Gruffudd ap Llywelyn by KR Hebdige is a novel of historical fiction centring on 11th century Wales, and the struggle to unite the country into one kingdom, rather than several smaller ones. In total the tale ranges from the 1020s to 1061, following, for the most part, the life of the eponymous Gruffudd.
I have a special love for Cymru-centric stories. Part of my ancestry lies there. I found this story to be engaging, and easy to read for the most part. The main character, Gruffudd ap Llywellyn, was a likeable man, and complex, in turn both harsh and merciful. These were brutal times, and the tale brought a bit of that to life. It was a time far different from now, yet… still people are the same, through all times, and in all places. I particularly loved how Gruffudd handles the bratty kid (adult?) at the beginning. Heh. Clearly, to the Welsh, Swein is no man. I agree. He is one rather despicable character.
At one point the word ‘hiraeth’ pops up. It is a Welsh word meaning (roughly) nostalgia tinged with sadness over lost past. More properly, it would relate to a Welsh person, and Wales itself. Though I am distantly linked to this part of my ancestry (too many generations born in America, and contributions from the whole of Britain, as well as some German and Native American), this word fits how the story itself made me feel, as well as how I feel about the country itself. It is the Welsh and Cherokee parts of my lineage that sing in my blood, and tug my soul. I found the word to be rather synchronistic when it showed up.
The sentence structure was a bit odd, with linking words left out. This seems to be the author’s unique style, rather than poor writing. I got used to it quickly, and it didn’t take away from my enjoyment. One thing that some readers may find confusing is the jumping between character perspectives, sometimes every other paragraph. It can jolt the reader from the story. One perspective per chapter would have been better, unless absolutely necessary. Even so, it didn’t take me long to get used to it, and again, did not detract from my enjoyment. One thing I would highly suggest is a pronunciation guide to help those unfamiliar with the nuances of the Cymry language. Some of those letter clusters make sounds an English speaker suss out from look alone.
If you love historic fiction, or have an interest in Wales and England of bygone centuries, be sure to check out KR Hebdige’s Gruffudd ap Llywelyn!
This book was reviewed for Reader’s Favourite
