Harold Was My King

Edmumd Edmundson is but 12 years old when the story begins. He is in service to Earl Harold Godwinsson at the time of his imprisonment and forced oath of loyalty to Duke William of Normandy. With a young boy's idealism, he tells his impression of King Eward the Confessor, Harold (to be King Harold II) and Duke William (to be King William the Conqueror) along with others such as Hereward (one of the last English hold outs against Norman rule), Harold's traitor brother Tostig and Duke William's many children. As Norman rule takes over England, Edumund is stripped of his holdings because he refuses to swear allegience to William the Conqueror. However, as he idealisitically holds to his oath of loyalty to Harold, he sees the gradual merging of two nations into a new England. I was a bit bored at the beginning, found great interest as he spoke of his life after land and titles had been removed and then found the ending a bit predictable although very enjoyable. What I liked best, was Edmund's perception of King William's family. He "knew" the King's children as peers and then as pawns to their father's game of power. It was a side of the story that I had really not discovered before and it has kindled some interest in reading more about the heirs of William the Conqueror. I also greatly enjoyed the "Last Words" section at the end when the author really wrapped up the story beyond just the fictional story ending. It really rounded out the tale and was a valuable piece of the story.