Royal Women and the Expansion of the Early English Church
Book Club | May 2026 | Part Two
Welcome to the second monthly post for our current Book Club read, Hild by Nicola Griffith.
Between the months of April and June 2026, we are reading one of the best works of historical fiction I think I have ever picked up.
It’s a bold claim, but I truly mean it.
Hild tells the origin story of my historical heroine, Hild of Whitby, a seventh-century Northumbrian abbess who achieved extraordinary status through her femininity in what was very much a man’s world. Using fiction to fill in the gaps in the historical record, Hild explores what might have happened before the abbess enters the pages of Bede’s narrative, the primary narrative source for this period. She is 33 years old when we first learn about her; so where did she come from?
NOT YET JOINED US?
If you are not yet a member of the Book Club but are curious about the theme of Hild and how the Book Club works, you can find all the details you need in the post linked below. The Book Club is designed to be evergreen, meaning you can join at any time without missing out.
Below the paywall you’ll find a deep-dive essay on this month’s theme: the involvement of royal women in the expansion of the early church in England. There will also be discussion prompts and a space for you to share your own reflections on the book, plus details of what to read next month.
