 First edition (UK) | |
| Author | Rosemary Sutcliff |
|---|---|
| Cover artist | Charles Keeping |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Historical novel |
| Publisher | Oxford University Press |
Publication date | 1976 |
| Publication place | United Kingdom |
| Media type | Print (Hardback) |
| ISBN | 0-525-26730-1 |
Blood Feud is ahistorical novel for children written byRosemary Sutcliff and published in 1976.
It begins in10th Century England, and tells the tale of an orphaned child of aCeltic father andSaxon mother, who is caught up with theVikings and ultimately journeys all the way toConstantinople via theDnieper trading route. The plot is driven by the acceptance of ablood feud commitment, and the struggles of a child born between many cultures to reconcile his beliefs with this commitment.[1] In 1990 it was adapted into anITV children's drama series calledSea Dragon, produced byThames Television.
The story is told in the first-person by Jestyn the Englishman as he recounts his life and how he ended up in Constantinople. After being orphaned, he is captured by Viking raiders and sold into slavery inDublin. His owner Thormod frees him for good service, and Jestyn joins the crew of Thormod'sship when they leave Dublin to return toDenmark. Upon return, Thormod finds his father killed by childhood friends, and swears the blood feud after which the novel is named. Jestyn and Thormod swearblood brotherhood and set off to pursue the killers.
The journey takes them across theBaltic, up theDvina and down theDnieper toKiev, where they enlist in the service ofGrand Prince Vladimir who has agreed to fight forBasil II in return for the hand in marriage of Basil's sisterAnna. The fighting is resolved, and both Thormod and Jestyn join the newly formedVarangian Guard. The feud is ultimately resolved, but with many twists and turns, and Jestyn finally settles to live in Constantinople.
The theme of the novel revolves around Jestyn's struggle to find belonging, as he is caught between conflicting values, conflicting cultures, and conflicting religions. The historical background depicts theChristianization of Kievan Rus', and Jestyn's mixed feelings as he carries an original Christian value system of his youth alongside the commitment of blood feud and blood brotherhood ofNorse paganism.
