Customer Reviews

Wind from Hastings

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is one of the earlier historical novels by the author, the copyright date being 1978. This novel is based on the life of Edyth, a grand-daughter of Lady Godiva and the wife of King Harold II, and is written in a narrative text, i.e., a story as told by Edyth. The writing style may not appeal to all readers. It is written from a woman's viewpoint (example text - "Brothers are intended by God as a sort of plague, like floods and locusts"), and is consistent with the position of women in society at that time. It was a time when women were used as bargaining chips to arrange alliances. A woman could be sent into a marriage with a man she had never seen, and had to hope for the best. If she was lucky, she might get a husband who was young and handsome. But he might be old, ugly, and battle-scarred. This was also a time when people did not bathe on a regular basis, and many people had rotten teeth. Edyth enters into her first marriage with Welsh Prince Griffith (Gruffydd) ap Llywelyn, neither having seen the other, hoping for the best. After Griffith's betrayal and death at the hands of the Saxon English in 1063, she becomes part of the spoils and is forced into a marriage with King Harold II, a short-lived marriage as he was killed at Hastings in 1066. The book seems historically accurate. It includes details of Welsh Law and customs, and contrasts that with the Saxons. The author ends the book immediately after the battle of Hastings and does not provide an afterward to indicate what happened to the various people who survived (it is known that Edyth's daughter, Nest, later married Osbern fitz Richard; that a daughter of Harold II and his mistress, Edith Swan-Neck, later married Grand Prince Vladimir II of Kiev; and that Edyth's brother, Edwin, married a half-sister of Griffith and obtained a Welsh title in her right). For a novel concerning later generations of Welsh princes, see "Circle of Stones."
Readers might also be interested in the novel "Katherine" by Anya Seton.

This is just a fabulous book. When I first saw how short the novel is, I thought that it would be an inaccurate love story or something. Nothing further from the truth. Harold II is portrayed in a very harsh and realistic light--not at all glamorized as he usually is in other books. He is seen as both ruthless and kind, hardened but human. The author has done a brilliant, fantastic job!

This short historical novel was great summer reading! It held my interest most of the time, and also informed me about life in the British Isles one thousand years ago.

The monumental account of the Battle of Hastings in 1066, and the events leading up to it, was quite well done and moving. I was actually upset when the Anglo-Saxon soldiers "snatched defeat from the jaws of victory!"

The novel seemed fairly accurate and brought the main characters (Edyth, Harold, and Griffith) to life. I enjoyed this novel by Morgan Llywelyn as much as her Lion of Ireland, and more than Bard and 1916 (although all of these books are worthwhile).

Wind from Hastings was well done book about a little known woman in history. The story of Edyth's life is facinating and her life after her husband's death is an engaging mystery. I highly recommend this book and this author to those interested in historical fiction.

Historical Novel based on a real woman and a real mystery from the days of the Conquest. In 1066 William the Conqueror defeated Harold of England at Hastings, changing the course of Western civilization. This is the story of Harold's wife Edyth, who witnessed the battle and then vanished completely and forever, taking with her the legitimate heirs to the thrones of England and Wales.

Edyth the Saxon was a political pawn for most of her life...married to the Welsh Prince Griffith whom she dearly loved, to bolster her father's position...married to Harold Godwine, to strengthen his claim to the English throne. Harold became King but reigned less than a year. Then Haley's Comet blazed across the sky, signaling a time of passion and treachery to climax at Hastings.

The riddle remains: what kind of woman was Edyth, and how did she manage to escape so totally with the royal heirs?

There's always beeen something that grabbed me, stirred my blood, from the very first time I read what happened at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. I believe that every European-American reader will feel the same leap of the heart at the spirit of these people who lived so long ago but who are as close to us as our own hearts. The author of this book was able to bring that closeness to life so that we can all experience it. His understanding and knowledge of the time period provides him with the technical ability to present the story--and something intangible and of the soul enables him to make it all live again. One thing he really captures, too, is the pre-Christian culture still abiding in an uneasy co-existence with Christianity. This book teaches as well as entertains (though "entertains" is too frivolous a word for the pleasure!) and the marvelous thing is, you aren't aware of _being_ taught.

I have no idea if this woman ever truly existed and I have no knowledge of the history of England during this time period. Until now, I've focussed on Arthurian legends. This book seemed to be a nice, short diversion to another time period in English history. It was that and more. The characters interest you from the start. Aldith's qualms over being used as a political pawn by her father and sent to an uncertain future as the bride of Griffith was well done. Most other accounts of this marital arrangment seem to be simple compliance by the woman - never any questioning as to the reason for it. Griffith was a real person in this story - someone I came to like just as Aldith came to like then love him. Likewise, her relationship to Harold mirrored my impressions of him. I also hated him at first only to eventually share her mixed feelings toward him and to hope for his victory in the end. The story is extremely well written and has added Morgan Llywelyn to the list of authors I intend to read more avidly. If you want a sweeping saga of historical fiction in less than 300 pages - this is the book for you!

Truly an excellent first novel, THE WIND FROM HASTINGS left me wanting to learn more about this time in history. Llywelyn tells the story of the power struggles leading up to the Battle of Hastings (approx. 1055-1066). What distinguishes this book from other historical fiction is the female viewpoint.

Aldith (Welsh version of Ealdgyth or Edith), as was typical of women in those times, married Gruffydd ap Llywelyn, Prince of Wales, as part of an agreement between Earl Ælfgar - her father - and the prince. She came to love him and gave him 3 children.

In 1063, Llywelyn was ambushed and killed by his own men. Aldith is then forced to marry Harold Godwine (Harold II), who became king of England in 1066 and died later that year.

The story is a short one - perhaps too short. I would have liked more background information about the separate power struggles going on during Edward the Confessor's reign in England. The story also occasionally read as if the author was holding back. Nonetheless, I enjoyed the book and I learned much from it.

I loved this book as I have loved so many others by the author. I was left wanting more, I have so many questions about what happened to these exciting people. I only hope they lived lovely unexciting happily ever afters.

This is a great book. It is great fiction, and great fact. Harold II's character is very intriguing. He's both a dominant warlord and high-minded genius at the same time. I loved his relationship with Edyth. The book is worth buying.