Madoc

Name: Madoc
Rating: 4.1 (84 reviews)

by Bernard Knight

First published 1977

Amazon

3.9(84)

After the death of his wife, Prince Madoc abandons the succession struggles of twelfth-century Wales and gathers companions for a voyage beyond the known Atlantic routes. His departure removes him from conflict at home but places the expedition at the mercy of weather, dwindling supplies and uncertain landfalls.

Drawing on the legend that a Welsh prince reached North America before Columbus, the novel follows the attempt to establish contact and settlement across the western ocean. Madoc’s search for a new beginning becomes a test of leadership as inherited rank offers little protection against isolation, cultural encounter and the practical demands of survival.