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The Anglo-Saxons: A History of the Beginnings of England
THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER
'[A] clever, lively ... splendid new book'
DAN JONES, SUNDAY TIMES
'A big gold bar of delight'
SPECTATOR
Sixteen hundred years ago Britain left the Roman Empire and swiftly fell into ruin. Into this violent and unstable world came foreign invaders from across the sea, and established themselves as its new masters. In this sweeping and original history, renowned historian Marc Morris separates the truth from the legend and tells the extraordinary story of how the foundations of England were laid.
'Marc Morris is a genius of medieval narrative'
IAN MORTIMER, author of The Time Traveller's Guide to Medieval England
'Brilliant ... Beautifully written, incredibly accessible and deeply researched'
JAMES O'BRIEN
'A much-needed book ... A gripping story, beautifully told'
BERNARD CORNWELL, author of The Last Kingdom
'Highly informative and hugely enjoyable'
IAN HISLOP
'A vivid, sharply drawn story of seven centuries of profound political change'
THOMAS PENN, author of The Winter King
'[A] clever, lively ... splendid new book'
DAN JONES, SUNDAY TIMES
'A big gold bar of delight'
SPECTATOR
Sixteen hundred years ago Britain left the Roman Empire and swiftly fell into ruin. Into this violent and unstable world came foreign invaders from across the sea, and established themselves as its new masters. In this sweeping and original history, renowned historian Marc Morris separates the truth from the legend and tells the extraordinary story of how the foundations of England were laid.
'Marc Morris is a genius of medieval narrative'
IAN MORTIMER, author of The Time Traveller's Guide to Medieval England
'Brilliant ... Beautifully written, incredibly accessible and deeply researched'
JAMES O'BRIEN
'A much-needed book ... A gripping story, beautifully told'
BERNARD CORNWELL, author of The Last Kingdom
'Highly informative and hugely enjoyable'
IAN HISLOP
'A vivid, sharply drawn story of seven centuries of profound political change'
THOMAS PENN, author of The Winter King
510 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2021
1681 people are currently reading
14413 people want to read
About the author
Marc Morris
11 books463 followersMarc Morris, PhD, is an historian and broadcaster, specializing in the Middle Ages. An expert on medieval monarchy and aristocracy, Marc has written numerous articles for History Today, BBC History Magazine and Heritage Today; he speaks regularly to schools, historical societies, and literary festivals, and also leads specialist tours of UK castles. He is a fellow of the Royal Historical Society and lives in England.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 625 reviews
February 22, 2022
The Anglo-Saxon period is both complex and also challenged by an absence of sources. The complexity derives from the various tribes/peoples and their alliances, territorial holdings and the changes to life, society and beliefs during this period, along with a vast array of characters, many of whom flit in and out of centre stage with little detail or depth to them.
As such Dr Morris has written another very enjoyable and solid book. His approach is in essence chronological commencing with the fall of Roman Britain and the arrival of the Saxons and then to the Danes/Vikings and onwards.
This period of history is tumultuous, violent and changing. People's lives are hard, often short - illness or violence - and ruled by the requirements and commands from various deities and gods of pagan and Christian flavours. The tribal leaders, ruling families and later those described as kings and queens are covered in good detail. There are some familiar sources such as the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, Bede and Beowulf, as well as others less well-known to me. These sources, the studies of the age and then Dr Morris's own interpretations and explanations are what make this a very readable and clear story.
This means the reader not only sees the machinations and power struggles in say Wessex and Mercia but also the influences of the Danes, Vikings, Scots, Welsh, Franks, and later the Normans amongst others, on what became Anglo-Saxon England. I mention tumult and violence too, well Game of Thrones has little on this period. From inter-family rivalries, love trysts, childhood betrothals, assassinations and murders, to banishments and captivity, and alliances, to the swearing of oaths, war campaigning, religious piety, sainthood and key religious festival dates to famines, diseases, and money, taxes, property rights plus more than a few battles, there is much to keep you occupied.
I read this in a very remote cottage in Snowdonia in North Wales during storms Dudley and Eunice, which lent an element of atmosphere, solitude and landscape to this interesting period and book.
As such Dr Morris has written another very enjoyable and solid book. His approach is in essence chronological commencing with the fall of Roman Britain and the arrival of the Saxons and then to the Danes/Vikings and onwards.
This period of history is tumultuous, violent and changing. People's lives are hard, often short - illness or violence - and ruled by the requirements and commands from various deities and gods of pagan and Christian flavours. The tribal leaders, ruling families and later those described as kings and queens are covered in good detail. There are some familiar sources such as the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, Bede and Beowulf, as well as others less well-known to me. These sources, the studies of the age and then Dr Morris's own interpretations and explanations are what make this a very readable and clear story.
This means the reader not only sees the machinations and power struggles in say Wessex and Mercia but also the influences of the Danes, Vikings, Scots, Welsh, Franks, and later the Normans amongst others, on what became Anglo-Saxon England. I mention tumult and violence too, well Game of Thrones has little on this period. From inter-family rivalries, love trysts, childhood betrothals, assassinations and murders, to banishments and captivity, and alliances, to the swearing of oaths, war campaigning, religious piety, sainthood and key religious festival dates to famines, diseases, and money, taxes, property rights plus more than a few battles, there is much to keep you occupied.
I read this in a very remote cottage in Snowdonia in North Wales during storms Dudley and Eunice, which lent an element of atmosphere, solitude and landscape to this interesting period and book.
September 14, 2024
Hats off to Marc Morris for compressing 600+ years of British history into 400 pages. He begins with the Romans leaving the island in 400 and ends with the advent of William the Conqueror in 1066.
The first two chapters demonstrate the difficulty of knowing what happened. There are no eye witness reports; like the Bible, those who created the written record lived long after the events. The work of the few scribes can be contradicted by coins, grave goods and surviving art. Artifacts are still being found and Morris shows how they confirm, or as they often do, dis-confirm, previous understandings. As you move through the history (and chapters) there are more written sources. Morris shows the strengths and weaknesses of these.
These are violent years. The Saxons subdued the Britons who were still recovering from Roman subjugation. The Angles arrived also subduing the Britons, sometimes fighting the Saxons and finally joining with Saxons to fight over territory from which to extract goods from those who attempted to hunt and farm amid all the violence. The Vikings and later the Danes join in on the plundering, sometimes the Picts and the Irish. There is the parallel story showing how the Catholic faith grew as its structure entwined with the political structures of the warring monarchs. There are plagues, crop failures and no end of sudden death.
Despite all this, trade is growing. London was a great destination with land and water access. While there are no real winners in all the wars, you see territory consolidated into what will eventually be the contours of what we now know as Great Britain. With larger tracts of land, the population formed into towns. With this, not all workers farmed, many developed trades.
As a reader who prefers biographies, I appreciated the few glimpses that a work of this size could devote to individuals. One, new to me, person was St. WIlfrid, Bishop of York who railed against the pagan rites that were being incorporated in the Church. He did this without much "buy in" which made his life difficult and interesting. The “greatness” of Alfred the Great was analyzed. He seems to have introduced defensive warfare in the late 600’s which created (at last) a victory for the over-plundered residents of this island. The book ends with the coming of William the Conquer and the drama of those who prepared the way for his victory.
If you would like a concise history of this time and place, this is the book for you.
The first two chapters demonstrate the difficulty of knowing what happened. There are no eye witness reports; like the Bible, those who created the written record lived long after the events. The work of the few scribes can be contradicted by coins, grave goods and surviving art. Artifacts are still being found and Morris shows how they confirm, or as they often do, dis-confirm, previous understandings. As you move through the history (and chapters) there are more written sources. Morris shows the strengths and weaknesses of these.
These are violent years. The Saxons subdued the Britons who were still recovering from Roman subjugation. The Angles arrived also subduing the Britons, sometimes fighting the Saxons and finally joining with Saxons to fight over territory from which to extract goods from those who attempted to hunt and farm amid all the violence. The Vikings and later the Danes join in on the plundering, sometimes the Picts and the Irish. There is the parallel story showing how the Catholic faith grew as its structure entwined with the political structures of the warring monarchs. There are plagues, crop failures and no end of sudden death.
Despite all this, trade is growing. London was a great destination with land and water access. While there are no real winners in all the wars, you see territory consolidated into what will eventually be the contours of what we now know as Great Britain. With larger tracts of land, the population formed into towns. With this, not all workers farmed, many developed trades.
As a reader who prefers biographies, I appreciated the few glimpses that a work of this size could devote to individuals. One, new to me, person was St. WIlfrid, Bishop of York who railed against the pagan rites that were being incorporated in the Church. He did this without much "buy in" which made his life difficult and interesting. The “greatness” of Alfred the Great was analyzed. He seems to have introduced defensive warfare in the late 600’s which created (at last) a victory for the over-plundered residents of this island. The book ends with the coming of William the Conquer and the drama of those who prepared the way for his victory.
If you would like a concise history of this time and place, this is the book for you.
Read
June 7, 2021A really interesting in-depth look at the kingdoms of the Angles, Saxons et al that merged into what eventually became England. Morris is a fantastic and highly readable writer, with a gift for vivid description and a knack for conveying the physicality of place--including the tumbledown dystopia of post Roman Britain. It's as easy to follow as anything could be while including quite so many characters called AEthelsomething. Very good on the Danish Conquest, which is almost obliterated by the subsequent Norman one, and also on the brutal, often fanatical, and stupid nature of much of Anglo-Saxon rule including the widespread slavery. Not much to glorify here.
July 9, 2021
So I know I gave this ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️, but I’m fascinated by British history. This book is NOT for a fickle or lackadaisical reader. I may even suggest that if you want to read this or go audio that you already have some background knowledge. Mark morris is a phenomenal author who focuses on a time period that is difficult to find documentation on. I suggest him and his book. If you like audible they have audiobooks only available on there of some of his things.
February 23, 2023
3.5 stars and a silver coin to pay off some Vikings
Contents:
1. The Fall of Rome and the Coming of the Saxons
2. The Emergence of Kings and Kingdoms
3. St Wilfrid and the Establishment of Christianity
4. King Offa and the Dominion of the South
5. The Viking Assault on Britain and Francia
6. Alfred the Great and the Forging of Englishness
7. King Aethelstan and the Conquest of the North
8. St Dunstan and the Pursuit of Uniformity
9. Aethelred the Unready and the Fear of the Apocalypse
10. The Rise of the House of Godwine
Plus an introduction, conclusion, lineage chart, maps at the start of chapters, b&w photos and 2 sections of coloured plates.
I got this book along with the follow up The Norman Conquest by the same author in order to gain an overview of English history from the fall of Roman Britain to the death of the Conqueror.
And it did just that rather well! It also provided a good idea of the personalities of many of the major Anglo-Saxon kings, as well as some of their Scandinavian rivals, how the various British kingdoms developed and the role of the Church in political life.
However, I do have some niggles...or rather one big niggle...
It's clear that Marc Morris isn't comfortable when the historic record is thin and that is the major drawback to his method and style for the lay reader.
In those section, which is most of the early stuff, his writing is terse, dry and somewhat erratic, totally glossing over any of what one might term "human interest" for chockablock dates, names, locations and charter details.
Even when talking about a wild-eyed, hellfire and brimstone churchman like St Wilfrid, the prose is about as lively as reading the phonebook. (This improves as Morris has more sources to draw from. That is, the closer we get to 1066.)
Even the way he's chosen to set up the book - focusing on a single personality to show off a period of time through - allows him to place his focus where the written historical and archaeological record is thickest.
This choice seems far more about staying where he's comfortable (and doesn't have to speculate anything) than on what would work best for the subject, or be interesting for readers. It often doesn't work as well as he clearly intends, leaving huge gaps in perspective in favour of the viewpoints of always the same types of men.
For example, by focusing on what sources he does, he utterly shuts all of the powerful and influential Anglo-Saxon women out of the narrative, relegating them to a line or two with the excuse of a lack of enough source material. Really? Others have written whole books on them.
Seems more like "don't wanna" than "can't".
Still, for the general reader looking for an sweeping political overview of the time, it's pretty good.
Contents:
1. The Fall of Rome and the Coming of the Saxons
2. The Emergence of Kings and Kingdoms
3. St Wilfrid and the Establishment of Christianity
4. King Offa and the Dominion of the South
5. The Viking Assault on Britain and Francia
6. Alfred the Great and the Forging of Englishness
7. King Aethelstan and the Conquest of the North
8. St Dunstan and the Pursuit of Uniformity
9. Aethelred the Unready and the Fear of the Apocalypse
10. The Rise of the House of Godwine
Plus an introduction, conclusion, lineage chart, maps at the start of chapters, b&w photos and 2 sections of coloured plates.
I got this book along with the follow up The Norman Conquest by the same author in order to gain an overview of English history from the fall of Roman Britain to the death of the Conqueror.
And it did just that rather well! It also provided a good idea of the personalities of many of the major Anglo-Saxon kings, as well as some of their Scandinavian rivals, how the various British kingdoms developed and the role of the Church in political life.
However, I do have some niggles...or rather one big niggle...
It's clear that Marc Morris isn't comfortable when the historic record is thin and that is the major drawback to his method and style for the lay reader.
In those section, which is most of the early stuff, his writing is terse, dry and somewhat erratic, totally glossing over any of what one might term "human interest" for chockablock dates, names, locations and charter details.
Even when talking about a wild-eyed, hellfire and brimstone churchman like St Wilfrid, the prose is about as lively as reading the phonebook. (This improves as Morris has more sources to draw from. That is, the closer we get to 1066.)
Even the way he's chosen to set up the book - focusing on a single personality to show off a period of time through - allows him to place his focus where the written historical and archaeological record is thickest.
This choice seems far more about staying where he's comfortable (and doesn't have to speculate anything) than on what would work best for the subject, or be interesting for readers. It often doesn't work as well as he clearly intends, leaving huge gaps in perspective in favour of the viewpoints of always the same types of men.
For example, by focusing on what sources he does, he utterly shuts all of the powerful and influential Anglo-Saxon women out of the narrative, relegating them to a line or two with the excuse of a lack of enough source material. Really? Others have written whole books on them.
Seems more like "don't wanna" than "can't".
Still, for the general reader looking for an sweeping political overview of the time, it's pretty good.
October 24, 2025
After Rome
I read this book following author and historian Marc Morris’s the excellent Norman Conquest, which really peaked my interested in his writing. His latest book The Anglo-Saxons: A History of the Beginnings of England is a compelling and meticulously researched account of the formative period in English history, spanning from the end of Roman Britain in the 5th century to the Norman Conquest in 1066. Morris delivers a rich narrative that balances scholarly depth with an engaging and accessible style, making it appealing to both casual readers and serious history enthusiasts.
It must be noted that The Anglo-Saxons has to tackle a complex and often murky period. Morris with a lack of sources, does well in describing key events, such as the migration of Germanic tribes, the Christianisation of England, and the consolidation of power under kings like Alfred the Great and Æthelstan. He also sheds light on lesser-known aspects of Anglo-Saxon life, such as culture, society, and the economy, offering a well-rounded portrait of the era. Morris as always excels at weaving together a variety of sources, from archaeological findings to ancient manuscripts like Beowulf and the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. While the limited and fragmentary nature of these sources often challenges historians, Morris is careful to acknowledge uncertainties and provide balanced interpretations.
One of the focuses of The Anglo-Saxons, and something it does well is that it is able to connect the Anglo-Saxon world to broader European and global contexts. Morris shows how England’s early history was shaped by its relationships with neighbouring cultures, from the Vikings to the Franks. His discussion of the Viking invasions and their impact on England’s political landscape is particularly compelling.
In spite of this I have criticisms. Morris often prioritises narrative over analysis, which made the writing feel dense. Furthermore the book is thematic. Therefore, some chapters are really engaging whilst others are a slog. This feeling will of course differ from reader to reader as they have different areas of interest. For me the coming of the Saxons, Alfred the Great, Æthelstan and ending were great, but other chapters were boring and I had to grind through.
Overall, The Anglo-Saxons is a deep exploration of a crucial period in English history. The early medieval period isn’t really my area of expertise, although I did enjoy this for the most part. Although not as good as his other books, Marc Morris does overall provide a clear and captivating account of the Anglo-Saxon world which has helped me to appreciate its enduring legacy in shaping modern England. As I said earlier, I don’t know enough about the early medieval period, so I am open to suggestions of more authoritative work.
I read this book following author and historian Marc Morris’s the excellent Norman Conquest, which really peaked my interested in his writing. His latest book The Anglo-Saxons: A History of the Beginnings of England is a compelling and meticulously researched account of the formative period in English history, spanning from the end of Roman Britain in the 5th century to the Norman Conquest in 1066. Morris delivers a rich narrative that balances scholarly depth with an engaging and accessible style, making it appealing to both casual readers and serious history enthusiasts.
It must be noted that The Anglo-Saxons has to tackle a complex and often murky period. Morris with a lack of sources, does well in describing key events, such as the migration of Germanic tribes, the Christianisation of England, and the consolidation of power under kings like Alfred the Great and Æthelstan. He also sheds light on lesser-known aspects of Anglo-Saxon life, such as culture, society, and the economy, offering a well-rounded portrait of the era. Morris as always excels at weaving together a variety of sources, from archaeological findings to ancient manuscripts like Beowulf and the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. While the limited and fragmentary nature of these sources often challenges historians, Morris is careful to acknowledge uncertainties and provide balanced interpretations.
One of the focuses of The Anglo-Saxons, and something it does well is that it is able to connect the Anglo-Saxon world to broader European and global contexts. Morris shows how England’s early history was shaped by its relationships with neighbouring cultures, from the Vikings to the Franks. His discussion of the Viking invasions and their impact on England’s political landscape is particularly compelling.
In spite of this I have criticisms. Morris often prioritises narrative over analysis, which made the writing feel dense. Furthermore the book is thematic. Therefore, some chapters are really engaging whilst others are a slog. This feeling will of course differ from reader to reader as they have different areas of interest. For me the coming of the Saxons, Alfred the Great, Æthelstan and ending were great, but other chapters were boring and I had to grind through.
Overall, The Anglo-Saxons is a deep exploration of a crucial period in English history. The early medieval period isn’t really my area of expertise, although I did enjoy this for the most part. Although not as good as his other books, Marc Morris does overall provide a clear and captivating account of the Anglo-Saxon world which has helped me to appreciate its enduring legacy in shaping modern England. As I said earlier, I don’t know enough about the early medieval period, so I am open to suggestions of more authoritative work.
February 4, 2021
This is an ARC review. Many thanks to Pegasus Books and Edelweiss.
I am a self-proclaimed history nerd and nothing gets me to geek out quite as much as British history. Therefore, I naturally had to jump on the chance to review this one and boy, am I glad I did!
Marc Morris has presented readers with a concise, informative, and remarkably readable history of the Anglo-Saxons. I was hooked from the first page, as Morris's writing style is so conversational and yet educational. I particularly love the little historical tidbits and etymology information he includes in the text - he seems to know exactly when all the Aelfgifus and Aethelreds start to cross the eyes and uses those instances to insert information that draws the reader right back in and even helps to discern the historical players on the page.
The Anglo-Saxons begins by introducing Roman Britain and its subsequent fall. It then charts the arrival and dissemination of Anglo-Saxon culture, the rise of Christianity, the Viking assaults, the emergence of "Englishness," and England's evolution up to the Norman Conquest. It manages to cover all this in such relatively few pages because there is no unnecessarily or superfluous information; every sentence is a valuable one.
Anyone can relate history, but it takes a particularly skilled historian and writer to produce 500-some pages of such engaging content that the reader is hooked on every page. Even I sometimes find longer history tomes to be monotonous or repetitive (and I read them for fun!), but I did not have anything near that issue with this one. I honestly think this is one of the best histories I've read in a long time.
If you have any interest in the Anglo-Saxons and British history as a whole, don't walk - RUN - to your nearest bookstore on May 4. And you should probably carve aside a reading day, because I assure you you won't be able to put this one down!
I am a self-proclaimed history nerd and nothing gets me to geek out quite as much as British history. Therefore, I naturally had to jump on the chance to review this one and boy, am I glad I did!
Marc Morris has presented readers with a concise, informative, and remarkably readable history of the Anglo-Saxons. I was hooked from the first page, as Morris's writing style is so conversational and yet educational. I particularly love the little historical tidbits and etymology information he includes in the text - he seems to know exactly when all the Aelfgifus and Aethelreds start to cross the eyes and uses those instances to insert information that draws the reader right back in and even helps to discern the historical players on the page.
The Anglo-Saxons begins by introducing Roman Britain and its subsequent fall. It then charts the arrival and dissemination of Anglo-Saxon culture, the rise of Christianity, the Viking assaults, the emergence of "Englishness," and England's evolution up to the Norman Conquest. It manages to cover all this in such relatively few pages because there is no unnecessarily or superfluous information; every sentence is a valuable one.
Anyone can relate history, but it takes a particularly skilled historian and writer to produce 500-some pages of such engaging content that the reader is hooked on every page. Even I sometimes find longer history tomes to be monotonous or repetitive (and I read them for fun!), but I did not have anything near that issue with this one. I honestly think this is one of the best histories I've read in a long time.
If you have any interest in the Anglo-Saxons and British history as a whole, don't walk - RUN - to your nearest bookstore on May 4. And you should probably carve aside a reading day, because I assure you you won't be able to put this one down!
January 2, 2023
The Romans left Britain in AD410, as they had enough on their plate in core provinces such as Gaul, Italy and Hispania. What followed was a gradual incursion from the continent, whereby incomers from Northern Europe displaced Romano British culture. These expats eventually formed Anglo Saxon kingdoms and jostled with Britons on the Celtic fringe, and later raiders and settlers from Scandinavia
What arose was a melded identity and a new country called England. Scratch the surface though and the likes of Daneland, Northumbria and Wessex can still be found - in language and placenames.
This book provides a fine overview of 650 years of history, using fragmentary written sources and archaeological discoveries, in a way that is accesible and entertaining.
Worth a read
What arose was a melded identity and a new country called England. Scratch the surface though and the likes of Daneland, Northumbria and Wessex can still be found - in language and placenames.
This book provides a fine overview of 650 years of history, using fragmentary written sources and archaeological discoveries, in a way that is accesible and entertaining.
Worth a read
December 27, 2022
Three to three and a half stars. Lots of details. Lots and lots of details. Not as exciting as some of Morris's other works. I appreciate his thoroughness and expertise here, but frankly I was bored through a fair amount of the book.
August 4, 2021
A bit more academic feel than some of his other works, but still a pretty informative and pleasant read. The book covers the time between the Roman withdrawl from Britain in roughly 400 AD to William's conquest in 1066. All the major characters are discussed, even a short bit on King Arthur - he says their is just one brief mention of a character who the Arthur myth could be based on.
Most of the narrative is about Alfred the Great and his descendents. One interesting tidbit of info - Alfred was not refered to as "The Great" until long after his death, Professor Morris ends the book with a look at Harold and William. The actual Battle of Hastings does not get much ink. On the whole a really good look at how England came to be. 4 stars
Most of the narrative is about Alfred the Great and his descendents. One interesting tidbit of info - Alfred was not refered to as "The Great" until long after his death, Professor Morris ends the book with a look at Harold and William. The actual Battle of Hastings does not get much ink. On the whole a really good look at how England came to be. 4 stars
November 7, 2021
Apart from king Alfred and his immediate family I had very little knowledge about the Anglo-Saxon era of British history and that's why I chose this book.
It seems very well researched, it's concise considering the scope, and also well structured. Might be too impersonal in its style for some but I didn't mind.
Recommended read for anyone interested in this time period.
It seems very well researched, it's concise considering the scope, and also well structured. Might be too impersonal in its style for some but I didn't mind.
Recommended read for anyone interested in this time period.
February 14, 2025
Lo más interesante de este libro de no-ficción se concentra al principio y al final. Son los capítulos dedicados a la caída de la Britania romana y la llegada de los Anglos y Sajones, y el dedicado a la conquista normanda. Son los que verdaderamente hacen una panorámica del contexto histórico y te permiten entender qué papel ocuparon estos pueblos dentro de la historia de Inglaterra y de Europa.
Lo demás, es una sucesión interminable de reye(zuelos) que, si bien aporta datos interesantes (por ejemplo, conocer cómo se extendió el cristianismo a golpe de espada por este territorio, cuál es el origen histórico de los distintos reinos que aún hoy conforman Gran Bretaña, la etimología de ciertos conceptos y topónimos, el origen del mito Artúrico, cuánta influencia tuvieron las invasiones danesas en la fundación de ciudades y monasterios por toda Europa...) se hace pesada de leer.
Además, a pesar de los esfuerzos del autor por hacer el tema ameno, por seguir un hilo argumental más allá de la cronología de hechos, y por filtrar datos para que sean lo más fidedignos posibles, lo cierto es que el periodo de la historia inglesa que va desde el siglo V hasta la conquista normanda en 1066, es bastante monótono y apenas hay nada documentado: casi todo el conocimiento se basa en los escasos hallazgos arqueológicos que se han producido y en los mitos y exageraciones narradas por religiosos de siglos posteriores. Es lo que tiene que cada dos por tres tuvieras a los 'vikingos' arrasando tus ciudades.
Me alegro de haber llenado el vacío de conocimiento que tenía sobre esta época tan ignota, pero creo que el periodo en sí no merece tanto la pena como para explorarlo durante 400 páginas.
Lo demás, es una sucesión interminable de reye(zuelos) que, si bien aporta datos interesantes (por ejemplo, conocer cómo se extendió el cristianismo a golpe de espada por este territorio, cuál es el origen histórico de los distintos reinos que aún hoy conforman Gran Bretaña, la etimología de ciertos conceptos y topónimos, el origen del mito Artúrico, cuánta influencia tuvieron las invasiones danesas en la fundación de ciudades y monasterios por toda Europa...) se hace pesada de leer.
Además, a pesar de los esfuerzos del autor por hacer el tema ameno, por seguir un hilo argumental más allá de la cronología de hechos, y por filtrar datos para que sean lo más fidedignos posibles, lo cierto es que el periodo de la historia inglesa que va desde el siglo V hasta la conquista normanda en 1066, es bastante monótono y apenas hay nada documentado: casi todo el conocimiento se basa en los escasos hallazgos arqueológicos que se han producido y en los mitos y exageraciones narradas por religiosos de siglos posteriores. Es lo que tiene que cada dos por tres tuvieras a los 'vikingos' arrasando tus ciudades.
Me alegro de haber llenado el vacío de conocimiento que tenía sobre esta época tan ignota, pero creo que el periodo en sí no merece tanto la pena como para explorarlo durante 400 páginas.
July 11, 2024
Marc Morris's history of the Anglo-Saxons starts in the year 400 CE since that is the point at which the Roman troops stationed on the island were drawn into the civil wars to become Emperor. This date is known due to the lack of Roman coins from after that year appearing in Britain.
This state of affairs left the Romano-Britons open to barbarian invasion. This is where the story of King Vortigern who invites the brothers Hengist and Horsa to bring their Saxon Warband to fight on his side. They do but then choose to stay and send for more of their people. This story is likely apocryphal, as there is a similar story with a father/son combo this time named Cerdic and Cynric.
Morris then explores the world of the Anglo-Saxon kings and Kingdoms such as Essex, Wessex, Mercia, etc. It is the famous Anglo-Saxon King, Alfred the Great, who was responsible for temporarily protecting Wessex against Viking invasions. But, that second wave of invaders coming three hundred years after the Saxon's invasion proved to be stubborn and the Vikings eventually also took root in England.
By the late 900s and early 1000s Cnut (Cnut the Great) was a Dane and many Scandinavians had become part of the ruling aristocracy. Thus the "last" British King was Harold Godwineson (a very Scandinavian background) who will fall, in 1066, to the Norman William the Conqueror (who himself is a descendant of Scandinavians from France) and this is the event that caused the twilight of the old Anglo-Saxon power structures and magnate families.
A great encapsulation of the Anglo-Saxon period of England from 400 CE to 1066 CE. Entertaining, enlightening, and highly recommended.
This state of affairs left the Romano-Britons open to barbarian invasion. This is where the story of King Vortigern who invites the brothers Hengist and Horsa to bring their Saxon Warband to fight on his side. They do but then choose to stay and send for more of their people. This story is likely apocryphal, as there is a similar story with a father/son combo this time named Cerdic and Cynric.
Morris then explores the world of the Anglo-Saxon kings and Kingdoms such as Essex, Wessex, Mercia, etc. It is the famous Anglo-Saxon King, Alfred the Great, who was responsible for temporarily protecting Wessex against Viking invasions. But, that second wave of invaders coming three hundred years after the Saxon's invasion proved to be stubborn and the Vikings eventually also took root in England.
By the late 900s and early 1000s Cnut (Cnut the Great) was a Dane and many Scandinavians had become part of the ruling aristocracy. Thus the "last" British King was Harold Godwineson (a very Scandinavian background) who will fall, in 1066, to the Norman William the Conqueror (who himself is a descendant of Scandinavians from France) and this is the event that caused the twilight of the old Anglo-Saxon power structures and magnate families.
A great encapsulation of the Anglo-Saxon period of England from 400 CE to 1066 CE. Entertaining, enlightening, and highly recommended.
July 9, 2024
Earlier this year I read King John: Treachery and Tyranny in Medieval England: The Road to Magna Carta, also by Marc Morris. While I found the subject matter interesting and appreciated how well researched it was, I found it sometimes read a little dry and I had trouble with the alternating timelines. Nonetheless it was still an enjoyable read. With Morris’ new book, The Anglo-Saxons: A History of the Beginnings of England: 400–1066, I feel like I almost can't praise it enough.
The structure of the book is different from King John and only for the better. The Anglo-Saxons flows in a linear fashion, with each chapter covering a certain timespan by largely focusing on one individual. Morris begins with the fall of the Romans and ends with the rise of the Normans – which is the perfect context to situate everything in between. And this context isn't overwhelming; it's just enough to get readers to understand the meat of the book.
I have to admit that basically everything here was new to me. A couple takeaways are that lots of people were named Æthel-something back then, and that it was certainly not a very stable period in history. Check out this quote from Chapter 2, which highlights the clash of religions, ideologies and lifestyles going on in the early part of this period:
I think Morris chose great figures to focus on in each chapter; this keeps the book continually feeling fresh and certainly kept me wanting to read on to see who I’d learn about next. Morris was also able to flesh these people out quite well. There are gaps throughout this period, due to lost or destroyed documentation, for example, yet the main figures were individuals where enough has survived for Morris to make them feel like real people even though they’re quite far separated from us. (And, apparently Joseph of Arimathea was a real person? Totally thought he was just made up in Monty Python and the Holy Grail lol...)
Another thing I appreciated is that Morris' voice really comes through. Sometimes when you read non-fiction, it just feels like a collection of sources strung together without any analysis from the author. There's certainly merit to that, but I love when an author offers more to their readers - I want their thoughts, opinions, and interpretations. And readers get so much of that in The Anglo-Saxons.
If I had to say anything in terms of a critique, I guess there were times when, like King John, it felt a bit dry (though, honestly, this wasn’t often at all), and the names could become confusing. There’s a lot of people to keep track of in each chapter, and a lot of them have very similar names (all those darn Æthel-s!). There were a couple chapters in particular that I was struggling with, but that doesn’t take away anything from the overall quality of the book.
This book really came out at the perfect time for me. I’m about to head to the UK for my first trip, visiting places like London, Canterbury and York that feature prominently in this history. But even if that wasn't the case, this book was excellent. Well researched, engagingly written, and incredibly informative. I also loved all the pictures - there's two colour photo sections, but more black and white ones are inserted throughout. There's so many interesting people and fascinating events that I'm sure The Anglo-Saxons will appeal to any reader.
The structure of the book is different from King John and only for the better. The Anglo-Saxons flows in a linear fashion, with each chapter covering a certain timespan by largely focusing on one individual. Morris begins with the fall of the Romans and ends with the rise of the Normans – which is the perfect context to situate everything in between. And this context isn't overwhelming; it's just enough to get readers to understand the meat of the book.
I have to admit that basically everything here was new to me. A couple takeaways are that lots of people were named Æthel-something back then, and that it was certainly not a very stable period in history. Check out this quote from Chapter 2, which highlights the clash of religions, ideologies and lifestyles going on in the early part of this period:
In East Anglia, as we’ve seen, Rædwald was talked out of Christianity by his wife and advisers. King Sæberht of Essex was succeeded by his pagan sons, who grew angry with the bishop of London when he refused to let them eat Communion bread unless they were first baptized, and chased him into exile. Even in Kent itself, the new faith faltered and almost failed. Æthelberht’s own son, Eadbald, not only refused to embrace Christianity but, to Bede’s disgust, followed the heathen custom of marrying his father’s widow (i.e. his stepmother). The bishop of Rochester, like the bishop of London, deserted his post and fled to Francia, and even Augustine’s successor as archbishop of Canterbury, Laurence, was ready to do the same, until St Peter appeared to him in a vision and angrily exhorted him to stay put.
I think Morris chose great figures to focus on in each chapter; this keeps the book continually feeling fresh and certainly kept me wanting to read on to see who I’d learn about next. Morris was also able to flesh these people out quite well. There are gaps throughout this period, due to lost or destroyed documentation, for example, yet the main figures were individuals where enough has survived for Morris to make them feel like real people even though they’re quite far separated from us. (And, apparently Joseph of Arimathea was a real person? Totally thought he was just made up in Monty Python and the Holy Grail lol...)
Another thing I appreciated is that Morris' voice really comes through. Sometimes when you read non-fiction, it just feels like a collection of sources strung together without any analysis from the author. There's certainly merit to that, but I love when an author offers more to their readers - I want their thoughts, opinions, and interpretations. And readers get so much of that in The Anglo-Saxons.
If I had to say anything in terms of a critique, I guess there were times when, like King John, it felt a bit dry (though, honestly, this wasn’t often at all), and the names could become confusing. There’s a lot of people to keep track of in each chapter, and a lot of them have very similar names (all those darn Æthel-s!). There were a couple chapters in particular that I was struggling with, but that doesn’t take away anything from the overall quality of the book.
This book really came out at the perfect time for me. I’m about to head to the UK for my first trip, visiting places like London, Canterbury and York that feature prominently in this history. But even if that wasn't the case, this book was excellent. Well researched, engagingly written, and incredibly informative. I also loved all the pictures - there's two colour photo sections, but more black and white ones are inserted throughout. There's so many interesting people and fascinating events that I'm sure The Anglo-Saxons will appeal to any reader.
September 17, 2021
Very good in some ways, less so in others. If you want a 'this king did this, and then this king did that' history, this is the one for you. But if you want to know how the people of the time lived, you need to look elsewhere. This is classic history, in the sense that it's largely based on written records, so it strongly favors those who were written about. Which means kings, king's families, and the church.
Perhaps 'the making of England' in the title should have warned me. If it refers to the making of the political structure called England, then it's accurate enough. Cultural England? Not so much. It was definitely worth reading for me, but my eyes did glaze over more than once when working through the dynastic shenanigans.
Perhaps 'the making of England' in the title should have warned me. If it refers to the making of the political structure called England, then it's accurate enough. Cultural England? Not so much. It was definitely worth reading for me, but my eyes did glaze over more than once when working through the dynastic shenanigans.
October 11, 2023
When diving into this book, I was genuinely hoping for a captivating ride through one of England’s most intriguing eras. Unfortunately, I found this book to be a bit of a let down.
First off, the good part. I have to acknowledge that Morris does offer a comprehensive overview of the period. For scholars or those who have a serious interest in the era, this book could serve as a decent reference. But if you’re a casual reader looking for an engaging introduction to the world of the Anglo-Saxons, this might not be the best choice.
The writing style...man, it’s dense. I mean, I love a good academic read now and then, but this was like trying to navigate a hedge maze in the dark. Morris tends to lean heavily into this ultra-academic tone that, honestly, made me feel like I was back in a lecture hall struggling to keep my eyes open. More than once, I got lost in a sea of details, and there were moments when I was flipping back pages thinking, "Wait, what's happening now?" The book's lengthiness didn’t help matters either. A good edit to tighten things up would’ve been a game-changer.
Now, here’s the ironic part. This book also tends to skim the surface on so many topics. Take the role of women, for instance. It’s brushed over so briefly that I was left wanting more. This recurring theme of "mention but don't delve" gave me a sense of superficiality, like I was getting the CliffsNotes version instead of the full story.
Morris is diving into the dull stuff and skimming over the parts that build a realistic understanding of the everyday people and huge characters from this amazing story. This book had too many facts and not enough persona.
There's a way to present history that brings it alive, makes you feel like you're right there, living through the events. Unfortunately, Morris’s take felt more like a barrage of info rather than a vivid painting of the era.
In a nutshell? If you're a history scholar or someone who thrives on heavy academic reads, maybe give it a go. But if you're like me, looking for an engaging, in-depth introduction to the Anglo-Saxons, you might want to look elsewhere. This book just didn't do it for me.
First off, the good part. I have to acknowledge that Morris does offer a comprehensive overview of the period. For scholars or those who have a serious interest in the era, this book could serve as a decent reference. But if you’re a casual reader looking for an engaging introduction to the world of the Anglo-Saxons, this might not be the best choice.
The writing style...man, it’s dense. I mean, I love a good academic read now and then, but this was like trying to navigate a hedge maze in the dark. Morris tends to lean heavily into this ultra-academic tone that, honestly, made me feel like I was back in a lecture hall struggling to keep my eyes open. More than once, I got lost in a sea of details, and there were moments when I was flipping back pages thinking, "Wait, what's happening now?" The book's lengthiness didn’t help matters either. A good edit to tighten things up would’ve been a game-changer.
Now, here’s the ironic part. This book also tends to skim the surface on so many topics. Take the role of women, for instance. It’s brushed over so briefly that I was left wanting more. This recurring theme of "mention but don't delve" gave me a sense of superficiality, like I was getting the CliffsNotes version instead of the full story.
Morris is diving into the dull stuff and skimming over the parts that build a realistic understanding of the everyday people and huge characters from this amazing story. This book had too many facts and not enough persona.
There's a way to present history that brings it alive, makes you feel like you're right there, living through the events. Unfortunately, Morris’s take felt more like a barrage of info rather than a vivid painting of the era.
In a nutshell? If you're a history scholar or someone who thrives on heavy academic reads, maybe give it a go. But if you're like me, looking for an engaging, in-depth introduction to the Anglo-Saxons, you might want to look elsewhere. This book just didn't do it for me.
November 30, 2022
The Anglo-Saxons by Marc Morris
https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-re...
One of my interests is Anglo-Saxon England. It's not an obsessive mania, but more of a romance, I guess. Anglo-Saxon England seems so familiar and so strange. The Anglo-Saxons inhabited land that students of history are very familiar with and they spoke "English," but their English is a completely different language and the cities and towns we know were just having their foundations laid down.
I listened to this as an audiobook. It was a very enjoyable experience. Not unlike the worldbuilding of a fantasy novel. The Anglo-Saxons arrived in the sixth century shortly after the end of the Roman era. They drive the Christian Celtic population west. They set up shop and divide into various powerful kingdoms - Kent, Mercia, Wessex, Northumbria, West Anglia etc. These kingdoms swapped power back and forth until the Danes arrived and did to them what they had done to the Britons.
This book does a good job of telling the story. The special "value added" in this book is that I think I got a better handle on the background that led to the replacement of Harald by William the Conqueror in 1066. The childless Edward the Confessor had spent his early life in exile in Normandy. He had come under the thumb of the Godwinson family. He probably had promised his throne to the Duke of Normandy because "why not?" He had no reason to love anyone in England.
Author Marc Morris does a good job of explaining the people and circumstances of the era. The characters come to life. I will say that I was surprised to learn how much slavery was a part of the Anglo Saxon culture, but there it was.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-re...
One of my interests is Anglo-Saxon England. It's not an obsessive mania, but more of a romance, I guess. Anglo-Saxon England seems so familiar and so strange. The Anglo-Saxons inhabited land that students of history are very familiar with and they spoke "English," but their English is a completely different language and the cities and towns we know were just having their foundations laid down.
I listened to this as an audiobook. It was a very enjoyable experience. Not unlike the worldbuilding of a fantasy novel. The Anglo-Saxons arrived in the sixth century shortly after the end of the Roman era. They drive the Christian Celtic population west. They set up shop and divide into various powerful kingdoms - Kent, Mercia, Wessex, Northumbria, West Anglia etc. These kingdoms swapped power back and forth until the Danes arrived and did to them what they had done to the Britons.
This book does a good job of telling the story. The special "value added" in this book is that I think I got a better handle on the background that led to the replacement of Harald by William the Conqueror in 1066. The childless Edward the Confessor had spent his early life in exile in Normandy. He had come under the thumb of the Godwinson family. He probably had promised his throne to the Duke of Normandy because "why not?" He had no reason to love anyone in England.
Author Marc Morris does a good job of explaining the people and circumstances of the era. The characters come to life. I will say that I was surprised to learn how much slavery was a part of the Anglo Saxon culture, but there it was.
June 8, 2021
For his latest book, Marc Morris has gone grander and earlier than anything he's done before. With 'The Anglo-Saxons', he takes on the massive task of covering the history of England from just before the fall of the Roman Empire in Britain all the way through to the coming of the Normans, 700 years later. Despite the daunting nature of it - getting to grips not just with the huge timescale but also the varying (and often sparse) evidence - he does it with aplomb. As always, his narrative style is engaging yet informative, and keeps the story to a decent pace. Although he quite rightly says in his introduction that he can't cover everything, and especially the historiography, he not only manages to include a vast array of people and events, but he also takes a clear and strongly argued stand on most of the important debates. As such, he makes an effective and accessible contribution to what has become a very fashionable era.
February 1, 2022
Concise and easy to read account of the years between the end of Roman occupation in Britain and the coming of William the conqueror. Sources are fragmentary and sometimes biased and the author has done a great job of picking the info apart and finding (as far as we can tell) the truth . This period can be confusing but they way it is written and put together makes is easy for a non academic to follow .
April 11, 2023
I’d have had Morris make different choices all over the place here: much less space for St Dunstan, and St Wilfrid, for example, and much more for Cnut and Edward the Confessor (the section of the last major chapter that focuses on the years of the Confessor’s reign is—and I suppose to be fair, the chapter title advertises this—far more an account of Harold Godwineson than of Edward). And I’d have liked Morris to solve the problem of the absence of women another way here. He devotes a couple of paragraphs in the introduction to this obviously massive issue, blaming the thin historical record and the consequent lack of any Anglo-Saxon woman who’s at the level of an Alfred or an AEthelred, and then he essentially never returns to the question after that. But he might have just gone for it and elevated AEthelflaed, Lady of the Mercians, to chapter-level focus. We know quite a bit about her, and there’s an argument for her vital importance to the formation of Anglo-Saxon England that’s every bit as reasonable as the claim for many of the ninth-century kings that we spend comparatively more time with here.
I’d have made those and other changes throughout, but all the same, in the end I can’t say anything seems seriously wrong with most of what he chooses to do here. Despite somewhat short shrift for Cnut (and, to a lesser extent, Harthacnut), Morris handles the Danish Conquest of 1016 as well as he handles the far better known and more thoroughly examined Norman one—and he does the latter with a surprising poignancy and storyteller’s grace. I spent a lot of time earlier on in some frustration with this book, then, but grew to admire it and consider it well worth the time by the end.
I’d have made those and other changes throughout, but all the same, in the end I can’t say anything seems seriously wrong with most of what he chooses to do here. Despite somewhat short shrift for Cnut (and, to a lesser extent, Harthacnut), Morris handles the Danish Conquest of 1016 as well as he handles the far better known and more thoroughly examined Norman one—and he does the latter with a surprising poignancy and storyteller’s grace. I spent a lot of time earlier on in some frustration with this book, then, but grew to admire it and consider it well worth the time by the end.
October 26, 2025
By 400, Roman rule, Roman culture, and Roman structures in Britain were largely in ruins. When Saxons came to stay, beginning around 430, they found the ruins of Roman society.
The majority Britons adopted the minority Saxon customs and language. Britons, formerly Celts, had been Romans for 300 years.
Saxons came from between the rivers Weser and Elbe in north Germany, that is, between Bremen and Hamburg, west of the Danish peninsula--not from what's now called Saxony, northwest of the Czech republic. p. 24. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saxons
865 Viking horde attacks Britain. Eventually rules north and east:
878-880 King Alfred and Danish warlord Guthrum divide England at a (concave-south) line from east of London to the northern reach of the Severn: Alfred's Anglo-Saxons--English--south and west (Wessex, Kent, Sussex, Surrey, Cornwall, western Mercia), Guthrum's Danes north and east (Northumbria, East Anglia, eastern Mercia). pp. 202, 221-223. There were probably more English under Danish rule than under Alfred's.
The majority Britons adopted the minority Saxon customs and language. Britons, formerly Celts, had been Romans for 300 years.
Saxons came from between the rivers Weser and Elbe in north Germany, that is, between Bremen and Hamburg, west of the Danish peninsula--not from what's now called Saxony, northwest of the Czech republic. p. 24. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saxons
865 Viking horde attacks Britain. Eventually rules north and east:
878-880 King Alfred and Danish warlord Guthrum divide England at a (concave-south) line from east of London to the northern reach of the Severn: Alfred's Anglo-Saxons--English--south and west (Wessex, Kent, Sussex, Surrey, Cornwall, western Mercia), Guthrum's Danes north and east (Northumbria, East Anglia, eastern Mercia). pp. 202, 221-223. There were probably more English under Danish rule than under Alfred's.
February 20, 2023
From this book I learned three essential and profound lessons:
1. When attempting to defend your shire from the invading, pillaging Vikings, your only hope is to pay them handsomely to go away or to stand and fight. Neither of these options are ever successful.
2. Taking a pilgrimage to Rome results in theft or death about seventy-five percent of the time.
3. All children of royal lineage should bear names with the prefix Æthel- (male and female alike).
These lessons will guide my actions henceforth and will, no doubt, assist me in the day of terror when the Vikings inevitably enact their doom upon me and my kin. May they assist you likewise, should that day befall you.
1. When attempting to defend your shire from the invading, pillaging Vikings, your only hope is to pay them handsomely to go away or to stand and fight. Neither of these options are ever successful.
2. Taking a pilgrimage to Rome results in theft or death about seventy-five percent of the time.
3. All children of royal lineage should bear names with the prefix Æthel- (male and female alike).
These lessons will guide my actions henceforth and will, no doubt, assist me in the day of terror when the Vikings inevitably enact their doom upon me and my kin. May they assist you likewise, should that day befall you.
May 27, 2021
I really enjoyed this book. Without giving too much away, it provides a great narrative from the early days of the Anglo-Saxons all through to the Norman Conquest. The author has a great way with words and I found it a pleasure to read.
July 4, 2022
I must admit that I was often overwhelmed by the seemingly endless number of people with names starting with Æ but, even so, Marc Morris' detailed (often bloodthirsty) account of the history of England from the end of Roman rule to the Norman Conquest was surprisingly engrossing.
March 20, 2024
A comprehensive and in depth, highly entertaining story of the majority of the movers and players of the Anglo-Saxon era, which leads on perfectly to one of Morris's earlier books, The Norman Conquest.
Not unexpectedly, this is the part of the Anglo-Saxon history he doesn't look at in quite as much detail, given he has a whole book on it.
For me, this is essential reading for anyone wanting to understand the period of time often referred to as The Dark Ages in which the old kings of England ruled, with very little physical sights or objects from the era to experience the history, this book is invaluable, the author having researched and put together the existing sources to give us the only overview a popular history fan could ever need about the Anglo Saxons.
A great book I will undoubtedly come back to again in the future and use for reference.
Not unexpectedly, this is the part of the Anglo-Saxon history he doesn't look at in quite as much detail, given he has a whole book on it.
For me, this is essential reading for anyone wanting to understand the period of time often referred to as The Dark Ages in which the old kings of England ruled, with very little physical sights or objects from the era to experience the history, this book is invaluable, the author having researched and put together the existing sources to give us the only overview a popular history fan could ever need about the Anglo Saxons.
A great book I will undoubtedly come back to again in the future and use for reference.
July 23, 2023
3.7 stars
April 8, 2022
This book was mostly boring and disappointing. Aside from a few infrequent sparks of interesting revelations, we have endless Aethael-reds, -freds, -balds, -stans, and weards--all with the eye-pleasing and sometimes confusing Old English AE--which I'm unable to reproduce here--attempting to control the islands we know today as England and Scotland, and Ireland.
Necessarily one of the most fascinating passages starts out the book, with a discussion of the Sutton Hoo treasure. This extraordinary find was made in 1939: an entire ship buried in the ground containing none other than... the Sutton Hoo helmet, and other fascinating relics, thought to be the tomb of an unknown king, who was buried therein amidships.
The book attempts the bridge the gap between the Roman Empire and the dawn of modern, or medieval, England, ca. 1066. As often happens when a historian attempts to cover hundreds of years in a single volume, the narrative is vague and uninspiring. It leans heavily, necessarily, on only what is known, leaving out vast fields of details. Moreover, with this particular book, there is a lot of fill-in-the-blank history. Much of it wasn't recorded so there is scholarly conjecture mixed in with basic who-the-hell-knows. Incessant Viking raids likely destroyed some of the precious little written/recorded history there was, while archaeology helps fill in some blanks and confirm or deny some guesswork.
After reading, I'm still a little confused as to the differentiation of Britons and Anglo-Saxons, other than their geographical settlement. These peoples settled all over southern and western England some time after the collapse and withdrawal of the Roman port-city of Lundinium (Morris uses an o rather than a u). Ironically, the Romans had actually engineered a far more advanced fort and trading post than their successors would for hundreds of years. And despite the lack of documented evidence, it's fascinating to think of the place we know as London as a deserted trading post, circa 450 to 550 AD: abandoned, fallen into disrepair, overrun with weeds in the roadways, remnants of a collapsed bridge across the Thames. Subsequently attempts to restart this primitive economy were constantly harried by Viking raids.
To the north, King Hadrian's Wall separated roughly what is now England and Scotland; the Picts (Scots) would sometimes raid the villages to the south as savagely as their Scandinavian counterparts.
Eventually, and somehow, this all morphed into what is now England, post-1066, via the Battle of Hastings. They're not called "the Dark Ages" for nothing.
With a strong, continual interest, this book is worth reading. It does put into perspective the evolution of this ancient landscape from monks, pagans, Christians, villagers, and petty kings into an eventually united kingdom.
Necessarily one of the most fascinating passages starts out the book, with a discussion of the Sutton Hoo treasure. This extraordinary find was made in 1939: an entire ship buried in the ground containing none other than... the Sutton Hoo helmet, and other fascinating relics, thought to be the tomb of an unknown king, who was buried therein amidships.
The book attempts the bridge the gap between the Roman Empire and the dawn of modern, or medieval, England, ca. 1066. As often happens when a historian attempts to cover hundreds of years in a single volume, the narrative is vague and uninspiring. It leans heavily, necessarily, on only what is known, leaving out vast fields of details. Moreover, with this particular book, there is a lot of fill-in-the-blank history. Much of it wasn't recorded so there is scholarly conjecture mixed in with basic who-the-hell-knows. Incessant Viking raids likely destroyed some of the precious little written/recorded history there was, while archaeology helps fill in some blanks and confirm or deny some guesswork.
After reading, I'm still a little confused as to the differentiation of Britons and Anglo-Saxons, other than their geographical settlement. These peoples settled all over southern and western England some time after the collapse and withdrawal of the Roman port-city of Lundinium (Morris uses an o rather than a u). Ironically, the Romans had actually engineered a far more advanced fort and trading post than their successors would for hundreds of years. And despite the lack of documented evidence, it's fascinating to think of the place we know as London as a deserted trading post, circa 450 to 550 AD: abandoned, fallen into disrepair, overrun with weeds in the roadways, remnants of a collapsed bridge across the Thames. Subsequently attempts to restart this primitive economy were constantly harried by Viking raids.
To the north, King Hadrian's Wall separated roughly what is now England and Scotland; the Picts (Scots) would sometimes raid the villages to the south as savagely as their Scandinavian counterparts.
Eventually, and somehow, this all morphed into what is now England, post-1066, via the Battle of Hastings. They're not called "the Dark Ages" for nothing.
With a strong, continual interest, this book is worth reading. It does put into perspective the evolution of this ancient landscape from monks, pagans, Christians, villagers, and petty kings into an eventually united kingdom.
May 31, 2022
I found this book very disappointing. The first two chapters are awful and I put the book down for months before finishing it. It gets more interesting and indeed there is a better book that could be written around the later Anglo-Saxon kings and the impact of the Norman Conquest.
The history in the book is based on literary sources, coinage and hoardes and archaeological evidence of certain towns and cities. The author is dismissive of DNA evidence and does not seek to use it at all. There is no climatic evidence or widespread geological evidence (other than Offa’s Dyke). There are no charts or tables throughout the book.
The author is clearly very knowledgeable and that leads to the disappointment. The book fails to live up to its title. It is a traditional history of the kings and queens of England and the Church. No attempt is made to better try and understand the wider people, what they did, how they lived. Scientific evidence is ignored ( not just climatic but disease history). Physical geographical knowledge is also not analysed. Why were the boundaries between the kingdoms where they were? Data that is in the author’s mind is not organised and documented to help the reader.
Hopefully, this book might ultimately inspire another author to try and provide a fuller history of the Anglo-Saxons.
The history in the book is based on literary sources, coinage and hoardes and archaeological evidence of certain towns and cities. The author is dismissive of DNA evidence and does not seek to use it at all. There is no climatic evidence or widespread geological evidence (other than Offa’s Dyke). There are no charts or tables throughout the book.
The author is clearly very knowledgeable and that leads to the disappointment. The book fails to live up to its title. It is a traditional history of the kings and queens of England and the Church. No attempt is made to better try and understand the wider people, what they did, how they lived. Scientific evidence is ignored ( not just climatic but disease history). Physical geographical knowledge is also not analysed. Why were the boundaries between the kingdoms where they were? Data that is in the author’s mind is not organised and documented to help the reader.
Hopefully, this book might ultimately inspire another author to try and provide a fuller history of the Anglo-Saxons.
September 15, 2022
This book was fantastic! Marc Morris covers 600 years of English history in a light, entertaining way that kept me engrossed throughout. There are a lot of kings and queens and bishops and place names, but all of it was presented in an orderly fashion that didn't overwhelm. It is a great book to get an overview of this huge period of English history.
August 10, 2021
Reasonable but forgettable.
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