Customer Reviews

Hereward the Wake, 'Last of the English'

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My version of Hereward dates back to 1909. It is faded now and time tinged round the edges. The English too bears marks of time, structures that hearken back to Walter Scott, and early translations of Balzac and Dumas.

Even so, Kingsley's style is clear and easy enough to read, and if it seems quaint, then it is a quaintness that helps move you back to this time of heroes. For Hereward is a worthy son of Arthur and Beowulf. And saga-like, Kingsley traces his life from rabble rouser, viking, warrior, to dead hero in true Victorian style. Hereward, although killed, was never tamed and romantically represents the indomitableness of the human spirit.

In the BBC dramatization of Hereward with Colin Blakeny in the lead role, Hereward vanishes into the mists of Ely, pledging to return if needed, which adds a nice touch of mystery in Malory-like fashion. Kingsley however sees him off into his grave as though commissioning Burne-Jones to do a painting - one can almost hear the Victorian old dears weeping as they get to Hereward's epitath "Here lies the last of the English." They must of loved it. I certainly did.

If you like historical fiction by Tim Severn, George MacDonald Fraser, Bernard Cornwall, or Julian Rathbone, you won't be disappointed. It is a worthy tale and faster paced than Tolkien. Would that Peter Jackson gave it sympathetic treatment on the screen.