First published in 1886, the novel by best-selling author, George Alfred Henty, The Dragon and the Raven tells the story of Ealdorman Edmund, a 9th century aide to England's Anglo-Saxon King Alfred. Edmund helps the king defeat Viking invaders who threaten to overtake the kingdom.It is a story of England before it was England, back in the years when the Saxons were dealing with the marauding Danes in the mid- to late 800's. Edmund, the hero, is just fourteen years old as the story opens, but he quickly becomes a man and a warrior, and we follow his adventures as he does his share in the battle for his God and his country.The Saxons and Danes fight for power in England. The sea-wolves tore England apart with their cutthroat tactics. Our hero fights in the battles with King Alfred. He flees by sea and resists the Danes.

He is later present at the battles in Paris.Carried by storms to the shores of Norway, he defeats Sweyn the Viking in single combat, takes part in the siege of Paris on behalf of the Franks, and tracks down his nemesis in order to rescue the Danish maiden he will later marry.