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The Anglo-Saxon World Hardcover – July 30, 2013

by Nicholas Higham (Author), M. J. Ryan (Author)

4.6 356 ratings

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Higham, Nicholas, Ryan, M. J.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Whether you want an accessible introduction to all things Anglo-Saxon, a thorough refresher of key points, or a reliably comprehensive reference tool to dip into, this is a wonderful book. Satisfyingly detailed, the authors assume no specialist knowledge on the part of their readers, but do not talk down to them either. It is an interdisciplinary work, combining lively analysis of written sources with archaeological discoveries, linguistic evidence, landscape archaeology, palaeobotany, genetics, and more. The scope is broad but often zooms in on interesting digressions...Complementing this treasure trove of information is a series of superb maps, we well as generous quantities of big, coloum either.rful photos that vividly illustrate the masterpieces that these supposedly Dark Age peoples were able to create.”—Current Archaeology

(Current Archaeology 2013-09-01)

“[The authors] deserve the highest congratulations for this prodigious and delightful achievement, the very best book this reviewer has ever read about the Anglo-Saxons.”—Choice (Choice)

"Full of fresh and original insights, and a delight to peruse, with informative maps and rich illustrations, this is a thought-provoking account that will be of value to specialists but accessible to the much wider range of readers who are fascinated by this formative period in British history. You could hardly have a better, more timely, and more attractive demonstration of why the Anglo-Saxons still matter to us."—Michael Wood, author of In Search of the Dark Ages (Michael Wood)

“Higham and Ryan are… to be congratulated on their overall achievement. The book is immensely readable, and the new scientific and archaeological evidence it presents is bound to fascinate students.”—Catherine E. Karkov, University of Leeds, UK (Catherine E. Karkov)

Book Description

Incorporating the latest research in a wide range of disciplines, this definitive history casts new light on the crucial Anglo-Saxon period, from the exit of the Romans to the arrival of William the Conqueror.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Yale University Press; First Edition (July 30, 2013)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 496 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0300125348
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0300125344
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 3.89 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8 x 1.5 x 10.25 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #1,160,515 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1,825 in England History
- #6,680 in Ancient Civilizations

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4.6 356 ratings

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N. J. Higham
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Martin J. Ryan
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4.6 out of 5

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Emma Hardesty

Comprehensive and Fascinating

Reviewed in the United States on February 22, 2023

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No matter how many other unread books are stacking up at your house, when this book arrives it might stop you in your tracks as you sit and flip through sections. Expect it to grab you right away. Even the Introduction--which is often not actually useful--invites a frequent use of sticky notes. The writing is conversational and doesn't stray; chapters are interspersed with sections of special interest, such as "The Anglo-Saxon Cemetery at Spong Hill," The Venerable Bede," "Eoforwic/Jorvik/York." Maps are clear and specific to this book; five pages announce the list of illustrations; massive Bibliography. I rate this work a treasure.

7 people found this helpful

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Gerard A. Proudfoot

Worth its weight in Saxon gold

Reviewed in the United States on August 7, 2013

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This is a remarkable book, full stop. I was fortunate enough to order this book while on a research trip to England this June and it arrived in mid July. From the opening pages I was immediately struck and impressed by the authors approach. They present their book as being an introduction to the history of the Anglo-Saxon migration/invasion of Roman Britain and the evolution of the English nation-state up to its fall to the Normans. The authors sell themselves short. This book is far more than introduction and can be used by the merely interested as well as those with much deeper knowledge. Its a large beautifully produced tome.

"The Anglo-Saxon World" goes where many an author has failed to go in recent years - exploring the topic through an inter-disciplinary approach. Higham and Ryan give voice to the literary sources such as Gildas, Bede, Nennius and the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. They examine the archaeology, the linguistics, the paleobotany, the genetics, even questionable theories such as much earlier German migration and acculturation, or the argument that the Saxon Shore forts were manned by the Saxons themselves, are given space even if to present counterpoints and set them aside.

The book is structured as a chronology but uses subchapters at the end of each main chapter to explore specific aspects of the period and/or expound further on specific points concerning archaeology, religion, place names and language. There will be those who will criticize the book for its lack of footnotes but the authors do provide copious (and I do mean copious) reference sources in the chapter notes to direct readers to further texts concerning specific topics. I did not find the lack of footnootes detracted in anyway from the authors survey as they do not often directly quote other works and when then do, the quote is attributed.

For those interested in a (heavy) volume that examines this period of English history without being beaten over the head with one agenda or another this book will be highly valued.

69 people found this helpful

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R. Parry

The turbulent origins of modern day England

Reviewed in the United States on February 2, 2021

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If you enjoyed the Netflix series, The Last Kingdom, ( Wessex, Northumbria, Mercia, East Anglia, Kent and Sussex, and don't forget King Alfred the Great), then this book is for you.
After Covid binge watching the TV series, I searched for a reference book to enrich my viewing experience and found
" The Anglo-Saxon World". Published in 2013, the authors illuminate what it meant to live in the Anglo-Saxon World,
including re-examinded new discoveries regarding paleobotany, archeology, historical genetics, literary studies, art history, etc.
The book has a wonderful array of color photographs, maps, illustrations, graphics, genealogies, excavations, artifacts, etc.
"The Anglo Saxons were basically the first "English" peoples and England was unified during this period. The English monarch dates back to the 10th century and the shape of England has changed little since". If you enjoy illustrated history books you'll like this book.

8 people found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

Lots of information well presented.

Reviewed in the United States on March 15, 2022

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I was very pleased with the information in this book, and the way it was presented. The illustrations and the maps are very helpful, and presented in the right place. However, the light gray type on the slick page made it very difficult to read. I have very good eyesight, but after about 30 minutes my eyes were strained. No matter what lighting, I had to shift the page constantly to avoid the highlight on the shiny paper. The book is aimed at the non-specialist; complex issues are often simplified.. This book gives an overview of the work that has been done since Frank Stenton's Anglo Saxon England was published, , the foundation book for this period. I recommend it.

4 people found this helpful

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Edwin A. Quist

Splendid illustrated history of the Anglo-Saxon period

Reviewed in the United States on May 27, 2022

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From the departure of the Romans in the 4th century until the invasion of William the Conqueror in the 11th, the authors trace England's history including the latest archaeological evidence and the often conflicting evidence of surviving manuscript sources. A particularly useful feature (especially for an American) are the maps in each chapter locating the places discussed in that chapter, names in many cases not found on today's maps. Sections entitled "Sources and Issues" follow each chapter and highlight such items as The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, Beowulf, and the Bayeux Tapestry. A substantial book, but highly readable, but be prepared to follow the complex workings of dark ages political maneuvering, migrations, shifting alliances, boundries, invasions and lots of names beginning with "AE"!

6 people found this helpful

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Barry B Davis

Good read, well written, kept my attention

Reviewed in the United States on June 15, 2019

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I got this book after my DNA results came back and pegged me with the all of the ingredients that make up the Anglo Saxon lineage. I am no academic, and found this book a pleasure to read. Higham and Ryan organized each chapter by presenting the relevant facts/conclusions, then append each chapter with the sources and discussion about how and why the sources were relevant. Chapter 3 references Bede for several conclusions, then takes many pages during the source section to explain Bede's place in historical documentation, and some insight into the role of monasteries in Anglo Saxon History. My only complaint is that the book was a bit unwieldy when reading in bed.

11 people found this helpful

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Susan F

Book arrived in great shape

Reviewed in Canada on December 25, 2020

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The book arrived earlier than expected, and is in perfect condition. I had borrowed a copy from the library and enjoyed it so much that I wanted a copy for myself. Very delighted to have found this online, as it's only available in limited stock now.

Phil Webster

A very detailed history of Anglo-Saxon England

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 31, 2018

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This excellent book is a VERY detailed history of the Anglo-Saxon world. It is up-to-date, beautifully illustrated, scholarly and very well researched. It also shows that there are still many areas of debate where the experts on this period of history disagree amongst themselves.

In fact the only real problem with the book is that it is perhaps TOO detailed for the general reader who wants an introduction to the Anglo-Saxons. For example, after the introduction, the book starts with a first chapter on Roman Britain which goes on for 37 detailed pages. I know that it is necessary to set the scene by outlining what the situation was before the arrival of the Anglo-Saxons, but I felt that there was more than necessary here.

Also, again because of the wealth of detail, I found it difficult to “see the wood for the trees” - in other words to find answers to the particular questions I am interested in. As well as wanting a general overview of Anglo-Saxon history and society, I was particularly interested in two questions:

(1) Was the Anglo-Saxon invasion a mass influx which pushed the native Britons out to the “Celtic fringe” through a process of ethnic cleansing, in the same way that Europeans did with the native populations in North America and Australia? Or was it more like the Roman and Norman invasions, with a small new Anglo-Saxon ruling class of warriors coming in and dominating a native population which remained the majority but which gradually adopted Anglo-Saxon culture?

(2) In relation to the class structure of society, did the 600 years of the “Dark Ages” see a gradual change from a tribal system dominated by chieftains and a warrior aristocracy to a much more rigid and even more unequal feudal system?

I did find some answers to these questions, but they took some finding in all the detail that surrounded them. And the fact that the index did not include entries for “class”, “status”, “inequality”, “aristocracy” or “invasion” didn’t help.

In relation to my first question, I found that “the evidence favours large-scale population continuity alongside significant migration.” It is also stated that “On balance, scientific approaches tend to favour an “English Settlement” characterised as much by acculturation as migration, and with a majority of the population indigenous.”

But it seems that “While Britons were probably numerous – arguably the majority – within early Anglo-Saxon society, they were characteristically of low status.”

In relation to my second question, it does seem that there was a shift from chieftainships to more feudal-like kingships. “Ceorls” had been freemen who had the right to possess weapons and attend assemblies, but then, “As kings and nobles gained increasing control of the sources of wealth, so the ceorl class was slowly reduced in status, eventually becoming a peasantry; the word “ceorl” began its long slide to the status of an un-free peasant, a ‘churl’”.

So, overall, this is a very good book, but one which requires you to put in a lot of effort and serious study time.

Phil Webster.

52 people found this helpful

rodney pyne

Wide and thorough coverage

Reviewed in Australia on April 25, 2023

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I am very pleased with this book. It is pleasing to the eye and very well organised and comprehensive. Although I've been a teacher of History for many years,I found a lot here to refresh my knowledge and push it further. Any book that attempts to cover this entire period is ambitious but Higham and Ryan have managed to be both thorough and entertaining. The illustrations are many and bring the pages to life. I would recommend this book for both the newcomer and for those a bit further into the experience of Anglo-Saxon history, The very words that make up the text speak for the importance of the book and its world.Above all,this is fascinating food for the mind.