N. J. Higham is professor emeritus, University of Manchester. M. J. Ryan is a former lecturer in early medieval history, University of Manchester.
"University of Manchester academics Nicholas J Higham and Martin J
Ryan reveal the richly textured tapestry woven between the last
days of the Roman Empire and the Norman conquest of England.
Drawing on a rich array of sources and disciplines such as
historical genetics, paleobotany, and numismatics, the authors use
primary material, illustrations, maps, photographs and genealogies
to bring alive a part of history which 'witnessed the birth of the
English people, the establishment of Christianity and the
development of the English language.' Superb."—William Yeoman, The
West Australian
". . . may well establish itself as the standard one-volume study
of Anglo-Saxon England for several years to come."—Parergon
"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
"Higham and Ryan have managed to write a tome that provides a
thorough introduction to the complexities of the ‘Anglo-Saxon
world’ at a level that will challenge and stimulate informed
readers while introducing those new to the subject to what makes it
so fascinating."
"Of course, it helps that the book weighs in at 447 pages, and that
with almost 300 colour illustrations it is a work of beauty: the
publishers must be given full credit for investing in the
production of such a richly illustrated work on this scale. But
this is no picture book. Higham and Ryan do not dumb down for their
readers. . . . The authors demonstrate that they are writing about
a serious subject worthy of serious consideration."
"What is presented right not remains valuable and, indeed, a
pleasure to read."—Ryan Lavelle, BBC History Magazine, 1st August
2013
"A magisterial new overview the Anglo-Saxon World. . . . Higham and
Ryan, marshalling the latest research from archaeology, genetics,
paleobotany, and even plain old literary studies... do a
superlative job of putting actual day-to-day flesh and bone onto a
period that for far too long was rather conveniently labelled ‘The
Dark Ages.’ Their efforts – hugely aided by the glorious
illustrations with which Yale University Press has packed this
pleasingly oversized volume – are comprehensive and successful; the
Anglo-Saxon worlds in all their violent splendour come alive in
these pages. . . . By its very nature, The Anglo Saxon World
represents a factual advance over all similar volumes that have
preceded it, but the passion of its enthusiasms is its main
recommendation. Our authors have a big, sprawling story to tell –
of ornate tombs and sword-hacked skulls, of gorgeous handcrafts and
marauding Vikings, and of some remarkable warrior-kings who
stitched a country together out of fragments left behind by the
most powerful empire the world had ever seen – and they tell it
exceedingly well."—Steve Donoghue, Open Letters
"The Anglo-Saxon World is a beautifully illustrated overview of the
foundational period in British history. . . . It’s a pleasure to
peruse, and a mine of fresh insights and new discoveries."—Michael
Wood, BBC History Magazine
"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
"This superb book explains clearly and engagingly how the nation of
England began. A comprehensive, readable and up-to-date
account of an extraordinarily creative period of history."—Francis
Pryor, author of Britain AD: The Quest for Arthur, England and
the Anglo-Saxons
"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
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