Hereward (Biography, Letters & Diaries)

By Victor Head

Book Overview

In 1070, England lay prostrate under the heel of William the Conqueror. From the enveloping gloom of Norman oppression only one last centre of resistance remained - the Isle of Ely in the fens of East... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0750908076
• ISBN13: 9780750908078
• Release Date: January 1995
• Publisher: A. Sutton
• Length: 182 Pages
• Weight: 1.45 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Super book on Anti-Norman rebelling a forgotten hero

In the period immediately after the Norman invasion of England, when the Normans conquered the Saxons at the Battle of Hastings, there still fermented rebelled and resentment over these powerful invaders. After all they were not like the Romans, coming with legions to keep Britain under their first. A small number of Normans usurped the power from the Saxon Earls and held it. If the Saxons could organise some united resistance, they might yet push the Normans off England.And a centre of such resistance arose in the always politically hot fens East Angelia.n On the refuge of the Isle of Ely, a determined leader plotted. Much in the manner, William Wallace rose to stand for Scotland, Hereward is a character now of myth and legends, though unlike Wallace does not enjoy the spotlight in the public mind. A relative obscure thane, he became the main thorn in the side of the Norman invaders.Victor Head works to bring Hereward out of that misty realm of myth and into a flesh and blood man, filling in the gaps by presenting clear and concise evidence from all sides about incidents in history. He plays advocate and devil's advocate, logically giving the pros and cons about 'facts' of Hereward's rising.Hereward is, indeed, woven into the fabric of England's struggles in history, and as I said, one cannot but help draw parallels between him and Scotland's William Wallace. Rather sad, this real warrior who fought for Saxon freedom is relegated in dusty volumes of history while the Robin Hood is perceived as THE hero of Norman Resistance. One wonders just how much of the Robin Hood legend "borrowed and modified" from Hereward's exploits.Cheers to Victor Head, for giving Hereward his spotlight he so richly deserves.