The Recommended Reading Order for the Wolf's Head Series
Because the Wolf's Head series follows a tight, chronological story arc mapping the life and struggles of its Saxon protagonist, there is only one logical way to read these books: in order of publication. Reading them out of order will spoil major plot points, including the origins of the central blood feud and the historical events of the Norman Conquest that drive the narrative forward.
- Oath of Blood (1973) - Written by Kenneth Bulmer
- The King's Death (1973) - Written by Kenneth Bulmer
- A Light in the West (1974) - Written by Laurence James
- Viking Slaughter (1974) - Written by Laurence James
- A Flame in the Fens (1974) - Written by Kenneth Bulmer
- An Axe in Miklagard (1975) - Written by Kenneth Bulmer
Who Was Arthur Frazier?
Arthur Frazier was not a single historical novelist, but rather a collaborative house pseudonym shared by two of the most prolific British pulp writers of the mid-to-late 20th century: Kenneth Bulmer (1921–2005) and Laurence James (1942–2000). Published by the New English Library (NEL) and Sphere Books, the series was designed to capture the booming market for gritty, fast-paced action adventure stories in historical settings.
Bulmer, famous for his massive science fiction output and the long-running Dray Prescot series, penned four of the six novels (Books 1, 2, 5, and 6). Laurence James, who would later achieve fame for co-creating the post-apocalyptic Deathlands series, stepped in to write Books 3 and 4. The collaboration allowed them to rapidly release three novels in the peak year of 1974 without burning out, maintaining a consistent, action-oriented voice that fans of the era loved.
The Storyline: The Journey of Edric of Furnaceden
The Wolf's Head series is set during one of the most turbulent periods of British history—the Norman Conquest of 1066. The overarching story focuses on Edric Ecgbertson, a young Saxon noble and the heir of Furnaceden in Kent. Rather than a dry, academic look at the era, the books offer a fast-paced, pulp-style adventure filled with visceral shield-wall combat, political betrayals, and personal vendettas.
The saga begins in 1064 in Oath of Blood when Edric and his father, Ecgbert, are shipwrecked on the coast of Normandy. They are taken in by a Norman lord, Rolf du Lac, and Edric strikes up a close friendship with Rolf's son, Simon du Lac. However, a series of tragic misunderstandings, involving a Norman noblewoman and the violent mutilation of Simon's younger brother Odo, shatters this bond. The former friends become bitter, lifelong enemies, initiating a blood feud that spans the entire six-book series.
As the conflict shifts to English soil, Edric finds himself caught up in the monumental clashes of 1066. He fights at the Battle of Stamford Bridge and the Battle of Hastings in The King's Death. Following the Saxon defeat, Edric is stripped of his lands and branded an outlaw—a historical "wolfshead" (from the legal term caput lupinum, meaning someone who could be hunted and killed like a wild wolf). Edric gathers a band of Saxon resistance fighters, taking the struggle to the Welsh borders in A Light in the West, engaging in brutal conflicts with raiding Norsemen in Viking Slaughter, and defending the marshlands alongside regional resistance forces in A Flame in the Fens. The saga concludes in An Axe in Miklagard, where Edric's travels take him into exile to Miklagard (the Norse name for Constantinople), where he serves in the Varangian Guard and faces his final reckonings.
Practical Reader Advice
Where to Start
You should absolutely start with the first book, Oath of Blood. The book establishes the essential background of Edric's family, his initial friendship and subsequent fallout with Simon du Lac, and the personal stakes that fuel his actions throughout the rest of the series. Skipping this book makes the intense rivalry in the later novels difficult to fully appreciate.
Are the Books Standalones?
No. While each book features localized battles and struggles, they function more like chapters of a single serialized epic. The central conflict between Edric and Simon du Lac runs continuously from the first page of book one to the end of book six. Characters grow, alliances shift, and the geographical backdrop changes dramatically as the Saxon resistance is forced further from home.
Tone and Style Caveats
Readers coming to Arthur Frazier expecting a meticulously researched, scholarly historical epic like those of modern writers may be surprised. These books are pure 1970s pulp paperbacks. They are short, action-heavy, and written at a breakneck pace. While they capture the raw grit, mud, and violence of the eleventh century, they prioritize narrative excitement and cliffhangers over strict historical accuracy.