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David Horspool, Daily Telegraph
‘Harriet O’Brien recreates this intriguing and complex world with skill and imagination'
Review
'Harriet O'Brien recreates this intriguing and complex world with skill and imagination' David Horspool, Daily Telegraph 'O'Brien's story is a dramatic one, and her Queen Emma a commanding, shrewd and manipulative figure ... genuinely powerful' Guardian 'The story of a determined, manipulative and forceful woman ... the account of her life reveals England as a rich nation with strong Christian tradition' History Today 'This is a lean and muscular narrative, often elegantly so ... She gives a potent reminder of how pivotal a role women could play even in such an ostensibly macho society - and of how contingent an entity England really is' Helen Castor, Guardian
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
54 of 55 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Naturally, it's very hard to gain much in-depth knowledge on women in history from this era, but thanks to Queen Emma having commissioned a book in her lifetime a lot more light has been shed on the woman.
The author has produced an absolutely fascinating book, with obvious passion on the subject and extensive research of documents and chronicles. When only a couple of chapters into the book the reader feels immediately sucked into the 11th Century.
The writing style is excellent. Each chapter starts off with the author setting the scene/event as if you are seeing it through the eyes of a witness at the time. Then the majority of the chapter following these introductions examines all the available evidence theories and political machinations, while all the while placing things in context to Emma.
This isn't normally a period of history I read about, but the background information on Emma alone inspires the reader to delve deeper. Queen to King Aethelred II(Unready), Queen to King Cnut, mother to King Harthacnut, mother to King Edward the Confessor, and Great Aunt to William the Conqueror. That's an amazing profile and she was indeed an amazing woman of her time.
History fans of all eras will find this book of great interest, and as the book is written in a very accessible style it can be enjoyed by all levels of history fan.
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I concur absolutely with the previous review. An excellent book, informative and beautifully written. Essential reading for any interested in the period, the author clears the murk that so often fogs the 10th / 11th centuries. My Granddaughters were fascinated to learn the origin of 'London Bridge is falling down, my Fair Lady'. Very highly recommend - you will not be disappointed!
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This is a meticulously researched and superbly written work that is more enjoyable to read than many novels. Harriet O'Brien's prose style slips effortlessly along carrying the reader with it as a viking longship might fearlessly plough the waves deftly dealing with every nuance of the sea. Not only does she deal tellingly with a much neglected period of English history, she also brings it to life in a vividly entertaining manner giving the reader a real feel of what life was like in those far off days.
Best of all, we are led into realising how important a woman's influence could still be in an age when the role of women was becoming more and more side-lined into subservience to men. When we realise that Emma was wife to two kings of England, mother of two kings of England and great aunt to a third, we also come to realise that this is a record unsurpassed by anyone else in the history of the nation. Here is a woman to be ranked as equally important alongside William the Conqueror.
We can only hope that Harriet O'Brien will write more history books. She certainly knows how to make history as enjoyable as, if not more so, than the best of novels. I can thoroughly recommend this book. Read it! You will not be disappointed.
Best of all, we are led into realising how important a woman's influence could still be in an age when the role of women was becoming more and more side-lined into subservience to men. When we realise that Emma was wife to two kings of England, mother of two kings of England and great aunt to a third, we also come to realise that this is a record unsurpassed by anyone else in the history of the nation. Here is a woman to be ranked as equally important alongside William the Conqueror.
We can only hope that Harriet O'Brien will write more history books. She certainly knows how to make history as enjoyable as, if not more so, than the best of novels. I can thoroughly recommend this book. Read it! You will not be disappointed.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
An Interesting Book That Blends Together Anglo-Saxons, Vikings and...
A juicy historical biography of a woman who was right at the heart of things during the Danish Conquest of England, this works on two levels as both a snapshot of the times and a... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Alex in Leeds
It is only a shame O'Brien hasn't written more
This is a great book to explain the complicated events of this period. Emma is explored through her deeds and actions as a woman of confidence, with choices and determination,... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Pippa.C.Payne
Depends what you're looking for...
If you want to access a fascinating area of history with not much previous knowledge of the topic, then this is the book for you. Read more
Published 19 months ago by Edward Long
Queen Emma and the Vikings.
A good and intresting read. Like the way each chapter begins with the setting of the scene. Informative and thorough.
Published 21 months ago by A. M. Falcon
Norman princess, Anglo-Saxon queen, Anglo-Danish queen, powerful woman
Where I grew up, there are many runic stones from the 11th century that commemorates husbands, fathers, brothers and friends who died eastwards (Russia, Byzantium) or westwards... Read more
Published 22 months ago by GunillaB
Very readable history of a less-documented personality
I admit, one thing that attracted me to this book originally was the fun title : Protagonist And The Monsters!
But I'm really glad I read it. Read more
But I'm really glad I read it. Read more
Published 23 months ago by Victoria Clare
Fascinating glimpse at a turbulent half century
Although for much of the book, Emma does not feature in the foreground due to the paucity of records, this provides a fascinating account of national and international politics in... Read more
Published on 9 Mar 2007 by John Hopper
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