'Moving, and vastly informative, a real page turner of a historical novel' Fay Weldon
The first in the Daughters of Hastings series, an adventure filled with of love, loss and survival. Based on the historical story of Edith Swan-Neck, The Handfasted Wife paints a vivid picture of 1066 from the perspective of the royal women. The perfect read for fans of Philipa Gregory, Alison Weir and Karen Maitland.
Edith (Elditha) Swanneck, Harold's common-law wife, is set aside for a political marriage when Harold becomes king in 1066.
Determined to protect her children's destinies and control her economic future, she is taken to William's camp when her estate is sacked on the eve of the Battle of Hastings. She later identifies Harold's body on the battlefield and her youngest son becomes a Norman hostage.
