Ulfhildr
Ulfhildr by Mary Thaler, published by Untimely Books on August 29, 2023, is a 62-page narrative poem that explores themes of power and responsibility through the lens of a woman’s struggle in a brutal society. Set on an unnamed coastline, the poem follows Queen Ulfhildr as she confronts her husband’s death in battle and musters the courage to protect her young son and lead her kingdom into war. The work is crafted in a style reminiscent of Anglo-Saxon meter, presenting a heroine who embodies both strength and vulnerability.
Readers will find that Ulfhildr unfolds in three parts, delving into the complexities of leadership and the harsh realities of life in a time of conflict. The poem raises profound questions about the nature of love and fate, as the protagonist navigates betrayal from both allies and enemies. This edition invites readers to reflect on the weight of responsibility and the choices that define a leader’s path, all while engaging with the rich tradition of epic poetry.
Official synopsis Publisher
On blustery nights, fast abed in our halls
We rejoice that outside, the jarring waves,
And cruel rocks may yet keep the raiding-parties distant.
We know if we fall unarmed into their hands
We will be no less loot than the boar-helms or rings
That they take from the slain.
-from Ulfhildr
On an unnamed coastline, hidden in the mists of history, a woman is confronted with her husband’s death in battle, drawing on her courage and cunning to secure the safety of herself and her young son and to lead her kingdom into war. But in this brutal society, where life is cheap, she is the only person who can decide when she has gone too far. Betrayed by adversaries within and without, Queen Ulfhildr proclaims a defiant manifesto in this narrative poem about power and responsibility.
Ulfhildr is an epic poem in 3 parts, written (approximately) in Anglo-Saxon meter. Featuring a heroine as post-tragic as she is powerful-as daring as she is doomed-in a poetic tour de force told with ruthless economy, this book will prompt deep questions concerning leadership, love, and fate.
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