Historical Fictionistas discussion

While I know the basic narrative, I'd love to see a historical fiction author's interpretation of the Battle of Hastings and/or the surrounding events. Has any author covered it?

Seems
Like mow's your chance!

Huh?

Like now's your chance

Never heard of it.

Sworn Sword by James Aitcheson looks backward at the battle from the perspective of a few years later. The novels of Paula Lofting, starting with Sons of the Wolf, look forward from 1056.

You might be best off with The Conqueror by Georgette Heyer. I know, she's famous for her Regency romances, but she wrote some highly regarded war books, too. I just can't remember whether Hastings actually appears in any detail in this book (published in 1931) or whether all the action takes place in Matilda's world.

Housecarl

Thank you for the suggestions!

The Firedrake by Cecelia Holland is from the viewpoint of a soldier who participates in the battle.

Is a really good one, though it can be slow at times.

Great topic! I'd also be really interested in recommendations about what happened after the battle. What was it like as William's forces spread out and took over? The English army was decimated after Hastings and Stanford bridge, but how did the rest of the country react?

Christine wrote: "Great topic! I'd also be really interested in recommendations about what happened after the battle. What was it like as William's forces spread out and took over? The English army was decimated aft..."

Christine, the James Aitcheson series mentioned above is explicitly about that.

Carol McGrath has a very well researched trilogy about the after-effects of the Conquest.

The Last English King

Parke Godwin's



covers Harold's bid for the throne - a little romancy, but I thought it was a descent enough read

Helen Hollick's, I Am the Chosen King - book #2 of her "Saxon Series" along with Book #1 about the causes and conditions that led up to the Battle in The Forever Queen. I personally found Hollicks development of Harold and Williams family life, characteristics of their nations, political structures, and then eventual clash not slow, but fascinating.

For haunting, well written perspectives on life in England after the battle, follow up with Carol McGrath's 3 book "Daughters of Hastings" series, starting with the The Handfasted Wife.

For more 1066 fun, I also enjoyed a series of short stories edited by Joanna Courtney,by 1066 Turned Upside Down - that's one to read later and a great intro to other "Hastings HF writers", but since it concerns a slightly different perspective on the battle (a kind of "what if one thing were different?" Approach) it is perhaps better read down the road - a really cool perspective though and great writing. Enjoy!

Obviously, a favorite period for me :) sorry for post length.

Christine wrote: "Great topic! I'd also be really interested in recommendations about what happened after the battle. What was it like as William's forces spread out and took over? The English army was decimated aft..."

Madselin by Norah Lofts covers this subject.

by Morgan Llywelyn is about Edyth, Harold's queen, who disappeared after the Battle of Hastings.

Laurie wrote: " by Morgan Llywelyn is about Edyth, Harold's queen, who disappeared after the Battle of Hastings."

As are the Carol McGrath books - although they weave a possible version of her story with that of The "British" Isles under Norman conquest and the remainder of Harold's surviving family after Hastings.

In a way - since no one is quite sure exactly what happened to Edyth "Swan Neck", her story becomes fertile point around which HF author's of the period can weave their tales :)

Thank you for the tip about both books - they both look wonderful!

I hope you'll enjoy reading them Renata, so glad I could help :D

Wow! thanks everyone, just added everything to my list!

Christine wrote: "Wow! thanks everyone, just added everything to my list!"

I hope you enjoy them all Christine! Let us know what you think :) I started on one of Lauries recommendations last night. It's a fascinating period...

This is one of my favorite time periods and I have to agree that The Conqueror by Georgette Heyer is really good. And Carol McGrath's series is also good. But I noticed no one mentioned Judith Arnopp's Peaceweaver which I highly recommend. And Elizabeth Chadwick's The Winter Mantle.

I'm glad to see someone mentioned Norah Lofts, who seems almost forgotten nowadays.
Also worth mentioning is Jean Plaidy, whose Norman Trilogy covers the conquest and its aftemath.

I'm reading and enjoying Madselin even though none of the characters are especially likable. I was struck by a brief conversation between Madselin and Ild about rape. Their attitudes toward it are quite different, and seem to be a product of their class. The servant barely seems to acknowledge the concept, seeming to take it for granted that her body is not her own. It reminded me of a comment by a Master's student in Medieval Studies, heard many years ago. She said that the only thing she was sure of, was that she could never hope to really understand how a medieval woman conceptualized or related to her own body. It's a difficult question that I've never stopped wondering about, and I wonder if Lofts got it right.

Before:
Shieldwall - Justin Hill
Viking Fire - Justin Hill

Before and during:
1066 What Fates Impose - G. K. Holloway
The Last Conquest - Berwick Coates
The Last Viking - Berwick Coates

After:
The Harrowing - James Aitcheson
Hereward (series) - James Wilde

Non Fiction:
The Norman Conquest - Marc Morris

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The Bayeux tapestry is a 70-meter-long embroidered cloth. What is that if not a tapestry?