Henry Rider Haggard's 'Eric Brighteyes (A Novel of Viking Age Iceland)' is a captivating tale set in the rugged landscape of Iceland during the Viking Age. The novel showcases Haggard's impeccable storytelling skills, as he weaves together a gripping narrative filled with adventure, love, and fate. The vivid descriptions of the Icelandic landscape and the customs of the Viking society transport the reader to a time long past, immersing them in the world of Eric Brighteyes and his quest for vengeance. Haggard's prose is both lyrical and evocative, capturing the essence of the harsh yet beautiful land of Iceland. The novel is a classic example of historical fiction, blending elements of romance and action seamlessly to create a compelling tale that will keep readers enthralled from beginning to end. Henry Rider Haggard, known for his popular adventure novels, drew inspiration for 'Eric Brighteyes' from his fascination with Norse mythology and history. His deep knowledge of Viking culture and his storytelling prowess shine through in this work, making it a standout in his repertoire. Haggard's ability to bring to life the world of the Vikings is truly impressive, showcasing his dedication to historical accuracy and narrative excellence. For readers interested in immersive historical fiction with a thrilling blend of romance and adventure, 'Eric Brighteyes' is a must-read. Haggard's masterful storytelling and vivid depiction of Viking Age Iceland make this novel a timeless classic that continues to captivate audiences to this day.

Essays on the continuing power and applicability of medieval images, with particular reference to recent films. The middle ages provide the material for mass-market films, for historical and fantasy fiction, for political propaganda and claims of legitimacy, and these in their turn exert a force well outside academia. The phenomenon is tooimportant to be left unscrutinised: these essays show the continuing power and applicability of medieval images - and also, it must be said, their dangerousness and often their falsity. Of the ten essays in this volume, several examine modern movies, including the highly-successful A Knight's Tale (Chaucer as a PR agent) and the much-derided First Knight (the Round Table fights the Gulf War). Others deal with the appropriation of history and literature by a variety of interested parties: King Alfred press-ganged for the Royal Navy and the burghers of Winchester in 1901, William Langland discovered as a prophet of future Socialism, Chaucer at once venerated and tidied into New England respectability. Vikings, Normans and Saxons are claimed as forebears and disowned as losers in works as complex as Rider Haggard's Eric Brighteyes, at once neo-saga and anti-saga. Victorian melodramaprovides the clichés of "the bad baronet" who revives the droit de seigneur (but baronets are notoriously modern creations); and of the "bony grasping hand" of the Catholic Church and its canon lawyers (an image spread in ways eerily reminiscent of the modern "urban legend" in its Internet forms). Contributors: BRUCE BRASINGTON, WILLIAM CALIN, CARL HAMMER, JONA HAMMER, PAUL HARDWICK, NICKOLAS HAYDOCK, GWENDOLYN MORGAN, JOANNE PARKER, CLARE A. SIMMONS, WILLIAM F. WOODS. Professor TOM SHIPPEY teaches in the Department of English at the University of St Louis; Dr MARTIN ARNOLD teaches at University College, Scarborough.

Sir Walter Scott defined the parameters of the historical novel and illustrated his concept of the genre by writing a long series of novels dealing with medieval times, the Elizabethan Age and the 18th Century. Later novels written by his contemporaries and successors attracted smaller audiences. When Robert Louis Stevenson, in the early 1880s, enthusiastically expanded the boundaries of romantic fiction, he became a standard-bearer and an inspiration to many of his fellow-novelists: Walter Besant, Richard Doddridge Blackmore, Arthur Quiller-Couch, Arthur Conan Doyle, Stanley John Weyman, Anthony Hope, Henry Rider Haggard, and Rafael Sabatini.

"Eric Brighteyes", an epic viking novel, describes the adventures of its eponymous principal character in 10th century Iceland. Eric Thorgrimursson (nicknamed "Brighteyes" for his most notable trait), strives to win the hand of his beloved, Gudruda the Fair. Her father Asmund, a priest of the old Norse gods, opposes the match, thinking Eric a man without prospects. But deadlier by far are the intrigues of Swanhild, Gudruda's half-sister and a sorceress who desires Eric for herself. Battles, intrigues, and treachery follow... Sir Henry Rider Haggard (1856-1925) was an English writer of adventure novels and dark fantasy stories set in exotic locations, predominantly Africa, and a pioneer of the Lost World literary genre.

I thought everything would change, after the war. And now, no one even mentions it. It is as if we all got together in private and said whatever you do don't mention that, like it never happened. It's the late 1940s. Calm has returned to London and five people are recovering from the chaos of war. In scenes set in a quiet dating agency, a bombed-out church and a prison cell, the stories of these five lives begin to intertwine and we uncover the desire and regret that has bound them together. Sarah Waters's story of illicit love and everyday heroism takes us from a dazed and shattered post-war Britain back into the heart of the Blitz, towards the secrets that are hidden there. Olivier-nominated playwright Hattie Naylor has created a thrilling and theatrically inventive adaptation of a great modern novel. The stage adaptation of The Night Watch was premiered at the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester, on 16 May 2016.

I believe it was the old Egyptians - a very wise people, probably indeed much wiser than we know for in the leisure of their ample centuries they had time to think out things - who declared that each individual personality is made up of six or seven different elements, although the Bible only allows us three, namely body soul and spirit...

From one of the twentieth century’s master novelists, the author of the classic All Quiet on the Western Front, comes Heaven Has No Favorites, a bittersweet story of unconventional love that sweeps across Europe. Lillian is charming, beautiful . . . and slowly dying of consumption. But she doesn’t wish to end her days in a hospital in the Alps. She wants to see Paris again, then Venice—to live frivolously for as long as possible. She might die on the road, she might not, but before she goes, she wants a chance at life. Clerfayt, a race-car driver, tempts fate every time he’s behind the wheel. A man with no illusions about chance, he is powerfully drawn to a woman who can look death in the eye and laugh. Together, he and Lillian make an unusual pair, living only for the moment, without regard for the future. It’s a perfect arrangement—until one of them begins to fall in love. “The world has a great writer in Erich Maria Remarque. He is a craftsman of unquestionably first rank, a man who can bend language to his will. Whether he writes of men or of inanimate nature, his touch is sensitive, firm, and sure.”—The New York Times Book Review

In his fourth novel, George Mackay Brown takes us to an Orkney torn between its Viking past and its Christian future. Set in the early 11th Century, it tells the story of Ranald Sigmundson, who turns his back on a successful life of political intrigues and battles to design a ship to take him on a journey even greater than the first great voyage of his life, the one to Vinland.

Henry Rider Haggard's compilation of 10 historical novels in 'The Ancient World Series' offers readers a captivating journey through ancient civilizations such as Egypt, Babylon, and Zimbabwe. Haggard's renowned literary style combines vivid storytelling with meticulous historical research, providing readers with an immersive experience into these rich and fascinating cultures. Each novel within the collection delves into different time periods and characters, showcasing Haggard's versatility as a writer and his ability to bring history to life through fiction. Set against the backdrop of ancient empires and legendary figures, this collection appeals to those interested in historical fiction and ancient civilizations. Henry Rider Haggard, known for his classic adventure novels such as 'King Solomon's Mines' and 'She', drew inspiration from his extensive travels and experiences in Africa for 'The Ancient World Series'. His deep fascination with history and mythology is evident in the detailed settings and characters he meticulously crafts throughout the collection. Haggard's background as a colonial administrator in British Africa also lends authenticity to his portrayals of ancient societies and customs. For readers seeking a captivating blend of history and fiction, Henry Rider Haggard's 'The Ancient World Series' is a must-read. With its well-researched narratives and compelling storytelling, this collection will transport you back in time to the ancient world, offering a glimpse into the lives and struggles of past civilizations.