Joan Schweighardt, Gudrun's Tapestry

Gudrun's Tapestry

Joan Schweighardt

Beagle Bay Books, 2003, $24.95, 269 pp.

0967959136

In the fifth century, Attila the Hun leads his invading horde against the collapsing Roman Empire, which offers little resistance. Used to taking charge and care for her family and desperate to save her people, the Burgundians, Gudrun decides she must stop Attila before he destroys Burgundy. She devices a simple plan similar in a sense to the Trojan Horse as she guesses on what makes Attila tick.

Disguised as Ildico, she gains entrance to Attila's terrifying hometown. Then she does the impossible: she meets the brilliant war strategist and offers him a special present. Gudrun presents Attila with a war sword, but fails to tell the warrior that this weapon is cursed to bring adversity and tragedy to whomever possesses it as she knows from first hand experience. Attila incarcerates Gudrun, but also makes her one of his wives to the chagrin of his loyal second-in-command, Edeco, who has fallen in love with the foreigner.

GUDRUN'S TAPESTRY is a fantastic historical tale with a touch of romance and a coming of age backdrop. There is much more than just the above paragraph, as readers see flashbacks into Gudrun's life in Burgundy including her family woes and her love for Sigurd the warrior. The audience also receives an incredible look at what motivated the great warlord as Joan Schweighardt provides deep insight into Attila interwoven throughout the exhilarating story line. Ancient times historical readers will appreciate this copious insightful and thrilling fifth century saga.

Harriet Klausner