The Harrowing

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Five strangers Five secrets No refuge No turning back.In the aftermath of 1066, a Norman army marches through the North of England burning, killing and laying waste to everything in its path The Harrowing has begun As towns and villages fall to the invaders, five travellers fleeing the slaughter are forced to band together for survival Refugees in their own country, they journey through the wasteland, hoping to find sanctuary with the last stand of the Saxon rebellion But are they fleeing the Normans or their own troubles Priest, Lady, Servant, Warrior, Minstrel each has their own story each their own sin As enemies past and present close in, their prior deeds catch up with them and they discover there is no sanctuary from fate. Read The Harrowing By James Aitcheson – kino-fada.fr Although many people could name the Battle of Hastings as the beginning of the Norman Conquest, it certainly did not end there This novel is set about the Harrying of the North, which took place in the winter of 1069 70, as the invaders attempted to consolidate, and extend, their power Obviously, the Battle of Hastings was in 1066 and, three years later, William the Conqueror still saw York as the furthest place North that he ruled This left him determined to bring the rebellious North to he Although many people could name the Battle of Hastings as the beginning of the Norman Conquest, it certainly did not end there This novel is set about the Harrying of the North, which took place in the winter of 1069 70, as the invaders attempted to consolidate, and extend, their power Obviously, the Battle of Hastings was in 1066 and, three years later, William the Conqueror still saw York as the furthest place North that he ruled This left him determined to bring the rebellious North to...interesting historical novel based around the harrowing of the north around 1070I absolutely adore books like this, I really do Books clearly written from the heart, that are trying to do something a little different, a little bitwith the genre And pull it off, obviously Spectacularly so, in the case of The Harrowing If you ve read any of James Aitcheson s previous books set in the period just after the cataclysm in English history that was 1066 and the Norman conquest, or any of the many good books there are about just now that are set in the period, then you ll I absolutely adore books like this, I really do Books clearly written from the heart, that are trying to do something a little different, a little bitwith the genre And pull it off, obviously Spectacularly so, in the case of The Harrowing If you ve read any of James Aitcheson s previous books set in the period just after the cataclysm in English history that was 1066 and the Norman conquest, or any of the many good books there are about just now that are set in the period, then you ll be familiar with the period However, that is just where The Harrowing begins to set itself apart from the others In his previous series, James wrote about the years after 1066, but seen through the eyes of Tancred, a Norman knight Now, Tancred did becomeandAng...Where to begin how about from the very beginning I must warn all future readers that this book is one of those where it is what it says on the cover Harrowing this is a book that deals with the grim, the dark, the deadly, the deceitful, the shameful, even sinful, parts of humanity All set within the bleakest period of medieval English history the Harrowing of the North where the Normans led by Duke William and King of England alas came and laid waste to the northern shires So i Where to begin how about from the very beginning I must warn all future readers that this book is one of those where it is what it says on the cover Harrowing this is a book that deals with the grim, the dark, the deadly, the deceitful, the shameful, even sinful, parts of humanity All set within the bleakest period of medieval English history the Harrowing of the North where the Normans led by Duke William and King of England alas came and laid waste to the northern shires So if you are at all squeamish this probably isn t the best choice not that James has filled every chapter with hangings, murder, rape, hall burning, starvation etc In fact the actual carnage of the setting is presented in asinister manner, with a great subtlety that will chill you As horrific...Great storytelling This made me realize that most of the books I ve read about the Norman conquest were told from the Norman perspective and usually lords at that The beauty of this book is that it is told from the perspec...Set in a period of history that has long fascinated me, The Harrowing is a ship of fools tale a kind of tragic Canterbury Tales in which five travellers slowly divulge their tales as they flee from a Norman army bent on completely destroying the English in the North, trying to reach the last pocket of English resistance mustered at Hexham.It s a good idea, a period of history of which too little is known or written about and having enjoyed James Aitchison s previous novels I was really lo Set in a period of history that has long fascinated me, The Harrowing is a ship of fools tale a kind of tragic Canterbury Tales in which five travellers slowly divulge their tales as they flee from a Norman army bent on completely destroying the English in the North, trying to reach the last pocket of English resistance mustered at Hexham.It s a good idea, a period of history of which too little is known or written about and having enjoyed James Aitchison s previous novels I was really looking forward to The Harrowing, but it was a real disappointment Though the elements are all there disparate...It s been a couple of years since the Normans invaded and took control of Britain but there are still pockets of rebellion, especially by the troublesome northerners In response, the new king William sends his soldiers north laying waste to the countryside and killing the Saxons Five travellers, each with their own secrets, band together to try and make it to the Scottish border where they believe they ll be safe As they make camp each night, they take it in turns to tell...The Harrowing, by James Aitcheson, is a story of the wanton destruction and futility of war as it effects ordinary people Set a few years after the Battle of Hastings, when King William rode north through England to quash the remaining rebel uprisings by burning and killing everything and everyone he found, it is told from the point of view of five disparate individuals Merewyn is the lady of a small but prosperous manor Tova is a slave recently granted her freedom Beorn is a warrior who sav The Harrowing, by James Aitcheson, is a story of the wanton destruction and futility of war as it effects ordinary people Set a few years after the Battle of Hastings, when King William rode north through England to quash the remaining rebel uprisings by burning and killing everything and everyone he found, it is told from the point of view of five disparate individuals Merewyn is the lady of a small but prosperous manor Tova is a slave recently granted her freedom Beorn is a warrior who saves their lives and reluctantly offers his protection if they travel with him to a gathering of rebels Guthred is a priest trying to make his way to the abbey at Lindisfarne to return stolen church treasure Oslac is a travelling minstrel originally from the south Each carries with them shameful secrets.The stories of how these five came to meet offer a fresh perspective on a well documented period in history These are not the titled and wealthy victors, rew...James Aitcheson made his name with his Sworn Sword trilogy of novels set in the years after the Conquest, which followed the fortunes of one of William s knights In this standalone novel, he puts his previous hero, Tancred, aside to look at the aftermath of defeat from the point of view of the English and, in doing so, makes a huge step up as a writer As a scholar of the period, there s never been any doubting the historical accuracy of Aitcheson s work, but in the taught prose of The Harrowin James Aitcheson made his name with his Sworn Sword trilogy of novels set in the years after the Conquest, which followed the fortunes of one of William s knights In this standalone novel, he puts his previous hero, Tancred, aside to look at the aftermath of defeat from the point of view of the English and, in doing so, makes a huge step up as a writer As a scholar of the period, there s never been any doubting the historical accuracy of Aitcheson s work, but in the taught prose of The Harrowing, he proves himself completely as a writer.Five refugees from the reiving Normans, who are laying waste the north to snuff out any possibility of future rebellions, come together, fleeing through a brutal winter towards hope of sanctuary The story follows them through their flight, as well as telling the tale of what formed and made them all fleeing noblewoman ser...I wasn t sure what to expect when I picked up this book but was pleasantly surprised The story begins with Tova the handmaid and her lady Merewyn fleeing their hall in mysterious circumstances As their journey continues they learn of the impending harrying of the north by William the Conquerer and over the course of the next seven days they encounter 3 other strangers, all outcasts in their own land.Aitcheson weaves an intriguing plot, enhancing the immediacy of the impending raiders through t I wasn t sure what to expect when I picked up this book but was pleasantly surprised The story begins with Tova the handmaid and her lady Merewyn fleeing their hall in mysterious circumstances As their journey continues they learn of the impending harrying of the north by William the Conquerer and over the course of the next seven days they encounter 3 other strangers, all outcasts in their own land.Aitcheson weaves an intriguing plot, enhancing the immediacy of the impending raiders through the use of the present tense, and switches to the past when each character tells their story He pulls off this technique well The plot moves forward...

The Harrowing
  • English
  • 09 June 2017
  • Hardcover
  • 448 pages
  • 1784297305
  • James Aitcheson
  • The Harrowing