The men of Burgdale unite with the Silver-dalers to repel a Hunnish invasion in this detailed chronicle of a fictional Germanic society. The novel paints a rich picture of daily life, clothing, and architecture, grounding its tale of war in the tangible reality of a culture worth defending. It explores the conflict between a free, settled people and a nomadic, slave-holding aggressor, prefiguring the themes of later high fantasy. It is a celebration of the "good life" found in connection to the land and the community.
