DAUGHTER OF THE WOLF
Victoria Whitworth, Head of Zeus, 2016, US27.95/C37.95, hb, 512pp, 9781784082130
This powerful novel is set in the Humber estuary of northeastern England in the mid 9th century. Radmer, lord of Donmouth, is sent to Rome and his teenage daughter Elfrun is left to manage his lands with very little guidance. She is responsible for the valuable herds of sheep, the farms, fishing, craftspeople and the day to day running of the hall and its staff. Surrounding her are those responsible for each of the many tasks, each one driven by hopes, dreams, strengths and frailties.
She is aware that some are less than honest, some do not honor their vows but she is unaware that she might have a traitor in her household. She is unaware also of the threat posed by her neighbors across the water, always poised, waiting to take over the rich lands of Donmouth should she show weakness.
The writer weaves a complex story with a wealth of characters fully true to their time yet their motivations driving behaviors clearly recognizable to today’s reader. The women are the focus – Elfrun herself, naïve but determined, the enigmatic slave owner, the sexy wife of the shepherd, the smith’s daughter who dreams of becoming an artist in metal, the elderly grandmother who tries to make her children and grandchildren live the life that has been denied to her.
‘Daughter of the Wolf’ translates a vast amount of research into an engrossing saga of life in pre-Conquest England. The strongly-worked characters, the plot, the vivid detail combine to make this an engrossing read.
Valerie Adolph
Valerie Fletcher Adolph 