Britain during the Dark Ages is the setting for the fascinating story of Bega, a young Irish princess who became a saint, and her lifelong bond with Padric, prince of the north-western kingdom of Rheged. This dramatic, far-reaching tale brings to life a land of warring kings, Christians and pagans, and tribes divided by language and culture, illuminating a little-known yet critical period in British history.
Read MoreA gripping saga of great passion ... sustained, impassioned and uplifting - The TimesAn absorbing epic ... as splendid a ripping yarn as any of the best classics - Daily TelegraphA gripping, deeply accomplished work - Evening StandardI loved it ... Bragg's stately, seething, passionate epic is several cuts above modern attempts at historical fiction - Literary ReviewA beguiling entry into a society strange, neglected, important, tragic in many of its triumphs - SpectatorWonderfully evocative, passionate and erudite ... No summary could do justice to a book of this erudition, romance and scope - Glasgow Herald