Blood Feud (novel) facts for kids
First edition (UK)
|
|
| Author | Rosemary Sutcliff |
|---|---|
| Cover artist | Charles Keeping |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Historical novel |
| Publisher | The Bodley Head |
|
Publication date
|
1976 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback) |
| ISBN | 0-525-26730-1 |
Blood Feud is an exciting historical novel for young readers. It was written by Rosemary Sutcliff and first published in 1976.
The story starts in 10th Century England. It follows the journey of a boy named Jestyn. He is an orphan with a Celtic father and an Saxon mother. Jestyn gets caught up with the Vikings and travels a very long way. His adventure takes him all the way to Constantinople. He travels along the Dnieper trading route.
The main idea of the book is about a "blood feud." This is a promise to get revenge for a family member's death. Jestyn struggles to understand this promise. He also tries to fit in, being from many different cultures. In 1990, the book was made into a children's TV show. It was called Sea Dragon and produced by Thames Television.
Contents
What is Blood Feud About?
The story is told by Jestyn himself. He looks back on his life and explains how he ended up in Constantinople. After his parents die, Jestyn is captured by Viking raiders. They sell him into slavery in Dublin, Ireland.
Jestyn's owner, Thormod, is kind to him. Thormod frees Jestyn because he served him well. Jestyn then joins Thormod's ship crew. They leave Dublin to go back to Denmark.
A Vow of Revenge
When they arrive in Denmark, Thormod learns sad news. His father was killed by people he knew from childhood. Thormod then swears a "blood feud." This is a serious promise to avenge his father's death. Jestyn and Thormod become "blood brothers." This means they make a special vow to be loyal to each other. They set off together to find the killers.
Journey to Constantinople
Their long journey takes them across the Baltic Sea. They travel up the Dvina River and then down the Dnieper River. This river leads them to Kiev. In Kiev, they join the service of Khan Vladimir. He has agreed to fight for Basil II, the Byzantine Emperor. In return, Vladimir will marry Basil's sister, Anna Porphyrogeneta.
The fighting ends, and both Thormod and Jestyn join a new group. This group is called the Varangian Guard. They were elite Viking warriors who served the Byzantine Emperor. The blood feud is finally settled, but not without many exciting twists. Jestyn eventually decides to live in the grand city of Constantinople.
Finding Your Place: Themes in Blood Feud
A big part of Blood Feud is Jestyn's search for belonging. He feels caught between different ways of life. He has conflicting values, cultures, and religions.
The book shows the historical event of the Christianization of Kievan Rus'. This was when the people of Kievan Rus' became Christian. Jestyn has mixed feelings about this. He grew up with Christian beliefs. But he also takes on the "blood feud" and "blood brotherhood" ideas. These ideas come from Norse paganism, the old Viking religion. The story explores how Jestyn tries to make sense of these different beliefs within himself.
