The Sons of Godwine
by Mercedes Rochelle
Part Two of The Last Great Saxon Earls
Publisher: Sergeant Press
Publication Date: March 7,
2016
Format: eBook & Print
Length: 306 Pages
About the book:
Emerging
from the long shadow cast by his formidable father, Harold Godwineson showed
himself to be a worthy successor to the Earldom of Wessex. In the
following twelve years, he became the King’s most trusted advisor, practically
taking the reins of government into his own hands. And on Edward the
Confessor’s death, Harold Godwineson mounted the throne—the first king of England
not of royal blood. Yet Harold was only a man, and his rise in
fortune was not blameless. Like any person aspiring to power, he made choices
he wasn’t particularly proud of. Unfortunately, those closest to him
sometimes paid the price of his fame.
This is a
story of Godwine’s family as told from the viewpoint of Harold
and his younger brothers. Queen Editha, known for her Vita Ædwardi Regis,
originally commissioned a work to memorialize the deeds of her
family, but after the Conquest historians tell us she abandoned this project
and concentrated on her husband, the less dangerous subject. In THE SONS OFGODWINE and
FATAL RIVALRY, I am telling the story as it might have survived had she
collected and passed on the memoirsof her tragic brothers.
This book is
part two of The Last Great Saxon Earls series. Book one, GODWINE
KINGMAKER,
depicted the rise and fall of the first Earl of Wessex who
came to power under Canute and rose to preeminence at the beginning of Edward
the Confessor’s reign. Unfortunately, Godwine’s misguided efforts to
champion his eldest son Swegn recoiled on the whole family,
contributing to their outlawry and Queen Editha’s disgrace. Their exile only
lasted one year and they returned victorious to London, though it was obvious
that Harold’s career was just beginning as his father’s journey was coming to
an end.
Harold’s
siblings were all overshadowed by their famous brother; in their memoirs we see
remarks tinged sometimes with admiration, sometimes with skepticism, and in
Tostig’s case, with jealousy. We see a Harold who is ambitious, self-assured,
sometimes egocentric, imperfect, yet heroic. His own story is all about Harold,
but his brothers see things a little differently. Throughout, their
observations are purely subjective, and witnessing events through their eyes
gives us an insider’s perspective.
Harold was
his mother’s favorite, confident enough to rise above petty sibling rivalry but
Tostig, next in line, was not so lucky. Harold would have been surprised by
Tostig’s vindictiveness, if he had ever given his brother a second thought. And
that was the problem. Tostig’s love/hate relationship with Harold would
eventually destroy everything they worked for, leaving the country open to
foreign conquest. This subplot comes to a crisis in book three of the
series, FATAL RIVALRY.
EXCERPTTOSTIG REMEMBERSKing Edward had called a Witenagemot in Gloucester to announce my new appointment as Earl of Northumbria. As we were gathering in the hall, everything started pretty quiet. I had collected a group of retainers around me and we were waiting for the king to appear. Suddenly, we heard shouting from the back of the hall. Of course, we all turned to see what it was, and there was Aelfgar striding forward, pushing people out of the way.Aelfgar was like a badger when he was angry. His father Leofric was short-legged and stout, and, although Aelfgar was taller than his sire, his body was long and his legs were still short. His blond beard bristled about his red face, making him look rather ugly. I think he had been drinking.He stopped far behind me and shouted from a distance."Don't think this is going to be so easy. We don't need another Godwineson telling us what to do!"The other earls, great and small, were so startled they fell silent. Then they all started arguing with each other.Aelfgar wasn't finished. "They will rule over us all, I tell you! Why reward the man who went into exile? Why HIM instead of me?"He was attacking me personally! I had nothing to do with my family's exile. It was quite unfair and I was trying to think of something fitting to say when Harold stepped out from behind the king's throne. He was shouting to be overheard, but at first no one listened. I wanted to go after Aelfgar but Harold put a hand on my arm. He strode forward instead, shouldering his way through the crowd. He stepped on a bench, towering over Aelfgar."How dare you disturb the king's court?" my brother bellowed.That stopped Aelfgar for a moment, but he was too blinded by his rage."And YOU!" the badger shouted. "You think that just because you are the Earl of Wessex, you can step into your father's shoes? I spit on you!"And he did. Harold made a fist but restrained himself."I spit on your whole family," Aelfgar continued, fighting off the hands trying to restrain him. "You made the king your thrall."He jumped forward and tried to pull Harold off the bench. From all sides men were dragging them apart. Earl Leofric was shoving his way through the crowd but could not reach his son. I watched a couple of men run toward the door. The King's door.There was a lot of scuffling and then Harold and Aelfgar stood breathing heavily, straining toward each other. The place was in an uproar.Suddenly the king's door flew open and Edward stepped through, in a righteous rage. It was obvious someone told him what Aelfgar said. The hall fell silent as we all bowed. Edward sat on his throne, gripping the arm."Earl Aelfgar, come forward."Aelfgar had to straighten his tunic first. He looked a fright. I never saw a man so pale. Taking a deep breath, he advanced to the throne and went down on one knee."Sire," he breathed. "I misspoke myself. I was not in control."No matter what he said, I don't think it would have made a difference."Aelfgar Leofricson I declare you a traitor!" Edward growled, pointing at the fool. I almost felt sorry for him. "You have shamed your father and your earldom! I give you four days to leave this country!"Aelfgar stood up, hanging his head. Everybody backed away as his father pushed through and grabbed him by the arm."Go. Now." The King seemed suddenly tired.Leofric led his submissive son away. Well, submissive isn't the right word. Stunned is more like it. Aelfgar would never submit to anyone. Men turned and watched as they made their way to the back of the hall, then out. Neither father nor son looked back.Edward sat for a few minutes and no one dared speak. Finally, he held out his hand to Harold, who gave him the chain of office he had been carrying. The king took the chain and beckoned me forward. I knelt as he leaned toward me."I'm sorry, Tostig," he said quietly. "It wasn't supposed to happen this way."I really didn't care. I was never one for a big display.The king put a hand on my shoulder then stood. "It is my wish that Tostig Godwineson rule as Earl of Northumbria. Are you with me?""Aye. Aye. Aye." I don't think they were unanimous, but I also don't think anyone dared object. Perhaps Aelfgar did me a favor after all.
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. A move to New York to do research and two
careers ensued, but writing fiction remains her primary vocation. She lives in
Sergeantsville, NJ with her husband in a log home they had built themselves.
This historical sounds fascinating. The author has captured an era which interests me and the story is enthralling. Thanks.
ReplyDeletePreviously I had a chance to read 1066 which is also about Harold, thus I am curious on the author's take of Harold in this book.
ReplyDeleteI have not read any books about Harold. I wonder how England would be different today, if he had won at Hastings?
ReplyDeleteI have not had the opportunity to enjoy your books, yet, I hope your tour goes well. And I would love to win.
ReplyDelete