The Harrowing of Gwynedd
Hardcover edition
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| Author | Katherine Kurtz |
|---|---|
| Cover artist | Michael Herring |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Series | The Heirs of Saint Camber |
| Genre | Fantasy novel |
| Publisher | Del Rey Books |
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Publication date
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1989 |
| Media type | Print (Paperback & Hardcover) |
| Pages | 384pp (first edition, hardcover) |
| ISBN | (first edition, hardcover) |
| OCLC | 18589190 |
| 813/.54 19 | |
| LC Class | PS3561.U69 H4 1989 |
| Preceded by | The Quest for Saint Camber (publication date), Camber the Heretic (literary chronology) |
| Followed by | King Javan's Year |
The Harrowing of Gwynedd is a historical fantasy novel by American-born author Katherine Kurtz. It was first published by Del Rey Books in 1989. It was the tenth of Kurtz' Deryni novels to be published, and the first book in her fourth Deryni trilogy, The Heirs of Saint Camber. Although the Heirs trilogy was the fourth Deryni series to be published, it is a direct sequel to the second trilogy, The Legends of Camber of Culdi.
The novel is set in the land of Gwynedd, one of the fictional Eleven Kingdoms. Gwynedd itself is a medieval kingdom similar to the British Isles of the 10th century, with a powerful Holy Church (based on the Roman Catholic Church), and a feudal government ruled by a hereditary monarchy. The population of Gwynedd includes both humans and Deryni, a race of people with inherent psychic and magical abilities who are being systematically persecuted by both the Crown and the Church. The novel begins two days after the conclusion of Camber the Heretic, as the Regents of young King Alroy Haldane continue their bloody suppression of Deryni throughout the realm. As the Deryni struggle to survive, the remaining members of the MacRorie family investigate the strange circumstances of their patriarch's apparent death.
The plot of The Harrowing of Gwynedd spans seven months, from early January to early August 918. The novel begins as Father Joram MacRorie and his sister, Lady Evaine MacRorie Thuryn, discuss the recent death of their father, Camber MacRorie. As time passes and Camber's body shows no signs of decomposing, they are forced to consider the possibility that their father may not be truly dead. Evaine believes he attempted to work a final spell just before his death, but Joram wonders if Camber may truly be a saint.
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