Etheldreda

This historical novel delves into the extraordinary life of Etheldreda, a 7th-century Anglo-Saxon princess who became a queen and later the revered Abbess of Ely. Set during a tumultuous period when pagan traditions clashed with emerging Christianity, the story explores Etheldreda's personal struggles, including two politically motivated marriages despite her vow of chastity, and her eventual flight to establish a religious community. Beyond the historical narrative, the book thoughtfully examines universal themes of existence, faith, and resilience in a violent world. It includes valuable supplementary materials like chronology, genealogy, place names, notes, and a map, making it a rich resource for understanding early medieval England and spiritual journeys.

Etheldreda, Princess of East Anglia, Queen of Northumbria and Abbess of Ely, was a remarkable woman who lived in restless, violent times when old beliefs were dying and new ones were struggling to emerge. Pagan clashed with Christian as the seven kingdoms of the Germanic tribes warred against each other and against the native Celts. Occasionally an uneasy peace was bought by the skilful use of the 'diplomatic marriage', and twice Etheldreda, though vowed to chastity, submitted to marriage for political reasons. When her second husband refused to accept the 'arrangement' between them, she fled south to the Island of Ely.But this is not just the story of a seventh-century Anglo-Saxon saint. It is about the general human struggle to comprehend the enigma of existence and to come to terms with Christ's God, faced as we are by a violent and cruel world.This edition also contains several pages of chronology, genealogy, place names, notes and a map.