Mercedes Rochelle in FATAL RIVALRY, her fourth book, continues to hone her skills as a writer as she displays elements of a discerning historian and novelist.
FATAL RIVALRY is the third and final volume in the The Last Great Saxon Earls trilogy. The first book in the series, GODWINE KINGMAKER, follows Godwine from when he was a child to become one of the most powerful men in England. The second book, SONS OF GODWINE, follows the family, with an emphasis on Godwine’s sons Harold and Tostig, past Godwine’s death toward the fatal battle at Hastings. This final volume continues the story to its fateful conclusion in 1066 when William of Normandy defeats Harold, who had become king, and places himself on the throne.
Rochelle displays her prodigious skills at historical research in each of the volumes to present a tapestry, perhaps inspired by the famous Bayeux Tapestry itself, of the history of the period. An academic scholar might question a point or two (because historians are still not in agreement about those long ago times), but the reader can be assured that even speculations are based on known facts.
Rochelle explains in her author’s note:
“Aside from the basic facts passed on by later chroniclers, we don't know any details, so I connected the dots as best as I could. Of course, this required a lot of extrapolation on my part, but the events are pulled from history books (though not all chroniclers told the same story).”
This in itself is quite a feat.
Rochelle, of course, is a novelist, not just an historian, and distills the stuff of legends into a powerful story of sibling rivalry. We started to see the conflict between Harold and his brother, Tostig,in SONS OF GODWINE. In this final volume, the conflict grows to tragic proportions.
As fate moves Tostig further and further from the seat of power, his envy of the brother who has always overshadowed him grows into what seems like madness. His schemes to claw his way back into power fail and in history he assumes the role of Anglo-Saxon traitor while his brother that of hero.
As Rochelle explains in her author’s note:
“To many, the name Tostig and Traitor are synonymous, without really delving into the details of events. I would suggest that it was rather the sibling rivalry between Tostig and Harold that set up the circumstances leading to Stamford Bridge—and of course, put Harold in the wrong place at the wrong time when William landed at Pevensey. It was Harold's break with Tostig that led directly to the Norman Conquest.”
What is the truth? As with so much of history, we may never know. Rochelle’s version, however, is plausible and resonates with human truth.
Rochelle also continues the ambitious literary approach started in SONS OF GODWINE of telling the story in alternating first person accounts of the family that were smuggled to and secretly compiled by Wulfnoth, the sole surviving son of Godwine. This could have been a cliché, but Rochelle turns into a commentary about how history is written – and distorted – by those who are the winners.
Wulnoth observes, as the story nears its end: “I was amazed how quickly the name of Godwineson became irrelevant; by the next generation, our importance had waned to almost nothing. I see all the more reason to finish my manuscript…”
Then, as the story concludes, perhaps toward the end of his own life, Wulfnoth conjectures how his life could have turned out differently if he had become a warrior, like his brothers, and also died in the final battle against William and the Normans.
In that were the case, he muses, “who would have finished the manuscript…and given it the devotion that only a Godwineson would undertake? I see now that there was a purpose to my life after all, and perhaps future generations will come to see the greatness and promise of my doomed brothers. And maybe, just maybe, my name will rank in honor beside theirs.”
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![Fatal Rivalry: Part Three of The Last Great Saxon Earls by [Mercedes Rochelle]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/517fzaf65QL._SY346_.jpg)
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Reviewed in the United States on January 15, 2018
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I hesitated to give five stars as it has a slight tendency to feel like a documentary rather then a novel at times
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Top reviews from other countries
B. A. McFadyen
An entertaining read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 25, 2017Verified Purchase
Peter W.
A Sympathetic View of The Saxons
Reviewed in Canada on February 23, 2017Verified Purchase
