Hereward, The Wake V1-2 (1898)

Hereward, The Wake is a historical novel written by Charles Kingsley and published in 1898. The book is divided into two volumes and tells the story of Hereward, a legendary Anglo-Saxon hero who led a rebellion against the Norman invaders in the 11th century. Volume 1 begins with the death of King Edward the Confessor and the subsequent struggle for the English throne between Harold Godwinson and William, Duke of Normandy. Hereward, a nobleman from the Fenlands, initially supports Harold but becomes disillusioned with him after the Battle of Hastings, where Harold is killed and William emerges victorious. Hereward then leads a guerrilla war against the Normans, using his knowledge of the marshes and fens to his advantage. He is joined by a band of outlaws and together they carry out raids on Norman strongholds and supply lines. Volume 2 continues the story of Hereward’s rebellion, with the Normans increasing their efforts to crush the resistance. Hereward receives help from other Anglo-Saxon leaders such as Edwin and Morcar, but ultimately he is betrayed by his own kinsman, who reveals his whereabouts to the Normans. Hereward is captured and taken to William the Conqueror, who offers him a pardon in exchange for his loyalty. Hereward refuses and is sentenced to death, but he manages to escape and disappears into the Fens. The novel ends with a note on the historical accuracy of the story and the legend of Hereward’s later life as a pirate. Overall, Hereward, The Wake is a thrilling adventure story that combines historical fact with fictional embellishments. It portrays Hereward as a heroic figure who fights for the freedom of his people and the preservation of their way of life. The novel also explores themes of loyalty, betrayal, and the clash of cultures between the Anglo-Saxons and the Normans.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world’s literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.