G A Henty

King Alfred's Fight G A Henty

In the ruthless time of chaos and Viking onslaught, Alfred the untested Saxon king, must fight to save his ravished land. The tale unfolds through the eyes of a young thane, Edmond, who becomes Alfred's friend and one of his mightiest warriors. He determines to join King Alfred on the swamp isle of Athelney to repulse the Danes. When Vikings overrun the land and the Saxons capitulate, this young knight trains and leads a devoted corps of pike-men to recapture Alfred's kingdom. The story starts in the year A. D. 870 in the marshes of East Anglia, where an Anglian ealdorman, his kinsman Eldred, and his son Edmund have been driven in an attempt to hide from the Danes. The Danish advance is resisted one last time by an East Anglian army led in part by Edmund's father, but the resistance is crushed and Eldred and Edmund fly south, to Wessex. But even Wessex, the last Saxon kingdom, won't defy the Danes forever... Ever mindful of his homeland's fall, young Edmund determines to fight his hardest against the brutal, bloodthirsty Viking invaders. From the marshes of Athelney, to the heart of Danish territory, to the siege of Paris and even the invasion of Sicily, Edmund and his good ship, the Dragon, fearlessly sail in search of adventure. His quest takes him all throughout Europe and lead to glory, prosperity, and finally love. The author published this book so this essential part of history would not be forgotten and so our heroes will always be honored and remembered.