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In the tradition of the Greek tragedy, many cultures have their own “Helen of Troy”. For the Welsh, theirs is the Princess Nesta of Deheubarth, daughter of the king of south Wales. In this hard to find book from 1966, Eleanor Fairburn tells the story of the woman whose sons and grandsons would later go on to conquer Ireland.


When her father is killed by William Rufus, eleven year old Nesta is taken to an abbey to be raised with the king’s other royal wards – the daughters of the Scottish King Malcolm and his wife Margaret (one of the daughters – Maud (also known as Edith or Matilda)– would later become Queen of England). Her grace and beauty attract the attention of the king’s younger brother, Henry, and the two begin an affair. But the king has other plans for Nesta and he marries her off to Gerald de Windsor, a half-Welsh nobleman and they settle into Pembroke.

Even marriage can’t come between a king and the woman he loves, and with Gerald in exile for backing his brother (Robert Curthose) against him, Henry sets Nesta up as his mistress. Despite her knowledge of his other mistresses, Nesta loves Henry deeply and takes a particular interest in one of his illegitimate sons – Robert of Caen (later Robert of Glouchester). As Henry struggles to stabilize his realm, Nesta provides a means of escape, comfort and friendship and a bond forms that seems to always bring them back together.

As if being the king’s long time mistress is not enough, Nesta’s life was full of other drama. After reconciling with her husband, their home is burned to the ground and Nesta is abducted by the Welsh Prince Owain ap Cadogan which sparks a small scale war. Nesta later has a relationship with the man who rescues her from Owain and following Gerald’s death, with one of his long time retainers.   She has children by all of them, including a son by Henry.

I thought The Golden Hive was interesting and engaging and for the last third in particular had a hard time putting it down. Nesta shoulders the role of the royal mistress well – often envied, scorned and blamed, she is sometimes selfish and other times, selfless, accepting what must be with a grace that confirms her own royal lineage. Although the relationship between Henry and Nesta is probably overly romantic, it was heartbreaking to see that love finally shattered by an act of cruelty that she never would have thought possible – and for the pair to realize that there are some things that even love can not overcome.

The book includes a partial bibliography, a map and a family tree which was quite helpful in reading about this rather unfamiliar period of history.

The way to impress a woman: “Women’s minds worked like that: show them something better and they would never again be satisfied with less.” Rufus figuring he can turn Nesta into a Welshwoman impressed by Normanism when she compared her own countrymen to the Norman nobility.


The difference between a king and an ass: “A king without letters is but an ass with a crown.” Henry referencing the importance of the development of a king’s mind.

Rating: Very Good (4 stars)


In case the FTC asks: I was fortunate to find a copy of this on ebay for $10 (it was my lucky day!).