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I've not heard of this particular novel before, but presume it is about Hereward the Wake[1], which is indeed listed on the Wikipedia page. His story is fascina
by phillc73 8y ago
I've not heard of this particular novel before, but presume it is about Hereward the Wake[1], which is indeed listed on the Wikipedia page. His story is fascinating and a couple of years ago I read a number of different books about him[2], with half an idea to write something myself. I'm really pleased someone else has written a new work about Hereward.
[1] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hereward_the_Wake https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hereward_the_Wake
[2] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hereward_the_Wake_(novel) https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hereward_the_Wake_(novel)
- ggsp 8y agoFrom the Wikipedia article you linked: "Man Booker Prize long-listed The Wake (2014) by Paul Kingsnorth is a historical novel written in a shadow version of old English telling the story of another resistance fighter in the fens whose actions are regularly compared to Hereward."
- phillc73 8y agoYes, I mentioned that in my comment. I just hadn't come across this one before. My reading around Hereward was prior to its publication (maybe I should have said a few, rather than a couple of years ago. Time flies).
- smacktoward 8y agoI’ve read The Wake, and it’s really not accurate to say it’s “about” Hereward. Hereward doesn’t really figure into its story at all, except as an offstage personage we hear about occasionally when his actions are compared to those of the protagonist, Buccmaster of Holland. The Wake isn’t a lightly fictionalized biography of an historical figure. It’s something much richer and more imaginative than that. If you’re interested in the period, I would definitely recommend it.