by Jayden Woods
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AUTHOR’S NOTE
The Anglo-Saxon Chronicles, as compiled by various monks including Florence of Worcester until the year 1140, were my primary sources of information. So, too, were the Chronicles of the Kings of England as written by William of Malmesbury. Without the devotion of these men to chronicle the chaotic events of their time, so little of this time would be known.
I also want to thank the historians and authors listed below. Their research and writings helped to shed light on an otherwise dark and mysterious time as I sought to find Eadric’s story.
Association of American Law Schools. Select Essays in Anglo-American History: Vol. 1. Little, Brown, and Company. Boston. 1907.
Campbell, James et al. The Anglo-Saxons. Phaidon Press Limited, 1982.
Crossley-Holland, Kevin. The Anglo-Saxon World: An Anthology. Oxford University Press, 1982.
Freeman, Edward A. Old English History for Children. London, MacMillan and Co., 1869.
Green, W.C., Translator. Egil’s Saga. Translated 1893 from the original Egils saga Skallagrímssonar. Web: “Icelandic Saga Database.” https://www.sagadb.org/egils_saga.en
Gregory, T, comp. The Shropshire Gazetteer: Including a survey of the county and Valuable Miscellaneous Information. M. Harvard College University. Baldwin, Cradock, and Joy, London, 1824.
Hooper, Nicholas and Matthew Bennett. The Cambridge Illustrated Atlas of Warfare: the Middle Ages. 1996.
Lacey, Robert and Danny Danzinger. The Year 1000 : What Life Was Like at the Turn of the First Millennium. Little, Brown and Company, 1999.
Lappenberg, Johann Martin and Benjamin Thorpe. History of England under the Anglo-Saxon Kings, Volume 2. 1845.
Levick, Ben. “Anglo-Saxon Social Organization.” 1990. Regia Anglorum Publications. 2002. Net: https://www.regia.org/Saxons1.htm
Lingard, John. The History of England from the First Invasion by the Romans, Vol.1. Third Edition. London. Printed for J. Mawman. 1845.
Lingard, John. The History of England from the First Invasion by the Romans, Vol. 2. Fifth Edition. London. Printed by J & H Cox (Brothers). 1849.
Mersey, Daniel. “Medieval Welsh Warriors and Welfare.” 1997. Web. https://www.castlewales.com/warfare.html
Murray, Stephen J. “From Dot to Domesday.” Web. https://www.dot-domesday.me.uk/index.htm
O’Brien, Harriet. Queen Emma and the Vikings. Bloomsbury Publishing, 2005. Print.
Ramsay, James Henry. The Foundations of England; or, Twelve Centuries of British History (B.C. 55 A.D. 1154). London, 1898.
Remfry, Paul Martin. Richard’s Castle 1048 to 1219. SCS Publishing. 1997.
Thoyras, Rapin. The History of England: Volume 2. Translated by N.Tindal. London. 1743.
Thrupp, John. The Anglo-Saxon Home: A History of the Domestic Institutions and Customs of England (from the Fifth to Eleventh Century). London, 1889.
Williams, Ann. The English and the Norman Conquest. Boydell Press, Woodbridge, 1995.
Wilson, David Mackenzie. The Archaeology of Anglo-Saxon England. Methuen and Co. Ltd, 1976.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jayden Woods is the pen name for Jenny Gibbons. She grew up on a farm in rural Tennessee, then pursued her dreams of film-making in Los Angeles. After receiving a BFA in Screenwriting from the University of Southern California and working on a primetime TV show, she decided to return to her original passion of writing novels. Since then she has lived in St. Louis with her wonderful husband and three beautiful pets, throwing all her will and energy into becoming a successful writer.
www.jaydenwoods.com
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Praise for Eadric the Grasper
Released October 5, 2010
“In the debut of her Sons of Mercia series, Woods tells a ripped-from-the-chronicles story—most of the characters and major events are factual—with an entertaining blend of period realism and Zorro-ish dazzle.”
—Kirkus Discoveries
“A surprisingly easy and quick read considering the epic nature of the novel, Eadric the Grasper takes the reader through the twisted journey of an intelligent peasant (a swineherd) ... If I was forced to make a comparison, I’d say the book, in theme, feels like the Historical version of the award winning American television show, “Breaking Bad.” A good man, forced by situations far beyond his control, makes the the best decisions possible, but they lead him down the dark rabbit hole ...”
— Sean Crouch, Screenwriter, Numb3rs
“If you had given up finding derring to match do in an exciting historical romance because Sir Walter Scott was dead, weep no more. Eadric the Grasper by Jayden Woods brings homicidal Vikings, ferocious lovers, and frequent murder most foul to brilliant life in literary 3D. Turn away from thy Twitter and grab it.”
—Ron Friedman, Creator of GI Joe, The Marvel Action Hour; Writer of The Transformers: The Movie
“Many of the characters refer to [Eadric] as a coward, but I never thought of him in that way. If anything, he acted boldly and through astute observation of the swift changes coming to England, he did his best to forge a good life for him and his family. Still, his boldness accompanied a strange and dangerous naiveté that did not allow him to appreciate the full consequences of his actions at times. As in life, Jayden Woods’ Eadric remains a complicated character.”
—Lisa Yarde, Author of On Falcon’s Wings