Although Godwin is the main character in this novel, Hill’s Edmund Ironside is beautifully and sympathetically drawn as he defends his kingdom against the Danes. For me, the high point of the novel, and of Hill’s writing, comes near the end, where Hill’s prose is brilliantly moving, especially if one is familiar with the history of that pre-Conquest world. It is well done, although one particular battle scene goes on a bit too long for this reader. Hill does not shy away from describing the horrors of battle in the 11th century.

(He manipulates the historical time-line with Æthelred’s mother, but I could see why and this is, after all, fiction.

It is a man’s book, telling of the deeds of warriors, although kudos to Hill for giving small but significant roles to his female characters: to the fictional Kendra, to King Æthelred’s mother, and to Queen Emma. In Hill’s book I could see the influence of the sagas, of Anglo-Saxon poetry, and of Professor Tolkien’s trilogy about Middle Earth. What I found were similarities – after all, we based our stories on the same events – and huge differences. The story is set in the same historical period in which I am writing, and because I am attempting to tell a story that focuses on the women of this time, I was interested in seeing how a male author would deal with the same material and characters. But an old enemy, the treacherous Earl Eadric, dogs Godwin's footsteps, and as the final battle approaches, around the valiant English the trap begins to close.I heard Justin Hill speak about this book at a Medievalist conference earlier this year, and I bought it on the spot. With epic courage and ferocity, Godwin and Edmund repel the butchering Danes in three great battles. Godwin must traverse the meadows, wintry forests and fogbound marshes of Saxon England, raising armies of monks, ploughmen and shepherds against the Viking invader. When Ethelred's son Edmund takes the throne, determined to succeed where his father failed, he plucks Godwin from domestic peace to be right-hand man in his loyal shield wall. One man lives to bear witness to the upheaval: Godwin, barely out of boyhood and destined to become one of his country's great warriors. King Ethelred lies dying and the England he knew dies with him the warring kingdoms of Mercia, Wessex and Northymbria tremble on the brink of great change. The year is 1016 and England burns while the Viking armies blockade the great city of London.

Shieldwall by Justin Hill