WORDHOARD: Anglo-Saxon Stories

by Jill Paton & Kevin Crossley-Holland Walsh ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 15, 1969

The oldest man, a leader of men, answered; he unlocked the wordhoard."" So begins the first of eight Anglo-Saxon stories, reaching from the first invading settlers until a few days. before the Norman conquest. Unlike the early English writings that are usually anthologized, these do not focus on battles or didactic religious themes but on everyday lives--several featuring children--that reveal much about the period. ""The Woodwose,"" ostensibly about a forest troll, describes how time and storytelling distort history as an overrun king confronts his conquerors and their descendants. In ""The Horseman,"" a cowardly warrior, deserting Byrhtnoth at Maldon, is challenged by two suspicious children. Taken from Bede (""Brother Baeda"") is the story of ""crowthroat"" Caedmon's sudden poetic gift; in another, Alfred's version of the assignment of ""Asset's book"" is given. Also, thoughts of a bard being replaced by a younger man; a boy-monk's first experiences in a monastery; the conversion of Thurkell the Tall because of the courage of an archbishop; and Harold Godwinson's deathbed reflections on Hardrada, Edgar, William. Because motives-and doubts have been supplied, there is little left to the imagination and several modernisms stick out--the bard's loss of ""security,"" Ethelred nicknamed ""Red,"" Regrettably, there is no indication of sources and no suggestions for, further reading. Nevertheless the stories are diverting, if more for insight than entertainment.

Pub Date: Sept. 15, 1969

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Farrar, Straus & Giroux

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1969

Categories: NONFICTION