Helen Hollick

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Helen Hollick (born 1953) is a British author of historical fiction. She is the author of the Arthurian trilogy, The Pendragon's Banner and the novels Harold The King and The Hollow Crown.

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[edit] Life and career

Born in Walthamstow, Hollick worked as a library assistant at a Chingford library for 13 years, during which time she developed a passion for Dark Age history and King Arthur. She wrote her Arthurian trilogy, which was accepted for publication by Heinemann three days before her 40th birthday in 1994.[1]

Previously she had published a children's personal safety book, Come and Tell Me, a story she had written for her daughter when she was 3. "I wanted to tell her how to keep safe in a clear and simple manner — with a message that could be easily remembered," Hollick wrote on her web site. "'Always come and tell me before you go anywhere with anyone' fitted nicely." Her story became an official safety book of the British Home Office for use nationwide by police and schools. An updated and revised version of the book has been published by Happy Cat Books.[1]

Hollick lives in Walthamstow with her husband, Ron, who is retired, and adult daughter, Kathy.[1] In a review of King Harold, Cliff Moore wrote in the Dorset Evening Echo, "What is most inspiring about Hollick is that she can produce such a mammoth book from a household where she is the only reader — both her husband and daughter suffering from severe dyslexia."[2]

She is a member of the Society of Authors. As of early 2006, she was involved in the pre-production of the proposed movie 1066 as story consultant and co-script writer. She has recently completed a lecture tour of the Netherlands and is working on her next novel in her Sea Witch pirate series — Pirate Code is to be published by D.A. Diamonds in June 2007.

[edit] Published novels

[edit] Pendragon's Banner trilogy

  • The Kingmaking (re-printed by DA Revivals 2006)
  • Pendragon's Banner (re-printed by DA Revivals 2006)
  • The Shadow of the King (re-printed DA Revivals 2006)

The three books are a re-telling of the King Arthur legend. They look to show Arthur Pendragon as he might have really been.

Books in the trilogy garnered a number of positive reviews and endorsements. Best-selling historical fiction author Sharon Penman called one of the volumes "A wonderful book...breathes new life into an ancient legend". Publishers Weekly said, "Hollick's interpretation is bold, affecting and well worth fighting to defend."[3] Books Magazine called her work ""Uniquely compelling" and "bound to have a resounding and lasting impact on Arthurian fiction."

A reviewer in Pendragon Magazine said of one of the books, "Helen Hollick joins the ranks of Rosemary Sutcliff, Mary Stewart and Marion Bradley with this splendid novel," and Historical Novels Review enthused that one of her books "weaves together fact, legend and inspired imagination to create a world so real we can breathe the smoke of its fires and revel into Romano-British lust for life, love and honour."

[edit] Other published work

  • Come and Tell Me Be Sensible and Safe (re-printed by Happy Cat Books 2002)
  • Harold the King (re-printed DA Revivals 2006) ISBN 1-905108-18-4
  • A Hollow Crown: The Story of Emma, Queen of Saxon England (William Heinemann 2004)
  • Sea Witch Being the first Adventure of Captain Jesamiah Acorne - a pirate novel for adults (Discovered Authors Diamonds 2006)
  • Pirate Code Being the second Adventure of Captain Jesamiah Acorne - a pirate novel for adults (Discovered Authors Diamonsa 2007)

[edit] Harold the King

A review of her novel, Harold The King, called it a "gripping book" with "compelling stuff" that made the reviewer "sit still and silent for a whole weekend". The book follows the fortunes of Harold Godwine, Earl of Wessex and later King of England, and William, Duke of Normandy. Treachery, arrogance, lies and weakness contrast with courage, honesty, strength and of course, plenty of love interest. Illegitimacy, fallen kings, plenty of hunting scenes and some great sea journeys and bloody battles are also featured; we follow the fortunes of the cast from 1044 right up to the Battle of Hastings itself.[4]

At the back of the book, Hollick explains that her plot deviates from some historical accounts — for example, her Harold is not killed by the arrow in the eye but is beheaded. She writes that most of the information concerning the battle and William's claim to the English throne comes from Norman sources, so its veracity is questionable. [4]

The Godwine family is one of the most powerful families in England. As Earl Godwine's six sons begin to reach maturity, they are rewarded with power and influence. Harold Godwine, skilled at both the machinations of court and at fighting, has inherited all his father's diplomatic skills — but is uninterested in battle. When the Godwines are forced into exile they must fight their way back into favour, and a power struggle ensues, which will eventually make Harold king. But the Battle of Hastings follows, and afterward William the Conqueror's spindoctors justify the accompanying atrocities and his claim to the throne. According to a reviewer in the Bolton Evening News, "In this masterly and colourful recreation, Helen Hollick weaves together the history of a powerful family of noblemen, with that of the aggressive bastard of Normandy — culminating in the fierce and tragic battle which changed the course of England's history."[5]

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ a b c Web page titled "Helen Hollick: A brief autobiography" at HelenHolick.net Web site, accessed March 16, 2007
  2. ^ Moore, Cliff, review in Dorset Evening Echo (Weymouth), October 28, 2000, quoted at the author's Web site, HelenHollick.net, accessed March 16, 2007
  3. ^ Publishers Weekly, November 11 1996
  4. ^ a b SW Magazine, March 2001
  5. ^ The Bolton Evening News, October 21, 2000, quotations found at Helen Hollick's Web site HelenHollick.net, accessed March 16, 2007

[edit] External links