Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #272326 in Books
• Published on: 2008-10-28
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 244 pages

Synopsis
1600 years ago the English tribes (Angles, Jutes, Frisians, Franks and Saxons) appeared on the coasts of Britain. They had invaded from Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. And with them they brought the English language, sagas of Germanic heroes, Gods of fertility and Gods of war. The Anglo-Saxons were led by two brothers, Hengest and Horsa, the forefathers of the English nation. In the early 5th century Roman rule came to an end in Britain and soon new leaders emerged and civil war broke out. And almost immediately the sea began to disappear under the shadows of the Viking ships. The English had arrived. This is an epic adventure of war, honour, love, friendship, betrayal and blood-feuds. A band of Anglo-Saxon warlords are bound by oaths to each other and share a common fate as their destiny is to write a new name onto the lands of Britannia with the blood of their enemies. That name is England!

Customer Reviews

A comedy of errors
Been a keen reader of historical fiction of this period I ordered this book based on the synopsis as given. What a disappointment from an author who claims to have done exhaustive research. The least I expect from an historical novel is at least some attempt at to get the details right, even if based on a semi legendary history. This story is full of anachonronisms, 'he gulped in oxygen' 'puff' 'faggot' 'wimp' 'bricking it' fantasy weapons include double edged battle axes, spiked ball on a chain, maile shirts with breast plates the list is endless!!!

The story is blood thirsty and the violence is casual, and no doubt that is how it was.

The author does indeed state his story has an agenda; to tell the story of England, now I'm as proud to be an Englishman as the next Englishman, proud of the tribes who would become known as the English, but there are elements contained within the story , young warriors giving raised straight arm salutes shouting Heil England, a Roman style salute from a people who supposedly loath Roman ways according to this author, which sits uneasy with the authors very valid explanation of the use of the much maligned swastika. A confused take on a period of our history which could have been addressed in a more balanced way and give Early English heritage the story it truly deserves.

a real burner
I have a lovely little iron coal burner in my front room, and I have literally just fed this book to the coals having only read it half way through.
The Violence is horrible, the first being an 8 year old child enjoying committing the multiple murder of several slave children because they were from a different race- that should have been a clue. Then there was the imagery used surrounding the heroes people, a swastika, parallel lightening bolts (SS insignia), a "skinhead" warrior, the list began to have an aroma I did not care for. When a "dark skinned" slave was abused to the guffaws of jolly Saxon Warriors, enough was a enough, and into the flames the book went to the astonishment of my wife and 12 year old son. Once I explained myself, they both agreed that my course of somewhat impetuous action was valid
I've googled the author and there is no information at all on the Mr West if indeed he exists at all. The story and the writing itself, I felt flowed well, and as I have stated above I stuck with it until around half way in, but there was just one too many of these Pro Nazi Images that made me feed the book to the coals.

England Expects
bloodthirsty vulger comedy of horrors with historical facts to make it interesting, a good read.