Reviews
'This fascinating book serves as a comprehensive introduction to medievalEngland. Concisely written and profusely illustrated, this is an indispenableguide to England in the Middle Ages.'Books Magazine, is a rich tapestry of English medieval society, which brings the readerclose to the material and utilises the illustrations ... The general reader willfind much of interest and the student much of use. The lightness of editorialtouch and the variety of approach is particularly evident in the three politicalchapters. ... this approach offers a strong and fascinating - and often new -argument, too rich for justice to be done to it here./Benjamin Thompson/THES18/12/98, 'Readability, accuracy, up-to-date synthesis and high-quality pictures arethe criteria by which any new publication in the already crowded field ofintroductory medieval surveys should be judged. This latest short history ofmedieval England successfully combines all these elements in a handsomelypresented, superbly illustrated package ... a most useful and enjoyableintroduction to medieval England.'Sean McGlynn, History, is a rich tapestry of English medieval society, which brings the reader close to the material and utilises the illustrations ... The general reader will find much of interest and the student much of use. The lightness of editorial touch and the variety of approach is particularly evident inthe three political chapters. ... this approach offers a strong and fascinating - and often new - argument, too rich for justice to be done to it here./Benjamin Thompson/THES 18/12/98, List of Colour Plates; List of Figures 1. Saul: Medieval England: Identity, Politics, and Society 2. Nelson: Anglo-Saxon England 3. Garnett: Norman and Angevin England 1066-1215 4. Given-Wilson: Late Medieval England 1215-1485 5. Dyer: The Economy and Society 6. Leyser: Piety, Religion, and the Church 7. Coldstream: The Visual Arts 8. Pearsall: Language and Literature Editors' Postscript Chronology; Further Reading; Index, 'Readability, accuracy, up-to-date synthesis and high-quality pictures are the criteria by which any new publication in the already crowded field of introductory medieval surveys should be judged. This latest short history of medieval England successfully combines all these elements in ahandsomely presented, superbly illustrated package ... a most useful and enjoyable introduction to medieval England.'Sean McGlynn, History, 'this is a readable, reliable and often original survey of a perennially interesting subject'J.R. Maddicott, History Today, 'This fascinating book serves as a comprehensive introduction to medieval England. Concisely written and profusely illustrated, this is an indispenable guide to England in the Middle Ages.'Books Magazine
Synopsis
This richly illustrated book provides a comprehensive introduction to medieval England. Written by expert scholars and drawing on the latest research, it offers an authoritative survey of the years from the departure of the Roman legions to the Battle of Bosworth. The middle ages were a time of profound diversity and change. The main political themes are explored in three narrative chapters, covering the Anglo-Saxon period, the Normans and Angevins, and the late middle ages. Chapters on the social, cultural, and religious life of the period add context to the political and institutional developments traced and cover topics as varied as the nature of national identity, urban life, art and architecture, religious practice, and the development of vernacular literature. 180 illustrations, maps, family trees, a chronology, guide to further reading, and a full index make this an indispensable guide to England in the middle ages. Contributors... Janet L. Nelson, Professor of History, King's College, London George Garnett, Fellow and Tutor in History, St Hugh's College, Oxford Chris Given-Wilson, Senior Lecturer in Medieval History, University of St Andrews Christopher Dyer, Professor of Medieval Social History, University of Birmingham Henrietta Leyser, Lecturer in Medieval History, St Peter's College, Oxford Nicola Coldstream Derek Pearsall, Professor of English, Harvard University, From the departure of the Roman legions, to the battle of Bosworth and the rise of the Tudors, the world of medieval England was one of profound diversity and change. Now, in The Oxford Illustrated History of Medieval England, readers have an authoritative and stimulating overview of this pivotal period in British history. Lavishly illustrated with over a hundred pictures--including twenty-four pages of color plates--this attractive volume brings together leading scholars who illuminate the history and culture of medieval England. The book brims with information on the social, cultural, and religious life of the period, covering topics as varied as the nature of national identity, the character of urban life, the great works of art and architecture, the details of religious practice, and the development of a vernacular literature. The heart of the book explores the main political changes in the time-span ranging from the Anglo-Saxon period, to the rule of the Normans and Angevins, to the late middle ages. Here we see the rise of a united polity and rapid institutional growth, in a time when war was of primary importance in both stimulating change and shaping national identity. In economic terms, the age was characterized by long, and rapid, population growth followed by severe contraction, sparked by the famines of 1315-17 and the Black Death. A consequence of the steep fall in population, however, was a higher per capita consumption: the splendid churches and fine vernacular architecture of the period bear witness to the wealth and variety of lay patronage. The middle ages have always held a special fascination for readers of history and this superb volume offers a gold mine of information on the period. With numerous illustrations, family trees, a chronology, guides to further reading, and a full index, this is an indispensable guide to England in the middle ages., This richly illustrated book provides a comprehensive introduction to medieval England. It offers the reader an authoritative survey of the years from the departure of the Roman legions to the Battle of Bosworth. Written by a team of expert contributors and underpinned by the most up-to-date research, the lively narrative covers a wide variety of topics., A thorough and well-illustrated history with eight long essays by leading scholars which cover the history and culture of England, rather than the British Isles, from the 5th to the 15th century. Contents: Medieval England - Identity, Politics and Society ( Nigel Saul ); Anglo-Saxon England ( Janet L Nelson ); Conquered England ( George Garnett ); Late Medieval England 1215-1485 ( Chris Given-Wilson ); Economy and Society ( Christopher Dyer ); Piety, Religion and the Church ( Henrietta Leyser ); The Visual Arts ( Nicola Coldstream ); Language and Literature ( Derek Pearsall )., From the departure of the Roman legions, to the battle of Bosworth and the rise of the Tudors, the world of medieval England was one of profound diversity and change. Now, in The Oxford Illustrated History of Medieval England , readers have an authoritative and stimulating overview of this pivotal period in British history. Lavishly illustrated with over a hundred pictures--including twenty-four pages of color plates--this attractive volume brings together leading scholars who illuminate the history and culture of medieval England. The book brims with information on the social, cultural, and religious life of the period, covering topics as varied as the nature of national identity, the character of urban life, the great works of art and architecture, the details of religious practice, and the development of a vernacular literature. The heart of the book explores the main political changes in the time-span ranging from the Anglo-Saxon period, to the rule of the Normans and Angevins, to the late middle ages. Here we see the rise of a united polity and rapid institutional growth, in a time when war was of primary importance in both stimulating change and shaping national identity. In economic terms, the age was characterized by long, and rapid, population growth followed by severe contraction, sparked by the famines of 1315-17 and the Black Death. A consequence of the steep fall in population, however, was a higher per capita consumption: the splendid churches and fine vernacular architecture of the period bear witness to the wealth and variety of lay patronage. The middle ages have always held a special fascination for readers of history and this superb volume offers a gold mine of information on the period. With numerous illustrations, family trees, a chronology, guides to further reading, and a full index, this is an indispensable guide to England in the middle ages.
