'An absorbing epic' - Daily Telegraph
Melvyn Bragg's epic masterpiece - a dramatic and dazzling recreation of life in Britain during the Dark Ages, and the story of a young Irish princess who became a saint

'A gripping saga of great passion'
The Times

'As splendid a ripping yarn as any of the best classics'
Daily Telegraph

'I loved it . [a] stately, seething, passionate epic'
Literary Review

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.