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The First Kingdom: Britain in the age of Arthur by [Max Adams]

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Max Adams

The First Kingdom: Britain in the age of Arthur Kindle Edition

by Max Adams (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

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The bestselling author of The King in the North turns his attention to the obscure era of British history known as 'the age of Arthur'.

Somewhere in the shadow time between the departure of the Roman legions in the early fifth century and the arrival in Kent of Augustine's Christian mission at the end of the sixth, the kingdoms of Early Medieval Britain were formed. But by whom? And out of what?

In The First Kingdom, Max Adams scrutinizes the narrative of this period handed down to us by later historians and chroniclers. Stripping away the more lurid claims made for a warrior-hero named Arthur, he synthesises the research carried out over the last forty years to tease out the strands of reality from the myth. He reveals how archaeology has delivered evidence of a diverse and dynamic response to Britain's new-found independence, of material and intellectual trade between the Atlantic islands and the rest of Europe, and of the environmental context of those centuries.

A skilfully wrought and intellectually probing investigation of the most mysterious epoch in our history, The First Kingdom presents an image of post-Roman Britain whose resolution is high enough to show the emergence of distinct political structures in the sixth century – polities that survive long enough to be embedded in the medieval landscape, recorded in the lines of river, road and watershed, and memorialised in place names.

PRAISE FOR MAX ADAMS:

'Not just a valuable book, but a distinctive one as well' Tom Holland, Sunday Times

'Adams' overview is deeply immersed in the landscape of early medieval Britain ... The whole presents a very useful reference, and an enjoyable read' Current Archaeology

'A worthy synthesis of what little we know' Gerard de Groot, The Times

Print length

478 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Apollo
Publication date

4 Feb. 2021
File size

27861 KB
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Review

'Not just a valuable book, but a distinctive one as well' Tom Holland, Sunday Times

'An engagingly written exploration of these 'fragments', synthesising archaeological and historical research from the last four decades, and applying a critical eye to traditional narratives passed down by medieval chroniclers and later accounts' Current World Archaeology

'Adams is a synthesiser, a noble pursuit often derided within academia, where praise is instead heaped on original research. He has read assiduously the arcane studies written for a specialist audience and condensed them into an accessible and illuminating book, studiously avoiding the temptation to fictionalise when facts are scarce' Gerard de Groot, The Times

Review

PRAISE FOR MAX ADAMS:
'A triumph. The most gripping portrait of 7th-century Britain that I have read' Tom Holland, on The King in the North.
'Essential reading for all those interested in late Anglo-Saxon Britain' History Today, on Aelfred's Britain.
'A beautifully written archae-travelogue' ― TLS, on In the Land of Giants --This text refers to the hardcover edition.

ASIN : B0844SF3LS
Publisher : Apollo (4 Feb. 2021)
Language : English
File size : 27861 KB
Text-to-Speech : Enabled
Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
X-Ray : Not Enabled
Word Wise : Enabled
Print length : 478 pages

Best Sellers Rank: 7,651 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- 14 in History of The Plantaganets & Medieval England
- 18 in Medieval History
- 23 in History of Civilisation & Culture

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36 ratings

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Mr. A. J. Brannon

Seeing the wood for the trees

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 10 February 2021

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A beautifully presented hardback book from its dust jacket to its binding and place ribbon. Clearly designed to go along with Max Adams other historical books of which I have to confess to be a fan. The site plans, maps and pictures aid the text. The chronology at the end of each section not so much. The index, notes, bibliography will be of particular use for those using the book for reference.

A wide ranging synthesis of research over the last 40 years drawing on texts, archaeology, myth, and landscape. The author doesn't hide the fact that what we have been taught about this period of history is frequently based on only scraps of information and that the reality was much more complex, nuanced and local than has perhaps previously been suggested.

An interested layperson [me] will find The First Kingdom a fascinating read with all the detail they are likely to want. My concern is that many will open a random page in a bookshop and when faced by a battery of names, places, languages and sources will just put it back on the shelf. I'm not clear who the target market for the book is. I have a nagging feeling that the author couldn't bring himself to leave things out with the result that while chapters do have an underlying structure they give the impression at times of skipping around from one person/place to another.

I would have loved to give this 5 stars but while I can see that it is not intended as a student text book the reader could have been helped in their understanding by a slightly different format that helped to see the wood for the trees.

17 people found this helpful

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Steven Higgins

No grave for Arthur?

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 1 March 2021

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Max Adams has finally entered the most intriguing period of "Dark Age" British history, the period John Morris so famously entitled the "Age of Arthur". The academic pace is fast & furious; the archaeology spot on, but the thinking - mainstream. John Morris is still, fifty years later, more challenging.
There is much new material to be found, for instance on the Pictish site of Rhynie; and a fresh take on the location, or non-location, of the kingdom of Rheged; but for this reader what I fervently hoped for, & more than half-expected, was to read Max Adams tackling John Koch's gloriously revisionist take on THE GODODDIN. Our mediaeval scholars keep on going around this astonishing work, holding fast to their established (Establishment) positions, no questions asked! THE FIRST KINGDOM in no exception.
Nevertheless, this is a book to read again & again.
A minor blunder, although strange, considering Max scribbled his 'Author's note' there, is when Max describes the Pictish beast at Dunadd as a 'bull', when it is the most fabulous inauguration 'boar' of Dunadd (the bull of Burghead also manages to find itself on the dustwrapper design).
I imagine Patrick Sims-Williams would like his name back.
Head of Zeus has once again produced a handsome book worth a thousand kindles.

3 people found this helpful

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Cw Evans-gunther

Open minded and well written publication

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 16 March 2021

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This is a more or less up to date review of what is known about the development of kingdoms following the break down of Roman authority. Anyone interested in this period would find Max Adams' book well worth reading.

There are a few points which seemed inaccurate - one being the spelling of Maelgwn as "Maelgwyn" - but none really hinder the enjoyment of reading this fascinating publication.

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vicki

arrived early before 19th delighted

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 17 February 2021

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very pleased with book, quick delivery and good price

2 people found this helpful

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Ray Ram

A fine combination of archeology and extensive reading of sources and informed imagination.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 8 March 2021

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As usual afine combination of informed imagination and extensive research and reading produces a balanced approach and fills the gap that other accounts miss, the role of belief systems that frame and facilitate changes in society is recognised not just as individual consciousness but as organisational principles. An approach to history that Max Weber would be proud of.
Ray Ram

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BestBookworm

When is the next one coming out....!?

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 5 March 2021

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Max Adam's has not disappointed with his long awaited next book. The Dark Ages or Early Medieval Period is brought to life by his readable style.

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George Thorne-Gillam

A rich and detailed historical investigation.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 25 February 2021

I finished Max Adams' latest title, The First Kingdom, a few days ago. This book is an immensely rich and detailed document of life in Britain following the Roman Occupation, which seeks to assess well-known narratives of the historical period, and come to conclusions on the reality of life in this era. The book covers the period from around the third to eighth century A.D., and looks at a wide array of topics. Adams discusses changes to burial practices, changes in the way people lived and farmed, changes in the way areas were governed and defended, as well as how towns and other centers of power grew and shrunk over the period. It's a very detailed book which took me a few weeks to get through, and I think this was partly because the subject area is completely new to me. There was a lot I didn't understand, but there is also a lot that I've learned. I got a bit confused with names at times, but this is still a really interesting book that I would recommend you take a look at, especially if this period of history is of interest to you.

I particularly love the cover and design of this book!

Thank you so much to the publisher, Head of Zeus, for the review copy of this book.

2 people found this helpful

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