Stephen Hull

Prince of Elfael

In Stephen Lawhead’s reimagining of the Robin Hood legend, we first meet Prince Bran of Elfael as a carefree young nobleman who enjoys the privileges of his station. But when the Normans, following their successful conquest of England, begin their advance into Wales, Bran is forced to grow up in a very short time. During a raid, the Normans kill his father and chase Bran through the forest. Seriously wounded, they finally leave him for dead. He is rescued and nursed back to health by Angharad, the banfáith—the Celtic "wise woman" of the forest—whose appearance is depicted in the traditional Welsh lullaby "Suo Gân." After his recovery, Bran rallies his displaced compatriots to wage a guerrilla war against the Norman occupiers—accompanied by the famous Welsh battle song "Men of Harlech." In the course of this struggle, Bran ultimately creates and embodies the fearsome figure of King Raven, who becomes a symbol of resistance, courage, and freedom.