''Mother of Kings'' is a

historical novel Historical fiction is a literary genre in which the plot takes place in a setting related to the past events, but is fictional. Although the term is commonly used as a synonym for historical fiction literature, it can also be applied to other t ...

by American writer

Poul Anderson Poul William Anderson (November 25, 1926 – July 31, 2001) was an American fantasy and science fiction author who was active from the 1940s until the 21st century. Anderson wrote also historical novels. His awards include seven Hugo Awards and ...

. It was first published in 2001 by

Tor Books Tor Books is the primary imprint of Tor Publishing Group (previously Tom Doherty Associates), a publishing company based in New York City. It primarily publishes science fiction and fantasy titles, and is the largest publisher of Chinese scienc ...

. The book is an account of the life of

Gunnhild, Mother of Kings Gunnhildr konungamóðir (''mother of kings'') or Gunnhildr Gormsdóttir, whose name is often Anglicised as Gunnhild (c. 910 – c. 980) is a quasi-historical figure who appears in the Icelandic Sagas, according to which she was ...

, a tenth-century queen of

Norway Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic countries, Nordic country in Northern Europe, the mainland territory of which comprises the western and northernmost portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula. The remote Arctic island of ...

and wife of King

Eirik Bloodaxe Eric Haraldsson ( non, Eiríkr Haraldsson , no, Eirik Haraldsson; died 954), nicknamed Bloodaxe ( non, blóðøx , no, Blodøks) and Brother-Slayer ( la, fratrum interfector), was a 10th-century Norwegian king. He ruled as King of Norway from ...

. It is based largely on the accounts of Gunnhild's life given in ''

Egil's Saga ''Egill's Saga'' or ''Egil's saga'' ( non, Egils saga ; ) is an Icelandic saga (family saga) on the lives of the clan of Egill Skallagrímsson (Anglicised as Egill Skallagrimsson), an Icelandic farmer, viking and skald. The saga spans the years ...

'' and ''

Heimskringla ''Heimskringla'' () is the best known of the Old Norse kings' sagas. It was written in Old Norse in Iceland by the poet and historian Snorre Sturlason (1178/79–1241) 1230. The name ''Heimskringla'' was first used in the 17th century, derive ...

''. The book has considerable

fantasy Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction involving magical elements, typically set in a fictional universe and sometimes inspired by mythology and folklore. Its roots are in oral traditions, which then became fantasy literature and d ...

elements, taking place in a universe in which magic exists. The plot accepts the version that in her teens Gunnhild learned magic from two Finnish wizards, and became an accomplished witch – including the ability to

shape-shift In mythology, folklore and speculative fiction, shape-shifting is the ability to physically transform oneself through an inherently superhuman ability, divine intervention, demonic manipulation, Magic (paranormal), sorcery, Incantation, ...

and turn herself into a bird at will – and that she often used her magical abilities maliciously, in order to hurt her and her husband's enemies. Except for the magical elements, however, Anderson keeps to the known historical facts of 10th-century Scandinavia and England.

had a bad reputation in his lifetime and later, being considered especially violent and aggressive even by the standards of the Viking Age. His bad traits were sometimes blamed on the "bad influence" of his wife, and this attitude is evident in some of the extant sources. In his own version, Anderson describes several morally questionable acts by Gunnhild – but still, carefully notes her own point of view and her reasons to do as she did.

References

*Anderson, Poul. ''Mother of Kings''. New York: Tor (, ), 2001, 2003.

External links

* Novels by Poul Anderson Historical novels 2001 American novels Novels set in Norway Tor Books books Novels set in the Viking Age Novels set in the 10th century {{2000s-hist-novel-stub