Harold : the Last of the Saxon Kings — Volume 02

"Harold: the Last of the Saxon Kings — Volume 02" by Edward Bulwer Lytton Lytton is a historical novel set in England during a turbulent period of outside influence and internal discord. The story is built upon themes of ambition, loyalty, and power, at that time the English faced a brewing conflict between the Anglo-Saxons and the Normans during King Edward the Confessor's reign. The narrative is advanced through social events and banquets that expose the intricate relationships between major players, including Duke William of Normandy, the wise cleric Lanfranc, and various Saxon nobles. Disrupting a royal feast two surprise guests arrive and cause unrest. Duke William, amid threats of rebellion and marital issues, relies on Lanfranc, who champions the duke's ambitions and the stability of Normandy, while Harold, the exiled son of Godwin, represents Saxon resistance against the growing Norman power, shaping the destiny of England.