The Anglo-Saxons

A History of the Beginnings of England: 400 - 1066

By: Marc Morris

Narrated by: Roy McMillan

Length: 13 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's summary

A sweeping and original history of the Anglo-Saxons by national best-selling 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.

©2021 Marc Morris (P)2021 Penguin Audio, all rights reserved. Published by Brilliance Publishing, Inc.

Great book, just bought another

Learned so much and just bought a 3rd Marc Morris book. And I’m from Kansas.

Good but perhaps not great

It’s a good overview of the Anglo-Saxons. Maybe the most comprehensive as I’m not an expert.

But it was quite slow until the story got to Alfred. Maybe not fair due to the lack of source material. Even the narrator seemed to sense this as his tone and excitement changed noticeably at that point.

Terrific and gripping history

This is a wonderful book and is a comprehensive treatment of a period of history that has spotty documentation. Dr. Morris writes with vigor and humor and I actually laughed out loud a few times. Morris tells us what is true, what is conjecture, and what is myth. It really is terrific.

Engrossing

And illuminating, especially on root meanings for words and phrases. It is told and read in an easy to follow manner

Amazing!

Great read, wonderful information about the history of the Anglo-Saxons and their legacy. Definitely recommend.

Exactly What It Says On The Tin

I found the book engrossing, but it is only about the Anglo-Saxons, so not much in the way of Canute or William of Normandy for the fan of the period, even though they were Kings of the English in their own right (seeing as they are of course not Anglo-Saxons). Still, a very good history stretching from late Roman Britain to Harold the Saxon, so often swept over in more general histories.

King Offa, innit?

A very comprehensive, perhaps too comprehensive, account of the Anglo-Saxon period. There are some quite interesting segments, and others that drag a bit. But the overriding takeaway from this book for me was more speculative. With the fluidity of modern British historicity, the willingness to assimilate various cultures as their own, yet conveniently ignore the awkward inaccuracy of other "glorious" parts of its history, an old nagging theory raised its head. Listening to this audiobook, it's become much less unreasonable to think that the mythology of King Arthur may be nothing more than a repackaging of the Anglo-Saxon King Offa, into a Celtic, or Welsh, or Breton, or British if you like, legend. The truth of Arthur's existence is in doubt, but Offa's isn't. And considering that there is, tellingly, no recorded history of Arthur until after Offa's reign and death, though he was meant to predate Offa by a few centuries, one must wonder. Perhaps identity theft is older than we know. Or perhaps with the romanticized racist corruption of the Anglo-Saxon name (what no love for the Jutes?), it might be mischievous fun to think one of their most powerful rulers morphed into a fantasy story.

Pretty basic

Short history with typical Marc Morris A-S talking points for those familiar with his Norman Conquest book.

Details can overwhelm - Listen for overview

A good medium for lots of information. I used this for an overview , then read the book.

great thoroughly researched history

can be a little dry but lays out a great history of Anglo-Saxon England, good for anyone who wants to know more