The Wind from Hastings

Celtic World of Morgan Llywelyn #8

by Morgan Llywelyn

Edyth, wife of King Harold of England, disappeared forever on the day of the great Battle of Hastings in 1066, taking with her the legitimate heirs to the thrones of England and Wales. This is the story of that amazing woman, who loved and married the King of Wales and then the man who would be King of England, only to witness his historic defeat by the light of Halley's Comet.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Medieval, Ireland, Anglo Saxon, 11th Century

257 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1978

About the author

Morgan Llywelyn (born 1937) is an American-born Irish author best known for her historical fantasy, historical fiction, and historical non-fiction. Her fiction has received several awards and has sold more than 40 million copies, and she herself is recipient of the 1999 Exceptional Celtic Woman of the Year Award from Celtic Women International.

Reviews

[Mad · Rating 2 out of 5]

L'ambientazione è interessante come anche la psicologia e il modo di vedere il mondo dei personaggi. Per il resto appare un romanzo insipido. Non sono riuscita a empatizzare granché con la protagonista. Inoltre non pare esserci una vera e propria trama: la protagonista è inutile e non ha un contributo di qualche genere con gli eventi principali...

[Amelia Wagoner · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the quintessential books for my style of writing and reading. This book had me from start to finish. It is written with a style all it's own and I believe that Renaissance lovers will fall in love with it quickly.

It has style, grace, action, humility and of course heart-wrenching detail. All good books should have these things.

[Graceann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Please see my detailed review at Amazon.co.uk Graceann's "Wind from Hastings" Review"

Please click that the review was helpful to you at Amazon so that my rating continues to climb!

After reading The Last English King, my interest in the era of Harold and Hastings was piqued, so I picked up this title at the suggestion of my book club members. Told from the point of view of Edith, Harold's legal wife (in other words, not Edith Swan-Neck), this is an excellent evocation of the life of a woman in a very cruel time. I was sorry to see it end, and now I'm off to bookmooch to see if I can find more titles by Morgan Llywelyn.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found a first edition hardcover copy of this book at my local used book store for about $3. I was excited to read it having recently finished Helen Hollick's 'Forever Queen' and 'I am the Chosen King' which end with the Battle of Hastings. My lack of love for this novel is at least partially my fault. Expectations built on the writing of Hollick were disappointed by the very different take on events that Llywelyn imagines. Accepting that I do not really know the truth about the personalities of the people involved, I was also turned off by some of the scenes that should appear only in trashy romance novels and the Luke & Laura type 'romantic' feelings that takes place . I was also expecting this to be a story of what happened to Aldith after the Battle of Hastings, which is the scene that the novel begins with. Unfortunately, the rest of the novel is one big flashback covering Aldith's life up to that point.

Aldith is born to be a political pawn, and she becomes one to the highest degree. First married off to the Prince of Wales when her father is named a traitor in England. She marries his killer, Harold Godwine, once he becomes King. Was her marriage to Griffith Llywelyn one of love causing her to be horrified when he was killed? Was he cruel and abusive resulting in her seeing Harold as a savior when he had Griffith beheaded? I don't know, but the author's decisions regarding Aldith's love-life set the tone for the entire novel.

Once she finds herself married to Harold as England's Queen, she also has to overcome the hatred that she feels for him due to his campaign into Wales. Harold is presented as a cruel, selfish, intelligent, and ambitious man, which I suppose must be true of most men who get themselves named king. ** The following may be considered a spoiler ** I could have believed this version of events if Aldith did not suddenly (we're talking within a matter of months) forgive Harold for killing her husband, kidnapping her, separating her from her children, and raping her repeatedly. That is one forgiving lady, or a stupid one, or just a poorly written one.

I hesitate to make the last accusation because Morgan Llweylyn cannot really be accused of being a poor writer. Her historical research is extensive and she does an excellent job of wrapping an interesting story around known events. This particular one just didn't pull me in. Maybe it was the line about Griffith's scrotum being the right size to be cupped in Aldith's hands. I admit, that's about the time I started acquiring an attitude against this book.

The story of Harold's eventual downfall is well-written including the invasion of Tostig and his allies in the north closely followed by the cataclysmic landing of William of Normandy in the south. The battle scenes are described in just enough detail, even with the detriment of the novel being written in Aldith's first person point of view. Given that she was not present for most of this action, the author does an impressive job of believably fitting in this historical information.

[Misfit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Edyth (or Aldith) is the daughter of the Earl of East Anglia who manages to get himself banished when he ticks of King Edward. Her father marries her off in a political alliance to the Welsh prince Gruffydd ap Llywelyn, and it is a happy one - until Harold Godwinson's soldiers arrive in Wales. The Welsh go into hiding, but are evntually betrayed and Edyth finds herself at Harold's mercy - and Harold may love his hand-fasted wife Edith Swanneck, but since he has higher aspirations than being a mere Earl, he needs to marry well and Edyth just might fit the bill - whether she likes it or not. Edyth makes the best of a bad situation and gradually warms to her husband, but William the Bastard starts rattling his sabers and arrives in England at a place called Hastings...

This is a relatively short novel, but the author does manage to pack a lot into those 183 pages. It is written in the first person narrative (admittedly not a favorite of mine), but the author does a good job with it, keeping Edyth in most of the scenes and does so without the ever-so-annoying tactic of peeking through keyholes and cupboards. There were one or two spots with battles that she couldn't have witnessed first hand, yet the author was able to convey those back to Edyth without the endless exposition I've seen from other authors - two thumbs up for that. I still recommend Helen Hollick's I Am the Chosen King as the best novel on this period, but for those looking for a shorter take and from a female POV this just might fit the bill.

[Rusty · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a story about Aldith, queen of Wales and later England. This is a time when women of station have little to say about their destinies. They are political pawns to strengthen alliances increase the power of their families. When Aldith becomes of age to marry, father, Earl of East Anglia, gives her to the king of Wales, Prince Griffith. Unhappy about not being able to choose her husband, she complies with his wishes and travels to Wales to meet her betrothed. What will this political match mean for her? She expects to meet an old man but surprisingly, she looks into Griffith's eyes and discovers her soul mate. This is the love match she dreamed. As she waits for her father to give her in marriage she studies the language, customs and culture of Wales. When they marry, the people accept her and she becomes one with them.

A few years and two sons later, Griffith finds his country and life in peril. Supporter after supporter deserts him and he flees with his family only to be caught, once again betrayed by someone he trusted. Griffith is killed by King Harold of England and Aldith finds herself and her sons traveling to England. She is the king's greatest prize. Harold treats her well but Aldith can only see Griffith's head being swiped from his body. As days pass, Harold talks of wedding her but Aldith refuses until he holds the children hostage. Knowing the only way she can see her children is to give her consent. she becomes Harold's queen only to see war after war. Harold is a popular king. People adore him, he's fair and a good warrior. As time passes he, too, is beset by enemies. What happens to Aldith and the children? Discover the details and the answer to this question as the tale unfolds. Imagine being a woman at this period of time.  The Battle of Hastings for which the book was titled took place in 1066. 

[Marilyn]

So good I didn't want to put it down. I had a suspicion how she escaped. I was right, but a surprise twist was thrown in. Very happy.

[Fiona Hurley · Rating 2 out of 5]

I normally love Morgan Llywelyn's books. Her Irish mythology (Red Branch, Bard: The Odyssey of the Irish) and history (Lion of Ireland, Grania: She-King of the Irish Seas) novels are amazing. The Norman conquest era is a fascinating one in English history. But The Wind From Hastings (one of her earliest) missed its mark for me; I never felt for the characters, and the Llwelyn's writing style had not yet settled into the compelling prose it would later be. Unless you absolutely have to read her complete works, you could skip this one.

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first book by Morgan Llywelyn. I look forward to reading more of her works. Her writing style seemed a bit unusual to me.....but not in a negative manner. It is really quite simply written, with a gentle, easy and somewhat lyrical pattern.

The story was based on the life of Edith / Aldyth, who married first, Griffith of Wales and secondly, King Harold of England. It takes the reader up through the Battle of Hastings. There is a lovely amount of history in the story, much of which I did not know. I enjoyed that immensely.

For those who wonder: this story does contain a small bit of more adult language, it does contain a bit of sexual content (not a lot), and there are battles of war described.

[Linda Orvis · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of Llywelyn's best. This historical Novel takes place during the Norman Conquest in 1066 led by William the Conqueror at Hastings, probably the most significant battle in English history. Edyth, the main character, and who is based on a true person, tells the story of her own involvement in royal politics as well as her witnessing of the war. This isn't a very long book, but it's interesting, mysterious and informative. Reading this is a fun way to learn about one of the most interesting events in history.

[Natasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though a quick read, The Wind from Hastings is packed with history. The prose is distinctly old-fashioned, sprinkled liberally with archaisms and stylized syntax, but not in a way that's out of line for older historical novels. My go-to novel for when I'm in the mood for a quick and efficient trip to the Middle Ages.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! I did not know much about the history in the book and like learning about it.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Escaping into historical novels is a way to time travel and reading 'The Wind from Hastings' I did feel transported back to the years before the Norman Conquest and the momentous battle of 1066. Morgan Llywelyn tells the story of Edith, a widowed Queen of Wales before she married King Harold, and she does so in a simple and lyrical and moving way - I really enjoyed her writing style. I'm much more familiar with Harold's 'handfast' wife, Edith 'Swanneck' and so it was really interesting to learn about this other Edith and see her take the spotlight.

[Kathi · Rating 4 out of 5]

9/10
A finely crafted story, told in first person, of Edyth/Aldith, wife to Griffith, Ruler of All Wales, and then to Harold Godwine, King of England. She is a Saxon woman who loses her heart to Wales and its ruler, and who must later marry and strive to understand and respect the man who was responsible for Griffith’s death. The book is not long, but rich in details of domestic life, politics, and warfare in the 11th century.

[Amy K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The level of detail in this historical novel is impressive; it makes for a truly immersive reading experience. It's not a comfortable read; being that intimate with the main character is often painful, particularly if you are, like me, a woman. But it's worth the discomfort for the compelling, you-were-there quality of living life in circa 1066.

[Susan]

1052-1066 England - Edyth the Saxon

[Mona Randall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!

[Mantas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably the most distinct feature of this book is the English language. Seems like it has lots of words from an old English and that gives quite a genuine feeling of an era.

[Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

The last book in a series set in Celtic England before and including the Norman invasion.

[Sonia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Slow start but then good. Short. Takes you back in time. Would like to read more by this author.

[Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

The last book in a series set in Celtic England before and including the Norman invasion

[Cami · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too top heavy with elongated battle descriptions, for me. But her writing style is exquisite, in her choice of and arrangement of words.

[Elena · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up at the library on a total whim, and sometimes it feels really good to do it! In this case it was a lucky pick, because The Wind From Hastings was a good historical novel.

I love British history, but I don't know much about this time period and so I was very interested in the story and the historical figures. The setting was really well done: it was stark and honest, and, while the book was short, there were a lot of informations about the traditions of the time. It was descriptive without being boring.

The characters grew on me as the story progressed. Edyth was all right at first, but when she was forced to marry Harold her personality became much more strong and admirable. She was strong and assertive, and her defects made her more human. I also liked Harold's characterization, he was a complex character who had good sides but also did ruthless things. His relationship with Edyth was also not trivial and interesting.

A good read, and I would try other books by this author in the future.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book provided me with a short, quick, yet satisfying read. I've read several of Morgan Llewelyn's other books, and I've generally enjoyed them. She mostly concerns herself with medieval and pre-medieval Ireland. However, this book is about Edith, the wife of Harold Godwine, who is the English King William the Conquerer conquered. The book tells the tale of Edith's life until shortly after the Battle of Hastings, when she and her children disappeared. Llewelyn's theory is that Edith went back to Wales (her first husband was Griffith, Prince of Wales) to live in obscurity, having had enough of war and maneuverings for power. I liked this book for two reasons. First, it contains loving descriptions of northern Wales, which I went to on my honeymoon and absolutely adored. Second, this book is one of the few historical novels I have found that deals with Saxon England. Most historical novelists seem infatuated with the Plantagenet rulers, and I've had a hard time finding anything set in pre-Conquest England.

[K.W. Kenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

We all have our preferred narrative styles and time periods, and I will admit my bias upfront - in this case, a partial confirmation bias. I love Morgan Llywelyn. Some of her books are better than others, but I am generally a huge fan of her writing style and her ability to paint scenes. English history is not one of my preferred subjects, as historical fictions go, and I will confess I haven't studied the particulars surrounding the Battle of Hastings. There's just something about this book, in particular her handling and personification of Edyth in all her tragedies. Given the plight of women in this time period I can completely understand why some might not find this narrative appealing. I must have re-read this title nearly a dozen times by now, and it joins a very short list of books I have no problem re-reading at nearly any given time. Sometimes you just love a book without any particular reason, and this is one of those for me!

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Edyth is a Saxon noblewoman, daughter of Aelfgar, Earl of East Anglia. When he is outlawed, he and his family flee to Ireland. While there, Edyth is betrothed to Griffith ap Llywelyn, Prince of Wales. Their marriage turns out to be a love match, and Edyth, "Aldith" to the Welsh, feels closer to her adopted people than the Saxons. She has three children before tragedy--Griffith is killed in battle with England, and Aldith and the children are taken hostage by Harold Godwine, the future king of England. When he becomes king, he marries her. It isn't a love match, but she does swear loyalty to protect her children. Harold's kingship is not easy, and outside sources try to take his throne from him, culminating in his defeat by William at Hastings. What happened to Edyth/Aldith is a mystery, but Morgan Llywelyn suggests she secretly returns to Wales.

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

It wasn't the best of books that I read from this author. But I did enjoy it. Although it was fiction again Morgan Llywelyn twines the fiction and non fiction together. Interesting battle of the Normans and English on Hasting. I like how she tells it from Aldith's view. The romance of Griffith was a nice touch. So many times we don't read this.
I would of like to read about how strong Aldith did turn out. But the message was there will be no fighting to be shown to her children. That they would grow up peaceful. Even with the status of her children with a crown in later life. It was said to be they will bring peace

[Kathy Moberg · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel moved right along and easily held my interest. It's quite a tale and I'm glad I finally read it. That said, there are some slightly annoying "medieval-ish" phrases throughout. I am seldom charmed by that. The ending is weak and not especially believable, but that is just in the final couple of pages. And the relationship between Edythe and Harold is at best problematic. However, I still enjoyed the tale for what it is worth. I would not count out reading another one of Llywelyn's books someday. (I read her Lion of Ireland years and years ago and remember enjoying it.)

[Alison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Intriguing historical fiction. Borders, but never quite collapses into, trashy historical romance (which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but perhaps not the author's intention). Glosses over weighty issues, both personal and historical, and never quite reaches its potential with either the characters or the saga surrounding these characters, but is an absorbing read nonetheless, and great if you're short on time.

[Laurie Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a short book and a quick read. It was interesting to look at the Battle of Hastings from a woman's point of view, and even more interesting to look at all that led up to that battle from that outside viewpoint. The love scenes were a bit too much like a romance novel for my taste, which is why I didn't rate it higher.