Knight's Fee (novel) facts for kids

Knight's Fee is an exciting historical novel for young readers by Rosemary Sutcliff. It was first published in 1960. The story takes place in the beautiful South Downs area of England. This is near the towns of Steyning and Arundel in West Sussex. The book covers the years 1094 to 1106. This is about 30 to 40 years after the Norman conquest of England in 1066.

What is Knight's Fee About?

The title of the book, Knight's Fee, comes from an old term. A 'knight's fee' was a piece of land or a manor given to a knight. In return, the knight had to provide military support to his lord. This was part of the feudal system, a way society was organized long ago.

The story is set in the same area as Sutcliff's earlier book, Warrior Scarlet. You'll find some connections between the two stories. Like many of her books, Knight's Fee has wonderful drawings by Charles Keeping.

Randall's Journey

The main character is Randall. He is an orphan, meaning he has no parents. His father was a Breton soldier and his mother was Saxon. Randall works as a dog-boy at Arundel Castle.

One day, Sir Everard d'Aguillon takes Randall home. Sir Everard holds the manor of West Dean. He holds it from his lord, de Braose. Randall grows up with Sir Everard's grandson, Bevis.

Remains of Bramber Castle, a castle mentioned in the novel

The book follows Randall and Bevis as they grow up. When Sir Everard passes away, Bevis becomes a knight. He inherits the manor of West Dean. Randall becomes Bevis's squire. A squire was a knight's assistant and trainee.

The Battle and Its Outcome

Bevis and Randall join the army of King Henry I. They fight against his older brother, Robert Curthose. This conflict ends with the Battle of Tinchebray in Normandy in 1106.

King Henry's army, made of Normans and Saxons, wins the battle. Sadly, Bevis is killed. Because of Randall's loyal service, he is given the manor of Dean.

Bevis's foster mother, Ancret, had hinted at these events earlier in the book. She was a descendant of the original people who lived there. A common idea in Sutcliff's books is that things continue through time. Another idea is that emotional bonds are often stronger than legal duties. These bonds, like friendship and loyalty, are important in any time period.

Connections to Other Stories

Knight's Fee has clear links to Warrior Scarlet. For example, Randall has a stone axehead made for someone who was left-handed. This is a nod to Drem, a character from Warrior Scarlet. Also, Bevis becoming a knight is similar to the warrior initiation ceremony in Warrior Scarlet.

The book also shows how the English people reacted to the death of King William II of England. He died in a hunting accident.

Historical Details in the Book

Rosemary Sutcliff was known for making her stories historically accurate. She often included a theme about the strong connection between the land and the people who live on it.

Time Periods and Themes

Many of Sutcliff's books are set in the early Middle Ages. This period is roughly from 400 CE to 1000 CE. Knight's Fee is set at the start of the High Middle Ages. This period began around 1000 CE. Sutcliff once said it was hard for her to write about later medieval times. This was because the Church had so much power over everyone's lives back then.

A recurring theme in Sutcliff's work is the idea of rulers sacrificing themselves. Randall is connected to Dean by his family history. But he truly earns the right to hold the land by being willing to protect it. He is "accepted by the land," a concept also seen in her 1952 novel Brother Dusty-Feet.

Influences on the Author

The novel was partly inspired by an essay called "The Arrow and the Sword" (1947). This essay suggested that King William Rufus secretly followed an old, pre-Christian religion.

One of Sutcliff's biggest influences was the famous writer Rudyard Kipling. Kipling's home in East Sussex was the setting for his book Puck of Pook's Hill. That book features a character named Sir Richard Dalyngridge, who is similar to Sir Everard. He also lives in the same time period. Many critics believe Knight's Fee shows Kipling's influence most clearly.