Gwenllian, The Welsh Warrior Princess

by Peter Newton

'They came, they saw, they conquered' - words that accurately describe the actions of the Norman conquest of Britain. In 1097 AD, with the subjugation of England and Scotland complete, the Norman king, William Rufus, gathered his mighty forces at the borders of Wales; his intentions were to simply annihilate the Welsh nation and rule its lands.

Earlier that year, in the royal household of the king of Gwynedd, a princess was born; a child who in future years would rise from the ashes of pain and despair, to lead her people in body and spirit against these foreign intruders.

Through her valiant, unselfish and untimely tragic actions, her notoriety grew to rival the infamous Celtic warrior queen Buddug (Boudica). Then, on the eve of battle, when the impassioned Welsh forces stood facing the mightiest army in Europe, a cry resounded from the throats of countless thousands of patriotic Welshmen and women, that would ultimately drive them on to victory 'Gwenllian'!

104 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

Reviews

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of Gwenllian was entirely new to me. I grabbed this book in a gift shop on my second trip to Wales, and read it during travel. I was fascinated by the legend and history. Peter Newton's patriotic spirit and love for the heroine comes across clearly in the text. It was written well enough to keep me engaged and turning the pages. However, I wish he had had a good editor. Numerous times a page I found myself correcting comma usage of clumsy phrasing in my head. Still, it was an enjoyable read, and a great introduction to Gwenllian and her times. This book definitely has given me a desire to learn more about the Welsh warrior princess.

[Taylor · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked it up in a tourist shop in Beddgelert, Wales because the title interested me. Needless to say, I was expecting it to be a tourist shop tale, and it was. Not terribly well written or researched, but a good way to pass the time on the train to London.

[Nick · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, it is a historical account of the life of Gwenllian but not written like a text book. It is dramatic and action packed, and historically correct. it is a little know tale, and if you like Welsh history you should really like this.

[Lynette · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think the book was well-written, considering the lack of information available. Writing about events that took place a thousand years ago is not an easy task. I found the book to be very interesting, and I really enjoyed reading it.