Last week, Dave and I travelled to Oxfordshire for the launch of Carol McGrath‘s novel The Swan-Daughter. This is the second book in the Daughters of Hastings trilogy and it’s great to be back in the company of an accomplished story-teller. Carol’s style of writing is charming, allowing readers to enter the life of Gunnhild, the daughter of King Harold and Edith Swanneck. Based on research, the novel provides a lasting impression of the lives and struggles during the early Norman period. Essentially it’s a love story, starting with Gunnhild’s escape the nunnery at Wilton Abbey and her elopement with Count Alan of Richmond.
The book launch was held at Cole’s Books in the delightful market town of Bicester. We stayed overnight in the Pentewan B&B a lovely place tucked away from the main thoroughfare – we even had a dip in the hot tub in the garden!
St Catherine’s College
The following day, we stopped in Oxford and Dave and I wandered through the grounds of his old college then spent the afternoon in the Ashmolean Museum. It was great! Now that I have membership at the Bodleian Library, I look forward to returning, research for my studies makes a good excuse.
the writer is a lonely hunter 
How lucky you are, Gail. My son worked in Oxford for a couple years and constantly pushed me to explore, but, sadly, I never did – well at least not as yet! As for the book, The Swan-Daughter, it sounds extremely interesting especially as you say it is based on research. I’m right in to my history at the moment. You say it is a trilogy, so I think I will have to read No.1 first. Thanks!
Thank you so much. I just wish we had had the chance for a chat but that is events for you. It was lovely to see you both. Thank you so much for your kind words about The Swan-Daughter.