Nineteen Days in Autumn: A New History of 1066

by Erin Goeres

On 5 January 1066, Edward the Confessor’s death plunged England into a succession crisis that would change the kingdom forever. Mere hours after Edward’s remains had been laid to rest, his brother-in-law Harold II seized power, inciting the wrath of two formidable challengers: King Haraldr Sigurðarson of Norway and Edward’s ambitious cousin, William, Duke of Normandy.

In this startling new history, Dr Erin Goeres unveils the intense drama that unfolded, culminating in the tumultuous nineteen days between the battles of Stamford Bridge and Hastings in the autumn of 1066, and which led to the deaths of two monarchs and the end of Anglo-Scandinavian rule in England.

Drawing together sources from the three regions at the heart of the fray – England, Normandy and Scandinavia – Goeres uncovers the complex histories, characters and motivations that drove these conflicts. We discover the stories of Tostig Godwinson, Harold II’s estranged brother; of William the Conqueror’s enigmatic wife, Matilda of Flanders, alleged lover of Harold of England; and we meet the regular people swept up in events beyond their control, such as an English farmer beheaded for his unwillingness to give up his fur-lined coat to a Norwegian invader.

Nineteen Days in Autumn is a gripping tale of three nations entwined and the enthralling yet devastating consequences of their unravelling.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, British Literature, France

320 pages, Hardcover

First published August 27, 2026

Reviews

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic read! I got the book after listening to the author on “You’re dead to me” and bought the version that is available in the UK (Goodreads has the publication date in Jan 2027, but I think that may be the US?). It was surprisingly entertaining for a history book; seemed very well researched and very rich in facts, while still making it very approachable for a “non-historian” like me. Already bought another book (I like to hoard mine) for a friend of mine who is really into the history of England. Highly recommend it!