Ulfhildr

by Mary Thaler, Niv Sekar (Illustrator)

On blustery nights, fast abed in our hallsWe rejoice that outside, the jarring waves,And cruel rocks may yet keep the raiding-parties distant.We know if we fall unarmed into their handsWe will be no less loot than the boar-helms or ringsThat they take from the slain.

—from UlfhildrOn an unnamed coastline, hidden in the mists of history, a woman is confronted with her husband’s death in battle, drawing on her courage and cunning to secure the safety of herself and her young son and to lead her kingdom into war. But in this brutal society, where life is cheap, she is the only person who can decide when she has gone too. Betrayed by adversaries within and without, Queen Ulfhildr proclaims a defiant manifesto in this narrative poem about power and responsibility.

Ulfhildr is an epic poem in 3 parts, written (approximately) in Anglo-Saxon meter. Featuring a heroine as post-tragic as she is powerful—as daring as she is doomed—in a poetic tour de force told with ruthless economy, this book will prompt deep questions concerning leadership, love, and fate.

Genres: Poetry

40 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 7, 2023

Reviews

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author has done an outstanding job of writing a faux Norse epic in Anglo-Saxon meter. A fantasy, set in a Nordic country, the ballad tells of a queen, Ulfhildr, who, after her husband, the king, is killed, seeks revenge but dies herself. I only caught one or two kennings [poetic expressions for certain nouns] which were a hallmark of these epics. She is called a "shield-maiden", which I always thought was a term used ONLY for Valkyries, divine women who carried dead warriors to Valhalla. In this case, maybe the author meant woman warrior? I give kudos to Ms. Thayer for her effort.

[Derek · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed 'Ulfhildr' by Mary Thaler. I enjoyed epics like Beowulf when I read them in college, but honestly never sought them out afterward. This is a refreshing take as I've never read one with a woman as the protagonist before. The meter makes it feel like one of the ancient works it's stylized from. I think there's a very nice balance here between the epic story having depth, but also being accessible. It doesn't feel like I need a professor helping me figure out what something means. The context is enough to fill gaps and keep this a 'light' read.

I would definitely welcome more modern epics like 'Ulfhildr'. It was fun to read something in a completely different vein than I've seen for a long time.

[Dennis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an exciting new long poem in a modified form of the Old English alliterative meter. Calling it an "epic" (as the back cover does) is probably a misnomer; Thaler's narrative is quite linear, and it contains few twists or complications. Yet it's also peppered with powerful passages that show exactly what a modern poet can accomplish with an archaic medieval poetics. The heroine's closing monologue is particular strong. In fact, we find a stronger feminist element in her speeches than we're liable to find elsewhere in most modern stories about Norse-like queens. Besides this monologue, I can point to several other illuminating passages as well. Overall, I'd definitely recommend this booklet, and ULFHILDR is a must-have for anyone interested in the Modern Alliterative Revival.

[Jennifer DeLeskie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed Mary Thaler's epic Anglo-Saxon poem Ulfhildr, which, while owing its origins to works like Beowulf and the Eddas, also has an element of Shakespearean tragedy about it. Here we have a powerful warrior queen who, despite being buffeted by misfortune, manipulation, and fate, fully owns her actions, missteps and all. Some very beautiful, moving language—this poem, although quite short, is deceptively deep. The world-building is rendered in efficient, gorgeous imagery. It's clear the author took pains to honour the legacy of both Anglo-Saxon poetry and the Anglo-Saxon world.