Helen Hollick

From Wikinfo

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

Helen worked as a library assistant for 13 years, during which time she developed a passion for Dark Age history and King Arthur. Her Arthurian trilogy was accepted for publication by William Heinemann three days before her 40th birthday in 1994. She is a member of the society of authors and is currently working as a co-script writer for a film in pre-production that is called '1066'.

Published novels

Pendragon's Banner

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

Below is a list of reviews for the Pendragon's Banner trilogy:

"A wonderful book...breathes new life into an ancient legend" - Best selling Historical fiction author Sharon Penman

"Hollick's interpretation is bold, affecting and well worth fighting to defend." - Publishers Weekly, November 11 1996

"Helen Hollick joins the ranks of Rosemary Sutcliff, Mary Stewart and Marion Bradley with this splendid novel" - Pendragon Magazine

"Uniquely compelling...bound to have a resounding and lasting impact on Arthurian fiction" - Books Magazine

"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" - Historical Novels Review

Other Published Work

Come and Tell Me: Be Sensible and Safe (1986)
Harold the King (2000)
A Hollow Crown: The Story of Emma, Queen of Saxon England (2004)
Sea Witch (2006)

Below is a review of her novel, Harold The King:

"Local author Helen Hollick has achieved a miracle by making this reviewer sit still and silent for a whole weekend, stirring only to eat toast whilst devouring Helen's gripping book. And it's a damn big one at that, sweeping from England to France, from Wessex to Normandy, following 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 to make you weep. Illegitimacy, fallen kings, plenty of hunting scenes and some great sea journeys and bloody battles; we follow the fortunes of the cast from 1044 right up to the Battle of Hastings itself, which is brilliantly recreated. Helen also provides at the end an explanation for some of her plot "changes" - for example, her Harold is not killed by the arrow in the eye at all, but is beheaded - on the grounds that as most of the information concerning the battle and William's claim to the English throne comes from Norman sources its veracity is questionable. Compelling stuff." - SW Magazine, March 2001