Mark Hodges

Gwendolyn; Book Two of the Welsh Chronicles Mark Hodges

The first warrior queen of Britain. The book starts of with the death of Brutus and continues through the reign of Gwendolyn. Two major military campaigns are covered, the battle against King Humber, the Saxon invader of Albany and the war that Gwendolyn waged against Locrinus when he deposed her from the throne. The work is a historical fiction but follows a line of real events; death, war, adultery, betrayal, intrigue, idolatry, rejection, civil war, greed and avarice as well as courage, perseverance and faithfulness. The period of history here is the second generation of the Trojan exiles in Britain, about a thousand years before the coming of Christianity to the Island in 50 AD. Historical fiction can help bring history alive for young and old alike and alternative views of history teach students to challenge and investigate what they are being taught...not simply take it in because the professor or book says so. The Welsh Chronicles are considered alternative history because in fact, interpolations and mythologizing has taken place during their thousands of years of being copied and handed down. None the less, there is evidence that they do trace a winding path of men and women which does reflect real history. And they make for fascinating reading as well.