The Anglo-Saxons : A History of the Beginnings of England: 400 – 1066

A definitive, ground-breaking history of the Anglo-Saxons by national bestselling author Marc Morris. Sixteen hundred years ago, Britain left the Roman Empire and fell swiftly into ruin. Grand cities and luxurious villas were deserted and left to crumble—and civil society collapsed into chaos. Into this violent and unstable world came foreign invaders from across the sea, and established themselves as its new masters. The Anglo-Saxons traces the turbulent history of these people across the next six centuries. It explains how their earliest rulers fought relentlessly against each other for glory and supremacy, and then were almost destroyed by the onslaught of the Vikings. It explores how they abandoned their old gods for Christianity, established hundreds of churches, and created dazzlingly intricate works of art. It charts the revival of towns, trade and the origins of a familiar landscape of shires, boroughs, and bishoprics. It is a tale of famous...M.F __________________ 'a Deep Dive Into One Of The Murkiest Periods Of Our National History ... Splendid' Dan Jones, Sunday Times 'an Absolute Masterpiece' Dan Snow 'a Rich Trove Of Ancient Wonders' Ian Mortimer __________________ Sixteen Hundred Years Ago Britain Left The Roman Empire And Swiftly Fell Into Ruin. Grand Cities And Luxurious Villas Were Deserted And Left To Crumble, And Civil Society Collapsed Into Chaos. Into This Violent And Unstable World Came Foreign Invaders From Across The Sea, And Established Themselves As Its New Masters. The Anglo-saxons Traces The Turbulent History Of These People Across The Next Six Centuries. It Explains How Their Earliest Rulers Fought Relentlessly Against Each Other For Glory And Supremacy, And Then Were Almost Destroyed By The Onslaught Of The Vikings. It Explores How They Abandoned Their Old Gods For Christianity, Established Hundreds Of Churches And Created Dazzlingly Intricate Works Of Art. It Charts The Revival Of Towns And Trade, And The Origins Of A Familiar Landscape Of Shires, Boroughs And Bishoprics. It Is A Tale Of Famous Figures Like King Offa, Alfred The Great And Edward The Confessor, But Also Features A Host Of Lesser Known Characters - Ambitious Queens, Revolutionary Saints, Intolerant Monks And Grasping Nobles. Through Their Remarkable Careers We See How A New Society, A New Culture And A Single Unified Nation Came Into Being. Drawing On A Vast Range Of Original Evidence - Chronicles, Letters, Archaeology And Artefacts - Renowned Historian Marc Morris Illuminates A Period Of History That Is Only Dimly Understood, Separates The Truth From The Legend, And Tells The Extraordinary Story Of How The Foundations Of England Were Laid. __________________ 'this Is Top-notch Narrative History ... A Big Gold Bar Of Delight, The Special Joy Of Which Is That The Florid World Of Anglo-saxon England Will Become Known To Many. As An Up-to-date, Accessible Narrative History Of The Period, I Know Of None Better.' Spectator A definitive, ground-breaking history of the Anglo-Saxons by national bestselling author Marc Morris. Sixteen hundred years ago, Britain parted company with Europe. As the Roman legions withdrew, the economy that had supported them collapsed. A world that had been peaceful, prosperous and predictable became dangerously insecure. Rich and poor huddled together for protection in ancient hill-forts, unoccupied since the Iron Age. Learning and literacy were lost; it is no exaggeration to call this a Dark Age. Into this ruined world came a new people'foreigners from beyond the Empire's northern frontier, collectively known as the Anglo-Saxons. Some were warriors, drawn into the internecine struggles between Britain's new tribal rulers. Most were economic migrants, in search of land to farm and a happier future. Arriving on the shores of southern and eastern Britain, in the centuries that followed they spread northwards and westwards, eventually occupying every lowland part of the island, and in the process they gradually built a new civilization. The Anglo-Saxonsis a quest forEngland's origins. It takes us from an alien world of slaves, temples, villas, druids, and amphorae, to a familiar landscape of shires and boroughs; from the worship of vanished gods like Thor and Woden to the veneration of saints who are still well-known; from a population who spoke Latin and Celtic to one whose language was recognizably the ancestor of the English that is spoken today. Marc Morris's invigorating narrative asks what we can really know of life in this lost age, and tackles controversial questions: Did the Anglo-Saxons drive the Romano-British into the fringes of the island, as traditional argued, or peacefully absorb them, as revisionist historians claim' It also explores the later legends that arose to fill the void, such as what truth is there, if any, in the tales of a British resistance led by a hero called Arthur' A sweeping and original history of the Anglo-Saxons by national bestselling author Marc Morris. Sixteen hundred years ago Britain left the Roman Empire and swiftly fell into ruin. Grand cities and luxurious villas were deserted and left to crumble, and civil society collapsed into chaos. Into this violent and unstable world came foreign invaders from across the sea, and established themselves as its new masters. The Anglo-Saxons traces the turbulent history of these people across the next six centuries. It explains how their earliest rulers fought relentlessly against each other for glory and supremacy, and then were almost destroyed by the onslaught of the vikings. It explores how they abandoned their old gods for Christianity, established hundreds of churches and created dazzlingly intricate works of art. It charts the revival of towns and trade, and the origins of a familiar landscape of shires, boroughs and bishoprics. It is a tale of famous figures like King Offa, Alfred the Great and Edward the Confessor, but also features a host of lesser known characters - ambitious queens, revolutionary saints, intolerant monks and grasping nobles. Through their remarkable careers we see how a new society, a new culture and a single unified nation came into being. Drawing on a vast range of original evidence - chronicles, letters, archaeology and artefacts - renowned historian Marc Morris illuminates a period of history that is only dimly understood, separates the truth from the legend, and tells the extraordinary story of how the foundations of England were laid. "Sixteen hundred years ago Britain left the Roman Empire and swiftly fell into ruin. Grand cities and luxurious villas were deserted and left to crumble--and civil society collapsed into chaos. Into this violent and unstable world came foreign invaders from across the sea, and established themselves as its new masters. The Anglo-Saxons traces the turbulent history of these people across the next six centuries. It explains how their earliest rulers fought relentlessly against each other for glory and supremacy, and then were almost destroyed by the onslaught of the Vikings. It explores how they abandoned their old gods for Christianity, established hundreds of churches and created dazzlingly intricate works of art. This authoritative narrative charts the revival of towns and trade, as well as the origins of a familiar landscape of shires, boroughs and bishoprics. The Anglo-Saxons is a tale of famous figures like King Offa, Alfred the Great and Edward the Confessor, but the book also features a host of lesser known characters--ambitious queens, revolutionary saints, intolerant monks and grasping nobles. Through their remarkable careers we see how a new society, a new culture and a single unified nation came into being"--Dust jacket flap 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