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Product Description
If there is one thing we can be sure of concerning the Saxons, Vikings and Normans who inhabited the medieval world, it is that they were a good deal more advanced than some writings would have us believe. This fascinating book by Terence Wise explores the history, organization, clothing, equipment and weapons of Saxon, Viking and Norman peoples, covering wide-ranging topics such as Anglo-Saxon shields, Viking raiding ships and the organization of Norman armies.The absorbing and readable text is enriched by numerous illustrations and museum photographs with commentaries, plus eight superbly drawn full page colour plates by renowned military artist Gerry Embleton.
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Our knowledge of the military aspects of the so-called Dark Ages is gleaned to a large extent from contemporary literature, yet these writings are principally by monks with little comprehension of military matters and no interest in tactics or strategy. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
Our knowledge of the military aspects of the so-called Dark Ages is gleaned to a large extent from contemporary literature, yet these writings are principally by monks with little comprehension of military matters and no interest in tactics or strategy. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
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3 reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Warriors of Dark Ages Britain
24 Oct 2007
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
First of all, I have no complaints against the actual content of this book; the information is accurate and well-presented, and it is a good source visually. My problem with this book is that, like many early men-at-arms titles, it simply bites into way more than it could chew. The organization and weaponry of three distinct cultures spanning a period of roughly six centuries is a sizeable topic indeed for a book of 40 pages. Though I will not say that this book is a total waste or that I wish I had not bought it, there are better alternatives availible from Osprey; for example, the Vikings and the Normans both have their own elite titles, which are much more in depth, and all three of these peoples have titles on their warrior elite.
Buy the individual titles instead
17 Mar 2012
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This book, covering Dark Age Germanic/Scandinavian warriors (Saxons, Vikings, and, ultimately, Normans), was an early Osprey offering, designed to have as broad an appeal (and, hence, market) as possible. Since it was published, however, Osprey (having discovered how rich the market really is) has published numerous, more directed works on the Saxons (e.g., "Saxon Thegn"), the Vikings (e.g., both "Viking Warrior" and "Viking Hersir"), and, of course, the Normans (e.g., "Norman Knight"), which cover each of these types in far better fashion and far greater detail than this book can - or does. If you must know about the Vikings, buy one of the "Viking" titles, ditto the Saxons or Normans. Then, if you wish, you can always add this - just because the pictures are cool. However, don't expect it to act as an "overview". There really is no attempt made (at least beyond the most obvious - e.g., "the Normans were Vikings who settled in the north of France" kind of stuff) to integrate the various groups or to tie them together in any kind of rational sequence or to otherwise synthesize their histories. It's not a bad book, just a bit too broad and too basic to do justice to any of its subjects and, because it was published before the more detailed works, it wasn't really designed to bridge them or to tie them together. Tho', as I noted, the pictures are cool. Osprey's pictures almost always are. That, alone, is worth the $12-$18 Osprey usually asks for one of their titles. If nothing else, think of it as helping to keep Angus McBride at his easel. It would be a shame if he were reduced to painting the covers for romance novels or the "Twilight" series paperback editions.
3 of 8 people found the following review helpful
1st rate
1 July 2005
Format:Paperback
A great introduction to the Dark Ages of Western Europe and the warriors who put out of its misery the Western Roman Empire. Some really good text and some great illustration from one of the early efforts of Osprey.
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