# The Wake: With a New Foreword by Mark Rylance

Foreword Mark Rylance: The Wake is a historical novel set in the aftermath of the Norman invasion of 1066. It follows the Buccmaster of Holland, a Lincolnshire farmer who gathers a group of ‘grene men’ after losing his family, and is told in a modern-readable form of Old English described as a ‘shadow tongue’.

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- Market: UK
- Language: en-GB
- Currency: GBP
- Category: Books, Music & Hobbies > Books, Music & Movies > Books & Comics
- Price: 8.82 GBP
- Previous price: 10.99 GBP
- Discount: 20%
- Price checked: 2026-11-12T18:01:01.716Z
- Rating: 3.6 / 5
- Reviews: 920

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## At a glance

- Set in England after the Norman invasion of 1066, with a focus on a dispossessed Lincolnshire farmer.
- Uses a ‘shadow tongue’ described as a form of Old English that modern readers can understand.
- This edition is listed with a new foreword by Mark Rylance.

## Pros

- Combines medieval historical fiction with folklore, religious belief and questions of homeland and identity.
- The publisher description presents the language as an accessible adaptation rather than untranslated Old English.

## Specifications

### Book details
- Publisher: John Murray
- Publication date: 16 July 2026
- Edition: 1st
- Language: English
- Print length: 384 pages
- ISBN-10: 1399836803
- ISBN-13: 978-1399836807
### Dimensions and installation
- Weight listed: 260 g
- Dimensions: 12.8 x 2.8 x 19.6 cm

## Before you buy

- The listing describes the work as a novel and says this edition includes a new foreword by Mark Rylance. The stated 16 July 2026 publication date should be checked if timing matters.

## A good fit for

- Readers interested in medieval historical fiction and the period following the Norman invasion.
- Readers drawn to folklore, faith, identity and unconventional literary language.

## Less suited to

- Readers looking for a straightforward contemporary setting or non-fiction account of the Norman invasion.

## Customer feedback

The supplied evidence includes aggregate ratings but no customer-comment summary, so specific reader opinions or reasons for ratings cannot be established. The distribution is mixed, with substantial five- and four-star shares alongside a notable one-star share. Treat this as an indication of varied reactions, not a guide to any particular aspect of the novel.

## Frequently asked questions

### What is The Wake about?
Set after the Norman invasion of 1066, the novel follows the Buccmaster of Holland, a farmer in Lincolnshire who gathers a band of ‘grene men’ after losing his wife and sons.
### What does the listing mean by ‘shadow tongue’?
The description calls it a form of Old English that is understandable to modern readers.
### Does this edition have a foreword by Mark Rylance?
The title and description state that this edition has a new foreword by Mark Rylance.

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## Images

![The Wake: With a New Foreword by Mark Rylance — 1](https://bargainpostbox.co.uk/i/9eHYNDp-jhztGXNH4cL7VlcmpSkQtSnG4bjdYegk5tCbkmnumNAQlep_1HiTgczX8nyLAUhheYBK96MkIjXXDibCLr1sUnzGK-T65eVwUFYfH9FF7SN9.jpg)