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Godwine Kingmaker: Part One of The Last Great Saxon Earls by [Mercedes Rochelle]

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Mercedes Rochelle

Godwine Kingmaker: Part One of The Last Great Saxon Earls Kindle Edition

by Mercedes Rochelle (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

46 ratings

Book 1 of 3: The Last Great Saxon Earls

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Harold Godwineson, the Last Anglo-Saxon King, owed everything to his father. Who was this Godwine, first Earl of Wessex and known as the Kingmaker? Was he an unscrupulous schemer, using King and Witan to gain power? Or was he the greatest of all Saxon Earls, protector of the English against the hated Normans? The answer depends on who you ask. He was befriended by the Danes, raised up by Canute the Great, given an Earldom and a wife from the highest Danish ranks. He sired nine children, among them four Earls, a Queen and a future King. Along with his power came a struggle to keep his enemies at bay, and Godwine's best efforts were brought down by the misdeeds of his eldest son Swegn. Although he became father-in-law to a reluctant Edward the Confessor, his fortunes dwindled as the Normans gained prominence at court. Driven into exile, Godwine regathered his forces and came back even stronger, only to discover that his second son Harold was destined to surpass him in renown and glory.

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352 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Top Hat Books
Publication date

April 24, 2015
File size

1090 KB
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Born in St. Louis, MO, with a degree from University of Missouri, Mercedes Rochelle learned about living history as a re-enactor and has been enamored with historical fiction ever since. She lives in Sergeantsville, NJ, with her husband, in a log home they built themselves. --This text refers to the paperback edition.

Product details

ASIN : B00UMARTCU
Publisher : Top Hat Books (April 24, 2015)
Publication date : April 24, 2015
Language : English
File size : 1090 KB
Text-to-Speech : Enabled
Screen Reader : Supported
Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
X-Ray : Not Enabled
Word Wise : Enabled
Print length : 352 pages
Lending : Not Enabled

Best Sellers Rank: #442,087 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #458 in History of Medieval Europe
- #1,395 in Historical European Fiction
- #43,767 in Historical Fiction (Books)

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Mark Schultz

An intriguing historical fiction! I really enjoyed it!

Reviewed in the United States on November 24, 2018

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A good portion of my heritage originated in the United Kingdom. The Magna Carta came out of England. The history of England and the UK is pretty important to me, as a citizen of the US of A. I approached this book with high hopes of a relevant and exciting story.
I am not in the least bit disappointed! The writing is quite good. Mercedes’ scene setting is wonderful, I felt like I was right beside Godwine all the way. There were so many critical events in his life, as pictured in this exciting historical fiction. There is dialogue and action aplenty! The complex characters stayed quite true to their roots in so many of the instances. The court intrigues in and out of the castles, the battles on land and sea. The brutal warfare and strategizing all contributed a great deal to an exciting piece of literature.
Mercedes’ research complements her fiction, so well. I have no doubt the moves by major characters are very accurate.
I give Godwine Kingmaker a score of 4.7 stars, it would have been higher except for the handful of spelling errors and missing words I found.

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Galla

Tumultuous life of a kingmaker

Reviewed in the United States on September 5, 2017

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Entertaining historical fiction about Godwin, Earl of Wessex, and the father of Harold who was slain at Hastings. Godwin certainly led an interesting and tumultuous life. The story line follows the known history and Godwine's relations with Canute, Emma, Edward, as well as the ill-fated Ulf of Denmark. The political upheavals of the time are described well. These people were tough, violent and avaricious. Unfortunately, none of the characters as depicted are likable and it is hard to feel all that much sympathy for Godwin, except for his poor choice of a wife. And his wife Gytha? Horrors! It is not made clear exactly why Canute took to the young Godwine and put such trust in him, although it is implied. Neither is it clear just how Godwine accrued his wealth even before being named Earl of Wessex. He must have gone a-Viking with Ulf and shared in the spoils. However, the novel is a page turner and the ending is a dandy.

3 people found this helpful

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Nancy T. Theodore

The first in a well-written series on the Godwines, very enjoyable!

Reviewed in the United States on May 16, 2017

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If you enjoy well-written, thoroughly researched historical fiction, I can highly recommend this series on the Godwines, The Last Great Saxon Earls. Have finished Godwine Kingmaker and The Sons of Godwine and am looking forward to reading Fatal Rivalry. Mercedes character development is extraordinary, she captures the personalities of each son and daughter of the the first Earl of Wessex, their complex interactions with one another and others. The first Earl set the example for intrigue in Kingmaker.... was he protecting the English against the Normans, or selling out the English to the Danes in his own struggle to gain and preserve his Earldom. The kind of read you don't want to end, and can't wait for the next in the series.

2 people found this helpful

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Brook Allen, Author of the Antonius Trilogy

Fabulous 11th Century Tale!

Reviewed in the United States on October 1, 2019

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The Dark Ages are alien to me, so to read such a book, I needed a guide.

Rochelle did a super job of leading me along. Her use of Saxon and Norse terminology was well seeded with explanations and easy to follow. Godwine was someone brand new to me, so it was a delight getting to know him, his family, and see how his story lent itself to the British Crown and what will eventually turn into the year 1066.

Rochelle writes in a delightfully realistic way, making the read seem genuine--as though I was a fly on the castle wall. She can definitely take a reader and immerse them within a world that it much different than our own, yet effortless to experience fully, due to her well-defined story-line. Each character was colorful in his/her own way, although there were two stand-outs... Gytha (Godwine's wife) and Swegn (his troublesome son). These two were such intriguing characters that stories about them could easily be written.

Bravo, Mercedes Rochelle for instilling in me a new fondness for 11th century lore!

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K. A. Evans

Can't Wait for the Next Book in the Series!

Reviewed in the United States on January 31, 2016

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Having studied the history of the era Godwine Kingmaker covers, I was interested to see how the author would portray the people and events. I was not disappointed. The story of Godwine, one of the most important men of the Anglo Saxon period, isn’t a widely told one. While most stories are told from the point of view of royalty, Godwine Kingmaker delves into the life of Godwine, Earl of Wessex: from his humble beginnings to his rise to power under the Viking king, Canute the Great, to his survival, both physically and politically, under a succession of rulers. I particularly enjoyed the details regarding Godwine’s wife, Gytha, and their relationship and the descriptions of the various places visited are very well done.

The writing is excellent and the story progresses at a quick pace with plenty of action. I’m looking forward to the next book in this series!

One person found this helpful

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Nancy R

As a perpetual student of history I was familiar with ...

Reviewed in the United States on January 4, 2017

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As a perpetual student of history I was familiar with the names and dates of the prime characters and events. What Mercedes Rochelle has so masterfully done was weave the fabric that connected them, thereby allowing the reader a possible glimpse at the emotions, motives, grit, and guile of the time.

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Barbara L. de Mare

In these volumes the author made the characters fairly easy to follow despite their Saxon names

Reviewed in the United States on August 8, 2017

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Together with the next two parts, a fascinating history of Anglo-Saxon England. I read them on Kindle which can make following Saxons names and relationships difficult as charts, tables, etc. are not accessible. In these volumes the author made the characters fairly easy to follow despite their Saxon names.

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Elinor W. Olson

Human character

Reviewed in the United States on February 14, 2018

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The book gave a very good history of this man, with all of his strengths and weaknesses. He wanted to advance and worked hard to do so, but too late he realized what he sacrificed to succeed.

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A. C.

A Must-Read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 6, 2016

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Having strong ties to Denmark, one of the reasons I wanted to read this book was to learn more about King Canute. His is a name I recognise from many a different context growing up (he's even mentioned in my own book!), but I had never heard of Godwine at all. So, it became rather a surprise to me how strongly I begun to think of this less known Saxon.

Yes, I did learn a lot about King Canute and some of his life events, but it was through the eyes of a young man, who had joined his ranks, and who became very dear to the King. Godwine quickly earned the King's trust and affection, and became a source of wisdom and advice to him, so was equally privy to some of the King's own thoughts and decisions. Gradually, I came to think of Godwine as the more important character (not only because it was his story, but because we see him through the reflected actions and words of those around him). That he was gaining respect of those who knew him was obvious. He was gaining my respect too.

As Godwine's story unfolds, not only in England, but in Denmark and France, we are also introduced to the ways and laws of other past cultures. I was especially immersed in the Danish customs, which author Rochelle brought to life superbly. In fact, that's what I enjoyed most, the humanising of an era so long ago it might have been lost to pre-history if it wasn't for the records left behind.

I found the battles and strategies surprisingly alive with the kind of real human choices that had to be made and the importance of the many relationships and ties that would have influenced those decisions. And I enjoyed Godwine's thoughts and interactions with his own family and how they, too, influenced him as well as the course of English history.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel of a hitherto unknown-to-me man. I was drawn through the pages, soaking up all the wonderful details intrinsically woven into the story. Godwine's life, as one of the last great Saxon earls, was entertaining and involving, and I learned some history along the way. This was a fabulous read, and I am placing the sequel onto my tbr list!

11thc girl

Characters That Come Alive

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 24, 2017

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Historical Fiction- set in the early 11thc, follows the story of Godwine whose rise to power in the first half of the century is noted for its extraordinary success.
The story unfolds as Godwine, a shepherd meets a Danish Jarl, Ulf, who has somehow lost his way after a great battle against the English. Godwine, takes him to his father's home and is convinced to join Ulf's warband as he helps him find his way back to his lord Cnut.

Rochelle's tale of a man's rise to power in the 11thc took a while to pique my interest. At first its a little slow and I struggled to comprehend that the author had chosen to follow the legend that Godwine was a sheep herder rather than the son of an important seafaring thegn of Sussex. But I persevered, because this is my favourite period of history and of course I wanted to see how things developed in Rochelle's version.

It wasn't until about half way through when my interest was caught and Godwine, who had until now failed to gain my empathy, starts to come into his own. In the beginning of the story, he is a shy boy, with no experience amongst warriors. They train him to be like them, and because he is a Saxon, he is deemed to have knowledge and uses for the Danes. Suddenly he catches the interest of the man who would be England's king, Cnut and elevated in status amongst Cnut's Danes. It takes time, though, for Godwine to find his backbone, and when he is given Jarl Ulf's difficult sister, Gytha, for his wife, a woman he has admired for some time, his back bone has to grow quickly. Gytha is none to keen to marry Godwine, for she sees herself above him in status and although she is not impervious to his obvious handsome attributes, she is not particularly enamoured with becoming his wife. Even when Godwin manages to get her with child, she is melodramatic and behaves as if her life is in ruins. The child is born, a son called Swegn, and Gytha is unable to bond with the baby, leaving Godwin to see to the care of the child.

What I liked most about this book is the way that the author treats the well known storyline of Swegn and his anti-social behaviour. Swegn, the troubled, misunderstood, unloved by his mother, eldest of the Godwinsons, is presented far more sensitively than any other authors have done that I know of. All the aspects of Swegn's behaviour and his deeds as told to us by the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, are explained in Rochelle's plausible interpretation of them. Swegn just doesn't behave badly, Rochelle makes sure that we know why and she certainly has a talent for making historical characters come alive.

All in all, the first in the series about the Last of the Great Saxon Earls, is an interesting read and gives a good insight into the politics and events of the time. Rochelle penchant for this era shines through in her research and it is only the living history side of things that is lacking in detail.
Disclaimer: I was offered a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

Rachel D

History brought to life

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 20, 2015

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I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The author has done an excellent job of bringing to life the historical figure of Harold Godwine, son of Wulnoth, a disgraced (wrongfully?) Thegn of Sussex. The rise of the house of Godwine (First Eorl of Wessex) under Canute and the struggle to hold onto his power in later years is beautifully described in the political and military confrontations.

A little gem in this wonderful book is the relationship between Gytha (wife of Godwine), Godwine himself and eldest son, Sweyn. Also, the sibling rivalry between their sons, Harold and Tostig. I highly recommend this book - (Huscarl 1066)

Peter W.

A Fascinating Historical Tale with a Human Soul.

Reviewed in Canada on July 14, 2015

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Having enjoyed Mercedes Rochelle's excellent Heir to a Prophecy, I was mildly afraid that Godwine Kingmaker might disappoint, but to my joy, it has not. The novel spins the tale of Godwine, Son of Wulnoth, who would in time become England's most powerful Earl and father to Harold Godwinson, the last Saxon king of England. It weaves a tale through three cultures, Saxon, Dane and Norman and through the lives of as many English Kings, including the fascinating Dane Cnut and the unlikable Edward the Confessor. Godwine, who is recognizable as what we would call a "back-room boy" in our modern political realm, is as quick with his wits and diplomacy as he is with his sword. Taken in hand and adopted as a son by a Danish Jarl Ulf, we follow Godwine's rise to becoming a powerful Earl and a force behind the throne and his fall into banishment. But more than just a tale of politics and war, this is a story of a family, and it is through Godwine's eyes as a father of a dynasty that we view the events of a fascinating period of history. The author, much like she did in Heir to a Prophesy, balances well-researched historical events (she includes an impressive bibliography for future reference) with a very human story that allows us to identify with the characters and their motivations. We not only get the what of the history, but the why. The book cleverly, if frustratingly, foreshadows the rise to power of Harold, son of Godwine, as he takes his own place in Edward's court. I can't wait for the second book!

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