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Hereward, the Last of the English
Work by Charles Kingsley, a prolific English novelist and author whose main power lay in his descriptive faculties. Kingsley's interest in history spilled over into his writings, which include The Heroes, or Greek Fairy Tales for My Children (1856), a children's book about Greek mythology, and several historical novels, of which the best known are Hypatia (1853), Hereward, the Last of the English (1865), and Westward Ho! (1855).
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First published January 1, 1865
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About the author
Charles Kingsley
1,271 books108 followersCharles Kingsley was an English clergyman, university professor, historian, and novelist, particularly associated with the West Country and north-east Hampshire.
He was educated at Helston Grammar School before studying at King's College London, and the University of Cambridge. Charles entered Magdalene College, Cambridge in 1838, and graduated in 1842. He chose to pursue a ministry in the church. From 1844, he was rector of Eversley in Hampshire, and in 1860, he was appointed Regius Professor of Modern History at the University of Cambridge.
His writing shows an impulse to reconfigure social realities into dream geographies through Christian idealism.
He was educated at Helston Grammar School before studying at King's College London, and the University of Cambridge. Charles entered Magdalene College, Cambridge in 1838, and graduated in 1842. He chose to pursue a ministry in the church. From 1844, he was rector of Eversley in Hampshire, and in 1860, he was appointed Regius Professor of Modern History at the University of Cambridge.
His writing shows an impulse to reconfigure social realities into dream geographies through Christian idealism.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
April 3, 2022
Hereward the Wake: Last of the English was a historical novel written in 1866 by Charles Kingsley, best known for Water Babies but who was also in the slipstream of historical novelists after Walter Scott.
It starts with a thesis statement which largely consist of naff social Darwinism. It posits that most heroic stories take place in the highlands, much as Scott’s novels were. His theory is that the dramatic landscape of mountains is reflected in the people and those from the lowlands have developed solid, practical natures. However, Hereward the Wake is a hero of fenland, the suggestion being that the dramatic times he lived in created great heroes unlike today’s easier life which proliferates idiots.
This outdated view of history is threaded through the rest of the book. To Kingsley, history is the result of inherent racial traits. Anglo-Saxons are brave, stubborn but work badly together and spend far longer arguing with each other to be a decent force. The Norman-French are frequently compared to the Romans, they bring civilisation, polish and are brutally efficient and efficiently brutal. The Danes and Swedes (often mistakenly called Vikings) are brave, active, work well together to complete goals but have a tendency to fall into barbarism. In this novel, the ideal man would be someone with the good qualities of the Anglo-Saxons and Danes but polished into efficiency by time with the French. This man exists in the book and he is Hereward.
The book was largely based on legends and accounts of Hereward from various chronicles. The book was so tied to these legends that it was unable to imagine anything that happened in the gaps of the records yet retold any nonsense that did feature in them. This led to parts of the book being far stranger than I expected. On the whole, I tend not imagine historical novels having the hero fight a magical polar bear.
Hereward is the son of Lady Godiva (of Coventry-nude fame). Godiva is a pious woman but neither warm nor loving and Hereward is a tearaway who is exiled after he robs a priest who tormented him as a child. It is in this exile that he fights a polar bear, has numerous adventures and is washed up in France near St Omer.
There, Hereward builds his legend and a collection of magical/special items, which are considered magical within the text. He has magical armour, a sword called Brain-Biter and a hideous Mare called Swallow who has almost supernatural speed and stamina. He marries Torfrida, an intelligent and learned woman who also learned a little witchcraft as a young woman. Throughout politics happens somewhere in the background and is sometimes referenced.
Although these parts have all been rather fun in a sub-Arthurian sort of manner, 1066 doesn’t happen until halfway in the book. Hereward is rather late to the party, only getting involved when news of Harald Hardrada and his Swedish Northmen are defeated at Stamford Bridge. He travels to England to win it for the Danish Northmen under Sweyn Estridsson. Things get frustrating for him when he lands, the Anglo-Saxons are fighting amongst themselves and he can’t get the English to support a Danish kingdom - or at least a re-establishment of a Danelaw north of Watling Street.
For this reason, Hereward is left flapping the breeze, unable to form an effective rebellion against William and the Normans. He spends his time in a powerbase around Lincolnshire - which is partly the reason I read it. I started the book whilst staying at Stamford, having travelled around the Deepings and visiting Crowland Abbey - which is the spiritual home of Hereward’s realm - being a last bulwark of good Anglo-Danish Christianity against the terrible excesses of Catholic/Romish Christianity. It is possible to guess that Charles Kingsley was an Anglican minister, and saw the earlier British Christianity as a purer form.
The other reason I wanted to read this book, I’d read a little of Hereward’s capture of Ely and William’s siege of it, which included a witch on a siege engine, spitting curses towards Ely. Unfortunately, all this exciting stuff is rushed - which is especially irritating after the book has taken so long to get Hereward there.
Then follows the Proto-Robin Hood section of the book, which again could have been enormous fun but is rushed over. Then things take a dark turn, Hereward turns to the dark side, leaves his wife and submits to William’s rule. Of course there’s a last moment of glory - but in general, the last quarter of the book is incredibly depressing.
Throughout the book, I could see so many interesting moments and set-pieces which made the general leaden tone of it hard to get through. I had to stop reading to read three eighteenth century novels, and it was amazing how stodgy Hereward felt after the fresh, directness of eighteenth century novels. I think people who say they hate ‘old books’ are people that come across stuff like this.
It starts with a thesis statement which largely consist of naff social Darwinism. It posits that most heroic stories take place in the highlands, much as Scott’s novels were. His theory is that the dramatic landscape of mountains is reflected in the people and those from the lowlands have developed solid, practical natures. However, Hereward the Wake is a hero of fenland, the suggestion being that the dramatic times he lived in created great heroes unlike today’s easier life which proliferates idiots.
This outdated view of history is threaded through the rest of the book. To Kingsley, history is the result of inherent racial traits. Anglo-Saxons are brave, stubborn but work badly together and spend far longer arguing with each other to be a decent force. The Norman-French are frequently compared to the Romans, they bring civilisation, polish and are brutally efficient and efficiently brutal. The Danes and Swedes (often mistakenly called Vikings) are brave, active, work well together to complete goals but have a tendency to fall into barbarism. In this novel, the ideal man would be someone with the good qualities of the Anglo-Saxons and Danes but polished into efficiency by time with the French. This man exists in the book and he is Hereward.
The book was largely based on legends and accounts of Hereward from various chronicles. The book was so tied to these legends that it was unable to imagine anything that happened in the gaps of the records yet retold any nonsense that did feature in them. This led to parts of the book being far stranger than I expected. On the whole, I tend not imagine historical novels having the hero fight a magical polar bear.
Hereward is the son of Lady Godiva (of Coventry-nude fame). Godiva is a pious woman but neither warm nor loving and Hereward is a tearaway who is exiled after he robs a priest who tormented him as a child. It is in this exile that he fights a polar bear, has numerous adventures and is washed up in France near St Omer.
There, Hereward builds his legend and a collection of magical/special items, which are considered magical within the text. He has magical armour, a sword called Brain-Biter and a hideous Mare called Swallow who has almost supernatural speed and stamina. He marries Torfrida, an intelligent and learned woman who also learned a little witchcraft as a young woman. Throughout politics happens somewhere in the background and is sometimes referenced.
Although these parts have all been rather fun in a sub-Arthurian sort of manner, 1066 doesn’t happen until halfway in the book. Hereward is rather late to the party, only getting involved when news of Harald Hardrada and his Swedish Northmen are defeated at Stamford Bridge. He travels to England to win it for the Danish Northmen under Sweyn Estridsson. Things get frustrating for him when he lands, the Anglo-Saxons are fighting amongst themselves and he can’t get the English to support a Danish kingdom - or at least a re-establishment of a Danelaw north of Watling Street.
For this reason, Hereward is left flapping the breeze, unable to form an effective rebellion against William and the Normans. He spends his time in a powerbase around Lincolnshire - which is partly the reason I read it. I started the book whilst staying at Stamford, having travelled around the Deepings and visiting Crowland Abbey - which is the spiritual home of Hereward’s realm - being a last bulwark of good Anglo-Danish Christianity against the terrible excesses of Catholic/Romish Christianity. It is possible to guess that Charles Kingsley was an Anglican minister, and saw the earlier British Christianity as a purer form.
The other reason I wanted to read this book, I’d read a little of Hereward’s capture of Ely and William’s siege of it, which included a witch on a siege engine, spitting curses towards Ely. Unfortunately, all this exciting stuff is rushed - which is especially irritating after the book has taken so long to get Hereward there.
Then follows the Proto-Robin Hood section of the book, which again could have been enormous fun but is rushed over. Then things take a dark turn, Hereward turns to the dark side, leaves his wife and submits to William’s rule. Of course there’s a last moment of glory - but in general, the last quarter of the book is incredibly depressing.
Throughout the book, I could see so many interesting moments and set-pieces which made the general leaden tone of it hard to get through. I had to stop reading to read three eighteenth century novels, and it was amazing how stodgy Hereward felt after the fresh, directness of eighteenth century novels. I think people who say they hate ‘old books’ are people that come across stuff like this.
October 1, 2013
I picked up a copy of this book when I was about fourteen, at a jumble sale at a church in North Wales. At that time, I'd read just about anything, no matter how convoluted the prose (and this is pretty flowery).
The book spent at least a chapter just working up to the story, but when it did get started, I was hooked. I liked the character of Martin Lightfoot, who was a bit mad, and enjoyed all the adventures Hereward had - I particularly remember the polar bear.
Come to think of it, this was probably one of the influences that drew me towards medieval re-enactment!
The book spent at least a chapter just working up to the story, but when it did get started, I was hooked. I liked the character of Martin Lightfoot, who was a bit mad, and enjoyed all the adventures Hereward had - I particularly remember the polar bear.
Come to think of it, this was probably one of the influences that drew me towards medieval re-enactment!
June 26, 2008
Very lengthy, historical novel. It is about a real person who fought William the Conquerer and the Norman Invasion of England in 1066. It is worth the effort if you have any interest in the history of the time period. It was kinda cool to look up Hereward the Wake in Wikipedia as well.
July 21, 2017
A fine and wondrous read with the art of a long ago Language that touches deep into our souls. I newer wanted it to end!
The action and humanity never end with such rich characters that are as foreign to us today as the Greek but as familiar as a brother. The verse of old English adds textures as well as the pleasure of another world of old to be enjoyed as a great meal.
The action and humanity never end with such rich characters that are as foreign to us today as the Greek but as familiar as a brother. The verse of old English adds textures as well as the pleasure of another world of old to be enjoyed as a great meal.
March 10, 2022
Excellent book. I read it as pure history, recorded through centuries of legend. Ely was the stronghold of the English/Saxon resistance to the Norman Conquest in the 11th century. The fenlands -- flat marshlands with tall grasses and reeds -- cover most of eastern England from Cambridge to Lincoln. The fens were the hideouts of the people who fought William the Conqueror for a full decade after the Battle of Hastings in 1066.
I was about halfway through this most famous history of that time and place when we arrived there. I discovered later, reading further into the book, that we passed by the grave of the man who led that resistance, Hereward the Wake. I was so disappointed to have missed it.
This book details the horrific way the Normans subjugated the English into slavish serfdom. It brought the meaning of the Norman Yoke into stark reality.
St. Etheldreda was the saint of choice for those guerilla fighters. She was local, she was their saint. They prayed fervently for her intercession and they enjoyed many successes, such as the impressive burning of the fens in the middle of winter.
But eventually, through overpowering numbers and years-long siege, Hereward and his followers were defeated. Hereward the Wake is said to be The Last True Englishman. His grandson is said to be the First New Englishman. The grandson’s father was a Norman who received Hereward’s daughter as a prize bride.
When we had lunch at the Hereward in Ely I asked the waiter how to pronounce the name. I was told, "Hairwood."
I was about halfway through this most famous history of that time and place when we arrived there. I discovered later, reading further into the book, that we passed by the grave of the man who led that resistance, Hereward the Wake. I was so disappointed to have missed it.
This book details the horrific way the Normans subjugated the English into slavish serfdom. It brought the meaning of the Norman Yoke into stark reality.
St. Etheldreda was the saint of choice for those guerilla fighters. She was local, she was their saint. They prayed fervently for her intercession and they enjoyed many successes, such as the impressive burning of the fens in the middle of winter.
But eventually, through overpowering numbers and years-long siege, Hereward and his followers were defeated. Hereward the Wake is said to be The Last True Englishman. His grandson is said to be the First New Englishman. The grandson’s father was a Norman who received Hereward’s daughter as a prize bride.
When we had lunch at the Hereward in Ely I asked the waiter how to pronounce the name. I was told, "Hairwood."
September 26, 2025
I’m a fen boy - I love myself some Hereward.
In some ways, this book is amazing. The author was the first person to chronicle all of Hereward’s life in a fable-like fashion for the general reader. He did so much research to put together the fragments of this medieval tale, which is so impressive.
When the story is moving, it is great, but he likes to divert a lot of attention to the politics and mappings of the time which slows the whole story down. Probably 75 pages could be removed and the story does not change.
The thing that really lowers the score is that he keeps bringing back race theory? Like why? He doesn’t just mention it, he goes into detail about the ‘medieval European races’ and explains their weaknesses as a people. Stop interrupting the story to explain about the poor genetics of the Viking people!
In some ways, this book is amazing. The author was the first person to chronicle all of Hereward’s life in a fable-like fashion for the general reader. He did so much research to put together the fragments of this medieval tale, which is so impressive.
When the story is moving, it is great, but he likes to divert a lot of attention to the politics and mappings of the time which slows the whole story down. Probably 75 pages could be removed and the story does not change.
The thing that really lowers the score is that he keeps bringing back race theory? Like why? He doesn’t just mention it, he goes into detail about the ‘medieval European races’ and explains their weaknesses as a people. Stop interrupting the story to explain about the poor genetics of the Viking people!
September 9, 2017
Truly wonderful. Full of rich description of place and time and very emotive too.
November 2, 2020
I enjoyed learning about this folk hero, but the narrative of this book was loose, scattered and uncompelling.
September 26, 2013
A marvelous adventure story with a medieval setting about the legendary hero of England.
I picked up the new Audible edition, read by the brilliant local storyteller Sebastian Lockwood, himself from the region where Hereward took action just after the Norman Conquest in 1066. Lockwood is a great narrator, who adds just enough vocal variation to the characters and uses his expressive voice to enhance the narrative.
Hereward is the son of the famous Lady Godiva (yes, that one) who is outlawed after he steals silver from a churchman, a deed which will come back to haunt him throughout his life. He goes from the home of one obscure relative to another, living for a time in Scotland, and having numerous adventures like slaying a polar bear (part of a lord's menagerie) and rescuing a princess from a tyrannical suitor to send her to her betrothed.
Accompanied by the stalwart and somewhat insane Martin Lightfoot, he winds up in Flanders where he grows into a bold and revered captain of soldiers, and falls in love with the beautiful Tolfrida, who becomes his wife and companion through many later adventures. In 1070, they return to England to foment rebellion against the French invaders, on behalf of the Swedish king who has a claim to the English throne through King Canute (now there's an alternate history it would be interesting to write).
This book is a delight of rich language, heroic deeds and tangled loyalties. It is written very much in the spirit of the legends of Arthur and other great heroes, mingling the historical truth of Hereward's activities with smaller quests involving mysterious ladies, powerful giants, and saintly interventions.
However, this is the story of three clashing cultures. Three? Yes, because at the time, the north-central section of England where Hereward and his followers live and make their stand identified strongly with the Danes (this is the period of the Danelaw, a sort of culture-within-a-kingdom of former Vikings and their descendents). Many of their oaths and visions of the afterlife involve Odin and Valhalla, as often as they involve St. Peter or a Christian heaven. Their honor and morality is somewhat different to that of the Anglo-Saxon population.
When William the Conqueror comes from Normandy to press his claim to the throne, the divisions between these cultures of Britain must be erased in order to present a united defense. And we all know what happened there. Hastings, anyone? Hence the residents of the Danelaw supporting a Scandinavian king while those in Northumbria have already put forward a different candidate. Three kings, of three cultures, each trying to win over a people as yet uncertain of their shared identity.
And so, Hereward the Wake is at once a thrilling Chanson de Geste, or song of deeds, which even makes reference to the "Song of Roland" and those of other great knights, and an exploration of the uneasy blending of the occupants of a place before it truly becomes a single nation.
I picked up the new Audible edition, read by the brilliant local storyteller Sebastian Lockwood, himself from the region where Hereward took action just after the Norman Conquest in 1066. Lockwood is a great narrator, who adds just enough vocal variation to the characters and uses his expressive voice to enhance the narrative.
Hereward is the son of the famous Lady Godiva (yes, that one) who is outlawed after he steals silver from a churchman, a deed which will come back to haunt him throughout his life. He goes from the home of one obscure relative to another, living for a time in Scotland, and having numerous adventures like slaying a polar bear (part of a lord's menagerie) and rescuing a princess from a tyrannical suitor to send her to her betrothed.
Accompanied by the stalwart and somewhat insane Martin Lightfoot, he winds up in Flanders where he grows into a bold and revered captain of soldiers, and falls in love with the beautiful Tolfrida, who becomes his wife and companion through many later adventures. In 1070, they return to England to foment rebellion against the French invaders, on behalf of the Swedish king who has a claim to the English throne through King Canute (now there's an alternate history it would be interesting to write).
This book is a delight of rich language, heroic deeds and tangled loyalties. It is written very much in the spirit of the legends of Arthur and other great heroes, mingling the historical truth of Hereward's activities with smaller quests involving mysterious ladies, powerful giants, and saintly interventions.
However, this is the story of three clashing cultures. Three? Yes, because at the time, the north-central section of England where Hereward and his followers live and make their stand identified strongly with the Danes (this is the period of the Danelaw, a sort of culture-within-a-kingdom of former Vikings and their descendents). Many of their oaths and visions of the afterlife involve Odin and Valhalla, as often as they involve St. Peter or a Christian heaven. Their honor and morality is somewhat different to that of the Anglo-Saxon population.
When William the Conqueror comes from Normandy to press his claim to the throne, the divisions between these cultures of Britain must be erased in order to present a united defense. And we all know what happened there. Hastings, anyone? Hence the residents of the Danelaw supporting a Scandinavian king while those in Northumbria have already put forward a different candidate. Three kings, of three cultures, each trying to win over a people as yet uncertain of their shared identity.
And so, Hereward the Wake is at once a thrilling Chanson de Geste, or song of deeds, which even makes reference to the "Song of Roland" and those of other great knights, and an exploration of the uneasy blending of the occupants of a place before it truly becomes a single nation.
June 19, 2012
After I became accustomed to the flowery language, Kingsley's mythical version of the rebel leader, Hereward the Wake, from his arrogant teens where he is exiled from the land by king on the recommendation of his own father, to his fantastical adventures rescuing princesses, offending people and making friends and enemies with ease, to his triumphant return and intention to oust the Normans from Britain, is a marvellous romp. Blurring fact with very inventive fiction, Kingsley clearly loves his subject and so do we. While it has historical roots, this is one of the more outrageous versions of Hereward's life, and from this especially it's easy to see how some believe that Hereward was a template for Robin Hood. Great fun.
March 7, 2016
Definitely a product of its time, nationalistic & xenophobic nonsense dressed up as romantic heroism.
July 19, 2019
Cool old book - with adventures of Hereward and Martin lightfoot would recommend if you like brave heart and Robert the Bruce
November 26, 2019
I found it difficult to get on with Kinglsey's preachy Victorian Vicar, writing style
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews