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The Anglo-Saxon World
Had the Angles and Saxons not purposefully migrated to the isles of the Britons and brought with them their already-well-developed use of language, Angelina Jolie may never have appeared in the movie Beowulf.
Professor Michael D.C. Drout is at his best when lecturing on the fascinating history, language, and societal adaptations of the Anglo-Saxons. He not only presents their storytelling abilities using their own words; he does so in their own voice - the incredibly melodious Old English. (Publisher's description) 7hrs. 50 mins.
Professor Michael D.C. Drout is at his best when lecturing on the fascinating history, language, and societal adaptations of the Anglo-Saxons. He not only presents their storytelling abilities using their own words; he does so in their own voice - the incredibly melodious Old English. (Publisher's description) 7hrs. 50 mins.
Audiobook
Published January 1, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
November 22, 2020
What a pleasure to listen to this series of lectures! Drout covers the history of the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes, beginning with their migration into Britain. Drout’s love for this culture really shines through, and his excitement is both genuine and contagious. If his goal was to teach history, he succeeded; if his goal was to get people excited, well, he succeeded there, too. A few of the events he described were things I’d read about before, but he put a unique spin on them. For example, I had already read about the custom of passing a lyre around a hall so that people could take turns singing. But Drout made me laugh when he described this as “Medieval Karaoke Night” and then added the disclaimer, “I am not making this up.” What a fun way of looking at it! It’s so lovely when the author’s personality shines through.
He describes different facets of Anglo-Saxon life, from the extreme amount of labor that was involved in making a book, to the relatively poor living conditions of the masses, to the king who lamented that most of his people never bothered to learn a language other than English. Drout tells of the heroes and the idiots who shaped the course of British history, and he traces the development of certain ideas and practices across the centuries. He traces the fall of this culture, which was conquered and, in many respects, completely destroyed by William.
My two favorite elements of this lecture series are both literary. I enjoyed learning about King Alfred, who pushed for books in the vernacular, who fostered increased literacy among his subjects and his court, and who worked as both translator and author. And I absolutely adored Drout’s in-depth look at a variety of works of literature. Not just Beowulf—although that is, of course, the subject of one lecture—but also many of the great works of that period. “The Wanderer,” “The Seafarer,” “Judith” (he uses the phrase “Braveheart speech” to describe this warrior woman), religious poetry, wisdom poems, “The Dream of the Rood,” King Alfred’s writings, and more: Drout paints a vivid portrait of these and other writings, and he offers in-depth literary analysis. As if that weren’t enough, he also reads from these texts in the original Old English, which is such a beautiful and melodic language.
All in all, highly informative. A well-rounded picture of many different elements of this particular history and culture.
He describes different facets of Anglo-Saxon life, from the extreme amount of labor that was involved in making a book, to the relatively poor living conditions of the masses, to the king who lamented that most of his people never bothered to learn a language other than English. Drout tells of the heroes and the idiots who shaped the course of British history, and he traces the development of certain ideas and practices across the centuries. He traces the fall of this culture, which was conquered and, in many respects, completely destroyed by William.
My two favorite elements of this lecture series are both literary. I enjoyed learning about King Alfred, who pushed for books in the vernacular, who fostered increased literacy among his subjects and his court, and who worked as both translator and author. And I absolutely adored Drout’s in-depth look at a variety of works of literature. Not just Beowulf—although that is, of course, the subject of one lecture—but also many of the great works of that period. “The Wanderer,” “The Seafarer,” “Judith” (he uses the phrase “Braveheart speech” to describe this warrior woman), religious poetry, wisdom poems, “The Dream of the Rood,” King Alfred’s writings, and more: Drout paints a vivid portrait of these and other writings, and he offers in-depth literary analysis. As if that weren’t enough, he also reads from these texts in the original Old English, which is such a beautiful and melodic language.
All in all, highly informative. A well-rounded picture of many different elements of this particular history and culture.
July 15, 2017
A really excellent overview of Anglo-Saxon culture, literature, and language. I enjoy Michael Drout's style and the way he connects the subject to modern culture (mostly in the last class but occasionally he does it elsewhere).
I picked this up because not only do I like Drout but I was thinking of Tolkien's love of Anglo-Saxon culture which, of course, you see some of in The Lord of the Rings. To my own delight I wound up admiring the Anglo-Saxons for themselves. And since I'm right in the middle of reading Ivanhoe, I was excited whenever Walter Scott began talking about Anglo-Saxon culture and I know the names and history!
Quite enjoyable and informative.
I picked this up because not only do I like Drout but I was thinking of Tolkien's love of Anglo-Saxon culture which, of course, you see some of in The Lord of the Rings. To my own delight I wound up admiring the Anglo-Saxons for themselves. And since I'm right in the middle of reading Ivanhoe, I was excited whenever Walter Scott began talking about Anglo-Saxon culture and I know the names and history!
Quite enjoyable and informative.
November 10, 2017
This was an enjoyable audiobook of lectures about how the Anglo-Saxons came to England and what was accomplished by the Anglo-Saxon kings. It includes a lecture explaining the Anglo-Saxon language, also known as Old English and a lecture explaining how the Anglo-Saxon reign came to an end in 1066 when William the Conqueror arrives from France. One of the interesting tidbits was Thomas Jefferson's love of the Anglo-Saxon and how Jefferson designed a coat-of-arms for America that was based on Anglo-Saxon history (it was rejected for the Eagle). It was interesting history.
April 11, 2019
For a while now, I've been really interested in indigenous cultures, particularly Amerindian. Studying that got me thinking about my own ancient roots, as the something generational child of immigrants, I've been inclined to think that I don't have one which is untrue. I have ancient roots, ancient mythologies and histories as much as any other group, I've just been cut off from them because of that migration. So I took up interest in my Celtic ancestry, mainly Gaelic Scotland, and less so my English ancestry. I think that had to do with its already common usage in historical fiction and fantasy, its connection to white supremacy, and general feeling of plainness.
But boy was I wrong. Well, there is truth to those concerns, but only a kernel. White supremacist misappropriation Anglo-Saxon heritage is misguided. It's blaming the ancient peoples for something they had no special involvement in. They were essentially vikings that settled instead of raided. They mixed in with the British Celts and Roman leftovers, but carried on with their worship of Woden and METAL-like culture. There is a rich history and mythology there, and plus the language sounds awesome. They treated women well, comparatively as far as ancient-medieval cultures go. They were badass and poetic.
And that's one of the best things about this lecturer. Drout, whom I've listened to before, is not only a great orator in general, he's funny, informative, and easy to follow. But he also gives us numerous readings in the original languages as they most likely would've sounded back then. We get a really good sense of their thinking and livelihood here. His purpose is to rehabilitate Anglo-Saxons in our minds and he really did that for me. I need to rewatch Lord of the Rings now, and Beowulf, and get more into Norse mythology and history. LOVED this series.
But boy was I wrong. Well, there is truth to those concerns, but only a kernel. White supremacist misappropriation Anglo-Saxon heritage is misguided. It's blaming the ancient peoples for something they had no special involvement in. They were essentially vikings that settled instead of raided. They mixed in with the British Celts and Roman leftovers, but carried on with their worship of Woden and METAL-like culture. There is a rich history and mythology there, and plus the language sounds awesome. They treated women well, comparatively as far as ancient-medieval cultures go. They were badass and poetic.
And that's one of the best things about this lecturer. Drout, whom I've listened to before, is not only a great orator in general, he's funny, informative, and easy to follow. But he also gives us numerous readings in the original languages as they most likely would've sounded back then. We get a really good sense of their thinking and livelihood here. His purpose is to rehabilitate Anglo-Saxons in our minds and he really did that for me. I need to rewatch Lord of the Rings now, and Beowulf, and get more into Norse mythology and history. LOVED this series.
April 1, 2023
4.5 stars. This instructor is awesome. It feels very engaging to listen to him. His passion and humor come through clearly as he discusses AngloSaxon history and language. This prompted me to study up on some of the items he mentioned throughout this lecture. (Especially curious about John Foxe and the other John info…I need to research that.)
Ultimately, I’d gladly listen to another one of his lectures!
Ultimately, I’d gladly listen to another one of his lectures!
December 12, 2024
PHENOMENAL. Absolutely loved these lectures and will definitely listen again!
January 31, 2025
These lectures are great for someone like me who knows a little about the subject, but wants a better footing in Anglo-Saxon culture, history and literature. The lectures are informative and the passion and wit of the lecturer shine through. I learned a fair amount here that will inform my TBR pile on Anglo-Saxon royalty and literature in future.
September 25, 2013
I "read" this as an audio book by the author and it was great fun. He is a real scholar and brought the dark ages/medieval world of the Anglo Saxons alive. We learn where they came from, how their language changes with time and invasions and what their culture was like. In addition his style was scholary but wildly animated and fun. I want to find more of his stuff.
February 25, 2016
Fascinating material taught by a dynamic professor who obviously loves the topic. I'd give it 4.5 stars if I could, but don't want to give it 5 stars since it's not the most exciting topic in the world--in spite of the fact that it's very well done. If you're looking for an introduction to Anglo-Saxon history, this would be a great place to start.
January 29, 2018
The Angles, Saxons and Jutes migrated from what is now southern Denmark and northern Germany to what is now England in the sixth century A.D. There, they intermarried and mixed with the existing Romano-British to form the Anglo-Saxon culture, which dominated the land until the Norman conquest in 1066. There were five phases of the culture:
• Migration to England, possibly prompted by sea level rise during the Medieval warm period.
• Conversion from paganism to Christianity. Christianity was already established in England, but the conversion of the Angles, Saxons and Jutes featured a blending of Latin and Irish Christianity and generated a form of monasticism that was unique relative to mainland Europe.
• A golden age of culture and literature in which the intellectual life rivaled anything in mainland Europe. An example of this intellectualism included the Venerable Bede.
• A century of Viking raids that decimated and destroyed various Anglo-Saxon kingdoms. Many of the raiders settled in England, bringing their own contribution to the Anglo-Saxon culture.
• A reform period which began with the defeat of the Viking raiders and featured a second lesser golden age. Toward the end, inept leadership and dynastic rivalries resulted in Danish rule before the Norman conquest.
In this lecture series, Professor Drout covers these phases of Anglo-Saxon history, the Norman conquest, Anglo-Saxon literature and language, and perceptions of the Anglo-Saxons in subsequent history up to the present. There were two points that intrigued me. The first was the existence in the historical record of various individuals featured in Beowulf. The second was the changing popular perception of the Anglo-Saxons and different uses of Anglo-Saxon history and culture for polemic purposes:
• During the Reformation, English Protestants argued that Anglo-Saxon Christianity featured Protestant values and doctrines and that the Norman conquest corrupted it.
• Thomas Jefferson believed that the Anglo-Saxons had a democratic culture and sought affinities between that culture and the new American system of government.
• Queen Victoria and her consort Prince Albert were German, prompting the English to value all things German, including their own Anglo-Saxon heritage.
• After World War II, Nazism caused people to associate Germany with racism and genocide. The Germanic Anglo-Saxon culture became guilty by association.
• In the U.S., some appealed to the ideal of the pure Anglo-Saxon race, causing Anglo-Saxon culture to fall out of favor.
In other words, the legacy this culture was at the mercy of the whims of whatever cultural ideas were dominant at any given time. Whatever the Anglo-Saxons had actually been didn’t matter; rather, whatever the dominant culture wanted them to have been to support their agenda was what tended to matter.
In most, if not all of the lectures, Professor Drout would read some excerpt in Anglo-Saxon and then translate it into English. I have to admit that his accent sometimes reminded me of Gru from Despicable Me. Furthermore, I could detect an undercurrent of humor and sometimes wondered if he might break out in song, something like:
Hey Jute, don’t take it bad that no one remembers you except for history geeks.
Of course, I jest. He appeared very knowledgeable and showed great skill in keeping arcane material interesting.
• Migration to England, possibly prompted by sea level rise during the Medieval warm period.
• Conversion from paganism to Christianity. Christianity was already established in England, but the conversion of the Angles, Saxons and Jutes featured a blending of Latin and Irish Christianity and generated a form of monasticism that was unique relative to mainland Europe.
• A golden age of culture and literature in which the intellectual life rivaled anything in mainland Europe. An example of this intellectualism included the Venerable Bede.
• A century of Viking raids that decimated and destroyed various Anglo-Saxon kingdoms. Many of the raiders settled in England, bringing their own contribution to the Anglo-Saxon culture.
• A reform period which began with the defeat of the Viking raiders and featured a second lesser golden age. Toward the end, inept leadership and dynastic rivalries resulted in Danish rule before the Norman conquest.
In this lecture series, Professor Drout covers these phases of Anglo-Saxon history, the Norman conquest, Anglo-Saxon literature and language, and perceptions of the Anglo-Saxons in subsequent history up to the present. There were two points that intrigued me. The first was the existence in the historical record of various individuals featured in Beowulf. The second was the changing popular perception of the Anglo-Saxons and different uses of Anglo-Saxon history and culture for polemic purposes:
• During the Reformation, English Protestants argued that Anglo-Saxon Christianity featured Protestant values and doctrines and that the Norman conquest corrupted it.
• Thomas Jefferson believed that the Anglo-Saxons had a democratic culture and sought affinities between that culture and the new American system of government.
• Queen Victoria and her consort Prince Albert were German, prompting the English to value all things German, including their own Anglo-Saxon heritage.
• After World War II, Nazism caused people to associate Germany with racism and genocide. The Germanic Anglo-Saxon culture became guilty by association.
• In the U.S., some appealed to the ideal of the pure Anglo-Saxon race, causing Anglo-Saxon culture to fall out of favor.
In other words, the legacy this culture was at the mercy of the whims of whatever cultural ideas were dominant at any given time. Whatever the Anglo-Saxons had actually been didn’t matter; rather, whatever the dominant culture wanted them to have been to support their agenda was what tended to matter.
In most, if not all of the lectures, Professor Drout would read some excerpt in Anglo-Saxon and then translate it into English. I have to admit that his accent sometimes reminded me of Gru from Despicable Me. Furthermore, I could detect an undercurrent of humor and sometimes wondered if he might break out in song, something like:
Hey Jute, don’t take it bad that no one remembers you except for history geeks.
Of course, I jest. He appeared very knowledgeable and showed great skill in keeping arcane material interesting.
December 14, 2017
An excellent lecture series on England centering on the period 500-1066 AD with a some development of later trends and usages after the conquest and collapse resulting from the Norman invasion.
One point of interest is Prof Drout is a literary specialist not history. It reminded me of a course I took many years ago on the British history in WWI that concentrated on the literature coming out of the trenches. History through language is an approach that allows for a new insight, and you get much of that here.
Prof Drout is very enthusiastic about his subject but he does not confine his inquires solely the technical aspects of his specific expertise. He brings in points from all around to help illustrate a fascinating culture and period. He is quick to point out where disagreements lie, where something might just be a flight of fancy and what is really known. In addition we see how techniques, knowledge, understanding have evolved, advanced, improved and changed.
As a final point, the lectures don't have to be the final point. Prof Drout has made available, as part of his normal work, a series of websites that provide a wider, deeper resource for those who wish to delve into the Anglo-Saxon language and world.
One point of interest is Prof Drout is a literary specialist not history. It reminded me of a course I took many years ago on the British history in WWI that concentrated on the literature coming out of the trenches. History through language is an approach that allows for a new insight, and you get much of that here.
Prof Drout is very enthusiastic about his subject but he does not confine his inquires solely the technical aspects of his specific expertise. He brings in points from all around to help illustrate a fascinating culture and period. He is quick to point out where disagreements lie, where something might just be a flight of fancy and what is really known. In addition we see how techniques, knowledge, understanding have evolved, advanced, improved and changed.
As a final point, the lectures don't have to be the final point. Prof Drout has made available, as part of his normal work, a series of websites that provide a wider, deeper resource for those who wish to delve into the Anglo-Saxon language and world.
March 8, 2021
Michael Drout is an engaging( and sometimes cheeky) lecturer in grammar and literature and the Anglo Saxon World exhibits his strengths. His topics range from Thomas Jefferson ( an admirer of the Anglo Saxons who wanted to put Anglo Saxon ancient heroes on the Great Seal of the United States) to the history of Germanic languages, to his favorite Alfred the Great.His lectures on Anglo Saxon literature, especially on Beowulf ,are particularly good and he pays due homage to J R R Tolkien perhaps the greatest scholar on Anglo Saxon culture( as Lord of the Rings shows.Drout has a lecture series on Tolkien too).Drout ranges widely and every one of his 14 lectures has connections that surprised me though I have read the Venerable Bede and the Anglo Saxon Chronicle. Excellent start for those who want to go beyond the Last Kingdom TV series.
July 23, 2017
After becoming a star-struck fan of Alfred the Great from reading in "The White Horse King," I dove into listening to this fascinating lecture series. Before listening, I didn't understand what and who they were or their language. Now, I have an enriched understanding of that past and how it affects literature, our modern English, those notorious Vikings, and most certainly, that Lord of the Rings movie series that I once watched.
I recommend this to even high schoolers wanting a deeper understanding of that era of Europe (500-1066 AD). English history is complicated, but worth it, and this helps greatly. Don't forget, dear listeners, MCGVR.
I recommend this to even high schoolers wanting a deeper understanding of that era of Europe (500-1066 AD). English history is complicated, but worth it, and this helps greatly. Don't forget, dear listeners, MCGVR.
September 19, 2025
The Anglo Saxon World by Michael Drout is an excellent tour of Anglo-Saxon England. There's a lot to like here, and the work is pretty damn solid. This is Drout's field of specialization, and you can tell how much he's into this. You'll do a tour of the Anglo Saxon geographic and political context, an overview of its history from the initial conquest of Britain to the aftermath of William the Conqueror, and then a foray into significant pieces of Anglo-Saxon literature (which goes well beyond Beowolf, although Drout's a very big fan of that work). Its one of the better done Modern Scholar courses, and pairs well with his earlier work on the Vikings.
August 25, 2022
A fantastic lecture series going over the cultural and religious evolution of the English people from the early Anglo-Saxon invasion of Britain through the Norman invasion. Lots of great insights on the conversion process, poetic and literary developments, and great mytho-historic figures like Hengist, Horsa, Cædmon, and Alfred the Great.
I would say the series loses a bit of steam once he gets into the post Norman period, some personal biases in favor or against certain groups and their interpretation of the Anglo-Saxon era become very clear.
Would highly recommend.
I would say the series loses a bit of steam once he gets into the post Norman period, some personal biases in favor or against certain groups and their interpretation of the Anglo-Saxon era become very clear.
Would highly recommend.
January 28, 2019
So I have been watching the Vikings and it came to the part where the Vikings are invading the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms. I decided to read some sources to have a better understanding of the Anglo-Saxon world. I picked up this book mostly expecting to learn about the historical aspect but the literature and whole cultural part was very interesting as well. Overall, I liked the book. It had answers to many of the questions I had.
March 5, 2024
This series of lectures was such a treat! Professor Drout, an excellent and natural educator, offers a fascinating review of Anglo-Saxon history and explains why Anglo-Saxons are so often misunderstood and misrepresented. "The Anglo-Saxon World" is a brilliant course, and I can't wait to learn more from Professor Drout.
December 21, 2025
Bought this audiobook on a whim and found it a brilliant overview of the Anglo Saxon period. The lecturer is enthusiastic and lively giving a lot of energy and a different take than typical academics on the subject.
Highly recommend for anyone interested in this era of history.
Highly recommend for anyone interested in this era of history.
September 24, 2017
Highly recommended for anyone interested in Anglo-Saxon literature.
April 4, 2019
Loved this!
June 6, 2019
I have enjoyed the historical part, not so much the anglo-saxon literature´s chapters. Still, a very interesting 'class' and engaging professor.
August 17, 2019
This was excellent. A lot to take in for one go but I'll be revisiting for certain.
October 22, 2019
Very informative and fun teaching style that will keep you listening.
February 2, 2020
Professor Drout obviously loves the world of the Anglo-Saxons. Very informative, provocative and engaging lectures. I’ll need to listen again at some point.
April 5, 2021
Too basic...
February 20, 2022
A series of lectures on the Anglo-Saxon-Jute world (500 - 1066) and beyond. Fascinating and the professor/reader clearly loves what he does. Beowolf to Angelina Jolie.
June 2, 2025
As it is a lecture series it is not read but listened to. Wanted to document here for future reference.
An excellent lecture series. Drout is such a gem.
An excellent lecture series. Drout is such a gem.
July 20, 2025
A lecture series on the Anglo-Saxons and their importance in English history. A very informative series of lectures. I learned much I was unaware of.
July 30, 2025
Great, relatively concise review of Anglo-Saxon History, Culture, and Literature; a fantastic survey that is light enough to not be imposing, but deep enough (especially at certain points) to really give a sense of the richness of this world and the breadth of scholarship on the subject. The MCGVR timeline shorthand is a wonderful rule of thumb schematic for thinking of the history, the historiographic overview of Anglo-Saxon and Anglo-Saxon studies in the final lectures are gold, and the Old English Narrations that Drout does althroughout the lectures are an irreplaceable way of being thrust into the time period. Granted, Drout does spend particular attention on literary and linguistic heritage - I didn't mind this one bit, but if you're looking for a more political summary of the period, with more attention given to rulers and kingdoms, and in a similarly very accessible but substantial style, might I suggest the "Ten Minute English and British History" episodes on YouTube by the channel History Matters. I had that background coming into these lectures, and I was pleased with how they complimented with each other.
February 10, 2017
This is both informative and exciting. It makes this reader want to study more Anglo-Saxon.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews