James Wilde

Hereward the Wake, local hero and defender of the Fens against William the Conqueror, is the one of the great unsung legends of English history. In Hereward, James Wilde retold the story of Ely’s famous outlaw in a thrilling, action-packed novel that brought Hereward back to the national imagination. In the long-awaited sequel, Hereward: The Devil’s Army, the Battle of Hastings has been lost; Harold Godwinson is dead, and William the First is poised to sweep England into Norman civilisation. In his way stands Hereward, ready to do whatever it takes to defend his country against the invaders and mustering an army of outlaws and the dispossessed. But William won’t give up easily, and this battle will not be easily won.

James Wilde  has written fascinating accounts of Ely’s famous son: a difficult, multi-faceted man whose fight for his country was both brutal and heartwrenching. Join us to delve into our own history, and the dark, murky period when the tales of the mystery and danger of the Fens, and the bravery of the people who dwelt there, spread through Britain like wildfire.