Publisher's Synopsis
""Hereward The Last Of The English"" is a historical novel written by Charles Kingsley, first published in 1865. The novel tells the story of Hereward, a legendary figure from the 11th century who led a rebellion against the Norman conquerors of England. The novel is set in the years following the Norman Conquest of England in 1066 and follows the life of Hereward, a Saxon nobleman who becomes an outlaw after refusing to submit to the new Norman rulers. The novel is divided into several parts, each of which covers a different period in Hereward's life. The first part introduces the reader to Hereward's childhood and his early years as a warrior. The second part covers his rebellion against the Normans and his eventual defeat at the Battle of Ely. The third part follows his life as an outlaw, living in the fens of East Anglia and fighting against the Normans. The final part of the novel covers his eventual reconciliation with the Norman rulers and his death.Throughout the novel, Kingsley portrays Hereward as a heroic figure who embodies the Saxon resistance against the Norman invaders. The novel is filled with action and adventure, as well as political intrigue and romance. Kingsley's vivid descriptions of the landscape and the characters bring the story to life and make it an engaging read for anyone interested in English history or historical fiction.But their mishaps were not over yet. They were hardly out of Stronsay Frith when they saw the witch-whale again, following them up, rolling and spouting and breaching in most uncanny wise. Some said that they saw a gray woman on his back; and they knew--possibly from the look of the sky, but certainly from the whale's behavior--that there was more heavy weather yet coming from the northward.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.