Historical Note

There is an irresistible tendency for historical fiction writers to romanticize the past. Part of me feels like I fell into this trap, though the other part feels like the love between Eadgyth (sometimes spelled Edith) Swan-Neck and Harold Godwinson was an honest love story. If it was, I'm positive I didn't capture the beauty of it to the utmost extent.

I do know she was called to identify his body after the battle. And I know a little bit about memorizing others' bodies, a little bit about tattooing, possession, lust, jealousy, greed. So I tried my very best, though I'm certain it fell short.

Here's to the history of lovers, and here's to the history of reading between the lines. Finally, here's to a certain lover who let me claim my own county on his body.