Helen Hollick Knihy

In this beautifully crafted tale, Harold Godwinesson, the last Saxon King of England, is a respected, quick-witted man both vulnerable and strong, honorable and loving-and yet, in the end, only human. After the political turmoil and battles leading up to 1066, we all know William the Conquerer takes England. But Helen Hollick will have readers at the edge of their seats, hoping that just this once, for Harold, the story will have a different ending.

Book One of the Pendragon's Banner Trilogy. The Arthurian legend retold by USA Today bestselling historical fiction author Helen Hollick. Arthur - the boy who became a King... who became a legend. 450 AD, and Britain is in chaos. Arthur, the next Pendragon, is to serve a hard apprenticeship before he can take his rightful place as King.

Arthur Pendragon is dead, or so it is thought on the battlefields of France. His widow, Gwenhwyfar, left at Caer Cadan with their small daughter, faces overthrow by the powerful council headed by Arthur's uncle. But events in Europe mean that a mightier battle on Arthur's territory is ahead.

Aged only thirteen, Emma, daughter of the Duke of Normandy, is married in a strategic alliance to King Aethelred of England. Inept and arrogant, Aethelred is loathed by his young wife, whom he punishes for his many failings as a ruler. Their first son, Edward, is born through an act of violence that is little more than rape. England is invaded by the Viking King Swein Forkbeard and his son Cnut. After a bitter struggle, Aethelred loses his kingdom and his wife. Emma, now dowager queen, holds London against the invader Cnut. When he demands she surrender or suffer the consequences, Emma stakes everything on a dangerous gamble, but troubles and tragedy still await the indomitable queen as she struggles for power and for survival...

A novel of Arthur as he really was. In the first book of this exciting trilogy, author Helen Hollick brings to life Arthur Pendragon as he really might have been. Leaving behind the fairy-tale element of Merlin's magic and the improbable existence of Lancelot, Hollick instead transports the reader to the early years of Britain circa 455 AD and tells the Arthurian legend in a solid and believable way. For one, Arthur does not pull a sword from a stone using superhuman strength; rather, he is named heir to Britain (if he can win it from the tyrant Vortigern) while standing near a "hallowed stone, the symbol of a warrior's strength and the chieftain's right of leadership." Later, a sword won in battle signals his place as Britain's King. This is a story of harsh battles, secret treasonous plots, and the life-threatening politics of the dark ages of early Britain. Intertwined through it all is the often-tested love of Arthur and Gwenhwyfar (Guinevere in Welsh--her name as it really would have been) as they struggle to survive and conquer to see Pendragon become King. "If only all historical fiction could be this good." --Historical Novels Review "Helen Hollick has it all. She tells a great story, gets her history right and writes consistently readable books." --Bernard Cornwell "Hollick joggles a cast of characters and a bloody, tangled plot with great skill." --Publishers Weekly

Buch Zwei der Pendragon's Banner-Trilogie. Arthur - der Junge, der König wurde, der zur Legende wurde. 462 n. Chr. und Arthur ist König. Doch die Kämpfe sind noch nicht vorbei. Leidenschaft, Liebe und Hass gehen Hand in Hand in dieser eindrucksvollen und kraftvollen Artussage, neu erzählt von der Bestsellerautorin für historische Fiktion Helen Hollick.