The Handfasted Wife

Summary (from the publisher): The Handfasted Wife is the story of the Norman Conquest from the perspective of Edith (Elditha) Swanneck, Harold's common-law wife. She is set aside for a political marriage when Harold becomes king in 1066. Determined to protect her children's destinies and control her economic future, she is taken to William's camp when her estate is sacked on the eve of the Battle of Hastings. She later identifies Harold's body on the battlefield and her youngest son becomes a Norman hostage. Elditha avoids an arranged marriage with a Breton knight by which her son might or might not be given into his care. She makes her own choice and sets out through strife-torn England to seek help from her sons in Dublin. However, events again overtake her. Harold's mother, Gytha, holds up in her city of Exeter with other aristocratic women, including Elditha's eldest daughter. The girl is at risk, drawing Elditha back to Exeter and resistance. Initially supported by Exeter's burghers the women withstand William's siege. However, after three horrific weeks they negotiate exile and the removal of their treasure. Elditha takes sanctuary in a convent where eventually she is reunited with her hostage son. This is an adventure story of love, loss, survival and reconciliation.

Review: I won this book as a giveaway on Goodreads.

This novel is clearly well researched and covers a time period in England's history that is infrequently explored in fiction. However, I was disappointed by the stilted dialogue and lack of character development.

Edith (Elditha) Swanneck married Harold Godwinson around 1050 in a handfasted ceremony. The two were likely distantly related, preventing a marriage within the Church. However, after many years of a happy marriage and five living children, Harold married Aldgyth in 1066. His handfasted marriage allowed for him to make a second, recognized marriage in a Church ceremony, for political reasons. Soon after Harold's second marriage, his is killed in battle and Elditha must fight to save herself and her children from ruin. This is the story of a strong woman who had to face being put aside for her husband's political gain.

This novel gives a fascinating insight into the time period in which Elditha and Harold lived. There is strong tension between the old pagan ways and the new Christian faith. For example, early in the novel, Elditha debates whether or not to partake in a blessing of the planting of the new crop. "These old ways were not approved of by the Church. She knew the ceremony well, had often watched it but there were those who thought that her soul would be in mortal danger if she took part in one" (46). It was interesting to see the dynamic of the old ways conflicting with the new during this time period. For example, when King Edward is dying, Gytha says, "The corpse serpent is gnawing at the roots of Yggdrasil" (27) a reference to old Norse mythology that still would have been prevalent at the time, despite the rise of the Christian faith.

The only thing that keeps me from giving this well-researched historical novel more stars is the flat execution of the narrative. I never got a sense that the characters had any depth or emotional life. For example, when Countess Gytha learns her sons, including Harold, have been killed her only response is "How did the King die?" (120). As a reader, I did not get a feel for her grief or pain in any way. Similarly, when Elditha must travel to the battlefield to identify her dead husband's body parts by birthmarks only she would know, there is little evidence or reference to her grief. The narrative asserts that "Her very sense of herself was frozen" and "She refused to be consoled or stop searching, but frantically carried on asking for bodies to be lifted, peering closely at any torso that resembled her husband's"(122). However, there is little internal reflection on this loss seen, and Elditha's grief and great loss is scarcely referenced again after what must have been an incredibly traumatic experience.

McGrath does do an excellent job of staying true to the historical record, and to historical probability for gaps in the history of Elditha's life. My favorite part of this novel is when Elditha is overseeing the daily operations of Reredfelle including the planting and harvest, running of the household, and supervision and education of her two youngest children. This gave an excellent oversight of what daily life would have been like for a high born lady at the time. However, the strife and war as competing armies fought for power is also indicative of the time. I think McGrath chose well to send Elditha to a convent for her remaining days, since this was a likely conclusion for a wealthy widow.

Stars: 2