1066 and Before All That

The Battle of Hastings, Anglo-Saxon, and Norman England

De: Ed West

Narrado por: Steven Crossley

A riveting account of the most consequential year in English history, marked by bloody conflict with invaders on all sides.

The most famous date in history is 1066, and with good reason, since no battle in medieval history had such a devastating effect on its losers as the Battle of Hastings, which altered the entire course of English history.

The French-speaking Normans were the preeminent warriors of the 11th century and based their entire society around conflict. They were led by William "the Bastard", a formidable, ruthless warrior who was convinced that his half-Norman cousin, Edward the Confessor, had promised him the throne of England. However, when Edward died in January 1066, Harold Godwinson, the richest earl in the land and the son of a pirate, took the throne.... This left William no choice but to forcibly claim what he believed to be his right. What ensued was one of the bloodiest periods of English history, with a body count that might make even George R. R. Martin balk.

Pitched at newcomers to the subject, this book will explain how the disastrous battle changed England—and the English—forever, introducing the medieval world of chivalry, castles, and horse-bound knights. It is the first part in the new A Very, Very Short History of England series, which aims to capture the major moments of English history with humor and bite.

©2017 Ed West (P)2022 Blackstone Publishing

Series Continues Strong

Picking up where the first book, Vikings vs. Saxons, left off, this volume caries the story through and beyond the Norman Conquest to 1215. Though it is easy to get lost in the forest of Norman names and titles, author and narrator soldier on successfully, brightly. and often amusingly on the road to the Magna Carta.

Brilliant

Feels like this book was written to be narrated by this guy. He’s hilarious! Perfect delivery.

Cursory coverage of the subject matter

Enjoyed the narrator and interesting tidbits. But don’t expect a deep dive. Good as a refresher or accompanying a book or lecture with more in depth.

Nutshell content delivered with tart humor

OVERALL - A smattering of what, when and who providing what happened prior to 1066; however, based upon who wrote documents, etc., in favor of their champion at that time. Plus more references of who these people were, how they linked with the events of these times, etc. Lots of plots, greed, murders and mayhem! PERFORMANCE - Delightfully narrated with punch line type sarcasm. Thoroughly enjoyed this! STORY - Truth is better than fiction and these times particularly vicious, cruel and maniacal; which is to be expected as it seems the well behaved were slaughtered.

Extremely condescending.

This book shamelessly laughs at medieval people. Modernity laughs at the silly peasant should be the title. This book also contradicts it self constantly to denigrate the ideas of medieval people.