Customer Reviews

An Endless Exile

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This is the story of Hereward the Wake, 11th century legendary hero, that defied and defeated William the Conqueror of England and/or William the Bastard of Normandy. His is a turbulent life, constantly testing his boundaries with his family and friends. The story is told from his wife's, Torfrida's, point of view and she gives a through account of her life before, during and after Hereward comes on the scene.

She meets him as a young girl who is betrothed to Hereward's Godfather's son, Robert. That doesn't work out and Torfrida returns to her native Flanders where several years later Hereward and she fatefully meet again. As Torfrida remembers her life with Hereward, the good times and many times the bad, she questions Hereward's murder and tries to get to the bottom of it.

This is an action packed story following Torfrida & Hereward's stormy but passionate relationship. There is never a dull moment and the pages seem to fly by! Hereward was/is an enigmatic figure and he is brought back to life vividly in this novel!

Mary Lancaster has obviously put a lot of effort into her book. It is interesting because it is told from the point of view of Torfrida, who was Hereward's wife. At least Torfrida was Hereward's wife according to the principal tales of Hereward's activities. In the originals, she supposedly entered a monastery after parting company with Hereward for some unknown reason. Here, she does no such thing, though she does part company with Hereward for a while. Otherwise, Ms. Lancaster does follow the chronicles of Hereward's life fairly closely. This may or may not be historically accurate, but the way Mary Lancaster handles the material, it makes a pretty good read. Of course, she has had to use her imagination a lot, but the result of her efforts is certainly quite plausible. Given that very little is known about most of the characters in her story(and some may be entirely fictional), this is quite an accomplishment. Mary Lancaster is to be commended for making this effort, and the result is a thoroughly enjoyable read.

The Endless Exile by Mary Lancaster opens with the death of Hereward. Somewhere around 1032, Hereward the Wake was born at Bourne. He inherited extensive lands in Lincolnshire and Warwickshire. Later he was the leader to the English resistance against William the Conqueror. He is believed to have died around 1072. It is in this period of bloody Britain history Lancaster pens her tale.

It's a first person, very personal view of a Flemish woman, Torfrida, who later marries Hereward, in a time that was turbulent in British History. Lancaster has an easy voice, quickly pulling you into the saga. She strongly evokes the senses, to make you "see" the story as it unfolds. After the opening of Hereward's death, we move with a flashback to when Hereward and she were much younger. Sent as a 12-year-old child bride to Robert de Ghent, she is a shock to his family. Her parents set the betrothal by misrepresenting Torfrida's youth. Robert is in love with Lucy, Hereward's sister, and slowly Torfrida comes to love Hereward, though at time he exasperates her, even makes her hate him for his unbending rebellious streak.

It's richly researched, with a strong eye to historical details, the sort of historical saga you see so rarely today. You still see smaller presses putting out these sort of strong dramas in Britain, but US seems to think these are not popular. Well, the rise of e-books sales is telling a different story. The readers are there, just they have a hard time finding the sort of books they want. E-book publishers are cleaning up on NYC publishers' shortsightedness. And that Lancaster is not in print is most definitely shortsighted!

Lancaster gives an amazing tale, that totally fascinated me, spellbound me. The young Hereward and Torfrida were amazing; they were so vivid, alive. Lancaster proves a marvellous talent bring to life these complex characters. Torfrida is first angry with the brash young man. Her emotions morph slowly into friendship, admiration, empathy, even protectiveness of first love - though still at times is furious with his brashness. All these emotions are so well portrayed. Her jealousy is felt as she comes to understand Hereward is carrying on with the married beauty, Edith.

The story is fascinating, thrilling, brilliant, weaving between Torfrida's life upon Hereward's death and the flashbacks to their stormy love. Simply, Lancaster is a talent to behold, the tale amazing.

Reviewers International Organization Award of Excellent Finalists 2005