What do you think?
Rate this book
The Birth of the Anglo-Saxons: Three Kings and a History of Britain at the Dawn of the Viking Age
A brilliant, authoritative narrative of the golden age of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom in Britain by an acclaimed historian of this period.
The eighth century has for too long been a neglected era in British a shadow land between the death of Saint Bede and the triumphs of King Ælfred and the eventual unification of England.
But before the victories of King Ælfred against the Viking invaders, the kingdom of Mercia—spread across a broad swathe of central England—was the reigning power that exercised central political authority for the first time since the Roman Empire. This authority was used to construct trading networks and markets; to develop strong economic, cultural, and political links with the Continent; and to lay the foundations for a system of defense that would be invigorated and reinvented by Ælfred at the end of the ninth century.
Two kings, Æthelbald (716–757) and Offa (757–796), dominated the political landscape of the rising power of Mercia. During their reigns, monasteries became powerhouses of royal patronage, economic enterprise, and trade. Offa constructed his grandiose dyke along the borders of the warlike Welsh Kingdoms and, more subtly, spread his message of political superiority through coinage bearing his image. But Æthelbald and Offa between them built something with an even more substantial legacy—a geography of medieval England. And these two kings engineered a set of tensions between kingship, landholding, and the church that were to play out dramatically at the dawn of the Viking Age.
In this illuminating history of Early Medieval Britain, Max Adams reconnects the worlds of the three kings—Æthelbald, Offa, and Ælfred—in an absorbing study of the landscape, society, and politics of a fascinating century of change.
The eighth century has for too long been a neglected era in British a shadow land between the death of Saint Bede and the triumphs of King Ælfred and the eventual unification of England.
But before the victories of King Ælfred against the Viking invaders, the kingdom of Mercia—spread across a broad swathe of central England—was the reigning power that exercised central political authority for the first time since the Roman Empire. This authority was used to construct trading networks and markets; to develop strong economic, cultural, and political links with the Continent; and to lay the foundations for a system of defense that would be invigorated and reinvented by Ælfred at the end of the ninth century.
Two kings, Æthelbald (716–757) and Offa (757–796), dominated the political landscape of the rising power of Mercia. During their reigns, monasteries became powerhouses of royal patronage, economic enterprise, and trade. Offa constructed his grandiose dyke along the borders of the warlike Welsh Kingdoms and, more subtly, spread his message of political superiority through coinage bearing his image. But Æthelbald and Offa between them built something with an even more substantial legacy—a geography of medieval England. And these two kings engineered a set of tensions between kingship, landholding, and the church that were to play out dramatically at the dawn of the Viking Age.
In this illuminating history of Early Medieval Britain, Max Adams reconnects the worlds of the three kings—Æthelbald, Offa, and Ælfred—in an absorbing study of the landscape, society, and politics of a fascinating century of change.
464 pages, Hardcover
First published February 12, 2025
About the author
Max Adams
23 books193 followersI am an archaeologist, woodsman and traveller. I live in the North-east of England where I write about landscape and history. My next non-fiction work, to be published in Autumn 2017, is called Alfred's Britain - a history and archaeology of the British Isles in the Viking Age. The King in the North has been a non-fiction bestseller since its publication. In the Land of Giants, my latest non-fiction book, is a series of journeys, mostly on foot, through Dark Age landscapes.
In May 2016 I published my first novel, The Ambulist.
In May 2016 I published my first novel, The Ambulist.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
May 27, 2025
First, a confession. I am very much a modern historian. My qualifications are in modern history. My evidential sensibilities are those of a modern historian. For a time, anything before 1837 may as well have been marked with 'here be dragons', and I'd have been none the wiser. For a historian reliant on a primary written record, who can look up newspaper reports, diary entries from a literate society, Hansard, the lot, the early middle ages present something of a challenge, and one not unfamiliar to my fellow history teachers when we are asked the inevitable question: But how do we know?
Enter Max Adams.
There are written sources for the period. I was going to write 'of course there are', but that very much is not the point. The point is that those written sources are lacking. For every entry in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, there's a silence in the written record surrounding it. So how do we know what happened? A line or two, written sometimes 200 years after the fact, hardly sheds light on events. My inner modernist almost screams with frustration as the written record fails. And that's where we look at the archaeology.
Adams' work is magisterial. That's not something I say lightly. He takes what he can from the at times unreliable written record, and expertly intertwines it with what the archaeology tells us. This is a book that understandably is bereft of true historical characters, but their actions are still obvious. We may not find out much about the character and personality of each of the people who drift across the page, frustratingly out of focus through the lens of time, but we do get to see the ripples spreading out from their initial impacts. But because this is a book grounded in the archaeology - along with what must be said to be a true mastery of the written sources we do have - it is a story of landscapes and geography. Where things were found combines with what has been found, and what these things tell us about developing power structures. Where the character is absent, structures become increasingly clear, writ large across the Midlands landscapes in locations evocatively brought to life.
That isn't to say at times this isn't a frustrating book. The first half feels elusive, a loose narrative based heavily on a small handful of sources and the assumptions that can be made from established archaeological finds. Take Penda. His presence looms throughout that first half, until Æthelbald strides into history with his transformative reign. But barring a small number of events, he drifts in and out. Conclusions drawn can only ever be provisional, subject to new finds and interpretations. The few events don't form a coherent narrative - no fault of the author, whose skill in drawing his conclusions and explaining them is outstanding - but to a modernist as myself the sort of thing that challenges and moves one beyond a comfort zone. Even when the sources begin to tell a more fleshed-out story the questions are never quite answered. In a ten-page study of the construction of Offa's Dyke, Adams has to admit, multiple times, that we just cannot be sure of the dates of its construction or its purpose.
None of this, of course, is the fault of the historian. It is the very nature of historiography about this period of history. Shine a candle, as Adams says in his concluding remarks, and there are still so many unlit shadows. For a historian used to illumination, the darkness poses a challenge. It's one reason why I've begun to enjoy early medieval history; it forces a reader to think in a new way about what confronts them.
And that isn't to say that clear conclusions cannot be drawn, or that any of this is unimportant. Quite the opposite. Adams traces a truly formative period in the development of royal - and more broadly state - power that helps us to understand modern power structures and society. The mirror held up to this distant past, 1400-1100 years ago, helps us to see our own world in a new light.
Finally, it does help that Adams is a superb writer. Many historians have a mastery of the sources; others hide a lack of that behind the ability to spin a yarn. Adams manages both. And where he does not - or cannot - know an answer, he both admits it and pulls together a plausible sequence of events. His evocative histories are becoming a must-read for this particular modernist who cannot resist the pull of a time which shows us another way of doing history.
Enter Max Adams.
There are written sources for the period. I was going to write 'of course there are', but that very much is not the point. The point is that those written sources are lacking. For every entry in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, there's a silence in the written record surrounding it. So how do we know what happened? A line or two, written sometimes 200 years after the fact, hardly sheds light on events. My inner modernist almost screams with frustration as the written record fails. And that's where we look at the archaeology.
Adams' work is magisterial. That's not something I say lightly. He takes what he can from the at times unreliable written record, and expertly intertwines it with what the archaeology tells us. This is a book that understandably is bereft of true historical characters, but their actions are still obvious. We may not find out much about the character and personality of each of the people who drift across the page, frustratingly out of focus through the lens of time, but we do get to see the ripples spreading out from their initial impacts. But because this is a book grounded in the archaeology - along with what must be said to be a true mastery of the written sources we do have - it is a story of landscapes and geography. Where things were found combines with what has been found, and what these things tell us about developing power structures. Where the character is absent, structures become increasingly clear, writ large across the Midlands landscapes in locations evocatively brought to life.
That isn't to say at times this isn't a frustrating book. The first half feels elusive, a loose narrative based heavily on a small handful of sources and the assumptions that can be made from established archaeological finds. Take Penda. His presence looms throughout that first half, until Æthelbald strides into history with his transformative reign. But barring a small number of events, he drifts in and out. Conclusions drawn can only ever be provisional, subject to new finds and interpretations. The few events don't form a coherent narrative - no fault of the author, whose skill in drawing his conclusions and explaining them is outstanding - but to a modernist as myself the sort of thing that challenges and moves one beyond a comfort zone. Even when the sources begin to tell a more fleshed-out story the questions are never quite answered. In a ten-page study of the construction of Offa's Dyke, Adams has to admit, multiple times, that we just cannot be sure of the dates of its construction or its purpose.
None of this, of course, is the fault of the historian. It is the very nature of historiography about this period of history. Shine a candle, as Adams says in his concluding remarks, and there are still so many unlit shadows. For a historian used to illumination, the darkness poses a challenge. It's one reason why I've begun to enjoy early medieval history; it forces a reader to think in a new way about what confronts them.
And that isn't to say that clear conclusions cannot be drawn, or that any of this is unimportant. Quite the opposite. Adams traces a truly formative period in the development of royal - and more broadly state - power that helps us to understand modern power structures and society. The mirror held up to this distant past, 1400-1100 years ago, helps us to see our own world in a new light.
Finally, it does help that Adams is a superb writer. Many historians have a mastery of the sources; others hide a lack of that behind the ability to spin a yarn. Adams manages both. And where he does not - or cannot - know an answer, he both admits it and pulls together a plausible sequence of events. His evocative histories are becoming a must-read for this particular modernist who cannot resist the pull of a time which shows us another way of doing history.
August 24, 2025
Mercia’s cultural failure either to produce — or preserve — a body of historical narrative or secular literature beyond the literary confines of the charter and, perhaps, the outstanding poetic masterpiece Beowulf, left a gaping hole for a triumphant West Saxon narrative to fill at their erstwhile rival’s expense. It has encouraged historians to probe tentatively at the edges of the darkness with their torches and sticks without, so to speak, turning the floodlights on. To attempt something approaching a chronicle of Mercia’s heyday is to throw no more than another lighted candle into the shadows. There are many dim recesses and side passages still to be illuminated.
The Mercian Chronicles is a great introduction to the possibilities and limitations of reconstructing history where near contemporaneous narratives are lacking.
Emphasis on introduction
Adams demonstrates how careful interpretative work can allow a historian to piece together a plausible narrative of the Mercian state, whole acknowledging others may exist. The highlight is the description of Offa's Dyke and the debates over its purpose. The Mercian Chronicles demonstrates how archaeology influences historioagraphy - recent developments can upend decades of received wisdom.
There is interesting cause and effect descriptions here, even where Adams is careful to disclaim reading too much into them. The caution did occasionally leave me confused, ie to the extent monasteries were drivers of industry, but overall I appreciated the insights into the "Dark Ages" - perhaps still a very violent time, but one in which you could make your way through some sense of normality, even if under an ever-changing constellation of client and petty kings. I also get the feeling that under the hood of the story there is a hot running engine of debates around interpretations of the sources and archaeology.
How interesting in itself is the reign of the Mercian kings? Well... ...that is where the limitations really bite. While some of the Viking Age stuff actually relies on sagas written hundreds of years afterwards, they do at least exist, whereas the Merician kings receive no such benefits. I believe Adams does a good enough job to convince me they did have interesting reigns, but we just can't quite get close enough to inhabit their thoughts and feelings. There's no exchanges like that between Harold and Tostig before Stamford Bridge that echo through the ages, more some shiny gold pieces and flatly written charters.
I am grateful for the insights, but I see this book as a building block for understanding post-Roman-pre-Conquest Britain, heavily dependent on other books on the era (unsurprisingly, Adams has a few). Read it with that in mind.
The Mercian Chronicles is a great introduction to the possibilities and limitations of reconstructing history where near contemporaneous narratives are lacking.
Emphasis on introduction
Adams demonstrates how careful interpretative work can allow a historian to piece together a plausible narrative of the Mercian state, whole acknowledging others may exist. The highlight is the description of Offa's Dyke and the debates over its purpose. The Mercian Chronicles demonstrates how archaeology influences historioagraphy - recent developments can upend decades of received wisdom.
There is interesting cause and effect descriptions here, even where Adams is careful to disclaim reading too much into them. The caution did occasionally leave me confused, ie to the extent monasteries were drivers of industry, but overall I appreciated the insights into the "Dark Ages" - perhaps still a very violent time, but one in which you could make your way through some sense of normality, even if under an ever-changing constellation of client and petty kings. I also get the feeling that under the hood of the story there is a hot running engine of debates around interpretations of the sources and archaeology.
How interesting in itself is the reign of the Mercian kings? Well... ...that is where the limitations really bite. While some of the Viking Age stuff actually relies on sagas written hundreds of years afterwards, they do at least exist, whereas the Merician kings receive no such benefits. I believe Adams does a good enough job to convince me they did have interesting reigns, but we just can't quite get close enough to inhabit their thoughts and feelings. There's no exchanges like that between Harold and Tostig before Stamford Bridge that echo through the ages, more some shiny gold pieces and flatly written charters.
I am grateful for the insights, but I see this book as a building block for understanding post-Roman-pre-Conquest Britain, heavily dependent on other books on the era (unsurprisingly, Adams has a few). Read it with that in mind.
July 27, 2025
This is a really good book for those of you who are serious historians, or love deep research, or are vitally interested in Pre-Viking Anglo-Saxon history, especially Mercia. That is, it is meticulously researched by a serious scholar who is vitally interested in Pre-Viking Anglo-Saxon history., especially Mercia. It's actually interesting to the rest of us who love history, the British Isles, research, archaeology (although there is less of this than of the other stuff), or a bit of a mystery. The written evidence of what happened is thin, but this guy probably knows more about it than anyone else. He speaks to the reader as to a fellow scholar/researcher, so he never talks down to us or dumbs it. It's well written enough not to be boring to amateur scholars like me. I recommend it if you are not looking for a fast-moving adventure story or one whose characters' names you can pronounce. I would have done about 78% better with any knowledge of place names in England and Wales -- but you can't have everything.
May 11, 2025
Fascinating history of England in the 7th to 9th century as told primarily through its various rulers and wannabes (of which there are many). Very thorough and honest writing
July 2, 2026
Adams takes on the challenge of bringing to life a state that left little written culture or, in early medieval fashion, compelling or illustrative architecture.
He tackles this admirably; supplementing the few, often dry historical facts with well argued interpretations about culture, economy, and society. The intent of these kings is teased out of charters, archaeology, and the written records of other kingdoms.
Two things held back the final star for me. First, I remember older books of his taking a romantic approach to the description of the landscapes. When we're dealing with a lot of boring charters, it would be nice to balance that with some more creative writing. Two, the ending kind of peters out in an unsatisfactory way. We barely spend any time on Aðelflæd, and then we don't even get much of a summarising conclusions. I like a good summarising conclusion!
All being said, an excellent contribution to his series.
He tackles this admirably; supplementing the few, often dry historical facts with well argued interpretations about culture, economy, and society. The intent of these kings is teased out of charters, archaeology, and the written records of other kingdoms.
Two things held back the final star for me. First, I remember older books of his taking a romantic approach to the description of the landscapes. When we're dealing with a lot of boring charters, it would be nice to balance that with some more creative writing. Two, the ending kind of peters out in an unsatisfactory way. We barely spend any time on Aðelflæd, and then we don't even get much of a summarising conclusions. I like a good summarising conclusion!
All being said, an excellent contribution to his series.
February 14, 2026
This took me ages to read because I kept falling asleep after a few pages. It has passages of real interest and its overall narrative is compelling. But long passages of dense text about someone inheriting something off someone else and giving some bits to other people were too much for me at times.
March 8, 2026
I was unwell through the last week of February and wasn’t feeling like reading literature so picked up some popular history at random. This is fascinating in its own right and I now have a list of small churches I want to see Anglo-Saxon art in. This book is also wonderful for providing a kind of diagram of how a sedentary state forms itself during the emergence of recognisable nation states…
August 5, 2025
Max Adams again proves that he is the best person to help us see through a glass darkly into the hazy world of the early Middle Ages.
May 12, 2025
An interesting but not exciting history of the Mercian kingdom from 628 to 918 CE.
While it is supposed to cover the establishment of Anglo-Saxon rule and culture during this period it is primarily the history of the Mercian kingdom, the largest and most powerful, both militarily and politically, of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, starting with King Penda in 628 through 918 when King Edward of Wessex succeeds to overlordship of Mercia, thus ending independent rule in Mercia.
The book lists the succession of each of the Mercian kings and kings of the other kingdoms; their relationships with each other (most were related by marriages between their children); relationships with other countries, including the Franks and the Scandinavians; and relationship with the church.
The best part was the evolution of Mercian political acumen from merely militaristic to courting allies and trading partners, using their exportable natural resources, especially salt, lead and wool, to forge peaceful and profitable partnerships both at home and in Europe.
The book, however, reads more like a textbook. Some of the narration drags on and on and I just skimmed portions.
If you are a serious student of the early Middle Ages in England, you may get something more out of this book than I did; otherwise you’ll probably skim through major portions like I did.
While it is supposed to cover the establishment of Anglo-Saxon rule and culture during this period it is primarily the history of the Mercian kingdom, the largest and most powerful, both militarily and politically, of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, starting with King Penda in 628 through 918 when King Edward of Wessex succeeds to overlordship of Mercia, thus ending independent rule in Mercia.
The book lists the succession of each of the Mercian kings and kings of the other kingdoms; their relationships with each other (most were related by marriages between their children); relationships with other countries, including the Franks and the Scandinavians; and relationship with the church.
The best part was the evolution of Mercian political acumen from merely militaristic to courting allies and trading partners, using their exportable natural resources, especially salt, lead and wool, to forge peaceful and profitable partnerships both at home and in Europe.
The book, however, reads more like a textbook. Some of the narration drags on and on and I just skimmed portions.
If you are a serious student of the early Middle Ages in England, you may get something more out of this book than I did; otherwise you’ll probably skim through major portions like I did.
June 3, 2025
Historical survey of the major kingdoms of 8th Century England, primarily Mercia, Northumbria, Wessex, and Kent. The book clearly represents pretty thorough research on the known personalities of the era, the dynamics and dangers of elite life, the odd calculations behind dynastic marriages and inheritance, and the convoluted relationship between kings and clergy. The narrative part is limited, however. A familiarity with the general history of Britain during those decades would be very helpful to keep the narrative clear. Additional maps would have helped as well. Where the book is at its best is in the sifting of archeological and textual evidence (charters and chronicles) for the establishment of various settlements and religious orders, and in exploration of the broader world: the Welsh kingdoms and Charlemagne's empire. I found the linguistic breakdowns of Old English town names fascinating, though a glossary would have been welcome. Adam's main theme is the central role that Mercia and its various kings and queens played not just in the events of the era, but in the development of the English nation as a political and economic unit, as opposed to a cluster of realms ruled by kings and sub-kings.
January 22, 2026
I was very excited to read this book, but when I got it.... it's not about the "Anglo-Saxons" it's about the Mercians (Which is fine, but don't title it "Anglo-Saxons" when it's about a specific kingdom). There were 4-5 kings covered and very slightly one queen at the end. Whoever edited this book needs to be beat over the head with something. It was so badly and half- heartedly edited. There were footnotes referring to past and future chapters, as if we needed a refresher on what we'd already read - which you did because the writing was not linear at all. He jumped all over the place, referring to people and places that he didn’t explain until further chapters, making things jarring and incongruous. Sometimes he'd tell you how to pronounce something and sometimes he didn't. He also used a lot of technical archeological language, which I understood, but not everyone obsessively watches old and new Time Team episodes. Overall, I was disappointed.
January 21, 2026
This book is written for those who have some knowledge of Anglo-Saxon history. If not, have Google at the ready! Maps, family trees, and maybe a Glossary of terms would have been helpful. I found most interesting the discussion(s) of modern archeological finds of discoveries that helped to fill in the holes of the historical narrative, which included photos of ancient relics. In general, a moderately length book worth reading if you are interested in this subject.
August 9, 2026
Very interesting
An interesting book, giving great insight into the history of a frequently forgotten Anglo-Saxon Kingdom. It is not always easy to follow all the threads, but the overall picture of Mercia that appears, is one of a fascinating state which well could have become the foundation of England. Instead of course, that role fell to Wessex. But this was by no means fore-ordained.
An interesting book, giving great insight into the history of a frequently forgotten Anglo-Saxon Kingdom. It is not always easy to follow all the threads, but the overall picture of Mercia that appears, is one of a fascinating state which well could have become the foundation of England. Instead of course, that role fell to Wessex. But this was by no means fore-ordained.
August 16, 2025
This is a scholarly book not intended for dilettantes, such as myself. At least I can say I slogged through all 398 pages. Seemed more of an archeological survey than a history, to me. But, alas, as the author points out more than once, textural evidence for the once important Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Mercia, is sorely lacking and/or limited, and from the opposition's viewpoint.
April 29, 2025
This was an interesting subject and meticulously researched but my main quibble is that events felt muddled - could have been more lucidly explained.There were so many people / battles involved that I was often confused!
I really appreciated how the author added small pronounciation guides along the way !
I really appreciated how the author added small pronounciation guides along the way !
Read
June 2, 2025Got about 30 pages in -- this was way more scholarly than I was in the mood for.
June 25, 2025
Gave up partway through. I couldn't find enough of a thread or a character to follow throughout the story. It read like a series of disconnected chapters without anything tying it together.
August 26, 2025
DNF. Well written but too academic for me. I was looking for more of a story.
September 12, 2025
more detail than one wants to know. It seems to be a soporific
October 26, 2025
Facsinating look at the early English kingdom of Mercia. Good detail when there is obviously such a lack of information about the Mercians.
January 14, 2026
This is a good book to read if you already know everything about the history of the Anglo-Saxons
April 5, 2026
The only reason this book is not getting five stars is because the author use himself/previous books as a source. Otherwise, it’s fantastic. Review to come!
July 13, 2026
This is another in Max Adam's impressive list of early medieval English histories. Chronologically and geographically it sits between The King of the North and Alfred's Britain
It tells the story of the 3rd of the great early English Kingdoms - Mercia.
This spans 3 parts - origins in the early 7th century and the great pagan warrior king, Penda, supremacy from about 680 to 820 with a natural focus on Offa, and then decline after 820 when Mercia loses its supremacy to Wessex, is split in 2 by the Vikings and then re-emerges as a junior partner to Wessex.
Adams is good on the origins and supremacy. He shows how mercian kingship worked, how it was so linked to the church and how Mercia grew.
But there are weaknesses. in the 7th century Mercia was defined by its relationship with Northumbria, but this stops as part of the narrative when Northumbria declines. Why? It is likely to be a mix of a very martial society making it hard to conquer and few real prizes outside of York.
Also the whole decline phase is passed off quickly. We go from 820 to 920 in a few pages. One issue for Mercia is the lack of a narrative tradition. Northumbria has Bede, whilst Alfred had Asser. Offa and co lacked anyone.
It tells the story of the 3rd of the great early English Kingdoms - Mercia.
This spans 3 parts - origins in the early 7th century and the great pagan warrior king, Penda, supremacy from about 680 to 820 with a natural focus on Offa, and then decline after 820 when Mercia loses its supremacy to Wessex, is split in 2 by the Vikings and then re-emerges as a junior partner to Wessex.
Adams is good on the origins and supremacy. He shows how mercian kingship worked, how it was so linked to the church and how Mercia grew.
But there are weaknesses. in the 7th century Mercia was defined by its relationship with Northumbria, but this stops as part of the narrative when Northumbria declines. Why? It is likely to be a mix of a very martial society making it hard to conquer and few real prizes outside of York.
Also the whole decline phase is passed off quickly. We go from 820 to 920 in a few pages. One issue for Mercia is the lack of a narrative tradition. Northumbria has Bede, whilst Alfred had Asser. Offa and co lacked anyone.
March 22, 2026
The Mercian Chronicles – Max Adams – 398 pages excluding bibliography, etc
This is a book that I've been waiting for since 2017. Since Adams had written about 7th century Northumbria and 9th century Wessex, this naturally left a gap that 8th century Mercia would nicely cover.
Adams' books are quite unique in that not only does he know his stuff, but he also writes in an accessible style. It's a shame that this can't be said of all historians of this period, as there are so many great texts out there that just happen to make your eyes bleed when reading their tortured writing (I sometimes wonder if the scholar is unconsciously passing on the pain from them having to read hermeneutic style prose).
Structurally, the book is chronological, which makes sense and the chapters are mostly divided by reign, another logical decision. Social, economic and administrative developments are dealt with during the various kings' chapters as appropriate. It's great to see footnotes, as these are so user friendly that any publisher who insists on end notes or in text citations really should get kicked somewhere unmentionable. Repeatedly.
The bibliography is pretty much what you'd expect, with lots of research papers cited (especially from Æthelbald and Offa 2005, which is a splendid collection), the odd 19th century cleric who wrote about a saint and plenty of modern works. Oddly Higham's The Convert Kings isn't there, which is a hugely thought provoking work about religion as an extension of 7th century politics.
For those well read on the period, you won't really find much that is surprising in here, or probably learn much that you weren't already aware of, but Adam certainly brings things to life and you'll hugely enjoy it nonetheless.
His comments about Bede making a possible biblical allusion to Moses and the Red Sea closing on his enemies (and by extension the enemies of god) when it came to Penda's chaps drowning in the river Went are interesting. However, I can't help but think that this drowning may well have a factual basis. 800 years later at Towton, just up the road and also during winter when the rivers were flooded, a load of Lancastrians drowned when fleeing a lost battle, albeit this time in the amusingly named river C0ck.
Adams makes a point about the sites of the early episcopal sees being ripe for economic exploitation, being mostly on navigable rivers and at nodes of the Roman road system. This does make sense, but I see it as being one factor, with possibly the lingering Romanitas as being possibly more important. It's no surprise that Roman sites should be located at these convenient economic locations, although it wasn't unknown for clerics to deliberately locate in a remote place in emulation of the desert hermits, like what Guthlac did in the Fens.
One aspect I found particularly interesting were the sections joining together place-name and archaeological evidence to show the functioning landscape. This wasn't just the productive/commercial sites or the ecclesiastical landscape, but the lordly one. The clustering of burh names along with lookout ones and assembly sites was fascinating and gave you a feeling of an actual sense of place and its people. The section applying this to the zone of Offa's Dyke was especially interesting.
It must be said, though, that the short chapter that deals with the 100 years of Mercian history following Coenwulf's demise feels truncated. In fairness, part of this is due to the lack of sources and another part is due to Adams having dealt with much of this period in his book, Æfred's Britain, but when you're reading this part it does feel as if the book has run out of steam.
One of the things that I was most struck with when reading this bang up to date book, was just how old many of the most currently available books actually are. Too many books that can be had are thirty or forty years old, if not even older. It's a real shame that apart from some firms that will publish any old rubbish, there are so few modern works out there, especially scholarly ones.
This is a book that I've been waiting for since 2017. Since Adams had written about 7th century Northumbria and 9th century Wessex, this naturally left a gap that 8th century Mercia would nicely cover.
Adams' books are quite unique in that not only does he know his stuff, but he also writes in an accessible style. It's a shame that this can't be said of all historians of this period, as there are so many great texts out there that just happen to make your eyes bleed when reading their tortured writing (I sometimes wonder if the scholar is unconsciously passing on the pain from them having to read hermeneutic style prose).
Structurally, the book is chronological, which makes sense and the chapters are mostly divided by reign, another logical decision. Social, economic and administrative developments are dealt with during the various kings' chapters as appropriate. It's great to see footnotes, as these are so user friendly that any publisher who insists on end notes or in text citations really should get kicked somewhere unmentionable. Repeatedly.
The bibliography is pretty much what you'd expect, with lots of research papers cited (especially from Æthelbald and Offa 2005, which is a splendid collection), the odd 19th century cleric who wrote about a saint and plenty of modern works. Oddly Higham's The Convert Kings isn't there, which is a hugely thought provoking work about religion as an extension of 7th century politics.
For those well read on the period, you won't really find much that is surprising in here, or probably learn much that you weren't already aware of, but Adam certainly brings things to life and you'll hugely enjoy it nonetheless.
His comments about Bede making a possible biblical allusion to Moses and the Red Sea closing on his enemies (and by extension the enemies of god) when it came to Penda's chaps drowning in the river Went are interesting. However, I can't help but think that this drowning may well have a factual basis. 800 years later at Towton, just up the road and also during winter when the rivers were flooded, a load of Lancastrians drowned when fleeing a lost battle, albeit this time in the amusingly named river C0ck.
Adams makes a point about the sites of the early episcopal sees being ripe for economic exploitation, being mostly on navigable rivers and at nodes of the Roman road system. This does make sense, but I see it as being one factor, with possibly the lingering Romanitas as being possibly more important. It's no surprise that Roman sites should be located at these convenient economic locations, although it wasn't unknown for clerics to deliberately locate in a remote place in emulation of the desert hermits, like what Guthlac did in the Fens.
One aspect I found particularly interesting were the sections joining together place-name and archaeological evidence to show the functioning landscape. This wasn't just the productive/commercial sites or the ecclesiastical landscape, but the lordly one. The clustering of burh names along with lookout ones and assembly sites was fascinating and gave you a feeling of an actual sense of place and its people. The section applying this to the zone of Offa's Dyke was especially interesting.
It must be said, though, that the short chapter that deals with the 100 years of Mercian history following Coenwulf's demise feels truncated. In fairness, part of this is due to the lack of sources and another part is due to Adams having dealt with much of this period in his book, Æfred's Britain, but when you're reading this part it does feel as if the book has run out of steam.
One of the things that I was most struck with when reading this bang up to date book, was just how old many of the most currently available books actually are. Too many books that can be had are thirty or forty years old, if not even older. It's a real shame that apart from some firms that will publish any old rubbish, there are so few modern works out there, especially scholarly ones.
July 4, 2026
If you have an interest in middle England history you will enjoy this book. However I was bored by the endless detail and lots of people that I have never heard of.
April 27, 2025
Another illuminating volume from Max Adams. As the author says himself, putting together an account of Mercia's heyday is like throwing a candle into the shadows. However, Adams brings to life the great Kings Penda and Offa, the lesser known like Aethelbald and of course the Lady of the Mercians herself, Aethelflaed. my only advise is that people have read Adams's other books first as he goes over concepts and themes he's previously explained and examined in those books. Even so, I loved this book, bringing to life Mercian history has been an interest of mine - as I've got enough on Wessex to last a lifetime. Thoroughly recommend this for those interested in the period and in the history of the drama, politics, war and foundations of the Midlands and how it helped build the foundations of the English state.
April 18, 2026
The Dark ages as we used to call them are a lot clearer thanks to great historians like Max Adams he doesn’t assume he’s realistic and uses the fragments of manuscripts archeology and known resources whilst arguing the limitations and pointing out the shadows.
Mercia was actually more powerful than Wessex or Northumbria but was actually the least known of the ancient kingdoms but it set the blue print for the country we became. Under Alfred and the later Saxons before the conquest of 1066
The years 716 to the 850s was a turbulent time of kings border clashes. But the founding of churches land grants and soft power. The completion of Offas dyke and the founding of monasteries that would last until the reformation a thousand years later
A really brilliant book .
Mercia was actually more powerful than Wessex or Northumbria but was actually the least known of the ancient kingdoms but it set the blue print for the country we became. Under Alfred and the later Saxons before the conquest of 1066
The years 716 to the 850s was a turbulent time of kings border clashes. But the founding of churches land grants and soft power. The completion of Offas dyke and the founding of monasteries that would last until the reformation a thousand years later
A really brilliant book .
December 26, 2025
Historical information on Mercia is sparse, especially if you concentrate on the written word. Adams uses what written material exist, plus archaeology, charters, vitae and other multifarious sources to tease out a fascinating history of the kingdom and its rulers. Particularly interesting is his suggestion that the Mercian burhs were clear forerunners of Aelfred's burhs and that Aelfred extended existing strongholds.
November 15, 2025
Very, very detailed. To the point of unfortunately being a touch impenetrable.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews