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lreay89's review against another edition
4.0
Having seen the Bayeux tapestry when I was 11 in Normandy I was interested to read a historical fiction book on the subject especially one which centered on the lives of the women of the time.
This book is rich in history so much so that I almost felt as if I was standing in the castles alongside the women as they struggled to adapt to their changing world.
The women characters were wonderfully rich at times with hearts of lions and at other times showing insecurity and humility to their situations.
I think the author addressed the time brilliantly from the point of view of the survivors desperately trying to cling on to the old order, family ties and customs in a time where everything was shifting out of their control.
I will be looking to read the following two books centering on Harolds daughters.
This book is rich in history so much so that I almost felt as if I was standing in the castles alongside the women as they struggled to adapt to their changing world.
The women characters were wonderfully rich at times with hearts of lions and at other times showing insecurity and humility to their situations.
I think the author addressed the time brilliantly from the point of view of the survivors desperately trying to cling on to the old order, family ties and customs in a time where everything was shifting out of their control.
I will be looking to read the following two books centering on Harolds daughters.
nell1120's review against another edition
2.0
Started this in Feb, stopped shortly thereafter. then picked it back up in August.
Book was OK. a little hard to follow the story at some points, could be the formatting on the e-copy, but not sure. Probably won't read the rest of the series.
Book was OK. a little hard to follow the story at some points, could be the formatting on the e-copy, but not sure. Probably won't read the rest of the series.
rebzreads100's review against another edition
5.0
This is more of a ramble than a review and it has lots of spelling errors which I am too lazy to correct so grammar warning.
The Handfasted Wife is, first and foremost in my mind, a tale of rebellion. Moreover, a tale of the rebellion of women, and how in their subtle ways throughout an opressive history, they have tried to defy. This is the tale of the women of the house of Godwin. Gytha, who, even in her sixties, is trying to defy the man who killed her son Harold, and Elditha (Edith) who tries to defy the man who killed her husband. How much of their tale is true is left up to the author. as is done when there are a strong lack of sources. Sources about early medieval/ anglo-saxon women are far more rare than their male counterparts but the author presents a very believeable tale of what takes place in the months following the conquest of William, reffered to spitefully by the English as "the bastard."
It is also a tale of escape and defiance, as Elditha would rather die than marry Count Alain. Though she doesn't say it outright, it is evident by her persistent escape plans, which she eventually suceeds in, even though she has to leave her daughters behind at first.
Was this selfish? I don't pick up on Elditha being a selfish person. Perhaps some would read her as such, that she should suck up her fate for the sake of her children. But her children were quite well taken care of. Gunnhild was happy at Wilton, and Thea was content with her Grandmother. Ulf may have been a hostage but it seemed he was well taken care of. I get the sense throughout that Elditha was a good and caring mother and she really did love her children alot, so I see her move more in that she wanted revenge for her husbands death and her sons possible kingship being denied.
In the end, she enters a convent, which was quite historically accurate as widows who had no wish to remarry often did this, and it gave women a bit of freedom.
Overall, I loved this novel and its constant air of suspense because suspense will always make me love a novel and am really looking forward to the sequels!
The Handfasted Wife is, first and foremost in my mind, a tale of rebellion. Moreover, a tale of the rebellion of women, and how in their subtle ways throughout an opressive history, they have tried to defy. This is the tale of the women of the house of Godwin. Gytha, who, even in her sixties, is trying to defy the man who killed her son Harold, and Elditha (Edith) who tries to defy the man who killed her husband. How much of their tale is true is left up to the author. as is done when there are a strong lack of sources. Sources about early medieval/ anglo-saxon women are far more rare than their male counterparts but the author presents a very believeable tale of what takes place in the months following the conquest of William, reffered to spitefully by the English as "the bastard."
It is also a tale of escape and defiance, as Elditha would rather die than marry Count Alain. Though she doesn't say it outright, it is evident by her persistent escape plans, which she eventually suceeds in, even though she has to leave her daughters behind at first.
Was this selfish? I don't pick up on Elditha being a selfish person. Perhaps some would read her as such, that she should suck up her fate for the sake of her children. But her children were quite well taken care of. Gunnhild was happy at Wilton, and Thea was content with her Grandmother. Ulf may have been a hostage but it seemed he was well taken care of. I get the sense throughout that Elditha was a good and caring mother and she really did love her children alot, so I see her move more in that she wanted revenge for her husbands death and her sons possible kingship being denied.
In the end, she enters a convent, which was quite historically accurate as widows who had no wish to remarry often did this, and it gave women a bit of freedom.
Overall, I loved this novel and its constant air of suspense because suspense will always make me love a novel and am really looking forward to the sequels!
halkid2's review against another edition
3.0
I picked up this book intentionally because, though I've read a lot of historical fiction, I had never read any about William the Conquerer. Though William is a peripheral character in this novel, his shadow obviously hangs over the book since it covers the years surrounding the Battle of Hastings in 1066.
This novel focuses on Edith, the handfasted (married but not by Christian clergy) wife of Harold Godwin who was briefly king of England after the death of Edward the Confessor.
Edith's relationship with him, their children, and their collective fates are portrayed through a pro-Anglo Saxon, anti-Norman lens. And that was interesting to me since so much of England's history is so often pro-Norman.
On the other hand, there are places where I was bored by tedious detail about the everyday lives of the time period. I'm sure this kind of detail about meals, travel, clothing, and customs would be gobbled up by some. But it detracted from the enjoyment of the read for me. I will however likely read McGrath's two sequels to this novel -- so I can learn more about the Norman conquest.
This novel focuses on Edith, the handfasted (married but not by Christian clergy) wife of Harold Godwin who was briefly king of England after the death of Edward the Confessor.
Edith's relationship with him, their children, and their collective fates are portrayed through a pro-Anglo Saxon, anti-Norman lens. And that was interesting to me since so much of England's history is so often pro-Norman.
On the other hand, there are places where I was bored by tedious detail about the everyday lives of the time period. I'm sure this kind of detail about meals, travel, clothing, and customs would be gobbled up by some. But it detracted from the enjoyment of the read for me. I will however likely read McGrath's two sequels to this novel -- so I can learn more about the Norman conquest.
jashworth01's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
taisie22's review against another edition
3.0
This is a historical fiction book about Edith Swanneck, wife of King Harold who died at Hastings. There is very little actually known about her, and this book attempts to tell her story.
I love English history and I thought I'd like to know more about this period, but the book really dragged. This was a perfect example of telling rather than showing. The author was very descriptive, but never really had the characters show their feelings. Even Edith's reaction at Harold's death was glossed over, more how she identified his body rather than how she might have felt. All the characters were curiously unemotional and while I understand that there isn't much known about them, the purpose of historical fiction is to make them come alive for the reader within those known facts. It was a bit of a disappointing read to tell the truth.
I love English history and I thought I'd like to know more about this period, but the book really dragged. This was a perfect example of telling rather than showing. The author was very descriptive, but never really had the characters show their feelings. Even Edith's reaction at Harold's death was glossed over, more how she identified his body rather than how she might have felt. All the characters were curiously unemotional and while I understand that there isn't much known about them, the purpose of historical fiction is to make them come alive for the reader within those known facts. It was a bit of a disappointing read to tell the truth.
jamiegc's review against another edition
3.0
The story about Elditha (Edith) Swan-Neck, wife to Harold Godwinson, during the Norman invasion on 1066.
King Edward is dying and has no heir. He has promised his kingdom to both Harold and to William. Harold becomes king, then William invades England to take his rightful place as king.
I have mixed feelings about this book. I have always been fascinated by the story of William the Conqueror, so I was excited to read this book!
I loved the author's plan to tell the story from the point of view of the women involved. This was a challenge, as women do seem to fade from history. The author does claim that this is a novel of historical fiction, as she does have a lot of blanks to fill in. I felt she did a great job with the small amount or info she had, but I felt some of the story line fell flat.
Also, I have mostly read positive histories about the Norman invasion, so this did open my eyes to the savagery of the entire situation, because this tale was told by the defeated. The English did not open up their arms and accept William as their king. He forced his will and taxes upon them.
King Edward is dying and has no heir. He has promised his kingdom to both Harold and to William. Harold becomes king, then William invades England to take his rightful place as king.
I have mixed feelings about this book. I have always been fascinated by the story of William the Conqueror, so I was excited to read this book!
I loved the author's plan to tell the story from the point of view of the women involved. This was a challenge, as women do seem to fade from history. The author does claim that this is a novel of historical fiction, as she does have a lot of blanks to fill in. I felt she did a great job with the small amount or info she had, but I felt some of the story line fell flat.
Also, I have mostly read positive histories about the Norman invasion, so this did open my eyes to the savagery of the entire situation, because this tale was told by the defeated. The English did not open up their arms and accept William as their king. He forced his will and taxes upon them.
fallchicken's review against another edition
3.0
Somehow dissatisfied with this book, although not sure why. Too much pointless adventure, harrowing escapes? Sad we don't really know anything about these people.
and_abelard_reads's review against another edition
4.0
A little slow in places, but on the whole a thoughtful and evocative read that tackles the family politics surrounding 1066.
McGrath really gives a voice to the women who were left behind after Hastings and explores their position as relics of an old order with nuance, depth and copious research.
McGrath really gives a voice to the women who were left behind after Hastings and explores their position as relics of an old order with nuance, depth and copious research.
cathrynsymons's review
3.0
I've been having a bit of a binge on Anglo Saxons lately, listening to the rather good History of Anglo Saxon England podcast and reading Paul Kingsnorth's The Wake so this seemed like a good read for a week off.
Harald, of arrow in the eye fame, had two wives. He married the second shortly before his death, in a formal church ceremony. There seems to be some historical confusion about the nature of his first marriage, to Edith, and Carol McGrath takes it to have been a traditional Danish 'handfasting'. Unlike later uses of the term, where handfasting was more of a betrothal than a full marriage, the Danish tradition was probably recognised as a marriage, although political expediency seems to have allowed him to change his mind. We don't know much about either wife, but the author picks up the story of the first and weaves her novel around her.
The author renames Edith as Elditha, supposedly to avoid confusion between our heroine and her aunt. Its sadly ironic that a book about a woman whose life is mostly lost to history still loses her name in fiction.
But its a good story, full of battles, daring escapes and a lot of embroidery. It's very light and affirming - royal Anglo-Saxon women running estates, surviving sieges and plotting to secure inheritances - but ultimately disappointing because the outcome is never really in doubt.
Not a bad summer holiday read.
Harald, of arrow in the eye fame, had two wives. He married the second shortly before his death, in a formal church ceremony. There seems to be some historical confusion about the nature of his first marriage, to Edith, and Carol McGrath takes it to have been a traditional Danish 'handfasting'. Unlike later uses of the term, where handfasting was more of a betrothal than a full marriage, the Danish tradition was probably recognised as a marriage, although political expediency seems to have allowed him to change his mind. We don't know much about either wife, but the author picks up the story of the first and weaves her novel around her.
The author renames Edith as Elditha, supposedly to avoid confusion between our heroine and her aunt. Its sadly ironic that a book about a woman whose life is mostly lost to history still loses her name in fiction.
But its a good story, full of battles, daring escapes and a lot of embroidery. It's very light and affirming - royal Anglo-Saxon women running estates, surviving sieges and plotting to secure inheritances - but ultimately disappointing because the outcome is never really in doubt.
Not a bad summer holiday read.
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