Tag Archives: Borvo

Winchester Cathedral

09 Monday May 2011

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Winchester Cathedral

By Sarah Hogan

Winchester Cathedral

Winchester Cathedral - image by Dan Taylor

Winchester Cathedral is one of the largest in Europe – and the oldest. It was originally founded in 642, as a small Saxon Church.

The original cross-shaped church became known as Old Minster. Its outline can still be seen today to the north of the present Cathedral. With the town of Winchester increasing in importance, the small Church became a Cathedral with great significance. Winchester became the capital of Wessex, the most important region in England at the time. And with that the Church became the most important royal church in Anglo-Saxon England, the burial place of many West Saxon Kings.

Winchester is now the setting for a new book from Denny Bradbury. The historical significance of the town and the Cathedral plays a huge part in Borvo. The historical fiction novel tells the story of a pagan boy who comes to the aid of King Alfred.

The construction of the great Cathedral which still stands today began in 1079, said to be ordered by William the Conqueror who had already extended the royal palace of Winchester and built a castle in the capital city.

King Alfred, one of the earliest Kings of Wessex, was originally buried at the Cathedral. Many of kings were buried in the Cathedral, including King Cnut who ruled England and Denmark in the eleventh century and William II, William the Conqueror’s son. Catholic Mary Tudor, daughter of Henry VIII chose to have her wedding to Phillip of Spain at the Cathedral, after it survived the reformation.

During the reformation, the Priory of Saint Swithun, where monks had studied for years was dissolved. The Chapter House and Cloister were demolished, but the Cathedral survived.

In the early 20th century, the Cathedral was near collapse and needed extensive restoration work. It was built in a valley of the river Itchen, so due to peaty soil, the foundations were waterlogged. But the water couldn’t be held back long enough for new foundations to be built around the existing ones. So William Walker, a deep sea diver, was called in to help. He delivered bags of concrete to the foundations everyday for six years, ensuring the Cathedral’s stability.

Adding to the ancient kings buried in the Cathedral, more recently it’s become famous for the burial of an author. Jane Austen died in 1817, having published some books but not reaching a great level of fame. She lived near the Cathedral with her sister, and was buried there with just four people in attendance at her funeral. Her fame increased throughout the later 19th century, and by 1900 a memorial window was installed in the Cathedral.

Winchester Cathedral is famed for its historical significance and ties with the past. Denny Bradbury’s new novel Borvo explores how a great King can relate to a pagan boy.

Borvo will be available in June. To preorder click here.

Find out more about Winchester here.

To purchase one of Denny’s books please click on the images below or contact Denny directly at email denisebradbury@btinternet.com.
The Reunion Denagerie of Poems by Denny Bradbury

The World’s First Book

03 Tuesday May 2011

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There are many claims for the World’s First Book – and what can actually be defined as a book. So I will be looking at the world’s first printed books.

Again, this throws up different arguments, as texts have been found with no certainty of when and how they were created.

There is a book in the British Library, ‘Diamond Sutra’ which is considered one of the earliest viable printed books, viable because it has a date, unlike others. It’s a Buddhist text, containing teachings. It was produced using the woodblock method, which requires carving every word of every page into wood, then printing it. Towards the end, it says “Reverently made for universal free distribution by Wang Jie on behalf of his two parents on the 15th of the 4th moon of the 9th year of Xiantong (11th of May 868).”

However, the Gutenberg Bible is considered by many to be the world’s first printed book. It was the first book printed with the movable printing press, kick starting a printing revolution. Johannes Guttenberg invented the moveable printing press, using oil based ink and experimented with different processes. In 1455 he printed his Guttenberg bible. This style of printing ushered in the period of modernity. We can thank Johannes Guttenberg when reading books today as his ideas form the basis of modern day printing presses. With a little help from computers and digital technology of course . Denny Bradbury’s new book Borvo, available in June, will be printed using Guttenberg’s foundation ideas.

It’s thought 180 copies of the Guttenberg bible were printed, 45 of them on Vellum and the rest on paper. 47 of these are thought to still exist, but only 21 of them are complete. The rest have pages or whole volumes missing. The British Library holds 2 complete copies, one in paper and one in Vellum. The price of a completed copy today is estimated to be in the region of £25 million pounds.

Learn about the history of poetry here.

Denny in talks about ‘Borvo’

21 Thursday Apr 2011

Posted by in Fiction, Literacy News

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We can reveal that Denny Bradbury is talking to a number of possible publishers about her new novel ‘Borvo’, which is expected to be in print and available by June.

Her second book has sparked a huge amount of interest since details were revealed last week.

Negotiations are ongoing,but Denny says she is still keeping her options open and also listening to any other offers that come up.

You can pre-order a copy of ‘Borvo’ by contacting us.

Winchester

19 Tuesday Apr 2011

Posted by in Fiction

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Winchester Cathedral

Winchester was once the capital of the historic Wessex and Kingdom Of England. But it’s now better known as the county town of Hampshire. An important historical town, especially in the time of William the Conqueror – the Doomsday book was compiled there.

It now features in a new book from Denny Bradbury, Borvo, out this June. It’s
set in the time of Alfred the Great, whose statue is found in the Broadway in
Winchester. She tells the story of a pagan boy who comes to the aid of King
Alfred in the ninth century.

Winchester dates back to 150BC with remains of a fort found on St. Catherine’s
Hill. The Saxons and the Normans both settled in the city.

Many famous authors have lived and stayed in the city and its surrounding
areas, including Jane Austen and John Keates. Upon becoming ill later in
her life, Jane Austen travelled to Winchester in the hope of receiving better
medical care. Winchester was once the second place of medical expertise in
England, after London. She also stayed in a house in Chawston, 17 miles from
Winchester where great classics including ‘Sense and Sensibility’ and ‘Emma’
were written.

It’s said landscape around Winchester inspired John Keats’ famous ‘Ode to
Autumn’.

The most well known landmark in Winchester is its gothic cathedral. It’s the
longest gothic-style cathedral in Europe.

The legend of King Arthur is also of significance to Winchester – an imitation
of the round table hanging in the Great Hall of Winchester Castle. It was created
in the 13th century, bearing the names of Arthur and his knights. Only the Great
Hall remains of the castle now, and it houses a museum of Winchester’s history.

Denny Bradbury sets her new novel Borvo in Winchester for its rich history and
there’s no denying its historical significance.

Sarah Hogan