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Never Greater Slaughter: Brunanburh and the Birth of England
'No one has done more than Michael Livingston to revive memories of the battle, and you could not hope for a better guide.' BERNARD CORNWELL Bestselling author of The Last Kingdom series
Late in AD 937, four armies met in a place called Brunanburh. On one side stood the shield-wall of the expanding kingdom of the Anglo-Saxons. On the other side stood a remarkable alliance of rival kings – at least two from across the sea – who'd come together to destroy them once and for all. The stakes were no less than the survival of the dream that would become England. The armies were massive. The violence, when it began, was enough to shock a violent age. Brunanburh may not today have the fame of Hastings, Crécy or Agincourt, but those later battles, fought for England, would not exist were it not for the blood spilled this day. Generations later it was still called, quite simply, the 'great battle'. But for centuries, its location has been lost.
Today, an extraordinary effort, uniting enthusiasts, historians, archaeologists, linguists, and other researchers – amateurs and professionals, experienced and inexperienced alike – may well have found the site of the long-lost battle of Brunanburh, over a thousand years after its bloodied fields witnessed history. This groundbreaking new book tells the story of this remarkable discovery and delves into why and how the battle happened. Most importantly, though, it is about the men who fought and died at Brunanburh, and how much this forgotten struggle can tell us about who we are and how we relate to our past.
Late in AD 937, four armies met in a place called Brunanburh. On one side stood the shield-wall of the expanding kingdom of the Anglo-Saxons. On the other side stood a remarkable alliance of rival kings – at least two from across the sea – who'd come together to destroy them once and for all. The stakes were no less than the survival of the dream that would become England. The armies were massive. The violence, when it began, was enough to shock a violent age. Brunanburh may not today have the fame of Hastings, Crécy or Agincourt, but those later battles, fought for England, would not exist were it not for the blood spilled this day. Generations later it was still called, quite simply, the 'great battle'. But for centuries, its location has been lost.
Today, an extraordinary effort, uniting enthusiasts, historians, archaeologists, linguists, and other researchers – amateurs and professionals, experienced and inexperienced alike – may well have found the site of the long-lost battle of Brunanburh, over a thousand years after its bloodied fields witnessed history. This groundbreaking new book tells the story of this remarkable discovery and delves into why and how the battle happened. Most importantly, though, it is about the men who fought and died at Brunanburh, and how much this forgotten struggle can tell us about who we are and how we relate to our past.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published May 11, 2021
46 people are currently reading
395 people want to read
About the author
Michael Livingston
55 books237 followersA native of Colorado, Michael Livingston holds degrees in History, Medieval Studies, and English. He lives today in Charleston, South Carolina, where he teaches at The Citadel.
In his author life, he is a winner of the prestigious international Writers of the Future Contest (in 2005), and his novel SHARDS OF HEAVEN, the first in a trilogy of historical fantasies, will be published by Tor Books in November 2015. He has also published in a variety of other genres and venues, from a historical retelling of BEOWULF to a brief story about quantum physics in the world-renowned journal of science, NATURE.
In his academic life, he has published more than a dozen articles on subjects as varied as early Christianity, BEOWULF, Chaucer, James Joyce, J.R.R. Tolkien, and digital and practical pedagogies (though never all of them at once!). He has investigated European maps of America that pre-date Columbus, found unrecorded Anasazi ruins and artifacts, and written about the handwriting of fourteenth-century scribes. He is the general editor of the Liverpool Historical Casebooks Series, for which he has edited casebooks on the Battle of Brunanburh (Exeter, 2011), the Welsh rebel hero Owain Glyndwr (co-edited with John Bollard; Liverpool, 2013), and, coming soon, the Battle of Crécy (co-edited with Kelly DeVries; 2015).
In his author life, he is a winner of the prestigious international Writers of the Future Contest (in 2005), and his novel SHARDS OF HEAVEN, the first in a trilogy of historical fantasies, will be published by Tor Books in November 2015. He has also published in a variety of other genres and venues, from a historical retelling of BEOWULF to a brief story about quantum physics in the world-renowned journal of science, NATURE.
In his academic life, he has published more than a dozen articles on subjects as varied as early Christianity, BEOWULF, Chaucer, James Joyce, J.R.R. Tolkien, and digital and practical pedagogies (though never all of them at once!). He has investigated European maps of America that pre-date Columbus, found unrecorded Anasazi ruins and artifacts, and written about the handwriting of fourteenth-century scribes. He is the general editor of the Liverpool Historical Casebooks Series, for which he has edited casebooks on the Battle of Brunanburh (Exeter, 2011), the Welsh rebel hero Owain Glyndwr (co-edited with John Bollard; Liverpool, 2013), and, coming soon, the Battle of Crécy (co-edited with Kelly DeVries; 2015).
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February 18, 2021
Brunanburh was a battle fought between a famous,irish,Viking chieftain named Analf who had a claim to the kingdom of Northumbria,England and united five kings under his banner to take on Alfred the Great's grandson Athelstan.The outcome would forever change what England became.Due to the great lack of sources during this period the author quickly claims that this account is based on his own opinions and research along with the known archaeology of the area and over a thousand years of research to find this site.The author then goes on to set the stage for the battle going through the major players on the board,the locations given as possible battle sites and the logistics and tactics of the two armies themselves.I really enjoyed his writing and his deep dives into his subject.He also gives a fascinating account of the battle and its aftermath.I received this book in exchange for an honest review from Netgalley.
August 7, 2021
Never Greater Slaughter – Brunanburh and the birth of England, by M Livingstone, 2021, 224 pages with appendix and endnotes, etc (no bibliography, but instead a list of further reading)
To write a book about one specific event from the Early Medieval period is ambitious, even courageous and unfortunately the end result in this instance isn't especially impressive. On several levels this work isn't particularly strong.
As seen in Cruickshank's much smaller work concerning the battle of Dunnichen, one event that is poorly served by the sources is hard to stretch out into a full length book. Especially one that leaves you feeling as if you've had value for money (£20 in the case of Never Greater Slaughter). Unless of course the author engages in a lot of speculation or adds in chapters setting the scene, and this last can run the risk of feeling like filler. This book contains both speculation and contents that feel like filler and are just present to bulk out the chapter count.
Livingstone starts with the demise of Roman authority in Britain. Being 500 or so years prior to the battle, this didn't feel especially relevant. I would also have left out the sections on the build up to the arrival of the Great Heathen Army and whilst I can understand the inclusion of Alfred's reign, it isn't strictly speaking, pertinent to Brunanburh.
The main body of this book contains 192 pages and Æthelstan comes to the throne on page 87. There are chapters on the formation of the alliance against him (8 pages), reconstructing battles (10 pages), the search for the location of Brunanburh (20 pages), the ships and Egil's Saga (18 pages), the actual battle (22 pages), Wirral archaeology (18 pages) and then a conclusion.
There isn't much about the battle itself and what there is, isn't great. Livingstone gives a possible account of how the fighting may have unfolded, but this is just assumption built upon assumption and is worthless as history. We don't know anything definite concerning the actual fighting, so there is no point just adding an imagined account of how it may have gone. On a similar note, there are a few segments of fiction within the book and I can't emphasise how much I detest fiction appearing within what is purporting to be a serious history book – save it for Jackanory.
Regarding the sources, Livingstone is rightly doubtful of any specifics within Egil's Saga, but then goes on to show how some bits MIGHT fit the topography of the Wirral, whilst saying that it can't be relied upon, which is a bit like having your cake and eating it. In other places he puts a lot more faith than many in Snorri Sturluson recounting accurate details and even takes his word on Tostig taking control of Harald Hardrada's army after Harald's demise. He also places more credence in a late life of St Gildas being applicable to the writer Gildas, than many would. In fairness, though, in other places he acknowledges that a source is problematic.
Continuing the positive aspects, the section regarding the search for the location of the battle (including the topography of Bromborough) is very good, as is the appendix refuting claims for it being at other locations and the account of the archaeological finds in Field 3 is very interesting. However, that is about it.
This book is written in an accessible style and won't take anyone long to read. However, for those well experienced in this period the number of simplifications, the lack of nuance and the occasions when events are open to other interpretation soon begin to grate.
Here's some issues I found:
Mentioning the Heptarchy - there were never just seven kingdoms. This is very much an outdated and unhelpful term.
The endnote asserting that Guthrum's northern boundary would have run against southern Strathclyde and English Northumbria is wildly implausible and has no evidence to support it.
He sees Æthelræd being defeated by the Welsh at Conwy, but it could just as easily be Ceolwulf II and this interpretation actually fits better with what is known.
In discussing Æthelflæd's rule of Mercia, he doesn't mention that this was probably due to the probability that Æthelræd was incapacitated.
He is confident that Æthelstan accompanied Æthelflæd on her military campaigns. There's no evidence that she was present on any campaign and not even a hint that Æthelstan was involved in any, either.
There is no evidence that the House of Bamburgh gained control of York in the aftermath of Tettenhall – we simply don't know who was in authority there (Rollason's notion of the Archbishop gaining power is interesting, but unproven). Bamburgh would be one of the lesser favourites for this.
Livingstone remarks that it is a coincidence of history that Æthelstan was given the name that the defeated Guthrum took on his baptism – a coincidence yes, but a stronger and more obvious link is with the uncle of his father, who also bore the name Æthelstan. Æ stem names were common amongst the descendants of Ecgberht.
Following the removal of Ælfwynn, he says that King Edward appears to have placed Æthelstan in charge of Mercia and whilst not implausible, this is something that lacks any supporting evidence.
Upon the death of Sihtric, King of York, he states that Æthelstan's sister had the right to rule through her marriage to the former ruler. Poppycock.
Gives the date of Towton, instead of Bosworth, which is just an oversight as he gives the correct dates elsewhere.
One thing of interest in the preface is Livingstone saying that he isn't going to use the term Anglo-Saxon as it has now been co-opted by right wing groups to create a racial identity that they weaponise. Personally I don't have a problem with this approach – it's become a somewhat loaded term and my interest is the period itself and not labels. You could call it the Pink Elephant period and the history would be no less fascinating.
In the conclusion Livingstone makes way too much of the battle's significance for the making of England. Rather than seeing Æthelstan as achieving a material gain from the battle (he didn't; all he gained was the continuation of the status quo and even this was upset very soon after his death), he sees it as a case of what might not have occurred should Æthelstan have lost on that day and his England have been conquered. Counterfactual arguments are tricky beasts and in any case, England was conquered twice after this by Cnut and then William the Conqueror.
This isn't a great book.
To write a book about one specific event from the Early Medieval period is ambitious, even courageous and unfortunately the end result in this instance isn't especially impressive. On several levels this work isn't particularly strong.
As seen in Cruickshank's much smaller work concerning the battle of Dunnichen, one event that is poorly served by the sources is hard to stretch out into a full length book. Especially one that leaves you feeling as if you've had value for money (£20 in the case of Never Greater Slaughter). Unless of course the author engages in a lot of speculation or adds in chapters setting the scene, and this last can run the risk of feeling like filler. This book contains both speculation and contents that feel like filler and are just present to bulk out the chapter count.
Livingstone starts with the demise of Roman authority in Britain. Being 500 or so years prior to the battle, this didn't feel especially relevant. I would also have left out the sections on the build up to the arrival of the Great Heathen Army and whilst I can understand the inclusion of Alfred's reign, it isn't strictly speaking, pertinent to Brunanburh.
The main body of this book contains 192 pages and Æthelstan comes to the throne on page 87. There are chapters on the formation of the alliance against him (8 pages), reconstructing battles (10 pages), the search for the location of Brunanburh (20 pages), the ships and Egil's Saga (18 pages), the actual battle (22 pages), Wirral archaeology (18 pages) and then a conclusion.
There isn't much about the battle itself and what there is, isn't great. Livingstone gives a possible account of how the fighting may have unfolded, but this is just assumption built upon assumption and is worthless as history. We don't know anything definite concerning the actual fighting, so there is no point just adding an imagined account of how it may have gone. On a similar note, there are a few segments of fiction within the book and I can't emphasise how much I detest fiction appearing within what is purporting to be a serious history book – save it for Jackanory.
Regarding the sources, Livingstone is rightly doubtful of any specifics within Egil's Saga, but then goes on to show how some bits MIGHT fit the topography of the Wirral, whilst saying that it can't be relied upon, which is a bit like having your cake and eating it. In other places he puts a lot more faith than many in Snorri Sturluson recounting accurate details and even takes his word on Tostig taking control of Harald Hardrada's army after Harald's demise. He also places more credence in a late life of St Gildas being applicable to the writer Gildas, than many would. In fairness, though, in other places he acknowledges that a source is problematic.
Continuing the positive aspects, the section regarding the search for the location of the battle (including the topography of Bromborough) is very good, as is the appendix refuting claims for it being at other locations and the account of the archaeological finds in Field 3 is very interesting. However, that is about it.
This book is written in an accessible style and won't take anyone long to read. However, for those well experienced in this period the number of simplifications, the lack of nuance and the occasions when events are open to other interpretation soon begin to grate.
Here's some issues I found:
Mentioning the Heptarchy - there were never just seven kingdoms. This is very much an outdated and unhelpful term.
The endnote asserting that Guthrum's northern boundary would have run against southern Strathclyde and English Northumbria is wildly implausible and has no evidence to support it.
He sees Æthelræd being defeated by the Welsh at Conwy, but it could just as easily be Ceolwulf II and this interpretation actually fits better with what is known.
In discussing Æthelflæd's rule of Mercia, he doesn't mention that this was probably due to the probability that Æthelræd was incapacitated.
He is confident that Æthelstan accompanied Æthelflæd on her military campaigns. There's no evidence that she was present on any campaign and not even a hint that Æthelstan was involved in any, either.
There is no evidence that the House of Bamburgh gained control of York in the aftermath of Tettenhall – we simply don't know who was in authority there (Rollason's notion of the Archbishop gaining power is interesting, but unproven). Bamburgh would be one of the lesser favourites for this.
Livingstone remarks that it is a coincidence of history that Æthelstan was given the name that the defeated Guthrum took on his baptism – a coincidence yes, but a stronger and more obvious link is with the uncle of his father, who also bore the name Æthelstan. Æ stem names were common amongst the descendants of Ecgberht.
Following the removal of Ælfwynn, he says that King Edward appears to have placed Æthelstan in charge of Mercia and whilst not implausible, this is something that lacks any supporting evidence.
Upon the death of Sihtric, King of York, he states that Æthelstan's sister had the right to rule through her marriage to the former ruler. Poppycock.
Gives the date of Towton, instead of Bosworth, which is just an oversight as he gives the correct dates elsewhere.
One thing of interest in the preface is Livingstone saying that he isn't going to use the term Anglo-Saxon as it has now been co-opted by right wing groups to create a racial identity that they weaponise. Personally I don't have a problem with this approach – it's become a somewhat loaded term and my interest is the period itself and not labels. You could call it the Pink Elephant period and the history would be no less fascinating.
In the conclusion Livingstone makes way too much of the battle's significance for the making of England. Rather than seeing Æthelstan as achieving a material gain from the battle (he didn't; all he gained was the continuation of the status quo and even this was upset very soon after his death), he sees it as a case of what might not have occurred should Æthelstan have lost on that day and his England have been conquered. Counterfactual arguments are tricky beasts and in any case, England was conquered twice after this by Cnut and then William the Conqueror.
This isn't a great book.
May 13, 2023
I knew it wasn't gonna be all that exciting to begin with. I wasn't in it for the excitement (although it would have helped). This book isn't about the battle of Brunanburh. I mean, it is, but it isn't. It's mostly about discounting where the author doesn't think Brunanburh takes place so that he can put in his own hypothesis. It's a very academic piece of work, and I can't fault the author for it. It's a decent read if you want to learn about the time period, but if you are looking for battle, I recommend looking elsewhere.
There it is and there you have it.
There it is and there you have it.
May 31, 2021
A remarkable account of one of the greatest battles fought on English soil. Great job, Dr. Livingston! Highly recommended.
May 10, 2021
Thank you, NetGalley, Michael Livingston, and Osprey Publishing for the opportunity to read this book. It releases May 11th, 2021
The Battle of Brunanburh is one of the most decisive and bloody battles in English history, but it is not as well known as other battles such as Agincourt, The Battle of Hastings, or the Battle of Waterloo. Why is that? Well, Michael Livingston dives into that history in Never Greater Slaughter: Brunanburh and the Birth of England. In order to fully understand what was at stake in this battle, Michael Livingston goes back to when the Celtic tribes of Britain. Then the arrival of the Romans and their departure–this actually left Britain in disarray. The Romans brought their religion which clashed with the Pagan beliefs of the Natives. There is religious turmoil and then enter the Saxons, who migrated from mainland Europe to Britain. As the years pass, there is the formation of the main British Kingdoms like Wessex, Mercia, East Anglia, and Northumbria. It is the goal of King Alfred to have a United England. It isn’t an easy task with the Scots to the North, Wales, and the invading Danes. The Battle of Brunanburh was found in 937 between the Kingdoms of England led by King Aethelstan and the Scots and Norse led by Anlaf and Constantine. According to Michael Livingston, this battle is one of the most significant battles in English history.
One of the things that I enjoyed about this historical and military history is how Michael Livingston studies history. He views it as a puzzle. One must look at history from different angles. History is often written by the conquerors or the winners. In the early chronicles, he is aware of the bias. Some of the sources he uses to piece together information of the battle and its location are the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle and Egil’s Saga. It is a matter of finding similar information and finding evidence of the location. Michael Livingston’s theory is that is Bromborough on the Wirral. They are hoping to get permits to excavate the site.
I have read The Saxon Stories by Bernard Cornwell which tells the story of Uhtred who is a Northumbrian but is raised by Danes. This epic goes through the political climate of Alfred the Great and eventually leads to the Battle of Brunanburh. Reading this nonfiction, really makes the fictional account more realistic in my opinion. It made me love the books and Bernard Cornwell’s dedication to bringing historical facts to life even more. I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars!
The Battle of Brunanburh is one of the most decisive and bloody battles in English history, but it is not as well known as other battles such as Agincourt, The Battle of Hastings, or the Battle of Waterloo. Why is that? Well, Michael Livingston dives into that history in Never Greater Slaughter: Brunanburh and the Birth of England. In order to fully understand what was at stake in this battle, Michael Livingston goes back to when the Celtic tribes of Britain. Then the arrival of the Romans and their departure–this actually left Britain in disarray. The Romans brought their religion which clashed with the Pagan beliefs of the Natives. There is religious turmoil and then enter the Saxons, who migrated from mainland Europe to Britain. As the years pass, there is the formation of the main British Kingdoms like Wessex, Mercia, East Anglia, and Northumbria. It is the goal of King Alfred to have a United England. It isn’t an easy task with the Scots to the North, Wales, and the invading Danes. The Battle of Brunanburh was found in 937 between the Kingdoms of England led by King Aethelstan and the Scots and Norse led by Anlaf and Constantine. According to Michael Livingston, this battle is one of the most significant battles in English history.
One of the things that I enjoyed about this historical and military history is how Michael Livingston studies history. He views it as a puzzle. One must look at history from different angles. History is often written by the conquerors or the winners. In the early chronicles, he is aware of the bias. Some of the sources he uses to piece together information of the battle and its location are the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle and Egil’s Saga. It is a matter of finding similar information and finding evidence of the location. Michael Livingston’s theory is that is Bromborough on the Wirral. They are hoping to get permits to excavate the site.
I have read The Saxon Stories by Bernard Cornwell which tells the story of Uhtred who is a Northumbrian but is raised by Danes. This epic goes through the political climate of Alfred the Great and eventually leads to the Battle of Brunanburh. Reading this nonfiction, really makes the fictional account more realistic in my opinion. It made me love the books and Bernard Cornwell’s dedication to bringing historical facts to life even more. I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars!
June 13, 2021
Brunanburh - like many other battles both before and after, neither memorialised nor physically remembered with monument or building.
We are treated to a detailed history leading up to the battle, looking at the military, the political and the personal, using archaeology and contemporary sources, and well as putting some of these sources under the microscope. Livingston then goes on to reconstruct the battle using known sources and basic assumptions - and here is research comes to the fore.
The author, as is his prerogative, has his own theory on the most likely location of Brunanburh, though he does explore other options - and as he mentions "... nothing better stokes enthusiasm than a case of the unknowns ...". Livingston puts forth his case for his location convincingly, whilst acknowledging that this may not agree with others investigating this particular battle.
I found this to be a well researched, informative and accessible read. Whether you agree of not with Livingston's theories, he has covered off a lot of the leg work for you to do your own research and to draw your own conclusions.
We are treated to a detailed history leading up to the battle, looking at the military, the political and the personal, using archaeology and contemporary sources, and well as putting some of these sources under the microscope. Livingston then goes on to reconstruct the battle using known sources and basic assumptions - and here is research comes to the fore.
The author, as is his prerogative, has his own theory on the most likely location of Brunanburh, though he does explore other options - and as he mentions "... nothing better stokes enthusiasm than a case of the unknowns ...". Livingston puts forth his case for his location convincingly, whilst acknowledging that this may not agree with others investigating this particular battle.
I found this to be a well researched, informative and accessible read. Whether you agree of not with Livingston's theories, he has covered off a lot of the leg work for you to do your own research and to draw your own conclusions.
December 31, 2022
Interesting mix of history and archaeology. History is a guess, at best...
July 7, 2021
“On one day, on one field, at Brunanburh, England came of age.” Thus, Brunanburh is placed in the line of famous English battles: Hastings, Poitiers, Crecy, Agincourt, Bosworth Field, and Waterloo. This is how history ought to be written. Livingston has done an outstanding job of thinking through the mystery of the battle of Brunanburh, one that is unfamiliar to most people, up until now. His persistence in pursuing the evidence, physical and literary, working through language differences, and dealing with serious vocal criticisms (why is an American telling us Brits about our history?) is admirable. The answer to the aforementioned question is because he has done more work on this battle than anyone else and it shows. Bernard Cornwell, the famous author of the Saxon series of books (I’ve read them all and whose mention of this work peaked my interest), wrote the forward, which is testament enough. Acknowledging that we still do not have absolute archeological proof and probably never will have new literary accounts Livingston remains open to new discoveries and adjustments to his conclusions. The only recommendation I have for a revised edition is to include a current day map with all of the roads and villages that he references in the text but are unfamiliar to an American and not visible in other illustrations. I passed through this area on a tour bus in 2016 and do not recall the guide ever mentioning this place as “ a possible battlefield” (as Wikipedia notes).
June 1, 2021
Never Greater Slaughter is the story of one battle, Brunanburh, in 937 between King Athelstan of the English, and a combined force of the Scots, the Dublin Norse, and the kingdom of Strathclyde, under the leadership of Anlaf, Constantine and Owain. But it is not the story of the battle, but rather, a detailed examination as to where this battle took place, and also why, for the battle site of Brunanburh has been lost to the passage of time, with any number of suggestions as to where it might actually have taken place having been made.
This is an eminently readable account of what is a complex and confusing time period. However, some of the information provided is slightly skewed in favour of the author's chosen positioning. However, this is to be expected in a work of this type - it is answering and suggesting why this must be where Brunanburh took place and why other proposed sites are incorrect.
It highlights how an event such as this still has much to add to the narrative of events in Great Britain and Ireland during the tenth century and how there is so much that is beyond our reach.
Thoroughly enjoyable.
This is an eminently readable account of what is a complex and confusing time period. However, some of the information provided is slightly skewed in favour of the author's chosen positioning. However, this is to be expected in a work of this type - it is answering and suggesting why this must be where Brunanburh took place and why other proposed sites are incorrect.
It highlights how an event such as this still has much to add to the narrative of events in Great Britain and Ireland during the tenth century and how there is so much that is beyond our reach.
Thoroughly enjoyable.
May 9, 2021
The site of the Brunanburh battlefield has been lost through the centuries and translations of the few sources, like the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles and the Annals of Ulster and a few others, are still debated on. The place names hat have survived are still debated on as well. However, it is agreed that in 937 a large battle took place that killed thousands of fighters and left Athelstan king of what became England. The Scots and Vikings fled for a time. Author and Historian Dr. Michael Livingston believes the battle took place on the Wirral peninsula in northwest England. He presents his arguments in a highly readable manner and also presents the arguments of other historians. He also includes a helpful bibliography for more study. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
December 19, 2021
The author says that some reviewers of his work don't like his "American" style. Well, as another American, I'm not sure I like it either. He gets a bit too cute with his brash cussing and militaristic outlook. What I did really like is that his argument makes a lot of sense and he gives careful review of the written and archeological sources. I especially liked the geographical detail of his proposed site of this rather important and forgotten battle of the ages. I have travelled that country a few times and next time, once Covid abates, I will pay more attention to the spur of land between the Mersey and the Dee called "the Wirral." You check out the brief summary or other reviews for what this book is about.
June 21, 2021
A fascinating book, well argued and about an area I know. I didn’t find it that easy to read tho’, Livingston has a rather pedantic, convoluted style.
August 24, 2021
Backstory. I bought this book earlier this year but it remained on my shelf for a while until this past week in which I needed a vacation read (and remembering my recent enjoyment of Tom Holland's "Millennium", this caught my eye!). So thought I'd give this a try. Where did I discover it? Well, the author writes occasionally for a site I frequent and I suppose at some point I must have seen this book referenced and it sounded interesting enough to order. Was it interesting enough? Yes and then some! I must confess to some degree of historical illiteracy and so reading this title gave me absolutely no indication of what the subject matter was going to be. Birth of England? Ok then. Brunanburh? What's a brunanburh? Well, upon reading this book, I felt a bit abashed to be discovering this (apparently) famous historical battle in 10th century England that I...knew nothing about. Fair enough, I don't know much about Dark Ages Britain, and so even most of the names (including Athelstan!) were not entirely familiar to me. Ok confession. By not entirely familiar, I mean I had no idea who they were. Northumbria, Wessex, Suffex and other places being former kingdoms? No idea of all that history, either. So for me personally, this book was a wonderful little primer for the history of early England (i.e., last couple hundred years of the first millennium). And also? This book was wonderful. Livingston certainly has a flair for the dramatic and loves his elaborate prose, but also? He is a true historian who attempts to set aside (or at least understand) his own biases in order to discover the truth of what really happened. And if you've read his book, you would know the author would have all sorts of bones to pick with how I worded that last sentence. In actuality, as much as I enjoyed this book for the knowledge of early England I gained, I enjoyed it almost as much to read about a historian's understanding of what history is and how it should be viewed. The search for Truth is an illusive one at times, and Livingston takes great pains to elucidate the delicate and possibly mismatched bones this work is formed from. As a matter of fact, his constant qualifications almost became too much at times! Anyways. This book was about the Battle of Brunanburh, a battle that was sung about through the ages (well, not recently though) as the valiant stand of England against the villainous alliance of Vikings, Irish and Scots - indeed, the moment where the ascendant Athelstan confirmed his hold on England (I will not attempt to delineate boundary lines - read the book - there are some great maps!) and caused the rise of a sense of "Englishness" in the broader population. Livingston does a masterful job of describing the earlier historical events leading up to the Battle of Brunanburh itself (these sections were most welcome to me, a novice in this period!) and then gets into the actual battle itself. One of the main arguments of the author's book is the support for the location of this battle, as the location (as funny as it is to us to believe) had become lost over time. I gathered through the reading of this book that his choice of battle-site is fairly controversial as it is fairly new, but his arguments convinced me that his site has at least as great a claim as any other. Of course, I have only read his book and so as I'm sure the author would tell me, his work alone should not be sufficient a claim on my certainty. This extremely long-winded review is becoming tiresome to type and possibly more tiresome to read, but I shall wrap up by saying that I greatly enjoyed this book. A combination of two things that ended up being extremely fascinating to me. Firstly, I learned much more (almost infinitely more) about early England. Secondly, I learned quite a bit about historical methods and have gained quite an appreciation for the work that historians do. This book was certainly primed to give me enjoyment, as Livingston wrote with a poetical flare and sense of the individual that wonderfully combines with his hard, measured historical analysis. Livingston takes textual sources seriously (but not to a fault) and attempts to discover the Might-Have-Beens in England's shrouded past. If you're a history and/or literary nerd, you will greatly enjoy this. I know I did.
January 2, 2025
2024 Royal Reads Challenge
June 17, 2021
How was England born?
It is a question that many often wonder, while a definite answer is probably impossible, (beyond the flippant nationalistic view that England always existed and will for eternity!), it has never stopped historians, scholars, twitterers and that weird bloke down the pub from asserting their own definitely accurate answer….
American historian Michael Livingston (American! Commentating on England's history! How dare he!) provides an intriguing answer in his book [book:Never Greater Slaughter|54589732 arguing that a modern England born in a great battle at Brunanburh. 'Where?' you may be asking, well that's the rub. For Brunanburh is a field of great slaughter, long lost to history that saw the English king Athelstan defeat a great alliance of Vikings, Scots, Welsh and Irish, thus preserving his realm and by extension England. The only problem, no one really knows where Brunanburh occurred. It's a compelling mystery! The proposition that a mysterious lost battle birthed modern England is a neat narrative hook, it is however, perhaps, not quite as reflective of the main argument of the book which is to categorically identify the site of the lost battlefield of Brunanburh.
Which Livingston identifies as being near Bromborough on the Wirral peninsula, a stone's throw (almost) from Viking Dublin and to a Viking settlement, not for nothing did Sir Gawain on his adventure to find the Green Knight claim the ‘wyldrenesse of wyrale’ was home to some godless heathens. Bromoborough seems to fit linguistically though it's modern name originated later than the Brunanburh battle itself, and the Viking settlement provides logistical access, yet the lack of definitive archaeology evidence has allowed doubt to be cast on a North West battlefield.
Thankfully Livingston is a very able historian and scholar and he makes great use of the available literary evidence to back up his argument. Livingston runs through a succinct political history of the emerging England state, from Alfred to Athelstan, showing how the Atheling's imperial ambitions, expansions and political wrangling created tension as he buttered up against the ambitions and motivations of the Vikings, Scots, Welsh and Irish kingdoms inevitably leading to the battle at Brunanburh. This literary history does a good job of setting out the case for a Wirral battle site. Next Livingston investigates the topography of the Wirral doing a fair job of matching literary sources to the Wirral landscape placing the battlefield almost exactly and using Egil's Saga to build an argument for how the Wirral's landscape could have affected the armies’ layouts and outcome of the furious clash of steel.
Politics, Logistics and topography are all aligned in a convincing argument. The only thing missing is the 'smoking gun' of actual physical evidence. Livingston points to technological advances opening up new ways of analysing topography, soil samples etc, despite the heavy presence of modernity on the Wirral, that may yet provide clear physical evidence of the battle site. For now the physical evidence is limited to what the local Wirral Archaeology groups have found, a small selection of contemporary arrowheads and evidence of smelting offer a tantalising physical connection to the long lost battle.
Finally Livingston also provides objections and rebuttals to alternative sites that help strengthen his own argument. For me, Never Greater Slaughter is a convincing argument for identifying Brunanburh near modern Bromborough on the Wirral peninsula.
Livingston's tone tends to run like historical fiction, at times reading like a synopsis for The Last Kingdom TV series, yet it never overshadows the erudite analysis that underpins his argument, as well as giving life to the importance of Brunanburh within English history.
Was England truly formed on the Wirral in a long lost field of great slaughter? The argument towards a single battle defining England is less convincing, though Livingston's history of Brunanburh makes a fair case for it being an important event, Livingston' specificity of focus limits it's placement in a fuller history of England. But potentially by demystifying the battle site Livingston counters his own narrative, inadvertently acknowledging Brunanburh as one battle in a history of battles that have defined 'England'. The specific focus also limits the cultural and societal analysis of the battle, a broad post Brunanburh scope could answer if the Viking settlements on the Wirral or the Danelaw celebrated a Mercian king's victory with as much gusto as later writers and potentially interrogate the Brunanburh narrative as the forging of a nation for its people or as playtime for elites.
But a nation forged in bloody battle at Brunanburh does make for a compelling narrative, one I think I'll share down the pub.
It is a question that many often wonder, while a definite answer is probably impossible, (beyond the flippant nationalistic view that England always existed and will for eternity!), it has never stopped historians, scholars, twitterers and that weird bloke down the pub from asserting their own definitely accurate answer….
American historian Michael Livingston (American! Commentating on England's history! How dare he!) provides an intriguing answer in his book [book:Never Greater Slaughter|54589732 arguing that a modern England born in a great battle at Brunanburh. 'Where?' you may be asking, well that's the rub. For Brunanburh is a field of great slaughter, long lost to history that saw the English king Athelstan defeat a great alliance of Vikings, Scots, Welsh and Irish, thus preserving his realm and by extension England. The only problem, no one really knows where Brunanburh occurred. It's a compelling mystery! The proposition that a mysterious lost battle birthed modern England is a neat narrative hook, it is however, perhaps, not quite as reflective of the main argument of the book which is to categorically identify the site of the lost battlefield of Brunanburh.
Which Livingston identifies as being near Bromborough on the Wirral peninsula, a stone's throw (almost) from Viking Dublin and to a Viking settlement, not for nothing did Sir Gawain on his adventure to find the Green Knight claim the ‘wyldrenesse of wyrale’ was home to some godless heathens. Bromoborough seems to fit linguistically though it's modern name originated later than the Brunanburh battle itself, and the Viking settlement provides logistical access, yet the lack of definitive archaeology evidence has allowed doubt to be cast on a North West battlefield.
Thankfully Livingston is a very able historian and scholar and he makes great use of the available literary evidence to back up his argument. Livingston runs through a succinct political history of the emerging England state, from Alfred to Athelstan, showing how the Atheling's imperial ambitions, expansions and political wrangling created tension as he buttered up against the ambitions and motivations of the Vikings, Scots, Welsh and Irish kingdoms inevitably leading to the battle at Brunanburh. This literary history does a good job of setting out the case for a Wirral battle site. Next Livingston investigates the topography of the Wirral doing a fair job of matching literary sources to the Wirral landscape placing the battlefield almost exactly and using Egil's Saga to build an argument for how the Wirral's landscape could have affected the armies’ layouts and outcome of the furious clash of steel.
Politics, Logistics and topography are all aligned in a convincing argument. The only thing missing is the 'smoking gun' of actual physical evidence. Livingston points to technological advances opening up new ways of analysing topography, soil samples etc, despite the heavy presence of modernity on the Wirral, that may yet provide clear physical evidence of the battle site. For now the physical evidence is limited to what the local Wirral Archaeology groups have found, a small selection of contemporary arrowheads and evidence of smelting offer a tantalising physical connection to the long lost battle.
Finally Livingston also provides objections and rebuttals to alternative sites that help strengthen his own argument. For me, Never Greater Slaughter is a convincing argument for identifying Brunanburh near modern Bromborough on the Wirral peninsula.
Livingston's tone tends to run like historical fiction, at times reading like a synopsis for The Last Kingdom TV series, yet it never overshadows the erudite analysis that underpins his argument, as well as giving life to the importance of Brunanburh within English history.
Was England truly formed on the Wirral in a long lost field of great slaughter? The argument towards a single battle defining England is less convincing, though Livingston's history of Brunanburh makes a fair case for it being an important event, Livingston' specificity of focus limits it's placement in a fuller history of England. But potentially by demystifying the battle site Livingston counters his own narrative, inadvertently acknowledging Brunanburh as one battle in a history of battles that have defined 'England'. The specific focus also limits the cultural and societal analysis of the battle, a broad post Brunanburh scope could answer if the Viking settlements on the Wirral or the Danelaw celebrated a Mercian king's victory with as much gusto as later writers and potentially interrogate the Brunanburh narrative as the forging of a nation for its people or as playtime for elites.
But a nation forged in bloody battle at Brunanburh does make for a compelling narrative, one I think I'll share down the pub.
March 20, 2021
Author Michael Livingston investigates the battle that confirmed England as a country and a power in “Never Greater Slaughter.” This is about the Battle of Brunanburh; its importance is not widely known, and its location has never before been positively and absolutely identified.
First, the narrative goes back in time to long before the Battle of Brunanburh, with a discussion of Roman Britain, Picts, Scots, and Vikings. The Vikings are discussed at length, especially those in Dublin. I found the discourse on the different groups of Vikings in England and Ireland to be very interesting; they weren’t necessarily of one mind or allied on one side. The history of the Anglo-Saxons is interwoven with the Vikings that raided, and ultimately settled there. Surprisingly, some Vikings were soldiers or mercenaries for the English against other Vikings.
Further, the reign of the English King Athelstan (Æthelstan in some texts) is examined at length. His actions in battling nearby kings, defeating them, and making them not only swear loyalty to him but also pay tribute made the later battle at Brunanburh inevitable. Athelstan, as the author points out, took York from Guthfrith the Viking while ravaging Scotland and humbling King Constantine. He also humbled King Owain of Strathclyde, and forced the Welsh to pay tribute. This created a situation in which the conquered waited for their time and then struck back as an alliance at Brunanburh. Athelstan prevailed; had he not, history and the modern map would certainly have been different.
There are many historians and enthusiasts who are attempting to uncover the facts about the Battle of Brunanburh. The author uses analogies of other battles to illustrate relevant points about the Battle to put it into context. There is an explanation of how facts about, and locations of battles from long ago are determined. Conflict analysis is explained and how it is used to find the truth of an event; archeology in determining facts is another key. Additionally, various documentary sources are used to prove up a location, date, etc. This is called multi-source verification. The author explains all of this and then uses these tools to set up logical arguments about the location of the Battle, troop movements, etc. In the Appendix, he uses this methodology to disprove what other historians are presenting as their hypotheses about the Battle.
I really enjoyed reading this eGalley, but it was difficult to assess many of the logical points as the publisher left nearly all numeric values out of this advance copy. I was faced with stretches of the author’s logical fact-proving arguments filled with question marks. These were shown as “??,??? or ???,??? men” or “???? year to ???? year” for example. Hard to evaluate a premise based upon question marks. That being said, the author writes with an easy fluidity and is a joy to read. History books can be dry as dust; not this one. You can tell that the author is excited about this topic. And enthusiasm is infectious. I also appreciated his treatment of the Bibliography at the end of this book; having brief notes about other books is quite helpful in determining what you will read next in the subject.
Thank you to Osprey Publishing, Michael Livingston, and NetGalley for providing me with an eGalley of this book in exchange for an honest review.
First, the narrative goes back in time to long before the Battle of Brunanburh, with a discussion of Roman Britain, Picts, Scots, and Vikings. The Vikings are discussed at length, especially those in Dublin. I found the discourse on the different groups of Vikings in England and Ireland to be very interesting; they weren’t necessarily of one mind or allied on one side. The history of the Anglo-Saxons is interwoven with the Vikings that raided, and ultimately settled there. Surprisingly, some Vikings were soldiers or mercenaries for the English against other Vikings.
Further, the reign of the English King Athelstan (Æthelstan in some texts) is examined at length. His actions in battling nearby kings, defeating them, and making them not only swear loyalty to him but also pay tribute made the later battle at Brunanburh inevitable. Athelstan, as the author points out, took York from Guthfrith the Viking while ravaging Scotland and humbling King Constantine. He also humbled King Owain of Strathclyde, and forced the Welsh to pay tribute. This created a situation in which the conquered waited for their time and then struck back as an alliance at Brunanburh. Athelstan prevailed; had he not, history and the modern map would certainly have been different.
There are many historians and enthusiasts who are attempting to uncover the facts about the Battle of Brunanburh. The author uses analogies of other battles to illustrate relevant points about the Battle to put it into context. There is an explanation of how facts about, and locations of battles from long ago are determined. Conflict analysis is explained and how it is used to find the truth of an event; archeology in determining facts is another key. Additionally, various documentary sources are used to prove up a location, date, etc. This is called multi-source verification. The author explains all of this and then uses these tools to set up logical arguments about the location of the Battle, troop movements, etc. In the Appendix, he uses this methodology to disprove what other historians are presenting as their hypotheses about the Battle.
I really enjoyed reading this eGalley, but it was difficult to assess many of the logical points as the publisher left nearly all numeric values out of this advance copy. I was faced with stretches of the author’s logical fact-proving arguments filled with question marks. These were shown as “??,??? or ???,??? men” or “???? year to ???? year” for example. Hard to evaluate a premise based upon question marks. That being said, the author writes with an easy fluidity and is a joy to read. History books can be dry as dust; not this one. You can tell that the author is excited about this topic. And enthusiasm is infectious. I also appreciated his treatment of the Bibliography at the end of this book; having brief notes about other books is quite helpful in determining what you will read next in the subject.
Thank you to Osprey Publishing, Michael Livingston, and NetGalley for providing me with an eGalley of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 12, 2021
Once upon a time, somewhere in England, a battle was fought at a site called Brunanburh. The English, led by King Athelstein defeated - we'll call them the Vikings - and their allies. Had this battle not been fought, England as we know it might never have come to exist. There is just one little problem: No one knows exactly where the battle was fought despite attempts to find the site. Poets at the time called it a place where there was "Never Greater Slaughter" (hence the title of the book) and estimates of the death toll range from 3500 to 35,000 or more as do the size of the armies involved. Did Athelstein have an army of over 100,000? Unlikely, but you know how those old poets love to exaggerate.
In 202 pages, author Michael Livingston goes over the research in looking for the site and offers up his own conclusion as to where the battle may have been fought. At the same time, in setting up the causes for the battle, fans of the TV series "Vikings" will run across some names they might recognize such as Ivar The Boneless (there may have been two), Ragner Lodbrook (Lothbrook in the TV series) who possibly never existed and some others. We are meticulously led through the Viking/Danish invasions of Northumbria, Wessex and other kingdoms that had not yet come together into the cohesive unit known as England, all of which led up to the battle of Brunanburh at which point even the historians of the time quit writing details of the battle. That there was such a battle is undeniable. That the "English" under one of the most under-rated kings of English history, Athelstein, prevailed can't be denied. But where the battle took place, who of importance was killed, what happened and where it was is a mystery. You would think that a battle with so many troops would have been written about comprehensively and the site identified, but such is not the case.
This offers a fascinating look into the Viking invasions of England post Roman Empire and is an interesting look into the search for the site of the battle. Someday, someone will find it, but as of now, the site and what happened can only be open to speculation.
Reads fast, but if you aren't into British history, it's probably not your cup of tea (sorry, couldn't resist!).
In 202 pages, author Michael Livingston goes over the research in looking for the site and offers up his own conclusion as to where the battle may have been fought. At the same time, in setting up the causes for the battle, fans of the TV series "Vikings" will run across some names they might recognize such as Ivar The Boneless (there may have been two), Ragner Lodbrook (Lothbrook in the TV series) who possibly never existed and some others. We are meticulously led through the Viking/Danish invasions of Northumbria, Wessex and other kingdoms that had not yet come together into the cohesive unit known as England, all of which led up to the battle of Brunanburh at which point even the historians of the time quit writing details of the battle. That there was such a battle is undeniable. That the "English" under one of the most under-rated kings of English history, Athelstein, prevailed can't be denied. But where the battle took place, who of importance was killed, what happened and where it was is a mystery. You would think that a battle with so many troops would have been written about comprehensively and the site identified, but such is not the case.
This offers a fascinating look into the Viking invasions of England post Roman Empire and is an interesting look into the search for the site of the battle. Someday, someone will find it, but as of now, the site and what happened can only be open to speculation.
Reads fast, but if you aren't into British history, it's probably not your cup of tea (sorry, couldn't resist!).
October 8, 2022
3.5* rounded up to 4*
I had heard of the Battle of Brunanburh before I read Never Greater Slaughter by Michael Livingston, but my knowledge was limited to the fact that this had taken place in 937 between Æthelstan, King of England, King Alfred’s grandson, and an alliance led by Anlaf, a Viking chieftain, other chieftains and Constantine King of the Scots, in which Æthelstan was victorious. So I was very keen to find out more.
The title is taken from the poem in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle describing the battle thus:
Never greater slaughter Was there on this island, never as many Folk felled before this By the Swords edges.
The location of the battle has been lost. Historians, archaeologists, linguists and other researchers have studied the little evidence that remains about the battle and put forward ideas about that location. In this book Livingston concludes that the only ‘certain pieces of information about the field at Brunanburgh – the place-names by which it was known in the immediate years afterwards – unquestionably point us to blood being shed in the mid-Wirral.’ (location 76%)
It seems to me that this is a very thorough and detailed book describing the battle and the various theories about its location. But not only that Livingston sets out his definition of history and its limitations. For example he says that whilst some facts will be known, a great many through the passage of time are lost, and some are facts that people have chosen to record to suit their own needs – their own bias in other words – or are simply not true.
Then Livingston describes what is known about the period leading up to the battle, describes the battle itself, and, having stated his objections to other possible locations, explains the reasons he concludes the location is in the Wirral, which seems convincing to me.
I found this a well researched and fascinating book that gave me a much better understanding of the period.
My thanks to the publishers for a review copy via NetGalley.
I had heard of the Battle of Brunanburh before I read Never Greater Slaughter by Michael Livingston, but my knowledge was limited to the fact that this had taken place in 937 between Æthelstan, King of England, King Alfred’s grandson, and an alliance led by Anlaf, a Viking chieftain, other chieftains and Constantine King of the Scots, in which Æthelstan was victorious. So I was very keen to find out more.
The title is taken from the poem in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle describing the battle thus:
Never greater slaughter Was there on this island, never as many Folk felled before this By the Swords edges.
The location of the battle has been lost. Historians, archaeologists, linguists and other researchers have studied the little evidence that remains about the battle and put forward ideas about that location. In this book Livingston concludes that the only ‘certain pieces of information about the field at Brunanburgh – the place-names by which it was known in the immediate years afterwards – unquestionably point us to blood being shed in the mid-Wirral.’ (location 76%)
It seems to me that this is a very thorough and detailed book describing the battle and the various theories about its location. But not only that Livingston sets out his definition of history and its limitations. For example he says that whilst some facts will be known, a great many through the passage of time are lost, and some are facts that people have chosen to record to suit their own needs – their own bias in other words – or are simply not true.
Then Livingston describes what is known about the period leading up to the battle, describes the battle itself, and, having stated his objections to other possible locations, explains the reasons he concludes the location is in the Wirral, which seems convincing to me.
I found this a well researched and fascinating book that gave me a much better understanding of the period.
My thanks to the publishers for a review copy via NetGalley.
July 4, 2021
It′s strange how a defeat can persist longer in history than a victory. I knew about the disastrous battle of Maldon and the reckless Byrhtnoth, but had never heard of Brunanburh and the pious Athelstan before reading this book. The only detail I remembered about Athelstan was that he had raised the minimum age for the death penalty to fifteen which predisposed me to support him.
The battle is between the ″English″ on one side, and an allied force of Vikings and northern British kings on the other. Although it was not a completely decisive battle (in the way of the Battle of Hastings) it was a battle that defined the borders of an ″English″ land. (I have used quotation marks for ″English″ since it would not have necessarily been a distinct identity at the time.) The book encompasses more than just the battle, it summarises the history leading up to it, going back to Alfred the Great and previous Viking invasions. And it also touches on the logistics and the enactment of an early Medieval battle, including the aftermath which is rarely described.
The precise manoeuvres and even location of the battle are not known, although a strong argument is made for the battle taking place on the Wirral. I occasionally found it difficult to follow the politics leading up to the battle, but this was mainly because names have many variations, often have similar prefixes, and are reused over several generations. But the author is very good at interpreting the few source materials to give the battle context and vividness, and that makes for a very readable book for a lay reader.
I had a copy of this book early through Netgalley
The battle is between the ″English″ on one side, and an allied force of Vikings and northern British kings on the other. Although it was not a completely decisive battle (in the way of the Battle of Hastings) it was a battle that defined the borders of an ″English″ land. (I have used quotation marks for ″English″ since it would not have necessarily been a distinct identity at the time.) The book encompasses more than just the battle, it summarises the history leading up to it, going back to Alfred the Great and previous Viking invasions. And it also touches on the logistics and the enactment of an early Medieval battle, including the aftermath which is rarely described.
The precise manoeuvres and even location of the battle are not known, although a strong argument is made for the battle taking place on the Wirral. I occasionally found it difficult to follow the politics leading up to the battle, but this was mainly because names have many variations, often have similar prefixes, and are reused over several generations. But the author is very good at interpreting the few source materials to give the battle context and vividness, and that makes for a very readable book for a lay reader.
I had a copy of this book early through Netgalley
September 28, 2021
I've never read any of Mr. Livingston's historical works... and that is a pity.
I've studied as a hobby Anglo Saxon and Viking history for more than 30 years and I've never read a more enjoyable and easy to read study of the topic in that time. To be fair, most of the previous histories have been on a slightly larger topic - be it the entirety of the Viking Age or as specific as the reign of one King or another whereas Mr. Livingston's work is all about one specific battle, and even more specifically, the location of that battle.
Mr. Livingston also writes historical novels and his skill in that genre also peeks through. This book is an incredibly easy read with nary a dry section throughout.
Now, my criticism of this book are very minor and are less criticisms than wishful thinking. For a book about a battle, the discussion of actual tactics and warfare in the period are not as detailed as I would like (admittedly, he is working within a limited knowledge base, particularly when it comes to the details of the battle) and the individuals involved are still fairly non-descript (ditto). However, as I said, these are not criticisms - he wasn't writing a biography - he was arguing a very specific thesis and in my opinion he definitely gives the reader lots to think about. Moreover, I'm sure he could have easily rectified those areas but only at a sacrifice of the readability of his work.
Easily in the running for my Best of 2021.
I've studied as a hobby Anglo Saxon and Viking history for more than 30 years and I've never read a more enjoyable and easy to read study of the topic in that time. To be fair, most of the previous histories have been on a slightly larger topic - be it the entirety of the Viking Age or as specific as the reign of one King or another whereas Mr. Livingston's work is all about one specific battle, and even more specifically, the location of that battle.
Mr. Livingston also writes historical novels and his skill in that genre also peeks through. This book is an incredibly easy read with nary a dry section throughout.
Now, my criticism of this book are very minor and are less criticisms than wishful thinking. For a book about a battle, the discussion of actual tactics and warfare in the period are not as detailed as I would like (admittedly, he is working within a limited knowledge base, particularly when it comes to the details of the battle) and the individuals involved are still fairly non-descript (ditto). However, as I said, these are not criticisms - he wasn't writing a biography - he was arguing a very specific thesis and in my opinion he definitely gives the reader lots to think about. Moreover, I'm sure he could have easily rectified those areas but only at a sacrifice of the readability of his work.
Easily in the running for my Best of 2021.
June 8, 2024
“Egil stood and strode to the fire, opposite the king. He unsheathed his sword completely now. Reaching out he put the tip of it through the offered arm-ring and took it. The two men withdrew to their seats. Egil, sitting down, fitted the ring to his arm. He unclasped his helmet and his armour. His face relaxed. A drinking horn that he’d refused was close at hand, and he picked it up and drank it down to the bottom.”
937 CE. King Athelstan expands his kingdom until it encompasses most of what we now know as England. Vikings from Ireland ally with those of Strathclyde and Northumbria to destroy him before he conquers them too. He meets them in battle at Brunanburh.
Thoroughly researched and reasoned account of a little-known but very bloody battle that secured the idea of England, even though after Athelstan’s death it was divided up again. The speculative nature of history of those times is necessarily and repeatedly made clear. The location of the battle isn’t known for certain, though the author makes a good argument for his choice. With maps, photographs, index, notes and an appendix dealing with objections and alternatives to the author’s theories. A scholarly but readable book.
937 CE. King Athelstan expands his kingdom until it encompasses most of what we now know as England. Vikings from Ireland ally with those of Strathclyde and Northumbria to destroy him before he conquers them too. He meets them in battle at Brunanburh.
Thoroughly researched and reasoned account of a little-known but very bloody battle that secured the idea of England, even though after Athelstan’s death it was divided up again. The speculative nature of history of those times is necessarily and repeatedly made clear. The location of the battle isn’t known for certain, though the author makes a good argument for his choice. With maps, photographs, index, notes and an appendix dealing with objections and alternatives to the author’s theories. A scholarly but readable book.
April 8, 2021
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley:
I had previously read articles by this author in publishers' newsletters and Medieval Warfare magazine so I was very interested to read one of his books and it did not disappoint. I had never heard of the Battle of Brunanburh, even though I am an Anglophile, so I found this account fascinating. What most impressed me about this book is how well the author explained the difficulties and limitations of historical research due to the dearth of contemporary sources and having to account for biases written into those sources. I also felt the author did an excellent job supporting his hypothesis of where the battle took place and giving reasons why other possible sites are problematic. Of course, since this is the only book I've read about this battle, I cannot say if this author's choice of site is more logical than those chosen by other historians, but Livingston's arguments were compelling.
This book is for fans of Bernard Cornwell's Saxon Chronicles and the tv show, The Last Kingdom, based on that series of books. In fact, Cornwell wrote the forward for Never Greater Slaughter.
I had previously read articles by this author in publishers' newsletters and Medieval Warfare magazine so I was very interested to read one of his books and it did not disappoint. I had never heard of the Battle of Brunanburh, even though I am an Anglophile, so I found this account fascinating. What most impressed me about this book is how well the author explained the difficulties and limitations of historical research due to the dearth of contemporary sources and having to account for biases written into those sources. I also felt the author did an excellent job supporting his hypothesis of where the battle took place and giving reasons why other possible sites are problematic. Of course, since this is the only book I've read about this battle, I cannot say if this author's choice of site is more logical than those chosen by other historians, but Livingston's arguments were compelling.
This book is for fans of Bernard Cornwell's Saxon Chronicles and the tv show, The Last Kingdom, based on that series of books. In fact, Cornwell wrote the forward for Never Greater Slaughter.
August 13, 2021
Brunanburh! Not a name anyone would associate with a list of famous battles in our island's long and chequered history, let alone one that had a formative part in the creation of England.
As a sometime history lover, I was delighted to receive an ARC of this book by the historian, Michael Livingston.
The book is an in-depth consideration of the life and times of people leading up to and at the battle and its impact on the formation of the country we now call England. From my viewpoint, it was well-researched with many citations and references.
This, however, is not an easily digested story but rather an, at times dry, academic account of Livingston's views and opinions. Nevertheless, I found them fascinating, though I did declare earlier I am a sometime history lover. I also learned things about our nation's history that I had never read or heard of before. For that, I very much enjoyed the book.
I am sure that many would dispute his research, assertions, and assumptions, as is the wont of scholars the world over. However, I read the book to learn not to criticise another's opinions.
As a sometime history lover, I was delighted to receive an ARC of this book by the historian, Michael Livingston.
The book is an in-depth consideration of the life and times of people leading up to and at the battle and its impact on the formation of the country we now call England. From my viewpoint, it was well-researched with many citations and references.
This, however, is not an easily digested story but rather an, at times dry, academic account of Livingston's views and opinions. Nevertheless, I found them fascinating, though I did declare earlier I am a sometime history lover. I also learned things about our nation's history that I had never read or heard of before. For that, I very much enjoyed the book.
I am sure that many would dispute his research, assertions, and assumptions, as is the wont of scholars the world over. However, I read the book to learn not to criticise another's opinions.
May 5, 2024
[18 Jul 2021] This is a great history book, which is well written, easy to read and with appropriate clarity and level of information. Essentially the story of how King Athelstan, the Anglo-Saxon king who went to battle against an alliance of Britons and Vikings at a place history has now forgotten. He pieces the few remaining facts together and puts forward a convincing argument that the fabled 'Brunanburh' was on the Wirral and he produces a lively account of the Battle, including the build-up, the actual battle and the aftermath.
Unfortunately, there are some issues - for a book about the Anglo-Saxons he refuses to use the term Anglo-Saxon because it is apparently 'racist,' he grudgingly uses Anno Domini dating, but feels the need to apologise to anyone who is 'offended' by the Christian nature of it. The big one, for me, which might suggest he is perhaps not as accurate in his analysis as he should be, is believing Cornwall was a part of Wessex in 800AD. Cornwall was a Celtic Kingdom while Wessex was a Anglo-Saxon one (sorry not being racist there). In fact one-hundred and thirty-nine years later in 936AD (there I go again) King Althestan of Anglo-Saxon Wessex (Sorry about that) declared it so when he set the boundary of the Anglo-Saxon Wessex as the east bank of the River Tamar.
So a very interesting book - gets better as you go along, but could have been better without the politically correct virtue signalling and if he got his facts right about Cornwall.
Unfortunately, there are some issues - for a book about the Anglo-Saxons he refuses to use the term Anglo-Saxon because it is apparently 'racist,' he grudgingly uses Anno Domini dating, but feels the need to apologise to anyone who is 'offended' by the Christian nature of it. The big one, for me, which might suggest he is perhaps not as accurate in his analysis as he should be, is believing Cornwall was a part of Wessex in 800AD. Cornwall was a Celtic Kingdom while Wessex was a Anglo-Saxon one (sorry not being racist there). In fact one-hundred and thirty-nine years later in 936AD (there I go again) King Althestan of Anglo-Saxon Wessex (Sorry about that) declared it so when he set the boundary of the Anglo-Saxon Wessex as the east bank of the River Tamar.
So a very interesting book - gets better as you go along, but could have been better without the politically correct virtue signalling and if he got his facts right about Cornwall.
April 23, 2021
Thank you Netgalley and to the publishers Osprey Publishing for allowing me to read this book and give an honest review.
I do enjoy historical factual books, this one written and researched by Michael Livingston is a deep dive through early British history, the one they very rarely touch on in history lessons, Alfred the great featured in my school days burning the oat cakes ! A very intense detailed historical treatise on the pivotal battle of Brunanburh, (never heard of it !) possibly located near the Wirral in Cheshire during AD 937. A battle setting the foundations for Britain as we know it today.. Lots of reading required, lots of dates to remember and lots of names, beware this is not fiction or has cuddly endings only for serious readers who are interested in early British history.
I do enjoy historical factual books, this one written and researched by Michael Livingston is a deep dive through early British history, the one they very rarely touch on in history lessons, Alfred the great featured in my school days burning the oat cakes ! A very intense detailed historical treatise on the pivotal battle of Brunanburh, (never heard of it !) possibly located near the Wirral in Cheshire during AD 937. A battle setting the foundations for Britain as we know it today.. Lots of reading required, lots of dates to remember and lots of names, beware this is not fiction or has cuddly endings only for serious readers who are interested in early British history.
August 3, 2021
This was a riveting and engaging encount of a decisive battle that is often overlooked in comparison to other battles, and certainly one that does not seem to be covered enough in history class. I found the writing to be very engaging and approachable, opening the subject matter up to everyone, and I particularly liked how Livingston approached the topic. He looks at it as a puzzle, and is clearly aware of the limitation in the sources and potential bias, and the research here is clearly well done and then well translated for those with less knowledge. That this book deals with the time frame of the Cornwell books is just icing on the cake as far as I am concerned, and I will certainly be looking for more books by the author.
September 4, 2023
When I saw this book at Barnes & Noble, I knew I wanted to read it. I love England. I brought the book home and started to read. It was VERY hard going for me. I actually put the book down half way through, I didn't think I could finish it. However, after a long while, I decided I wanted to finish it and I just did! It was hard going but I am glad that I read it. The main reason it was hard for me is because I do not know the geography England, and I had to continually look place names up and study the maps Mr. Livingston included in the book. Now, I want to go to England and visit the site. Thank you, Mr. Livingston!
February 4, 2023
I should read the back of books, before buying. I was interested in reading more about this battle and its consequences. What I got was a book written more about how writers and historians get their evidence of historical events.
It was all based around Brunanburh, but I was interested in reading the interpretations of the ancient poems and scripts. I did love that the battle could have been in the Wirral. I was born and bred in Liverpool, and often visited The Wirral and Birkenhead and Bromborough. So that was interesting, and I hope is now proven?
Not a book for me.
It was all based around Brunanburh, but I was interested in reading the interpretations of the ancient poems and scripts. I did love that the battle could have been in the Wirral. I was born and bred in Liverpool, and often visited The Wirral and Birkenhead and Bromborough. So that was interesting, and I hope is now proven?
Not a book for me.
May 22, 2021
An interesting and straight forward read. A lot of the book covers the historical context and possible location of the battle, with little to say about the actual conduct of the battle itself. This is understandable as so little information (texts, archaeology) is available.
The author notes the often speculative nature of research into the Dark Ages and some of this book is expressed as a 'well-researched probability'. Such honesty is both rare and refreshing in my opinion.
The author notes the often speculative nature of research into the Dark Ages and some of this book is expressed as a 'well-researched probability'. Such honesty is both rare and refreshing in my opinion.
September 25, 2021
this period of history is normally my thing but the synopsis piqued my interest and the book kept me enjoying it throughout. The author explains his reasoning for his theories whilst disputing others with well reasoned arguments without being derogatory, hyper-critical or overly negative. Overall it is a well reasoned book explaining in detail the rise of England and it's kings in the so called dark ages before 1066. Overall a great read
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