the time, the characters are talking about paganism and/or Christianity, which at times is interesting, but never exciting.

Action is infrequent, yet despite this, the narrative is not slow paced. Still, more vivid confrontational scenes, be it verbal or physical, would’ve been more appealing.

The language is inconsistent in that there’s a mixture of archaic phrases, like ‘whence came she?’, alongside modern sayings like ‘toilet seat’ and ‘keep it in your trousers’.

Regarding the period, I felt confused more than once by sudden leaps in time that weren’t made clear by the third-person narrator. For example, show more Edwin’s thinking about his children – children we didn’t know he had until this moment – so it interrupts the flow because the reader needs to adjust, processing that time has moved on in years.

While the author has done a good job on the research side, he – like several other historical fiction writers I’ve encountered – has neglected principal creative writing skills and quality elements of English style. As a result, much of the prose is passive, plus too many adverbs lead to ‘telling’, not ‘showing’.

For example, to state that Edwin’s sons ‘stood nervously’ is blatant telling. *Show* their nervousness with body language.

The use of weak verbs also leads to passive sentences. ‘Edwin looked at him’ doesn’t show anything. There’s always a stronger verb than ‘look’ that shows *how* a character looks at someone/something, and without the need of an adverb. The phrase ‘looked questioningly’ crops up several times, and on each occasion this could be replaced with one strong verb or a description of body language.

‘Walked’ is another weak verb that should always be replaced. ‘Penda walked rapidly’, for instance, could be ‘shown’ with a stronger verb: ‘Penda marched’, ‘Penda strode’, etc.

Regarding passive prose, numerous sentences or clauses open with ‘there were’ or ‘there was’, such as: ‘Certainly there was fear there’, plus ‘There in the centre of the river he remained’, when each could be made active if changed to: ‘Fear was there’, and ‘He remained in the centre of the river’.

In short, avoid passive prose, weak verbs, and ‘telling’ adverbs, and make every word count. A good read therefore becomes a great read.

Another overused word I must criticise is ‘gasped’. At one point, for instance, everyone ‘gasped’ when seeing a sword. This sounds melodramatic. In real life, you ‘gasp’ if you’ve been doused in cold water or have been holding your breath too long for comfort. You don’t gasp in surprise; you ‘catch your breath’.

This novel also includes some untranslated Latin, which locked me out of the story, as I don’t understand it. Using foreign language in an English text is my ultimate pet hate in literature. I’m pro-language learning, but a novel advertised as being written in English should be just that. Always put the reader first or you’ll lose them.

Despite my criticisms, I liked the story well enough to give it three stars. Anyone who’s interested in the period or specifically in Edwin should give it a read. show less