Therein Lies the Pearl

History books record the experiences of the powerful, the rich, the famous. Their voices dominate the pages, commanding us to accept their perspective as truth. But what if we could hear the whispers of those who were never given a chance to speak? How would this affect our understanding of the past?

The events leading up to the Norman Conquest of 1066 are well documented in the annals of history: various men are fighting for possession of the English throne, each believing himself to be the chosen one. The situation intensifies when King Edward, childless and already in failing health, sends for his nephew, Edward the Exile, to return home. What will this mean for Harold, Earl of Wessex and East Anglia? For William, Duke of Normandy? And when Edward mysteriously dies almost immediately after coming ashore, what will become of his son Edgar, the last surviving son of the royal dynasty? This story is not of the men, however, but of two women--Celia, a resilient young girl from Normandy, and Margaret, daughter of Edward the Exile. As they struggle to survive amidst adversity, loss, and death, their disparate worlds intersect, and they soon come to realize they are kindred spirits--brave, steadfast, and true. From beyond the grave, they implore us to listen to their retelling of the events that altered the course of history forever.