Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Plus, get an extra £5 Gift Certificate when you trade in books worth £10 or more before June 30, 2012. Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. |
Frequently Bought Together
Product details
|
Product Description
Good Book Guide, July 1, 2006
'This is an excellent assessment of a vital historical epoch from one of our most respected medievalists'
Product Description
Starting AD 400 (around the time of their invasion of England) and running through to the 1100s (the 'Aftermath'), historian Geoffrey Hindley shows the Anglo-Saxons as formative in the history not only of England but also of Europe. The society inspired by the warrior world of the Old English poem "Beowulf" saw England become the world's first nation state and Europe's first country to conduct affairs in its own language, and Bede and Boniface of Wessex establish the dating convention we still use today. Including all the latest research, this is a fascinating assessment of a vital historical period.
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
21 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Hindley's book brings to the reader's attention the much-undervalued contribution the Anglo-Saxons invaders/settlers made to England. The period of Anglo-Saxon dominance is usually dismissed as something of a non-event in terms of the development of the nation, sandwiched between the great Roman & Norman invasions that are thought to have brought civilisation to the English and rescued them from the `dark ages.' However, by the time William the Conquerer came to the throne Hindley shows us that he had actually inherited rather than created the most efficient administrative structure in the whole of Europe.
Hindley tells us of the progress the Anglo-Saxons made in bringing about a concept of `Englishness' amongst all the initially separate kingdoms of England with the concept of 'Bretwalda,' a king who had supreme recognised authority over all the kingdoms of England. The setting up of a king's Navy by Alfred the Great and his preservation of the kingdom of Wessex which saved the Anglo-Saxon civilisation from oblivion at the hands of the Vikings. The contribution of the Anglo-Saxons to language, law, literature and bringing Christianity to Europe in the form of missionaries is impressive; this book highlights a wide range of achievements and as the previous reviewer states the book is anything but brief.
Hindley tells us of the progress the Anglo-Saxons made in bringing about a concept of `Englishness' amongst all the initially separate kingdoms of England with the concept of 'Bretwalda,' a king who had supreme recognised authority over all the kingdoms of England. The setting up of a king's Navy by Alfred the Great and his preservation of the kingdom of Wessex which saved the Anglo-Saxon civilisation from oblivion at the hands of the Vikings. The contribution of the Anglo-Saxons to language, law, literature and bringing Christianity to Europe in the form of missionaries is impressive; this book highlights a wide range of achievements and as the previous reviewer states the book is anything but brief.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
In "A Brief History of the Anglo Saxons" Geoffrey Hindley provides a fascinating and extremely readable account of the formation of the English nation. The author manages to give a compelling account of how England, and Englishness developed in this confusing and complex time. He argues (convincingly in my view) that Anglo Saxon England was the most advanced nation in Europe with its dominance of the Church; it use of language and writing; and its effective structures of government.
This is essential reading if you are even remotley interested in how England was born. A great book. I am now going to read the author's "Brief History of the Magna Carta": I expect something equally fascinating.
This is essential reading if you are even remotley interested in how England was born. A great book. I am now going to read the author's "Brief History of the Magna Carta": I expect something equally fascinating.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I recently finished wading through this after getting it at christmas, usually when i enjoy a book, esp a history book i'll be done in a few days, but this was really hard work. It's hard to pin down exactly what is wrong here, there is lots of information for such a short book, but i didn't really feel like i'd learnt much new. Perhaps it's the lack of maps (possibly due to a lack of clear evidence of locations for events), or the rather heavy-going chapters on the Church. I wanted to get some feel of what had happened to the Britons with the arrival of the Saxons, or the Saxons with the arrival of the Normans, but still haven't gained much understanding. The style of writing is very hard going, as well, long boring sentences with few breaks. On the other hand it is very well researched, and i enjoyed the chapter on Alfred the Great. Overall though, disappointing, and probably best avoided. I'm sure there must be a good introductory book on the Anglo-Saxons, but this isn't it.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Lots of info but badly put together
Let me start by saying that the book contains a lot of information and seems to be a nice addition to create an insight into this period of history. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Dutchottie
Very comprehensive in some chapters less in others and really heavy...
I find it difficult to give this book a negative review as I learned a great deal from it (that is why I gave the book three stars). Read more
Published 8 months ago by Castor
avoid it
i bought his book for my holiday for the 8 hour flight and i was really, really looking forward to it, but it was a huge dissapoinment. i could not get on with this book at all. Read more
Published 20 months ago by A. Farrow
Disappointing
If you want an entertaining yet informative and intelligent introduction to the Anglo-Saxons I recommend avoiding this book altogether and buying "in search of the dark ages" by... Read more
Published on 22 Mar 2010 by I. J. Sutton
Heavy Going
If you want an easily readable 'brief history' of the Anglo-Saxons, as I did, this is not the book for you. Read more
Published on 15 Sep 2009 by Paul M. Wright
Readable, balanced and informative
This is a very readable and informative overview of the Anglo-Saxons. It incorporates recent research and archaeological discoveries, and covers political, military,... Read more
Published on 8 Jun 2009 by M. F. Cayley
Brief history?
Despite the book being about 400 pages long, it is still a very informative read. The book begins with Roman departure from Britain and ends with the aftermath of the Norman... Read more
Published on 15 Nov 2008 by Mr X
How England Began!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is a fantastic book telling the story where the English came from (Saxons=Germany and Angles=Denmark) and how we formed a country called England. Read more
Published on 22 April 2008 by Angelcynn
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
|
