Overview

A fast-paced tale with a firm basis in historical fact, Birth of the English is the story of Aethelstan (c 895-939), the Saxon king and illegitimate son of Edward the Elder. As a boy, and as the favourite of his grandfather King Alfred, Aethelstan is brought up by his aunt Aethelflaeda, the Lady of Mercia, and is subject to her tutelage. As Alfred's eldest offspring, Aethelflaeda is renowned for her tactical flair in military affairs. Aethelstan learns invaluable lessons from her in matters of war and statecraft. As Wallis Peel traces his development, from boy to king, Aethelstan emerges as no mere historical construct, but as a sympathetic, flesh-and-blood character, who apart from his military prowess establishes sound government, reforms the coinage, grants charters to towns, and, in a century of legal reform, issues new laws. The narrative moves effortlessly from the inauguration of Wessex's supremacy throughout England, Wales, and southern Scotland, and builds to an enthralling climax with Aethelstan's final conflict. In this he faces, the combined force of the Scots and Danes at Brunanburh (937), all conjured under the author's assured hand in great graphic detail.

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9780954726874

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You always know her meticulous research, which is at the heart of all her novels, means that when reading a book by Wallis Peel you are always in excellent hands. Neil Weston, South Gloucestershire Librarian A thundering good tale, a pinch of romance and a dollop of exciting warfare all bound together with sound historical fact... Carole Taylor, journalist

Author Information

Wallis Peel is the writer of numerous published books, short stories and newspaper features. She is a long-established member of the Society of Authors. She had the normal working-class education of her era but she hated school and left at fourteen. She spent one miserable year in offices then followed her heart's desire to work with horses. She started at the bottom of the pile and worked her way up as she gained experience and knowledge. She started writing in her late twenties, then had gaps because of one thing or another but always, at the back of her mind, was the desire to write. Recent books include Sea Gem, set in Guernsey, Republic set in Bristol and Yate, Bold Spirit, Glorious Gloucestershire, Spirit of Defiance, Battle of Defiance and Pride of Mercia. Sea Gem is also available as an unabridged audiotape published by Isis, and all the novels are available in large print. Written under the name of H M Peel, two her most famous horse books, Jago, and Fury, Son of the Wild are now reissued in paperback, and Law of the Wild is available as an e-book.

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