Status
Available
Publication
Barnes & Noble Books (1993), Hardcover
Description
Examines chronologically the events of the year during which the Normans invaded and conquered England, discusses the leading personalities of that time, and describes the everyday life of the common Englishman.
User reviews
LibraryThing member kant1066
The year 1066 is so important, so vital to the course of European history, but somehow we manage to reduce it to “the Battle of Hastings.” That is largely what I was expecting with this short history by David Howarth, a popular historian better known for his takes on more recent history,
Before Howarth jumps into any history, however, he gives sets up a picture of daily life in a village called Horstede, which happens to be where King Harold first learned about William’s invasion across the English Channel. A rudimentary description of the feudal system is given in the first few chapters replete with earls and thanes. We get a discussion of English and Norman politics, including William’s motive to invade in the first place, a topic which requires some psychological second-guessing. Howarth seems to think that Edward had somehow promised William the throne in the last years of his life, and was nonplussed when Harold was immediately selected by the Witenagemot, the Anglo-Saxon advisory council that served the king.
And to confuse political matters even more, there is another Harald – Harald Hardrada, King of Norway (but note the difference in spelling) – who also thought that he had a solid claim to the throne, and was invited to invade English by Harold’s estranged brother Tostig, earl of Northumbria. Harald Hardrada and Tostig both die in what is maybe the penultimate battle of the Norman invasion, the Battle of Stamford Bridge.
I said “historical arc” above because in the year 1066, Edward the Confessor dies (January 5th), Harold takes the thrown on the very same day, the Norman invasion is won and lost, and William “the Conqueror” takes the thrown again on December 25th. That’s three monarchs in one year – and four if you count the fifteen-year-old Edgar the Aetheling, who held the throne for about two months before being forced to remit it to William. That’s a busy year.
This isn’t model academic history. There are no footnotes, and there is a lot more conjecture – sometimes couched in the language of verifiable historical record – than I am usually comfortable with. I would approach this as I would any book of popular history: take it with a grain of salt and depending on how interested you are in the subject, consult more scholarly sources. My only complaint about the book is that there is quite a bit of detailed battle strategy (this flank was left exposed, a certain person went Berserk at Stamford Bridge) which I think could have been put to better use in explaining the politics or cultural life; these parts didn’t hold my interest as much. But for all of that, it is engagingly written, and serves as a nice foot in the door for those who want to learn about the major events and the important near-contemporary historians (like William of Malmesbury) through which we know much of what happened that year.
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including World War II and the Battle of Trafalgar. But the most popular battle of the Norman invasion takes up only one chapter of the book, with much of the rest providing a cultural and social history within which you can get a better understanding of the historical arc of the entire year.Before Howarth jumps into any history, however, he gives sets up a picture of daily life in a village called Horstede, which happens to be where King Harold first learned about William’s invasion across the English Channel. A rudimentary description of the feudal system is given in the first few chapters replete with earls and thanes. We get a discussion of English and Norman politics, including William’s motive to invade in the first place, a topic which requires some psychological second-guessing. Howarth seems to think that Edward had somehow promised William the throne in the last years of his life, and was nonplussed when Harold was immediately selected by the Witenagemot, the Anglo-Saxon advisory council that served the king.
And to confuse political matters even more, there is another Harald – Harald Hardrada, King of Norway (but note the difference in spelling) – who also thought that he had a solid claim to the throne, and was invited to invade English by Harold’s estranged brother Tostig, earl of Northumbria. Harald Hardrada and Tostig both die in what is maybe the penultimate battle of the Norman invasion, the Battle of Stamford Bridge.
I said “historical arc” above because in the year 1066, Edward the Confessor dies (January 5th), Harold takes the thrown on the very same day, the Norman invasion is won and lost, and William “the Conqueror” takes the thrown again on December 25th. That’s three monarchs in one year – and four if you count the fifteen-year-old Edgar the Aetheling, who held the throne for about two months before being forced to remit it to William. That’s a busy year.
This isn’t model academic history. There are no footnotes, and there is a lot more conjecture – sometimes couched in the language of verifiable historical record – than I am usually comfortable with. I would approach this as I would any book of popular history: take it with a grain of salt and depending on how interested you are in the subject, consult more scholarly sources. My only complaint about the book is that there is quite a bit of detailed battle strategy (this flank was left exposed, a certain person went Berserk at Stamford Bridge) which I think could have been put to better use in explaining the politics or cultural life; these parts didn’t hold my interest as much. But for all of that, it is engagingly written, and serves as a nice foot in the door for those who want to learn about the major events and the important near-contemporary historians (like William of Malmesbury) through which we know much of what happened that year.
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LibraryThing member thierry
This excellent book tells of a very turbulent year during which Harold II ascended to the throne of England, defeated a pretender to his kingdom, Harald Hardrada of Norway at the Battle of Stamford Bridge and was in turn defeated by another pretender to his throne, William the Conqueror of Normandy
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at the Battle of Hastings. The author invites us to imagine the life of a peasant in southern England describing their life, universe and aspirations while also provides us with insights into the political considerations at the highest levels of the various kingdoms involved in this account. I felt that this top and bottom approach worked quite well, with the point of view of the common man grounding and framing the story and giving it substance. I also enjoyed the political elements – from the consolidation of Harold’s power, to the justification of the conquest, including the buy-in from the Pope. The contention that the reason for the invasion hinges on a promise made in a time of despair when Harold was shipwrecked in Ponthieu is amazing if true – but it is a conjecture, as rightly pointed out by the author. This book was short and sweet – offering a riveting account of a seminal year in England’s history. Show Less
LibraryThing member Nodosaurus
This is a well-written book of the events in 1066 that ultimately lead to putting William the Conqueror on the throne of England. The book starts by chronicling the recent history leading up to 1066 and culminating with the death of King Edward.
We learn the life of a common thane, his values and
The book then follows events for each of the major players, King Harold, Harald Hardrada of Norway, and Duke William of Normandy. Filling in their backgrounds, motivations, and actions as each interacts with, or nearly misses the others.
The author builds on a series of events, each which could have changed the course of history, but collectively, led to the conquest of England. In the end, he brings it back to the thanes, and how it affected his world.
The story is very well told, contains a wealth of information and was difficult to put down. It provides a new perspective and great insights into an area of history most of us know too little about.
We learn the life of a common thane, his values and
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the scope of his world. It then expands into the justice system, their decision-making process, and ultimately how they choose their kings. The book then follows events for each of the major players, King Harold, Harald Hardrada of Norway, and Duke William of Normandy. Filling in their backgrounds, motivations, and actions as each interacts with, or nearly misses the others.
The author builds on a series of events, each which could have changed the course of history, but collectively, led to the conquest of England. In the end, he brings it back to the thanes, and how it affected his world.
The story is very well told, contains a wealth of information and was difficult to put down. It provides a new perspective and great insights into an area of history most of us know too little about.
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LibraryThing member stypulkoski
A short, no-nonsense but utterly readable history of the most important year in English history. The type of history book that is also enjoyable for people who don't care for history (similar in that respect to David McCullough).
LibraryThing member Stbalbach
The events of 1066 cast a large shadow over the past 1000 years. It's easy to mythologize what it was like at the time, to make the actors and period heroic. In a popular history, Howarth resists this tendency and rather brings it down to a personal scale in a believable way without going to the
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other extreme of dullness. He has the feel of an amateur historian, but in the best sense, mixing professional practices with colorful narrative stories. Although Howarth's analysis often feels simple, it is expedient and reasonable given the lack of sources. The simplicity and directness of the people he writes about matches his writing style. History here has no overarching theory or grand design, it is a series of contingencies, one after the next, that create the whole. In the end, it was mostly "luck" that made William the Conqueror, according to Howarth. Although this is the most detailed account of 1066 I have read, I am familiar with some aspects Howarth missed entirely. For example, an arrow in the eye is medieval iconography for someone who has lied under oath. Howarth doesn't mention this fact, but it challenges the Norman story of Harold's death by arrow in the eye. I'm not sure what is better about 1066, the amazing things we know happened, or the myths and legends surrounding it. Show Less
LibraryThing member Peleiades44
Well-written and easy to understand, this book is a good introduction to the Norman Invasion but it is not without its flaws. Of course, when it comes to events that happened so long ago it's always hard to know exactly what happened and sources often conflict, but Howarth relies a lot on
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conjecture and seems, at least to me, to be incredibly biased. In the end, his whole thesis seems to be that the "Normans were a terrible, no-good, really bad folk. They were cowardly, greedy and stupid and their victory had nothing to do with careful planning, manpower or intelligence but was merely the result of a multitude of random coincidences that could not have been foreseen or planned for" ... which may be the case, but I doubt it. After reading this book I just felt annoyed and unsatisfied and I plan on looking for another book about this period which I hope will treat the subject a bit more fairly. Show Less
LibraryThing member nesum
A quite enjoyable telling of the Norman Invasion of England. Howarth gives us not only a sense of the major players, but the people and land of the age, and both without sacrificing the narrative.
LibraryThing member tommi180744
The book does what it says on the label: It is a factually accurate and interesting analysis of the causes, events and conclusions of the (in)famous Anglo-Saxon v Norman clash over rights of ownership of England circa 1066.
LibraryThing member rlangston
A enjoyable overview of an important year of events, giving the background of the previous years as well. As other reviews have noted, light on academics but generally a good (if slightly biased) summary.
LibraryThing member viking2917
Concise and readable history of the Norman conquest of England. Does a wonderful job of conveying the lives of ordinary Englanders and French, as well as the mindset of the leaders who drove the events.
Language
Original publication date
1977
Physical description
207 p.; 9.3 inches
ISBN
0880290145 / 9780880290142