THE BATTLE OF HASTINGS: THE FALL OF ANGLO-SAXON ENGLAND by Wood, Harriet Harvey

ISBN: 9781843548089

Atlantic Books 1 June 2009

Paperback 240 pages 1066

Remains the most famous date in English history. Harriet Harvey Wood's original and fascinating book tells a story that few of us know. She shows that, rather than bringing culture and enlightenment to England, the Normans' aggressive and illegal invasion destroyed a long-established and highly developed civilization, far ahead of other European societies in the sophistication of its political institutions, art and literature. Harvey Wood explores the background and lead-up to the invasion and the motives of the leading players, the state of warfare in England and Normandy in 1066, and the battle itself. Judged before the event, King Harold ought to have won the Battle of Hastings without difficulty and to have enjoyed a peaceful and enlightened reign. That he did not was largely a matter of sheer bad luck. This gripping and entertaining book shows how he came to be defeated, and what England lost as a result of his defeat and death.\n\nEditorial Reviews\n\nAbout the Author\nHarriet Harvey Wood studied medieval languages and literature at Edinburgh University and worked as an orchestral manager before joining the British Council, where she was head of its Literature Department for fourteen years. She has published editions of poetry and letters, has collaborated with Peter Porter on a collection of banned poetry for Index on Censorship in 1987 and, with A. S. Byatt, edited an anthology on memory.