The Anglo-Saxons: A History of the Beginnings of England: 400 – 1066 Paperback – June 14, 2022

I am a retired history enthusiast and am particularly fond of the early story of Britain (up to The Conquest). I bought this book based on reviews and recommendations that are already on site. I have found the narrative easy to follow, unlike so many other books I have read. I am in no way a scholar or historian, and I can't comment in any way on the accuracy of the book. But it is what I would term an "easy read" and certainly a great choice for someone interested in this era. He lays out the confusing procession of kings and kingdoms very well and much more clearly than anything I have ever found. So, if you are looking for a good read and have an interest in this era of history, I would highly recommend this book. It is a page turner in the best senses.

Thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish. The first book I have read by Marc Morris and it will not be the last! The writing style is engaging and takes a subject which has potential to be very dry to a very realistic and human place. Loved the history and now feel that I have such a better understanding of the spanning period. I wish I had learnt more of this at school, and can’t understand why we only really did the Normans onwards! Would love to have Morris write something that was more social history based, what was life like for everyday people during this period, although not sure if there is enough evidence for that! Highly recommend the book, I could not put it down.

This author and book progresses through the Anglo - Saxon kingdoms and kings, the bloody revolts, tumult and falls of the many kings from the 5th century to the 11th century. The author does so with some clarity but without making overbroad claims for developments accomplishments and significant historical events as he progresses through history. He captures well the dichotomy and competition between Irish Catholicism and Catholicism imported from the continent, the split between monks and clerics--many of these conflicts carried into more modern history and helped shape the religious landscape of England to the present (spoiler: the Irish and the monks lost). I enjoyed this book, it filled a gap in my knowledge, as history, while giving some play to Alfred the Great, Harold Godwinson and Harold Hardrata, largely jumps from the fall of Rome to William the Conqueror. This history even informed my own genealogical studies (my family starts in Whitby). I was surprised that the epithet Aethelred the Unready may mean something different than we think. A kings list added as an appendix might have been useful, otherwise a good read.

This book provided insights that I, as an Englishman (maybe more appropriately a Briton), found engaging and fascinating. I had no idea that there were three successful invasions of England - Roman and Norman, and a third I will let the readers discover. It gives a clear view of the history and the underlying politics, of which there was much, but thee are some areas that out of necessity were overlooked or reduced. The two areas I would like to understand better are the conquests of the Britons, and the level of artistry shown by the artifacts from those days. I could not reconcile the level of sophistication of the books and jewelry with the often dangerous times they lived in. But perhaps that is for another book. As for this one, grab your favorite drink, be prepared to wince at all the similar names you will read, and be prepared for a good read. The centuries gallop by all too fast.

This audio book was something of a surprise, I wanted material to flesh out what I’m learning from Bernard Cornwall’s series (The Last Kingdom) but it has proven to be so much more than I had hoped for - Marc Morris has done a lovely job covering every aspect of Britain before the Saxons arrived and then their impact, including cultural as well as political, religious, demographics and societal.The performance by Roy McMillan is also wonderful, and anyone who listens to audio books will tell you the wrong voice or one that is jarring, speaks too quickly or too leisurely, can ruin even the best work.Kudo’s too to the packaging, which is well thought out, each ccd is secure and safely enclosed - they should last forever!I’ve listened to most of the series already but I will return to it did a second listen, many details (like the equally fine audio by Neil Oliver’s the Story of the British Isles in a 100 Places) are absorbed and take ones attention to the loss of the next three of four points being made!Morris and his collaborator, McMillan, produced an excellent overview, and in many places, the ‘deep dive’ into the Saxon experience in Britain before the Normans (yes, there was a Britain before the Normans!)