I received a free e-copy of 1066: What Fates Impose for my honest review from the author through Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours.
About the Book:
Publication Date: March 4, 2013
Matador Publishing
King William then utters the following words to the room: ‘I appoint no one as my heir to the Crown of England, but leave it to the disposal of the Eternal Creator, whose I am and who orders all things. For I did not attain that high honour by hereditary right, but wrested it from the perjured King Harold in a desperate bloody battle.’
England is in crisis. King Edward has no heir and promises never to produce one. There are no obvious successors available to replace him, but quite a few claimants are eager to take the crown. While power struggles break out between the various factions at court, enemies abroad plot to make England their own. There are raids across the borders with Wales and Scotland.
Harold Godwinson, Earl of Wessex, is seen by many as the one man who can bring stability to the kingdom. He has powerful friends and two women who love him, but he has enemies will stop at nothing to gain power. As 1066 begins, England heads for an uncertain future. It seems even the heavens are against Harold.
Intelligent and courageous, can Harold forge his own destiny – or does he have to bow to what fates impose?
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About the Author:
I have been interested in history since I was a boy, which I suppose explains why, when I came across a degree course in History and Politics at Coventry University that looked tailor made for me, I applied right away.
In my first year at Coventry I lived in the halls of residence within a stone’s throw of the Leofric Hotel. In the opposite direction, just a short walk from my halls, is the bell tower that houses a clock, which when its bell chimes the hour, produces a half size model of naked Lady Godiva riding a horse for the titillation of tourists.
Above her, Peeping Tom leans out of a window for a better view. In all of the three years I was there, it never once occurred to me that I would one day write a book featuring Earl Leofric and his famous wife, as key players.
After graduating I spent a year in Canada before I returned to England to train as a Careers Officer in Bristol. Later, I lived and worked in Gloucestershire as a Careers Officer and then in Adult Education as an Education Guidance worker.
After I met my wife, I moved back to Bristol to live and I worked at Bath Spa University as a Student Welfare Officer for a number of years. It was about this time I read a biography about King Harold II which fascinated me so much I read more and more about the man and the times.
I found the whole pre-conquest period of England so interesting I couldn’t understand why no one had written a novel about it. So, I decided to write one myself. Now, after many years of study and time spent over a hot keyboard, I have finally produced that novel.
1066: What Fates Impose is the result of all that study and hard work and is the first book I’ve written. I am now working on a sequel.
My Opinion:
The story of William the Conqueror and the Battle of Hastings in 1066 is one of those important dates taught to all students of history. Especially students with degrees in European history – ah-hem.
While William’s supposed brilliance has come down through history one must remember that the records are mostly written by the victors. Harold Godwinson was the last truly English king of England and he has been somewhat forgotten to history. Fortunately there are historians and authors looking to give him his due.
1066: What Fates Impose begins with the reign of King Edward, a rather useless ruler if you ask me. He was easily swayed and he ignored the English – he was reared in Normandy; it’s a complicated history.
Just leave it at that he didn’t like the English and wanted them to be more Norman. The beginning of the book builds Harold’s family history and this is the weakest part of the book.
There is just too much going on and too little given to too many events. Perhaps this should have been two books, I don’t know. But once the book settles on Harold as Earl of Wessex after his father’s death it truly takes off and becomes less confusing. And this is from someone who has been through the history.
Harold is a very compelling character and one wonders as to what might have been had he won at Hastings. It does give one pause, the way the Fates play with history that way. As Mr. Holloway writes Harold’s story the reader truly wants him to survive but we all know the history so I am not giving any spoilers away by writing that he dies.
It is never easy to read battle scenes and there was much battle at the end of Harold’s all too short reign. The book is more an historical narrative than character study so don’t expect much in the way of feelings and such. Yet it does pull you in and keep you reading until that very sad ending – well sad for Harold. William was rather joyous….
