The Abbess of Whitby by Jill Dallady is an intriguing look
into the history of Britain in the 7th century, as Christianity
spread among numerous small kingdom. This historical fiction novel sheds light
on a period that’s rarely discussed, especially in America, but remains
fascinating for not only historians, but readers in general. Hild is known to history from the monk Bede’s
History of the English Church and People, but is not a household name.
For people who are not familiar with the period, a family
tree and listing of names are available at the beginning of the book, but
another possible hurdle might be the time span—the book covers over thirty
years of Hild’s life, with the rise and fall of many kings in the background.
However, readers accustomed to wide-ranging novels will enjoy the rich
historical detail. I’d recommend this book for teen and older readers just
because of the unfamiliar setting and many characters.
I received a free copy of this book from Kregel Publications
in exchange for an honest review. They
have also published other books set in 7th-century Britain,
including Edwin: High King of Britain, which are worth checking into if this
book has caught your interest.
