
A sweeping saga of the first English settlers, this tale opens amid the crumbling remnants of Roman Britain, where daring bands of warriors arrive on dragon‑shaped ships, bearing their gods, legends, and golden‑haired families. From the fierce king Ida, the “Flame‑bearer,” who builds the fledgling fortress of Bambrough, to the ambitious prince Ella of Deira, the narrative paints a vivid picture of a people carving order from wild forests and untamed marshes.
Through the eyes of freemen and nobles alike, listeners hear the clang of swords, the hush of ancient rites to Woden, Thor, and other deities, and the murmurs of early assemblies that lay the groundwork for English liberty. As battles rage and settlements expand, the story captures the raw determination that transforms a rugged landscape into the seed of a future empire, blending history and myth in a richly narrated first act that invites you to walk the misty coasts of a world on the brink of greatness.
Language
en
Duration
~6 hours (383K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Giovanni Fini, sp1nd and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive)
Release date
2014-04-30
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1830–1916
An energetic Victorian geographer and writer, he helped shape Britain’s age of exploration and became one of the strongest early champions of Antarctic discovery. His books draw on a life that ranged from naval service and South American travel to years at the heart of the Royal Geographical Society.
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