
audiobook
by Baron Edward Bulwer Lytton Lytton
In the waning days of the Anglo‑Saxon era, the great halls of London echo with the clatter of armor and the low murmur of political maneuvering. Earl Godwin, a towering figure of both Saxon and Dane blood, gathers his family and retainers for the king’s Easter court, while his son Harold wrestles with duty, love, and the shadow of looming war. The narrative paints a vivid picture of medieval life—feasting, bear‑baiting, and the intimate rituals of fire‑lit chambers where old hounds sleep and hawks perch.
The story unfolds as personal loyalties clash with the relentless march of fate. Godwin’s sudden ailments and whispered fears hint at a deeper peril, while his wife Githa confronts the mysteries of healing and prophecy. Meanwhile, rival earls and restless warriors stir in the countryside, their ambitions threatening the fragile peace of the realm.
Language
en
Duration
~57 minutes (55K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2005-03-01
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1803–1873
Best remembered for vivid historical and supernatural fiction, this prolific Victorian writer also left a surprising mark on everyday language with phrases that people still quote today. His stories mix drama, mystery, politics, and the occult in a way that helped shape popular fiction in the 19th century.
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