Beowulf’s Queen of Sorrows

Back when I was doing research for Bones and Keeps, my historical fantasy about Beowulf, I was casting about in the epic Old English poem that tells his story, looking for events that would make good plot points for my novel.

Here’s one, I thought — the Battle on the Ice, when Beowulf fights to support the claim of the exiled Swedish king Eadgils against his uncle Onela. Little did I know there was a sad tale behind the few lines that describe the ‘comfortless campaign’ Beowulf fought, against his better judgment.

My research led me to the Icelandic sagas and there I learned the story of Queen Yrsa, a beauty with real military and political power. And a jaw-dropping backstory...

She unknowingly married her own father, had a son, fled in horror when she discovered the truth, and saved herself by agreeing to marry Eadgils, who turned out to be a horrible human being. Years later, she had to manipulate him to save her son.

But for me, her tragic history highlighted her resourcefulness against terrible odds. Faced with an impossible moral dilemma, she acted swiftly to save herself. Later she outwitted Eadgils by anticipating his every move and playing on his greed.

It felt only right, when I came to write the novel, to give her the power that the sagas only hinted at.

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Bones and Keeps: https://www.amazon.com/Bones-Keeps-Dena.../dp/1773170147

Painting: Yoann Lossel (from his Beowulf series)

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