The Anglo-Saxons: A History of the Beginnings of England: 400 – 1066 

A sweeping and original history of the Anglo-Saxons by national bestselling author Marc Morris.

Sixteen hundred years ago Britain left the Roman Empire and swiftly fell into ruin. Grand cities and luxurious villas were deserted and left to crumble, and civil society collapsed into chaos. Into this violent and unstable world came foreign invaders from across the sea, and established themselves as its new masters.

The Anglo-Saxons traces the turbulent history of these people across the next six centuries. It explains how their earliest rulers fought relentlessly against each other for glory and supremacy, and then were almost destroyed by the onslaught of the vikings. It explores how they abandoned their old gods for Christianity, established hundreds of churches and created dazzlingly intricate works of art. It charts the revival of towns and trade, and the origins of a familiar landscape of shires, boroughs and bishoprics. It is a tale of famous figures like King Offa, Alfred the Great and Edward the Confessor, but also features a host of lesser known characters – ambitious queens, revolutionary saints, intolerant monks and grasping nobles. Through their remarkable careers we see how a new society, a new culture and a single unified nation came into being.

Drawing on a vast range of original evidence – chronicles, letters, archaeology and artefacts – renowned historian Marc Morris illuminates a period of history that is only dimly understood, separates the truth from the legend, and tells the extraordinary story of how the foundations of England were laid.

Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars 
immensely readable
Reviewed in the United States on February 24, 2023
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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.