Wulf the Saxon
Wulf the Saxon
A Story of the Norman Conquest
A story of the Norman conquest.
Book Excerpt
his pages unless
they can read. I see not what good reading can do to most men, but
doubtless for one who is at court and may hold some day a high post
there, it is useful to be able to read deeds and grants of estates,
instead of having to trust others' interpretation."
"I wondered to see you press forward so suddenly into the crowd, neighbour, seeing that you are a busy man, but I understand now that you had an interest in the affair."
"That had I. I was holding myself in readiness, if that Norman boy drew his dagger, to give him such a blow across the wrist with my cudgel that it would be long before he handled a weapon again. I fear Wulf has got himself into trouble. The bishop will doubtless complain to the king of the language used by one of Harold's pages, and though the earl is well able to see that no harm comes to the lad, it is likely he will send him away to his estates for a time. For he strives always to avoid quarrels and disputes, and though he will not give way a jot in matters where it
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No event inspires as much English nationalism and a pity party as the Norman invasion. So of course this event inspires what might be Henty's absolutely WORST book ever. I can sum it up as: English=good, Normans, Welsh, Bretons=evil.
It is so bigoted in its depiction of anyone not English (Saxon) as to be laughable. At one point, he states "the Saxons never harm women or children." Ahem, how about the St Brice's day massacre to start with.
The saddest thing is that Henty really believed his Saxon/English racial superiority to an extent that would make any rational person uncomfortable.
It is so bigoted in its depiction of anyone not English (Saxon) as to be laughable. At one point, he states "the Saxons never harm women or children." Ahem, how about the St Brice's day massacre to start with.
The saddest thing is that Henty really believed his Saxon/English racial superiority to an extent that would make any rational person uncomfortable.
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What a wonderful gem of a book. The dialog is overly wordy, and the buildup seems to take exceedingly long. But on the overall, it helps to build affinity for the characters, and once the final battle commences, you will find yourself there with them. I don't know how historically accurate all the details are, but nevertheless, the book breathes exciting life into a world long since gone, and brings back great men to walk amongst us.
12/05/2010