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The Bone Chests: Unlocking the Secrets of the Anglo-Saxons: Unlocking the Secrets of the Anglo-Saxons
A TIMES HISTORY BOOK OF THE YEAR
‘A diligent historian and a superb writer’ THE TIMES
A gripping new history of the making of England as a nation.
In December 1642, during the Civil War, Parliamentarian troops stormed Winchester Cathedral and smashed ten beautifully decorated wooden chests to the ground, using the bones inside as missiles to shatter the cathedral’s stained glass windows. Afterwards, the clergy scrambled to collect the scattered the bones of ancient kings, bishops and one formidable queen.
Bestselling historian Cat Jarman builds on the ground-breaking work of forensic archaeologists to lead us through more than a millennium of history. Alongside the cutting-edge investigation to unlock the bones' secrets, this is a thrilling and sometimes tragic tale. It tells the story of both the seekers and the sought, of those who protected the bones and those who spurned them.
‘A diligent historian and a superb writer’ THE TIMES
A gripping new history of the making of England as a nation.
In December 1642, during the Civil War, Parliamentarian troops stormed Winchester Cathedral and smashed ten beautifully decorated wooden chests to the ground, using the bones inside as missiles to shatter the cathedral’s stained glass windows. Afterwards, the clergy scrambled to collect the scattered the bones of ancient kings, bishops and one formidable queen.
Bestselling historian Cat Jarman builds on the ground-breaking work of forensic archaeologists to lead us through more than a millennium of history. Alongside the cutting-edge investigation to unlock the bones' secrets, this is a thrilling and sometimes tragic tale. It tells the story of both the seekers and the sought, of those who protected the bones and those who spurned them.
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First published September 14, 2023
65 people are currently reading
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About the author
Cat Jarman
6 books115 followersCat Jarman, PhD, is a bioarchaeologist and field archaeologist specializing in the Viking Age and Viking women. She uses forensic techniques like isotope analysis, carbon dating, and DNA analysis on human remains to untangle the experiences of past people from broader historical narratives. Dr. Jarman has contributed to numerous television documentaries as both an on-screen expert and historical consultant, including programs for the BBC, History Chanel, Discovery, among others. She lives in Britain.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
September 13, 2023
The Bone Chests has a great concept - there are old wooden chests in Winchester Cathedral with pre-Norman Conquest names on them and bones inside. Do the bones match the names? What are the stories of the people inside? Can modern archaeological techniques shine a light on the truth?
I really enjoyed Cat Jarman's previous book about the Vikings, River Kings, and this book is a good follow-on read. I think before reading Jarman's work I was under the impression that the Anglo-Saxons, the Vikings and the Normans were three completely separate groups of people. But actually, there were centuries of movement and intermarriage between the groups and each group had legitimate claims to rule (at least parts of) England. The residents of these islands were a cosmopolitan bunch around the turn of the first millennium!
A recommended read for lovers of history.
I really enjoyed Cat Jarman's previous book about the Vikings, River Kings, and this book is a good follow-on read. I think before reading Jarman's work I was under the impression that the Anglo-Saxons, the Vikings and the Normans were three completely separate groups of people. But actually, there were centuries of movement and intermarriage between the groups and each group had legitimate claims to rule (at least parts of) England. The residents of these islands were a cosmopolitan bunch around the turn of the first millennium!
A recommended read for lovers of history.
April 4, 2024
I thought the book would focus more on the attempts to identify the bones, but instead, it was brief histories of historical figures who the bones may belong to. The histories were dry; I just couldn't engage or stay focused on the writing and kept wanting to put the book down. Unless you have a lot of historical knowledge of England before 1066, the historical figures are difficult to keep straight because of the similar names: Aethelwulf, Aethulstan, Aethelwearn, etc.
April 2, 2025
[4.0 / 5.0] ★★★★✩
Innbundet, Norsk, Biblioteket
Innbundet, Norsk, Biblioteket
November 25, 2024
Cat Jarman writes in a really engaging way, but I have to admit I was a bit disappointed with this book.
In her previous work, River Kings, Jarman delves into archaeological and genetic evidence, exploring the methods scholars use to uncover new information about the Viking world. Rather than simply telling the story of the Vikings, she examines developments in the historiography to tell a "new" story about the period.
In this book, however, the bone chests are used merely as a framing device for a pretty straightforward narrative history about the Anglo-Saxon age, with a few asides about Winchester Cathedral thrown in. That interdisciplinary approach is mostly missing, and there's precious little information here that hasn't been written a thousand times before – it's a great missed opportunity.
In her previous work, River Kings, Jarman delves into archaeological and genetic evidence, exploring the methods scholars use to uncover new information about the Viking world. Rather than simply telling the story of the Vikings, she examines developments in the historiography to tell a "new" story about the period.
In this book, however, the bone chests are used merely as a framing device for a pretty straightforward narrative history about the Anglo-Saxon age, with a few asides about Winchester Cathedral thrown in. That interdisciplinary approach is mostly missing, and there's precious little information here that hasn't been written a thousand times before – it's a great missed opportunity.
August 12, 2024
A superbly interesting study of the Winchester Bone Chests, detailing a fascinating archeological story of England's earliest kings and regents from Anglo-Saxon times. Really well researched, written and narrated, Jarman has a great skill at balancing archaeological nuance with history and implications, while also avoiding any patronising detail or bland excess. Both of Jarman's books have been great, and I will definitely be reading/listening to more when they're released in the future!
September 20, 2023
Fascinating. If you liked the River Kings then you will most likely enjoy this.
A subject that hasn't been widely written about in the popular history books . A lot of the early Saxon & Viking royals were not particularly familiar to me & this book tells the very complex story of who these people in the chests may have been in an entertaining way.
A subject that hasn't been widely written about in the popular history books . A lot of the early Saxon & Viking royals were not particularly familiar to me & this book tells the very complex story of who these people in the chests may have been in an entertaining way.
December 27, 2023
The title and marketing of this book suggests that its focus is a forensic examination of the chests' contents, but this is not so. Most of it is a historical account of England's Anglo-Saxon rulers and kingdoms, which, as a casual reader, I found too detailed.
September 5, 2023
Cat Jarman does a thorough job of research on these chests, and the people whose remains may or may not be in them. She starts with the earliest known Wessex king, Cynewulf, and ends with the last one named on the chests: William Rufus (son of William the Conqueror). This is not a period of history I know much about. Frankly most GB school history mentions Egyptians, Romans, Edward the Confessor, William the Conqueror, and moves on to the Wars of the Roses. In fact I don’t know whether it does that much, except kids seem to know about Pharoahs, and they spend a lot of time on the history of World War 2.
So a narrative about the kings and politics of pre-1100 has the potential to be interesting. In The Bone Chests, the author takes the supposed contents of one chest at a time, and maps out the who, what, why and wherefore, based on research and records down the ages. The best thing about this book is that it adds in modern science and use of DNA, which is fascinating, revealing as it does where people came from based on their diet and chemical make-up and who they are related to once possible matches have been found in those areas. Like the discovery of Richard III in a Leicester car park, we cannot be 100% certain. But we can be pretty sure that it isn’t anyone else without a huge coincidence involved.
As a result, the book keeps your interest. This is despite some shortcomings, some of which can’t be helped. The number of names that look alike, and in many cases are the same for entirely different people — AEthelstan, AEthelgifu, AElfgifu and all those other Saxon names beginning with AEl…
This was an ARC, so it is possibly not the final version, but I found myself getting confused with the way the author jumped from contemporary to the king under discussion, to contemporary to the Reformation, interspersed with commentary from writers of ages in between. When we were back to later archaeological findings, it seemed fine, but some of the narrative got very confusing. There were also several places where she repeated herself, telling us the same thing twice as if she hadn’t said it before. Some tighter editing would do it the world of good.
There is a good reference section (the last 10%), covering notes as well as extensive bibliography, a list of illustrations (only the drawings of the chests were in my ebook version) and an index, which is pretty redundant in the ebook, but a goldmine for a paper copy–or a reviewer checking name spellings!.
It’s a great hook on which to hang a history of the first millennium in the British Isles, so if you’re remotely interested, take a look. Thank you to the publishers and netgalley for the opportunity to expand my knowledge!
So a narrative about the kings and politics of pre-1100 has the potential to be interesting. In The Bone Chests, the author takes the supposed contents of one chest at a time, and maps out the who, what, why and wherefore, based on research and records down the ages. The best thing about this book is that it adds in modern science and use of DNA, which is fascinating, revealing as it does where people came from based on their diet and chemical make-up and who they are related to once possible matches have been found in those areas. Like the discovery of Richard III in a Leicester car park, we cannot be 100% certain. But we can be pretty sure that it isn’t anyone else without a huge coincidence involved.
As a result, the book keeps your interest. This is despite some shortcomings, some of which can’t be helped. The number of names that look alike, and in many cases are the same for entirely different people — AEthelstan, AEthelgifu, AElfgifu and all those other Saxon names beginning with AEl…
This was an ARC, so it is possibly not the final version, but I found myself getting confused with the way the author jumped from contemporary to the king under discussion, to contemporary to the Reformation, interspersed with commentary from writers of ages in between. When we were back to later archaeological findings, it seemed fine, but some of the narrative got very confusing. There were also several places where she repeated herself, telling us the same thing twice as if she hadn’t said it before. Some tighter editing would do it the world of good.
There is a good reference section (the last 10%), covering notes as well as extensive bibliography, a list of illustrations (only the drawings of the chests were in my ebook version) and an index, which is pretty redundant in the ebook, but a goldmine for a paper copy–or a reviewer checking name spellings!.
It’s a great hook on which to hang a history of the first millennium in the British Isles, so if you’re remotely interested, take a look. Thank you to the publishers and netgalley for the opportunity to expand my knowledge!
November 1, 2023
A charming look into the history (largely royal and military because that's what was written back then) of pre-Norman England, using the Bone Chests in Winchester Cathedral and their famous occupants to anchor the text. The book goes into research efforts to identify the bones using scientific and cross-disciplinary tools, the religious and political outlook of the era, and ultimately what the Isles looked like in a time of constant raiding and invasion and warfare. It's not as science-y as River Kings which makes me prefer the former text, but this was still an insightful and well-written account of a long ago time with a good number of interesting characters.
December 30, 2023
Meticulously researched by an obviously very knowledgeable author, the book could have been much better. This is mainly as there is little context about the country as a whole in the relevant period which is not a well-known period of history. It is mainly a succession of names (many of which are the same or very similar). Also the jumping between time periods didn't make it easy to follow. A very interesting issue and a great idea for a book but, unfortunately it didn't really grab me. (Much better is Janina Ramirez's 'Private lives of saints' where she explains about society and the country so makes it more meaningful).
January 28, 2024
A great read. Nice overview of Anglo-Saxon England with recent archeological updates.
September 5, 2024
I was hoping this would be about the bone chests themselves rather than a history of the Anglo-Saxon kings, but alas. Interesting though
December 27, 2024
I tried, I really tried but it was too boring.
It needed some family trees for each section, and more information about who actually was in each chest, if known. The stuff in italics interrupted the flow too.
It needed some family trees for each section, and more information about who actually was in each chest, if known. The stuff in italics interrupted the flow too.
August 2, 2025
An engaging history of the known Anglo Saxon kings but very little on the actual identification of the bones .I kept waiting for the evidence - the search and conclusions which is only the last chapter in reality .I feel like other reviewers that this book is sold on the premise of the secrets of the bones and draws analogy with the hunt and identification for Richard in Leicester.This is not that search and this is not that book.I feel this is another clever example of marketing v actual content - the premise would have better to have taken the (story ) of the bones in each chapter and added what actual research has taken place over the years and present that in a meaningful manner - and not a long history of the Anglo Saxons .I have a copy of Anglo Saxon England by Stenton I can read this anytime .This book does however have interesting snippets on the missing treasure ( Viking hoard) from a few years ago and the royal Anglo Saxon tomb in Germany .The bone chests in reality should be a book less than 150 pages and re badged as less unlocking the secrets of the Anglo Saxons and more an updated history with 15 pages of ‘evidence and epilogue’ of what has been excavated and found in Winchester .I have not been to Winchester so in conclusion whilst I am disappointed in the book it has spurred me to plan a visit .
October 17, 2025
I've found Jarman hard going twice now, and I think it's definitely her not me - she isn't very good at keeping her topics and referents clear. In her first book, the muddled prose mattered less because the content was so fascinating, but this one is a bit ill-conceived - the bone chests sound fascinating, and they're not really dwelt on enough. I thought this would be far more of an investigation, essentially. It's not an awful book, there's lots of interest here, but it's not brilliant.
March 13, 2024
A fast paced, whistle stop tour through all of the monarchs that we really should know more about. It's crazy how we somehow decided that things were only worth learning about from William the Conquerer onwards. Beware of the names, especially on audiobook, as they are all so similar!
October 4, 2025
This is a book that is disappointingly less than the sum of its promising parts. The Anglo-Saxon era is a torrid time of warfare, culture and politics, which is still little-understood. And the modern technology that is enabling us to learn more and more about how people lived - through analysing their bones and other artefacts - is fascinating science. The Bone Chests promises an interesting fusion of these two subjects, but fails to deliver.
The confusion caused by the multitude of identical and similar-sounding names (fully half of the women of the period seem to have been called Aelfgifu) is admittedly no fault of the author. But she is responsible for the confusing era-hopping between the times when the bone chests were interacted with by various people, and the irritating use of italics for the chapters detailing these interactions.
As a history of some of the early Wessex rulers and the subsequent kings of England, this is an interesting and clearly well-researched read. This is particularly the case with regards to the discussion of the constant intermigration between Scandinavia and England. But in terms of discourse on the modern science that has been enacted upon the titular bones and chests, this book is sadly lacking.
The confusion caused by the multitude of identical and similar-sounding names (fully half of the women of the period seem to have been called Aelfgifu) is admittedly no fault of the author. But she is responsible for the confusing era-hopping between the times when the bone chests were interacted with by various people, and the irritating use of italics for the chapters detailing these interactions.
As a history of some of the early Wessex rulers and the subsequent kings of England, this is an interesting and clearly well-researched read. This is particularly the case with regards to the discussion of the constant intermigration between Scandinavia and England. But in terms of discourse on the modern science that has been enacted upon the titular bones and chests, this book is sadly lacking.
June 16, 2024
Really enjoyed this . Having seen them.in rel life it's fascinating to learn their history. On the face of this, I'm planning another trip to Winchester
June 19, 2024
Really interesting listen although I think I prefer reading this particular sort of subject physically rather than audibly
September 20, 2025
I’m so glad to have read this before going to visit Winchester. I know what I’m looking for/at now. Fab, engaging, informative read about a mysterious time in history.
May 2, 2025
A good history book, but not what I expected. I felt that the reader was 'sold' an archaeological narrative similar to River Kings which never appeared. However, I'm a huge fan of Jarman and look forward for more. She brings light and a gift for storytelling to late Saxon kingship, which can feel hard to access.
January 25, 2026
Interesting but maybe better read than listened to as it was very hard to keep the strings of Anglo Saxon and Norse rulers straight!
January 25, 2025
Very enjoyable read and a slightly different approach to history with osteoarchaelogy thrown in. Covers the English monarchy from the birth of the Wessex kingdom up to the Norman conquest. It doesn’t cover the other kingdoms in England at the time as it’s based around the discovery of the bones at Winchester cathedral but does a glimpse of the interactions with those kingdoms such as battles, treaties and marriage alliances etc.
December 9, 2024
The ceremony itself made a mark. The text spoken on the day by Hincmar in consecrating Judith as a queen is called an ordo, and the words it included are partially preserved. It is special because this was the first ordo recorded for queen-making: there were several in existence for the consecration of a king, but none for a queen. It seems that Hincmar took material he had for the consecration of kings - perhaps even some from Wessex - and compiled his own formula for Judith.
. . .
In fact, the words spoken that day were so significant that some of them were used when Queen Elizabeth II was crowned in 1953.
The bone chests in Winchester Cathedral hold the bones of Anglo-Saxon, Danish and early-Norman royalty and bishops, although the skeletons have been ransacked and muddled up in the Reformation and the Civil War.
One of the most interesting parts was a digression into why only 2 near-complete skeletons of soldiers from the Battle of Waterloo have every been dug up. They were either crushed and used for fertiliser, including being exported to England and Scotlans among other places, or used in Belgian factories which filtered suger beet through bone charcoal to make refined white suger.
. . .
In fact, the words spoken that day were so significant that some of them were used when Queen Elizabeth II was crowned in 1953.
The bone chests in Winchester Cathedral hold the bones of Anglo-Saxon, Danish and early-Norman royalty and bishops, although the skeletons have been ransacked and muddled up in the Reformation and the Civil War.
One of the most interesting parts was a digression into why only 2 near-complete skeletons of soldiers from the Battle of Waterloo have every been dug up. They were either crushed and used for fertiliser, including being exported to England and Scotlans among other places, or used in Belgian factories which filtered suger beet through bone charcoal to make refined white suger.
September 15, 2024
A superb book of riveting facts and finds, worthy of ten stars for clear and concise recounting of a pivotal and highly important time in Anglo-Saxon history, in short, part of the foundation of Britain as we know it today. The photographs show amazing finds, tombs and beautiful treasures, often pillaged or brutally destroyed, and some illegally plundered by modern-day scavengers like Powell and Davies who did not declare a hoard of coins and artefacts in Herefordshire valued at more than five million pounds. Under the heading "A Teenage Ruler" young Eadwig (or Edwy) was chosen to become king circa 930 and what a lad he was, forget the kingdom, let's party. Of course, Etheldred and the Vikings crop up, but the most riveting chapters are about the discoveries themselves. On one hand the jumble of amazingly preserved bones in tombs with so much to tell and, on the other, the mystery skull named Giraffe.
On page 308 author Cat Jarman writes "As I look up at the chests (they are stored high up in Winchester Cathedral) I am reminded that I am yet another link in a chain, writing and rewriting this history, this nesting doll of version upon version of events that have a core of truth somewhere, an unreachable real past that we will never quite grasp." But her book certainly brings us closer to the fascinating facts. Perhaps one person who tweaked my comparison to modern day Royals was Queen Eadgyth (Edith) who died in 946. Another book could be written, albeit a mixture of fact and fiction, about her short yet illustrious reign. And then there’s Emma of Normandy (wife of Cnut the Great) who died 1052. I am drifting off the track of the Bone Chests. However, I guess it’s obvious the bones of those mentioned were preserved for hundreds of years and scientifically tested.
There was coffin juggling too, e.g. Glastonbury Abbey powerplay between Edmund’s body and King Cnut (c1016). The early Victorian era needed a national origin story so the Anglo-Saxons were resurrected to denote a racially superior culture but not based on actual historical evidence. The epilogue says "We may ask ourselves why, even today, we are so concerned with finding and identifying the bones of the distant dead?" I'll let you find out the answer to that. Interestingly, author Jarman mentions the 2012 discovery of Richard III bones (found buried in a carpark and instigated by Philippa Langley with the support of the Richard III Society) in great scientific detail but she doesn't sound convinced. Also I found her recounting of Queen Elizabeth II pre-funeral as she lay in state in Westminster Hall rather dismissive, hinting at homeopathically diluted elements of early medieval past. All I can add is people are people and basic human nature lives on regardless. Long live the King!
On page 308 author Cat Jarman writes "As I look up at the chests (they are stored high up in Winchester Cathedral) I am reminded that I am yet another link in a chain, writing and rewriting this history, this nesting doll of version upon version of events that have a core of truth somewhere, an unreachable real past that we will never quite grasp." But her book certainly brings us closer to the fascinating facts. Perhaps one person who tweaked my comparison to modern day Royals was Queen Eadgyth (Edith) who died in 946. Another book could be written, albeit a mixture of fact and fiction, about her short yet illustrious reign. And then there’s Emma of Normandy (wife of Cnut the Great) who died 1052. I am drifting off the track of the Bone Chests. However, I guess it’s obvious the bones of those mentioned were preserved for hundreds of years and scientifically tested.
There was coffin juggling too, e.g. Glastonbury Abbey powerplay between Edmund’s body and King Cnut (c1016). The early Victorian era needed a national origin story so the Anglo-Saxons were resurrected to denote a racially superior culture but not based on actual historical evidence. The epilogue says "We may ask ourselves why, even today, we are so concerned with finding and identifying the bones of the distant dead?" I'll let you find out the answer to that. Interestingly, author Jarman mentions the 2012 discovery of Richard III bones (found buried in a carpark and instigated by Philippa Langley with the support of the Richard III Society) in great scientific detail but she doesn't sound convinced. Also I found her recounting of Queen Elizabeth II pre-funeral as she lay in state in Westminster Hall rather dismissive, hinting at homeopathically diluted elements of early medieval past. All I can add is people are people and basic human nature lives on regardless. Long live the King!
January 17, 2024
A really interesting read for those who are interested in early medieval/ Anglo Saxon history. Cat Jarmans writing style is accessible and easy to engage with. It also made me want to visit Winchester Cathedral again!
May 19, 2025
THE BONE CHESTS is a worthwhile read if you are interested in a general history of Anglo-Saxon history, particularly Wessex.
It has a much broader scope than the title would suggest. The book apologises for focusing on Wessex and often ignoring the north of England, but I didn't feel this was true. It jumps all over England as well as Europe to trace the history of England over about six centuries.
However, this, to me at least, didn't feel like what the book was promising - and so wasn't what I picked it up for.
For a book titled THE BONE CHESTS, I felt the contents itself had very little to do with said chests. This is more of a history of pre-Norman (Anglo-Saxon) England. Yes, the prominent historical figures of this narrative are the one who might be buried in the chests, but I felt like it could have had more ties back to the chest and their mysteries other than the odd scene here of there imagining people interacting with them over the years.
Perhaps it is the fact I am familiar with Anglo-Saxon England - or the fact I'm a physicist - but I wanted more of the book to focus on the mystery of the bones. The techniques used are fascinating (and link to my own field of nuclear physics) but the book skates over them and the long process of studying them, tracing their history.
It has a much broader scope than the title would suggest. The book apologises for focusing on Wessex and often ignoring the north of England, but I didn't feel this was true. It jumps all over England as well as Europe to trace the history of England over about six centuries.
However, this, to me at least, didn't feel like what the book was promising - and so wasn't what I picked it up for.
For a book titled THE BONE CHESTS, I felt the contents itself had very little to do with said chests. This is more of a history of pre-Norman (Anglo-Saxon) England. Yes, the prominent historical figures of this narrative are the one who might be buried in the chests, but I felt like it could have had more ties back to the chest and their mysteries other than the odd scene here of there imagining people interacting with them over the years.
Perhaps it is the fact I am familiar with Anglo-Saxon England - or the fact I'm a physicist - but I wanted more of the book to focus on the mystery of the bones. The techniques used are fascinating (and link to my own field of nuclear physics) but the book skates over them and the long process of studying them, tracing their history.
September 25, 2023
Galley provuded by publisher
The Bone Chests is a well-researched and compelling nonfiction book, if on occasion I found it a little hard to follow (so many similar sounding names! Though that was hardly Jarman's fault). The period between the departure of the Romans from the British Isles up until 1066 and the Norman Conquest is hardly covered in history lessons (or, at least, not when I was in school), so I only had the vaguest idea about most of what this book contained. Jarman presents it all in a very readable text, one that keeps you fascinated throughout. What's equally fascinating is how much it's possible to discover about the eponymous bone chests through modern methods. Combined with sources from around the time (or, in some cases, a few hundred years after), Jarman pieces together an engrossing story, and one that convinces me to keep an eye on all her output.
The Bone Chests is a well-researched and compelling nonfiction book, if on occasion I found it a little hard to follow (so many similar sounding names! Though that was hardly Jarman's fault). The period between the departure of the Romans from the British Isles up until 1066 and the Norman Conquest is hardly covered in history lessons (or, at least, not when I was in school), so I only had the vaguest idea about most of what this book contained. Jarman presents it all in a very readable text, one that keeps you fascinated throughout. What's equally fascinating is how much it's possible to discover about the eponymous bone chests through modern methods. Combined with sources from around the time (or, in some cases, a few hundred years after), Jarman pieces together an engrossing story, and one that convinces me to keep an eye on all her output.
October 4, 2023
In Winchester Cathedral sit a set of bone chests, boxes supposed to contain the bones of a series of Anglo-Saxon monarchs. Over the past ten years, archaeologists have used cutting edge techniques to try to discover whose bones these are and in this book Jarman relates the story of these searches alongside the history around each person.
I loved this book as it can be read a a simple history of the Anglo-Saxon monarchy but it is interspersed with wonderful facts about the science of bone dating, mapping injuries and looking for familial links. Then this is also overlaid with stories about the bone chests themselves, from their inception and movement between the churches of Winchester and beyond, to their destruction during the Civil War to more modern tales. Altogether it make for a multi-layered exploration of the subject from a knowledgable writer.
I loved this book as it can be read a a simple history of the Anglo-Saxon monarchy but it is interspersed with wonderful facts about the science of bone dating, mapping injuries and looking for familial links. Then this is also overlaid with stories about the bone chests themselves, from their inception and movement between the churches of Winchester and beyond, to their destruction during the Civil War to more modern tales. Altogether it make for a multi-layered exploration of the subject from a knowledgable writer.
January 27, 2025
This wasn’t quite the book I was hoping for. the book seems to try and capitalise on the hype of the investigations before they have been completed- and has the audacity to moan about them not being finish! I wanted more of that story.
It was an interesting read and thorough book, however it was dry and even a bit of slog in parts. It could have benefited from some family trees, timelines, maps etc. it was a lot to follow which I don’t think helped my waning enthusiasm for this book.
Having grown up near Winchester I enjoyed the local history bits esp as I have visited the sites mentioned.
It was an interesting read and thorough book, however it was dry and even a bit of slog in parts. It could have benefited from some family trees, timelines, maps etc. it was a lot to follow which I don’t think helped my waning enthusiasm for this book.
Having grown up near Winchester I enjoyed the local history bits esp as I have visited the sites mentioned.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews