Athelstan: The Making of England

Ladybird Expert #22

by Tom Holland

The formation of England occurred against the odds: an island divided into rival kingdoms, under savage assault from Viking hordes. But, after King Alfred ensured the survival of Wessex and his son Edward expanded it, his grandson Athelstan inherited the rule of both Mercia and Wessex, conquered Northumbria and was hailed as Rex totius Britanniae: 'King of the whole of Britain'. Tom Holland recounts this extraordinary story with relish and drama, transporting us back to a time of omens, raven harbingers and blood-red battlefields. As well as giving form to the figure of Athelstan - devout, shrewd, all too aware of the precarious nature of his power, especially in the north - he introduces the great figures of the age, including Alfred and his daughter Aethelflaed, 'Lady of the Mercians', who brought Athelstan up at the Mercian court. Making sense of the family rivalries and fractious conflicts of the Anglo-Saxon rulers, Holland shows us how a royal dynasty rescued their kingdom from near-oblivion and fashioned a nation that endures to this day.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Biography, British Literature, Medieval, Medieval History, Historical

114 pages, Paperback

First published June 30, 2016

About the author

Tom Holland is an English historian and author. He has written many books, both fiction and non-fiction, on many subjects from vampires to history.

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Holland was born near Oxford and brought up in the village of Broadchalke near Salisbury, England. He obtained a double first in English and Latin at Queens' College, Cambridge, and afterwards studied shortly for a PhD at Oxford, taking Lord Byron as his subject, before interrupting the post graduate studies and moving to London.

He has adapted Herodotus, Homer, Thucydides and Virgil for BBC Radio 4. His novels, including Attis and Deliver Us From Evil, mostly have a supernatural and horror element as well as being set in the past. He is also the author of three highly praised works of history, Rubicon, Persian Fire and Millennium.

He is on the committee of the Society of Authors and the Classical Association.

Reviews

[Julian Worker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Athelstan was the person who really defined the geographical areas of Britain for the first time.

I am astonished that we didn't cover his reign, and those of Alfred and Edward before Athelstan, in school history.

This is a great story well told by the author.

I hope someone finds the site of the battle of Brunanburh, so it can take its place alongside Hastings and Bosworth and Marston Moor as places where people can be educated about their past.

The author has written the book about Athelstan that is the first in the Penguin Monarchs series, showing how important Athelstan was and still is to Britain.

[Geevee · Rating 3 out of 5]

A useful introduction to a king who has been overlooked in part because sources on the man Athelstan are sparse.

In some 100 pages Mr Holland provides useful background to Athelstan's father (Edward) and grandfather (Alfred) and how he transformed his kingdom from reigning over the Anglo-Saxons to all of England and so the title used for the first time Rex Anglorum (King of the English).

Also covered is Æthelflæd (Lady of the Mercians) and Edward's sister. Her own importance in combating the Vikings, and for Athelstan's time at her court as a growing adolescent himself seeing combat against the Vikings, is stated and well made in this small book.

Brief but informative and a helpful starter for the wider Penguin Monarchs series.

[John Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

A super little book. How has this man escaped my radar for so long? – the first real King of a united England and arguably of Britain. Why aren’t there more kids around called Athelstan? He achieved a lot in his shortish life and reign (45 and 15 respectively). Warrior, scholar, patron of the arts and devout Christian with a special relationship with the long dead St Cuthbert. Interestingly, he never married, unlike his father Edward, who was always changing his wives. Athelstan was born to an early and soon to be sidelined, wife. As the new wives and more kids graced the royal fold Athelstan was rather forgotten about, brought up at the court of his indomitable aunt (but a generally good egg, if you kept on the right side of her) Queen Aethelflaed of Mercia.

His Grandfather Alfred (the Great)early spotted Athelstan’s potential and they seem to have had a special relationship.

William of Malmesbury writing his life some 200 years or so after Athelstan’s death said of of him:

“He was a man whose life though short, was glorious”. He pointed to his martial achievements, as well as his passion for justice his piety and learning.

Tom Holland’s conclusion will stick with me for a while:

“In a country that has been a unitary state for longer than any other in Europe, the sheer feat of statecraft that was required to bring it into existence risks being signally underestimated. The king who founded England has largely been forgotten even by the English”.

Recommended. 4*

[Max Berendsen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Time period before 1066: exists.
English people: "U wot m8?"

Now that I got my lousy sense of humour out of the way: This is a short, yet very informative biography of the "real" first king of England. Athelstan. I have to admit that I had never come across his name until I picked up this book. I soon found out however that this is also the case for a significant number of English people. Shocking to say the least.

Luckily this book provides an accessible introduction to the life of the man who created the first union state on the British Isles and in doing so set an important precedent for world history. I definitely want to continue exploring early medieval English history as well as the Penguin Monarchs series!

[Alice-Elizabeth (Prolific Reader Alice) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listened to the audiobook via Listening Books!

I've always been a history girl growing up and always keen to find new historical texts and research writing to listen to whenever I need a good distraction from everyday life. Athelstan was the first king to really split up the geography across England into different counties/areas such as Wessex. The start of an interesting series in short but knowledgeable chunks makes it quite approachable for anyone who isn't keen on longer texts.

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[Edoardo Albert · Rating 5 out of 5]

No king in England’s history has been more unjustly forgotten than Æthelstan. This forgetting is all the more poignant in that Æthelstan can reasonably claim to be the first king of England. Not many other nations would flush their founder down the memory hole: Washington adorns dollar bills, every Roman could tell you the story of Romulus and Remus, and Napoleon, the founder of modern France, has had more books written about him than any other human being in history apart from Jesus Christ. But on Æthelstan, almost nothing.

Hopefully, Tom Holland’s marvellous little biography will go some way towards rescuing Æthelstan from his obscurity. With all the excitement that the story deserves, Holland whisks the reader back to 10th century Britain, when the Northmen did not merely launch picturesque, TV mini-series worthy raids, but embarked on expeditions of conquest; this was a country that had suffered two generations of depredations, when anyone living near sea or navigable river went to sleep with the fear that they might wake to find their homes being ransacked and fired, and their children being carried off into slavery. For amid the revision of Vikings as romantic heroes, little attention has been paid to the fact that their most valuable booty was human: men, women and children hauled off to be sold in the slave markets at Dublin, the Viking town that stood at the nexus of the slave routes that delivered captured people to miserable new lives from which they would never return.

Æthelstan, following in the footsteps of his grandfather, Alfred, and his father, Edward the Elder, was a man committed to defending and instilling civilisation in the face of the barbarians. For, make no mistake, for all their accomplishments as explorers and traders, the Vikings were barbarians. Three generations of the most remarkable family in English royal history had made it their lives’ work to first defend and then to reconquer England, and Æthelstan stood at the summit and consummation of this extraordinary familial endeavour. Then, when all seemed accomplished, all was thrown into doubt when the kings of the Vikings, of the Scots and of Strathclyde united against him. The ensuing battle, Brunanburgh, was ‘the battle’ for a hundred years, the battle that ensured that England would be England, and not dismembered. Read Holland’s book and marvel at the scale of Æthelstan’s accomplishments and how much we have to be grateful to him for.

[Carolyn Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

The epic first installment of the Penguin Monarchs series, describing Athelstan's achievements uniting England, establishing diplomatic relations with continental European powers and managing a fractious royal succession. Athelstan's personality and even the site of the most decisive battle of his reign remain elusive but the book discusses the political and religious influences of his times and the family who shaped his childhood and adolescence - his grandfather, Alfred the Great, his father, Edward the Elder and his warrior queen aunt, Aethelflaed of Mercia. I am pleased that the Penguin Monarchs series includes volumes about the Anglo-Saxon monarchs as it is essential to start before 1066 to understand the foundations of England and the monarchy.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful little book by excellent popular historian Tom Holland on one of England's least known kings. As I read, there were so many familiar names, Alfred, Edward, Aethelflad, Aethelwold, Athelstan himself, but where was Uhtred? Perhaps I have been reading too much Bernard Cornwell! It's such a shame that there are so few extant sources. Tom Holland brings what is known and speculated about Athelstan into a concise and readable book. Considering what a tenuous hold Alfred had on Wessex it is remarkable that his grandson Athelstan was to become Rex Totus Britannica. Highly recommended if like me your knowledge of this period comes from reading about Uhtred of Bebbanburgh.

[Megan Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

After King Alfred ensured the survival of Wessex and his son Edward expanded it, his grandson Athelstan inherited the rule of Mercia and Wessex, conquered Northumbria and was hailed 'King of the whole of Britain'. Holland recounts this extraordinary story and makes it full of drama. We are transported back to a time of omens and blood-red battlefields. As well as giving form to Athelstan, Holland introduces the great figures of the time, including Alfred and his daughter, Aethelflaed. Holland makes sense of the family rivalries and conflicts of the Anglo-Saxon rulers. Holland shows us how a royal dynasty rescued their kingdom from near oblivion and fashioned a nation that endures to this day. 
Back to this book and Holland writes a highly informative, interesting read about Athelstan and I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. 'Athelstan' is a very accessible read that will be interesting to those new to the period and those who know more about it. This book is a great introduction to Athelstan and I am very impressed at how much information Holland could include in a short book. I cannot wait to continue this series. 

[Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Due to my terrible memory I know very little about this period of British history. Holland's work was really fascinating as he drew together facts in an understandable and engaging way, and has left me with a real sense of how England was formed. The book is written at a good level for people with little prior knowledge, and goes into enough detail to interest those who are better informed as well. I also appreciated the author's efforts to elaborate on the effects of various events, so that the work was not merely a timeline of our past.

[Bettie]

"A short video I made to coincide with my biography of Æthelstan. It's about his aunt, Alfred's daughter, the founding mother of England: Æthelflæd. 1100 years ago today, in Tamworth, the ancient capital of Mercia that she had recaptured from the Vikings in 913, died Æthelflæd, Lady of the Mercians: a woman who deserves to be commemorated as the Founding Mother of England.

time for some viking kitties

[Alys · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely intriguing. I went into this book without knowing anything about Athelstan and now i feel like a pro. I wouldn't have bought it if it had been a bit longer but having finished it I'm wishing it had been. I absolutely loved the writing style. It was so hilariously pompous and melodramatic that I found myself reading bits out to people and laughing out loud. Honestly I would recommend this to anyone. It was so funny and enjoyable and educational with no prior knowledge required.

[Emily M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Concise and easy to follow, this brief book will give a decent overview of Athelstan's life for our homeschool English history year. I will have my 7th-11th grade students read this in conjunction with Holland's brief booklet on Athelstan's aunt, Aethelflaed. I'm not in raptures over the prose or anything and wouldn't necessarily pick this up for pleasure reading, but I do feel like I have a better understanding of pre-Norman Conquest England.

[Eleri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not so much the story of Athelstan as of his creation of England. Cool to learn some history I literally knew nothing about and the writing was really good - "Men who had thought by means of sorcery to take on the form and ferocity of a wolf pack now themselves wetted lupine jaws" is one of my new favourite sentences ever.

I had this book hyped up to me a lot and whilst I did enjoy it, I don't think it lived up to the hype.

[Truls Ljungström · Rating 1 out of 5]

Denna bok innehåller knappt något matnyttigt. Det är en oerhört grund översikt över Aethelstans regering.

[Josh · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good but short biography of the first king to unite England under one throne. Series format made this a little too brief, but Tom Holland’s excellent narrative skills were on display even in such a short book.

[Mac · Rating 4 out of 5]

Borrow.

Short, as intended, but jam packed full of history. There is no fluff here.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Penguins collection of monarchs is a brilliant entry-level history of the first King of England, Æthelstan. The son of Edward the Elder and the grandson of the mighty Alfred the Great, Æthelstan was the victor of the Battle of Brunanburh and became King of the English after taking Jorvik/Eoferwic (YORK) in 927. Tom Holland shows the difficulties of kingship during an age of invasion and war on home soil- especially during the height of the 10th century. So accessible, Athelstan: The Making of England is the perfect, concise piece of writing I have come to expect from Tom Holland. Absolute brevity in a history.

[Aaron · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's very strange how little know Athelstan is in England given that he was our first real king. Tom Holland does a great job in this little book, with the few sources we have available, of giving us a portrait of Athelstan. I'm a big fan of The Rest Is History podcast which Holland hosts but this is my first experience of him on paper and it did not disappoint.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

An engaging portrait of England’s forgotten founder and the grandson of the better-remembered Alfred.

[Adam Lofthouse · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fantastic little book, this. Outlying not just the life of a man undeservedly lost in history, but the political state of 'England' during his reign. Tom Holland's prose is so accomplished, easy to read and the odd dash of opinion and wit thrown in to ensure the book is not just pages full of dry facts. In this book he tells the tale of Athelstan and his battle to not only secure the thrown of Wessex but to finally see his Grandfather's dream of a united England.

I am of insufficient learning to know if everything told on these pages is true fact, but even if half of it is than Athelstan must have been a truly remarkable man. Born under a cloud, spending his formative years in a kind of exile in Mercia, this is the boy who would grow to win every battle he fought, on and off the field of battle. From Heathen's in Dublin to the kings' in the north, by true grit and determination Athelstan extended his borders time and time again, until he had eventually carved out the kingdom of what we now know as England.


This is a period of history largely forgotten, wedged in between Alfred the Great and 1066. This book is a telling reminder of why it shouldn't be, why it could well be even more important than 1066 and William the Bastard himself. Highly recommend.

[John Isles · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Penguin Monarchs series comprehensively covers the rulers of England since the Norman Conquest, but for the earlier period we are offered (so far?) only Athelstan, Aethelred the Unready, Cnut, and Edward the Confessor. The omission of Alfred is particularly surprising.

Athelstan was the first ruler of a sort-of-united Britain, so he is important, though not so well known. Tom Holland's highly readable account starts in the middle of things with the Battle of Brunanburh, then jumps back to the beginnings of Anglo-Saxon England, and continues into the reigns of Athelstan's successors. The notes to the text, some of which are of great interest, are inconveniently collected in tiny print at the back of the book, instead of appearing as footnotes to the pages concerned, where they would have been more useful to the reader. There's a good section on Further Reading which reminds me to read Michael Wood's books. The binding of this hardback volume doesn't seem robust enough to sustain repeated reading.

The series is an excellent idea, and this author is a good one, but the implementation is flawed.

[Tim Rideout · Rating 4 out of 5]

'That a union as long lasting as that of Great Britain might fray can hardly help but serve as a reminder that the joining of different peoples in a shared sense of identity is not something easily achieved and maintained.'

Tom Holland's illuminating biography of 10th century's Athelstan, the first true British king, has enormous relevance and resonance with our situation at the beginning of the 21st century. With focus, energy, discipline and luck Athelstan brought the kingdoms of Britain together only for them to separate again on his death.

An excellent introduction to this important historical figure.

[lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

April 2022: 2nd read and still v enjoyable & interesting. found my footing with the names eventually this time 🤣

———

I really enjoyed reading and learning more about this time and the united kingdom in the late 800s/early 900s. I find it so fascinating, and I love hearing/reading about the battles between the English and the Vikings.

The only difficulty I had was the names - literally everyone is either all Athel-something OR Edmund/Edward/Ealred, etc. It got a little confusing at times, and I often found myself wondering who was who.

Nevertheless, I'll definitely be reading some more non-fiction about this time, though! So interesting!

[Cernunnos · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very readable, succinct but scholarly study of this under-appreciated monarch. I was particularly impressed by the breadth of the author's research as outlined in the extensive and useful suggestions for further reading. Mr Holland clearly knows his stuff and communicates it with admirable clarity. An excellent opener in the "Penguin Monarchs" series.

[Blair Hodgkinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This short study of the life of Athelstan covers the main points of what's known about the king's life and shows just how much his reign was the culmination of the work begun in his father's and grandfather's reigns. Very quick and readable and written with just a touch of poetic language to make the prose sing.

[Gemma Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really good short introduction. I always find this period of history completely confusing and normally end up throwing books about it aside, normally shouting 'Why have they all got the same name?' But didn't get muddled at all here. The sign of good writing!

[James S. · Rating 2 out of 5]

A thicket of dynastic disputes, told in a breathless and purple prose style, all written by an author who has no credentials as a historian and who provides no footnotes for anything. You'd be better of reading an encyclopedia.

[Timothy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short, punchy, interesting!

A short but enthralling history of a little known but hugely influential and effective English king. Tom’s book has the right balance of setting the scene, explaining Athelstan’s achievements and setting out his legacy. A worthy read.

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

A concise journey through the life of Athelstan and the beginning of what would become England. For a more detailed history of this period of British history, I suggest The Anglo-Saxons; A History of the Beginning of England by Marc Morris.