BARBARA HENDERSON | AUTHOR INTERVIEW
Children’s author Barbara Henderson has drawn on the 1831 discovery of the Lewis Chessmen to create her latest adventure: a tale of adventure, resilience, freedom, and faith – with a big helping of blood-hungry Vikings, as Karla Brading discovers.
There are many mysteries left to be solved in the world, some of which inspire all kinds of conclusions and wild imaginings. The Lewis Chessmen – a group of 12th century game pieces, distinctly carved from walrus ivory and discovered in a sandbank in Scotland – fall under the category of one of life’s curiosities. Their journey and purpose have long been speculated over.
Barbara Henderson’s The Chessmen Thief uses their discovery in 1831 as its focal point. Following the perilous path of Kylan, a thrall under the ownership of cruel men, the reader is taken across lands and seas in the slave-boy’s bid for a free life. But will the Chessmen that he helped carve meticulously grant him passage to a better existence and spare him the wrath of Viking warriors?
Once Henderson had decided that the beautiful Chessmen were going to be the inspiration for her middle grade novel, there were challenges ahead. “I had to research the probable origin of the figures, and there were several theories!” she says. “Once you know roughly what time you’re talking here, you can get started on building the historical context: who were the big players? The Sagas were huge inspirations, but you are constantly making choices about what to include and what to leave aside – I found these decisions tricky sometimes.”
And what stirred her interest in Norse culture?
“When I was growing up in Germany there was a cartoon Viking programme called Vicky The Viking, which I loved,” she explains. “But when I moved to Scotland as a teenager, the whole thing became a little bit more real – here were placenames and monuments that literally dated back to Viking times. Norse culture was dominant here once, and the footprints were everywhere. I found that mesmerising.
“Of course, that time coincided with my first coming across the Lewis Chessmen. Also, I had always loved folklore and folk myths, but I seem to be more drawn to those of the northern hemisphere. The Viking sagas, with their mix of rivalry, magic and humanity, sealed the deal, and a trip to Iceland a few years ago was the icing on the cake.”
Henderson’s father had a huge love of chess and she developed a relationship with the game herself. What advice does she give readers of The Chessmen Thief – should they come away with a passion to try chess for themselves?
“I’d say don’t be hard on yourself or focus too much on winning – enjoy it!” she enthuses. “I think you can find a real beauty and satisfaction in knowing the moves and understanding the game a little more each time you play. There are clubs in most schools, and many opportunities to get better, but not everyone is going to become some sort of champion chess player. I certainly never did.”
If Henderson were given a hunk of walrus tusk right now and the tools to craft with, what would her instincts have her carve?
“I’d make a terrible job of whatever I attempted,” she laughs, “but I’ve always fancied having a fancy letter opener – that can’t be too hard now, can it? On second thoughts…”
And what is her favourite part of the writing process?
“I love that first moment of spark, when you have an idea, think about it for a moment and realise that the idea has legs – there could be a really good story in this. I think the German poet Hermann Hesse talked about “a magic dwelling in each new beginning” – that’s definitely true for me…”
The Chessmen Thief is a real treat for the imagination: enchanting, fast-paced, and the perfect addition to any reader’s (young and old!) book collection.
The Chessmen Thief is published by Pokey Hat on Thurs 29 Apr. Price: £7.99. Info: here
words KARLA BRADING