"A beautiful work of history and passion"
The Endless Exile by Mary Lancaster opens with the death of
Hereward. Somewhere around 1032, Hereward the Wake was born
at Bourne. He inherited extensive lands in Lincolnshire and
Warwickshire. Later he was the leader to the English
resistance against William the Conqueror. He is believed to
have died around 1072. It is in this period of bloody
Britain history Lancaster pens her tale. It's a first person, very personal view of a Flemish woman,
Torfrida, who later marries Hereward, in a time that was
turbulent in British History. Lancaster has an easy voice,
quickly pulling you into the saga. She strongly evokes the
senses to make you "see" the story as it unfolds. After
the opening of Hereward's death, we move with a flashback
to when Hereward and she were much younger. Sent as a 12-
year-old child bride to Robert de Ghent, she is a shock to
his family. Her parents set the betrothal by
misrepresenting Torfrida's youth. Robert is in love with
Lucy, Hereward's sister, and slowly Torfrida comes to love
Hereward, though at time he exasperates her, even makes her
hate him for his unbending rebellious streak. This book is richly researched, with a strong eye to
historical details, the sort of historical saga you see so
rarely today. Lancaster gives an amazing tale, that totally fascinated
and spellbound me. The young Hereward and Torfrida were
amazing; they were so vivid, alive. Lancaster proves a
marvellous talent bringing to life these complex
characters. Torfrida is first angry with the brash young
man. Her emotions morph slowly into friendship, admiration,
empathy, even protectiveness of first love - though still
at times is furious with his brashness. All these emotions
are so well portrayed. Her jealousy is felt as she comes to
understand Hereward is carrying on with the married beauty,
Edith. The story is fascinating, thrilling, brilliant, weaving
between Torfrida's life upon Hereward's death and the
flashbacks to their passionate, poignant, stormy love.
Simply, Lancaster is a talent to behold, the tale amazing.
Reviewed by DeborahAnne MacGillivray
Posted September 27, 2004
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