Dunstan

Dunstan and his brother, Wulfric have been left at the abbey of Glastonbury to receive an education.  It would not be an easy time for either boy.  It is here that Dunstan’s storytelling ability starts.

When Wulfric is injured, Dunstan’s training in the forge allows him to make surgical instruments, which help Wulfric live.  Wulfric would lie in a coma for some months.  During that time, the niece of King Aethelstan, Elflaed came to visit.  Dunstan saw her as his way out of Glastonbury.  However, his exit is rather shocking.

Elflaed takes Dunstan to Winchester where the king’s court is.  There he meets his uncle, Athelm, who has an integral role in the court.  He also meets Edmund, brother and heir to the king.  Dunstan finds the city of Winchester a city of temptations, however he is convinced to take holy orders with the Benedictines.

Shortly after that, the king marches north with his army to subdue his enemies.  Dunstan is part of that army, staying close to Edmund.  He would be blooded in a battle that saved the kingdom.  It was some time after this that Aethelstan appoints Dunstan abbot of Glastonbury.  Dunstan is told to get on with his dream of building a great abbey there.

When Aethelstan dies, Dunstan immediately heads to Winchester, hoping to gain from the new king, Edmund.  When Vikings take York, Dunstan counsels Edmund to make peace so that he will have time to build his army.  Edmund would go on to marry and have two sons, but shortly after the birth of the second, he was murdered. 

It is some time before Edmund’s brother, Eadred is crowned.  Not long after that, he asks Dunstan to be his treasurer.  In order to save money for the king,  Dunstan decides to go after the forgers of coins.  Next he takes on the royal mint.  Finally, he looks at the silver mines.  Eadred is pleased with the improved financial situation.

Eadred was never a healthy man, and died ten years into his reign.  The Witan decides to split England in two, giving the southern half to Edwy, eldest son of Edmund, and the northern half to his brother, Edgar.  As soon as he was crowned, Edwy banished   Dunstan flees to Ghent.

Dunstan’s exile ends with the death of Edwy.  Edgar is now to be king.  He appoints Dunstan Archbishop of Canterbury. 

Dunstan will go on to know two more kings in his role as archbishop.  Once again, Conn Iggulden’s masterful storytelling comes to the fore as he weaves the story of Dunstan, taking facts and giving fans of history a grand tale.  As with any historical fiction , Iggulden admits to taking liberties.  This is a story well worth the read.