Princess Adelina is a young Irish maid, the daughter of a missionary.  They live in Thuringia. Hedan the young Herzog (king or ruler) falls in love with her and forces her to marry him. This is the tale of another Esther who goes from being a humble maiden to a Herzogin (queen) and how she (just like Esther) helps her people.

While Hedan is away fighting a battle, Princess Adelina’s life is being made miserable by her pagan mother-in-law Geila.  Adelina is a strong, feminine, young woman who is steadfast, forgiving, and faithful.

I think that this is the perfect story for young ladies who love adventure, heroism, and history and this is all three.

By: Lydia 12yo

Princess Adelina is the story of a young woman who refused to cow in the face of danger.  She steadfastly stood by the pagan ruler she had been forced to marry, while her husband’s mother slandered and plotted against her her.

She witnessed to the servant girls around her and ministered to the sick even though she was the wife of the ruler.  I love how she isn’t prideful.

I really liked it how Adelina stood firm in her faith even when her husband’s mother openly humiliated her, like she made Adelina eat table scraps like the servants.

I am ten years old and I love to read. I found this book very descriptive.  There were a few words I didn’t know like Herzog and Palfrey but there is a glossary and now I know that Herzog means: A lord and leader, literally, with the ancient Germans, one who went before them in battle, duke being the equivalent.  And palfrey is a small horse fit for ladies.

Princess Adelina truly lived our family motto.  She was fortis en arduis.

by Megan, 10yo

When Herzog Hedan asked Adelina to be his wife she refuses because to marry him would be unequally yoked. But Hedan threatens her saying “…I shall leave here with a trothed wife or there shall be great suffering on thy account!” Remembering the words of her savior (John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.) Adelina agrees on the condition that the Herzog continues to let her brothers and sisters in Christ worship the one true God.

Rather than cower or sulk, Adelina stands fast in her faith, loves Hedan and trusts the Lord, hoping that over time Hedan seeing her humbly submitted obedience and her faith in Christ will be reformed to the faith. (1 Peter 3:1-2)

Adelina is “Fortis En Arduis” which is our family motto. It means: Brave in Difficulty or Strength in Adversity. Even when tragedy strikes and and persecution persists worse than ever Adelina humbly continues in faith and worship as best she can under her oppressive mother-in-law.

One of my favorite parts is when Pillung (a heathen man servant in the house of the Herzog) swears falsely by his right arm. Later he, the Herzog and Haimerich (a Christian retainer in the service of the Herzog) are traveling back to the Wirtzburg in a wild storm when Pillung fears that Woden (one of false gods in which he believes) has sent a storm to find him and crush his arm.

Pillung lies on the ground thinking that he will be protected from “Woden’s” wrath but his arm is crushed. The next time Pillung is found in the story he is a christian. He says “I have learnt to serve the true God who found me in the forest and brought to light my falsehood.”

Two elements I like best about this book are that:

1. Adelina was bold but virtuous, beautiful but humble, humble but still strong in her faith.
2. The end is happy and perfect. All things worked together for good (Romans 8:28). It was not a fairy tale so the ending really was happy.

Fortis En Arduis!
Kaitlyn C., 13yo

This book was love at first sight for me!  I love old books; I love true books; and I love books with good role models for my daughters.  Princess Adelina is all three.

This is a reprint of a book published nearly a century ago, telling the true story of a brave young Christian girl who lived 13 centuries ago.  Adelina lived a simple life as the daughter of Irish missionaries in early Germany.  Like Esther, she was pressed into marriage with an unbeliever.  Also like Esther, she was a part of the unfolding of God’s plan for the good of many people.  Adelina faced many dangers and hardships but diligently walked the path that God laid before her, and in doing so she witnessed His goodness in her life and His blessings on those around her.

I was most impressed by the way Adelina faced her many trials.  She was strong, but utterly feminine; sometimes afraid, but never ruled by fear.  She willingly obeyed her husband in everything except where he required her to sin: in those cases she humbly appealed to him and obeyed God without apology.  She witnessed and ministered tirelessly to everyone around her, and prayed without ceasing even for her harshest persecutors.

Our daughters must be meek, gentle, kind and forgiving, but they also must be bold, courageous and outspoken.  This is a high standard and a difficult balance, but the story of Adelina shows that it can be done.

Kim C. from Life in a Shoe: the methods and madness of one family of 11

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