1066: the Year of the Conquest by David Howarth takes the slot for Y in my Alphabet Soup Reading Challenge. In desperation, I gave up on alphabetical book lists and searched my tbr for specific words,like you and year. I’m so glad I did. I was going to post this next week, the nearest I was going to get to the 958th anniversary. But then I didn’t. Surely someone is already planning the one thousandth anniversary?

1066: The Year of the Conquest

by David Howarth

Everyone knows 1066 as the date of the Norman invasion and conquest of England. But how many of us can place that event in the context of the entire dramatic year in which it took place? From the death of Edward the Confessor in early January to the Christmas coronation of Duke William of Normandy, there is an almost uncanny symmetry, as well as a relentlessly exciting surge, of events leading to and from Hastings. (Goodreads)

My Review

Yes, I knew all about 1066 and the battle of Hastings, and the last time the English were beaten on English soil (apart from football). Relatively recently I realised the battle of Stamford Bridge (not the football ground) was in the same year. Then I read the older MG book The Last Saxon King and discovered the reasons for that.

David Howarth explains it all in much more depth, with an eye for the common people, the personalities of the leaders, and a talent for suspense. He recognises conflicting sources and weighs the evidence, but with the lightness of a good legal drama rather than a dry scholarly way. But as a good scholar, he leaves us his sources, an index, and a bibliography.

sources

His sources are really interesting, since nobody was standing around reporting at the time. Several events are filled in by letters from important people, who are writing from their own viewpoint, and have vested interests. The accounts put together years later were biased for their audiences: the French supported Norman Richard with knights and troops, but would emphasise the role of their guys and put down any smartness from the Normans. And there was pretty well no account from the English, apart from reading between the lines of the population declines before and after the event. Indeed, most of the ‘histories’ were compiled at least a century later.

Howarth also brings in a piece of information I’d never heard before, which probably has a far greater influence on the result than any heroic battle. It reads almost exactly like Brexit lies, fake news and trumpery. And this is such a good book, that I recommend you grab a copy (probably secondhand) and discover the missing link for yourself.

And if you’re planning to visit the Bayeux tapestry (or its copy in Reading, Berkshire ) read this book first and take it with you.

A brilliant explanation of the events of a critical year in English history, in the most readable form I’ve ever encountered. Teachers take note!

Book Review | 1066: The Year of the Conquest
Tagged on:             

2 thoughts on “Book Review | 1066: The Year of the Conquest

  • 23 October, 2024 at 10:12 am
    Permalink

    Hi again

    TBR, – and why didn’t Harold wait, in the North, find more food and more horses, give William more time to make himself deeply unpopular ?
    Some historians seem to take macabre pleasure in describing William’s last illness and death –

    Reply

What do you think? Or just say hi!

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox

Join other followers: