1066: History in an Hour

By: Kaye Jones

Narrated by: Jonathan Keeble

Length: 45 mins

Publisher's summary

Love history? Know your stuff with History in an Hour. During the year 1066, England had three different kings and fought three huge battles in defence of the realm, including the bloody Battle of Hastings. The result was the Norman Conquest which defined England during the Middle Ages.

1066 in an Hour will guide you through the politics and personalities of the Norman invasion. It will help you understand why William the Conqueror was victorious and introduce you to the new king and subsequent ancestor to the Plantagenets and Tudors.

©2013 Kaye Jones (P)2013 HarperCollins Publishers Limited

Critic reviews

"If the past is a foreign country, History in an Hour is like a high-class tour operator, offering delightfully enjoyable short breaks in the rich and diverse continent of our shared past." (Dominic Sandbrook)

"The practice of History is ever-evolving, and the History in an Hour idea brings it back up to date for the digital age." (Andrew Roberts, Bookseller)

"This is genius." ( MacWorld.com)

love this series

Where does 1066: History in an Hour rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I love these "History in an Hour" over-views of historical topics that I have either forgotten or never learned (did not go to a very good public school...). I will defer against comparing this against other audiobooks I have listened to, as it would be like comparing apples to oranges. However, in comparison to others in the same series, and I think this is one of the better "History in an Hour".The narration is good, easy to follow. I like Jonathan Keeble, his delivery is that of an avuncular professor who knows his subject well, so it flows naturally.

don't bother

Usually this series, history in an Hour, is very good. This time, however, the content was a
disappointment.
The narrator, Jonathan Keeble, is (as usual) excellent.
May I make a suggestion? Get the "1066: The Year That Changed Everything" instead. Much, much better.

Quick But Detailed Review of the Norman Conquest

I was fuzzy on history between Rome and the Renaissance, so I thought I’d get a quick lesson from this. It was delightful! The events were momentous, but briskly and interestingly narrated. I followed up with the purchase of an audiobook from the “Great Courses” series, about the thousand year history of Medieval England from 500-1485. That was great too, although much longer. And as that book had about half an hour on each king, this book has more details about William the Conquerer and how he triumphed as the only successful invader of England in the last thousand years. I didn’t realize he founded the Plantagenet line of kings who ruled for over 400 years, until the Tudors defeated Richard the Third at the end of the Middle Ages. This a terrific review for those of us who love English history, but never got a clear picture.

Exquisite

I love this series of books, while short, they are substantial. They get down to the nitty gritty and are read superbly by Johnathan Keeble, one of my favorite narrators. The combination makes it perfect for listening to each multiple times and to go through the series.

This book in particular was of interest to me as I missed this section of history while in school. It was amazing. Highly recommend!

loved it! short and to the point.

an excellent listen for a short trip or long commute. will interest any English history buff.

New Narrator Needed

I purchased this hoping to understand the significance and back story of 1066 and the battle of Hastings. Unfortunately I found the reader's voice so grating and irritating i didn't make it through forty five minutes. Purchase at your peril.