- Hardcover: 384 pages
- Publisher: Bantam Press (23 Jun 2011)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0593064887
- ISBN-13: 978-0593064887
- Product Dimensions: 23.4 x 15.2 x 3.6 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 167,181 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Hereward
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Product Description
Book Description
Thrilling, action-packed historical debut that rescues one of England's forgotten heroes from the mists of early medieval history and brings him to brutal and bloody life...
Product Description
1062, a time many fear is the End of Days. With the English King Edward heirless and ailing, across the grey seas in Normandy the brutal William the Bastard waits for the moment when he can drown England in a tide of blood.
The ravens of war are gathering. But as the king's closest advisors scheme and squabble amongst themselves, hopes of resisting the naked ambition of the Norman duke come to rest with just one man: Hereward...
To some a ruthless warrior and master tactician, to others a devil in human form, Hereward is as adept in the art of slaughter as the foes that gather to claim England's throne. But in his country's hour of greatest need, his enemies at Court have made him outlaw. To stay alive - and a freeman - he must carve a bloody swathe from the frozen hills of Northumbria to Flanders' fields and the fenlands of East Anglia.
The tale of a man whose deeds will become the stuff of legend, this is also the story of two mismatched allies: Hereward the man of war, and Alric, a man of peace, a monk. One will risk everything to save the land he loves, the other to save his friend's soul...
James Wilde's thrilling, action-packed debut rescues a great English hero from the darkest of times and brings him to brutal and bloody life.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
40 of 40 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
With a huge amount of historical fiction titles currently being set around the 1066 mark, an author has to find something new to bring to the mix in order to generate memorable characters as well giving the reader a plot to keep them not only engrossed but thrilled and entertained throughout. Such is the volume of these titles to date that it's a wonder that none of the characters have charged headlong into each other on the battlefield.
Currently in this muddied and historically rich period James Wilde strides with his debut title which takes the reader onto the battlefield with Hereward which, is a tale for the modern audience with a tip of the hat and homage to the 1963 Victor Comic (Hereward the Wake, Saxon Chief) as well as Charles Kingsley's Hereward the Wake published in 1865. Whilst the title is all of the authors devising it's one that will thrill the modern audience from its hard-line bloodthirsty opening that sets the tone of the story (which incidentally has a very Gemmellesque feeling due to its Waylander type opening.)
All in the story moves at a wonderful pace, the combat is clearly thought out and with Howardesque touches, great swathes of bloodletting and overall kickass arc; it's a title that for a debut will make one hell of an impact to the Historical Fiction audience which makes Wilde an author to keep an eye on and one to pick up now prior to the hype and for me would have been ideal holiday reading and if you happy to be in Hereward country one that would generate an exploration of the surrounding area in closer detail. Great stuff.
Currently in this muddied and historically rich period James Wilde strides with his debut title which takes the reader onto the battlefield with Hereward which, is a tale for the modern audience with a tip of the hat and homage to the 1963 Victor Comic (Hereward the Wake, Saxon Chief) as well as Charles Kingsley's Hereward the Wake published in 1865. Whilst the title is all of the authors devising it's one that will thrill the modern audience from its hard-line bloodthirsty opening that sets the tone of the story (which incidentally has a very Gemmellesque feeling due to its Waylander type opening.)
All in the story moves at a wonderful pace, the combat is clearly thought out and with Howardesque touches, great swathes of bloodletting and overall kickass arc; it's a title that for a debut will make one hell of an impact to the Historical Fiction audience which makes Wilde an author to keep an eye on and one to pick up now prior to the hype and for me would have been ideal holiday reading and if you happy to be in Hereward country one that would generate an exploration of the surrounding area in closer detail. Great stuff.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
There are periods of English history I am ashamed to say I have had to learn through fact based fiction. So thank you to the likes of Bernard Cornwell and now James Wilde.
I had never heard of Hereward, but he did exist and fought against the Normans after their invasion of 1066. In many ways he reminded me of Robin Hood, but his existence is fact compared to the legend of Robin Hood, in addition to preceding him by 150 years.
We see Hereward as a young man forced to leave the emerging English court because of his unruly behaviour and then allegations of murder. His character is wild, intense and unpredictable (reminded me of the sort of character then late, great David Gemmell produced) with a dark side kept barely in check. Hooking up with a young priest, also on the run, Hereward is struggling to discover a goal and self value, but once the Normans invade, he sees his duty to defend England against the Norman tyranny.
The Normans occupied England (not Scotland or Wales) and pretty much dominated it all, Hereward was based in the Isle of Ely and the Fens, an inhospitable area that the Normans struggled to gain control over. The original outlaw he ran a running campaign against the Normans. This book deals with his early years from exile to the start of his campaign against the Normans and it is interesting, page turning stuff.
I had never heard of Hereward, but he did exist and fought against the Normans after their invasion of 1066. In many ways he reminded me of Robin Hood, but his existence is fact compared to the legend of Robin Hood, in addition to preceding him by 150 years.
We see Hereward as a young man forced to leave the emerging English court because of his unruly behaviour and then allegations of murder. His character is wild, intense and unpredictable (reminded me of the sort of character then late, great David Gemmell produced) with a dark side kept barely in check. Hooking up with a young priest, also on the run, Hereward is struggling to discover a goal and self value, but once the Normans invade, he sees his duty to defend England against the Norman tyranny.
The Normans occupied England (not Scotland or Wales) and pretty much dominated it all, Hereward was based in the Isle of Ely and the Fens, an inhospitable area that the Normans struggled to gain control over. The original outlaw he ran a running campaign against the Normans. This book deals with his early years from exile to the start of his campaign against the Normans and it is interesting, page turning stuff.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I thoroughly enjoyed this book from the start. James Wilde doesn't mess about setting the scene by going into over indulgent passages about where the characters are instead from page one the action starts and there's rarely a pause. It isn't all clashing swords however, as he has created some wonderful characters especially Hereward who is interwoven with the people around him.
The story starts a few years before the events of 1066 and Mr Wilde sets the overall historical context brilliantly as Hereward is forced to fight for justice against the people and organisations who have tried to ruin his life. The book is packed full of superb characterisations and fight scenes that really have you wanting the main character to take vengeance on the bad guys.
Herward is a fantastic debut novel about a character I knew nothing about. It's a great read and I look forward to book two, easily worth five stars.
The story starts a few years before the events of 1066 and Mr Wilde sets the overall historical context brilliantly as Hereward is forced to fight for justice against the people and organisations who have tried to ruin his life. The book is packed full of superb characterisations and fight scenes that really have you wanting the main character to take vengeance on the bad guys.
Herward is a fantastic debut novel about a character I knew nothing about. It's a great read and I look forward to book two, easily worth five stars.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Missed opportunity
I really wanted to like this book, but much like some of the other reviewers I found the character development very weak. Read more
Published 2 days ago by headflux
Hereward
A terrific 1st novel, introducing a new and almost forgotten hero, and his unlikely sidekick /narrator, to a new generation. Read more
Published 4 months ago by stevebmbe
Hereward the shallow
If only Bernard Cornwell would have written this book! Don't get me wrong; the book was enjoyable to a degree but it could have been so much better. Read more
Published 5 months ago by M. McMellon
A good try but...
James Wilde really tries but...he does not succeed. The characters lack complexity, humanity, the writer does not succeed in getting the readers inside the characters. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Dart
Conan of the Fens
It is starting to seem that if the Normans hadn't invaded historical novelists would have nothing to write about today. Read more
Published 8 months ago by H. T. Davies
Lacks character development
I would count myself as a fan of the historical fiction genre but I really struggled with Hereward. I never warmed to any of the characters and did not even care much about the... Read more
Published 8 months ago by A. J. Hawkins
Hereward the waste of time.
The often ignored legend of Hereward was ripe for retelling so I was looking forward to this book. As a child I read the Charles Kingsley classic and have loved the story ever... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Remnant
Hereward
I've always known of Hereward but not much about him. Even in the recent "Normans" programme he was hardly mentioned despite being a thorn in the Norman's side for a while until... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Mr. C. Reid
Zero stars would have been appropriate
I love my historical fiction but this is in my opinion is utter tosh and I didn't get very far into it before it was assigned to the bin. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Littleneil
James Wilde
A new author to me, book is very well written, easy reading and thoroughly researched. the cliff hanger ending makes for an eagerly waited sequel.
Published 9 months ago by Mr. Keith Howland
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