The Anglo-Saxon Chronicles Begun by monks in the reign of King Alfred, the annals that are collectively known as the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles are a record of life in England from the time of the Roman invasion to the middle of the twelfth century. Cataloging a thousand turbulent years of history, ending at the crowning of Henry II as ruler of a united nation, these fascinating accounts are presented here in a continuous narrative. From the everyday local dramas that made up the lives of the Anglo-Saxons to the intricacies of government and the reigns of kings, every aspect of life in the England of the Middle Ages is examined in detail. The modernized text is immediately comprehensible, but loses none of the rhythm, power or beauty of the original language, and traces the pattern of events chronologically, through the invasions of the Vikings and Normans, to the first of the Holy Crusades and beyond. With concise pictorial essays to help set the scene and shed light on some of the customs and practices of the times, this remarkable book brings England's past dramatically to life. |
