.jpeg "Ascent by Cathie Dunn")
Blurb:
A brutal Viking raid heralds the dawn of a new, powerful dynasty - the House of Normandy.
Nesutria, Kingdom of the West Franks
AD 890
Fourteen-year-old Poppa's life changes when Northmen land near Bayeux. Count Berengar, her father, submits to them, and she is handfasted to Hrólfr, the Northmen's heathen leader, as part of their agreement.
To her relief, Hrólfr leaves immediately in search of further conquest, only returning to claim her years later. In the face of retaliating Franks, they flee to East Anglia, where she gives birth to their son and daughter.
When Hrólfr and Poppa return to reclaim Bayeux, his new campaign strikes at the heart of Frankish power, and King Charles of the West Franks offers him a pact he cannot refuse. In exchange for vast tracts of land in Neustria, Hrólfr must convert to Christianity and accept marriage to Gisela, the king's illegitimate daughter.
Poppa's world shatters. She remains in Bayeux, with her daughter, Adela. When Gisela arrives one day, demanding she hand over Adela, to be raised in Rouen, Poppa's patience is at an end. But Gisela makes for a dangerous enemy, and only one woman will survive their confrontation high up on the cliffs.
Will Poppa live to witness the dawn of a new era?
At the centre of this novel is a young woman, Poppa of Bayeux. We first meet her as a naive and immature fourteen-year-old girl, we follow her dreams and hopes, watch her through the stages of womanhood, as she acquires wisdom and fortitude.
Hrólfr, aka Rollo the Viking plays a less prominent part in this narrative. It is very much a women-centered tale, which captures the resilience of the women living through such a turbulent historical period.
Poppa is the daughter of Count Berengar, and knows her value. She is well aware that as the only child of the Count, she is an important marriage pawn. "Her old way of life was gone, banished by the arrival of these northern Pagans. Everyone's future held nothing but uncertainty".
Hrólfr comes to the lands of Franks, looking for lands and riches. Marriage does not enter his plans, until the Count of Bayeux proposes the union. "A marriage to a Frankish count's daughter would validate his reason to stay and pursue his strategy in Nesutria. His plan was to seize Rouen and set up his base there".
Having settled in Rouen, Hrólfr is in no hurry to return to Poppa. "He saw what happened to his friends who settled down. A wife and offspring mellowed them; only a few had shown themselves prepared to join him on raids along the coast".
Poppa and Hrólfr have to mend the bridges if they want to have a future together. "Her own feelings towards her husband were still torn. Hrólfr was a man of honour. Yet he'd neglected her for years, only to turn up and demand she join him in Rouen... in the end, she had no choice but to comply".
Both strong-willed and passionate, Poppa and Hrólfr become the founders of the great dynasty. "...their offspring would end up ruling vast lands; and... their lives would be spoken of for centuries to come". Their characters are complicated, and their relationship is multi-faceted.
While reading this novel, I couldn't help noticing certain historical anachronisims. When Poppa's father Berengar and Hrólfr discuss the terms of the wedding, Berengar suggests a handfasting ceremony, but on the steps of the Church. Hrólfr agrees, "as long as it's not inside any church". In fact, during the middle ages, weddings typically took place at the church door, rather than inside the church.
It is questionable whether Hrolfr would be angry at Berengar for "selling his daughter like a cow. No, worse. Like a piece of meat". This is a very modern way of thinking. The same modern sensibilities are perceptible, when Hrólfr refuses to bed his new wife because she is too young for him.
Quote from an excellent historical volume by Eileen Power, Medieval Women, "Advantages given to women by their position as landowners outweighed the disadvantages in an age in which marriage was a business contract in all classes of society and child marriage the rule rather than the exception". "The careful father would expect to arrange for his daughter's marriage and often to marry her off before she was fourteen". It is the modern civilisation that has extended the duration of childhood. Fourteen would have been a pretty reasonable age to marry by the standards of the society of that historical period.
Ascent is an action-packed and compelling read, a tale of love, compassion and forgiveness, with a spirited and fiercely determined female protagonist. It vividly revives a more obscure historical period From being a footnote in the historical article on the house of Normandy, Poppa of Bayeux acquires a prominent role. This is the story of the woman whose valour and vision make her the matriarch of the emerging House of Normandy.
Trigger warning: death of a child, miscarriage, battle scenes.
This post is part of the blog tour for Ascent.
Many thanks to Cathie Dunn, and Rachel's Random Resources for my e-copy of the book!
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Purchase Links
International
Buy Link: http://mybook.to/NormandyAscent
Amazon US:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09RNB6N5L/
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09RNB6N5L/
Amazon CA:
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B09RNB6N5L/
Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B09RNB6N5L/
Author Bio
–
Cathie Dunn is an award-winning author of historical fiction,
mystery, and romance. The focus of her historical fiction novels is on strong
women through time.
Cathie has been writing for over twenty years. She studied
Creative Writing online, with a focus on novel writing, which she also taught in
the south of France. She loves researching for her novels, delving into history
books, and visiting castles and historic sites. A voracious reader, primarily
of historical fiction / romance, she often reviews books on her blog, Ruins
& Reading.
Cathie is a member of the Historical Novel Society, the Richard
III Society, and the Alliance of Independent Authors.
After many years in Scotland, Cathie now lives in
south of France with her husband, and rescued Charlie Cat and Ellie Dog.
Discover more about Cathie at www.cathiedunn.com!
Social
Media Links –
Website: https://www.cathiedunn.com
Amazon Author Page: https://author.to/CathieDunn
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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CathieDunnAuthor/
Ruins & Reading FB group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/722966445318513
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/cathiedunnwrites/_saved/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5066224.Cathie_Dunn
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Thanks so much for your wonderful review, Galina. I do appreciate you taking the time to read and review Ascent, and I'm glad you enjoyed Poppa's story.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, I fully understand the anachronisms, especially about Poppa's age. But as there are many readers who may object to such a (to modern sensitivities) young girl consummating marriage (and as Poppa has no early surviving children we know of), I took some poetic licence to send Hrólfr away and delay consummation of their marriage.
It's a fascinating point, though, which isn't highlighted often enough. Thank you for raising it in your review.