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The Anglo-Saxons (Penguin History) | 
 enlarge | Creators: James Campbell, Eric John, Patrick Wormald
Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics)
Category: Book
List Price: $28.00
Buy Used: $9.75
You Save: $18.25 (65%)
New (32) Used (34) from $9.75
Avg. Customer Rating:  6 reviews
Sales Rank: 156552
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 272
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2.2
Dimensions (in): 10.9 x 8.4 x 0.8
ISBN: 0140143955
Dewey Decimal Number: 942.01
EAN: 9780140143959
ASIN: 0140143955
Publication Date: August 6, 1991
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Condition: Very slight wear along spine; otherwise like new.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 1 more reviews...
 A book to keep coming back to July 20, 2008
I'm not a historian but I loved this book. I think the transition between Roman Britain and Anglo-Saxon England is one of the most fascinating periods in history (together with the 10/12th AD awakening). This book, along with Michael Wood's In search of the Dark Ages are a wonderful read.
A shaky review for a shaky theory.. August 6, 2007
1 out of 7 found this review helpful
if you're looking for a book that can separate the Anglo-Saxons from the Romans and Celts plus the other tribes inhabiting the Isles before the arrival of the Saxons don't look here. In fact I don't think anyone using all of the sources available plus the most recent archaeology ever could.Since Britain was heavily Romanized in the 1st century AD,especially in the southeastern parts and around present day London,one could have serious questions about the arrival of the Saxons during and after this period,Were the Saxons brought over as Roman slaves for military and labor purposes.As one author in Campbell's series has stated,"There is NO history or records on slavery during this period",it definitely existed during this period and a lack of info on this vital subject leaves major gaps in any attempt at discovery.The author admits to the critical shortage of acurate writings and records from the "Dark Age" period although more light has come on this period from numerous scholarly works recently.Even the most famous Anglo-Saxon archaeological relic of the period the Sutton-Hoo mask can be debated. Is it in fact a post -Roman copy of a Roman military parade mask? I have seen a few of the Roman masks and they are almost identical and a few hundred years before the Sutton-Hoo mask. Some of the treasures pictured in the book were actually found on the continent and the author states,"They(May Be) of Anglo-Saxon origin so he admits he might be wrong. The coin stashes found and presented in the book are both Roman and Continental?Whomever controls the minting of the coin usually has the power so is my read of Campbell that far off?The image of boatloads of Anglo-Saxon freebooters,arriving in postRoman Britain shouting "power to the peasants" is shattered in this work.The Anglos,Saxons and the Jutes probably arrived in large numbers and during different periods as possible contracted labor,mercenaries,concubines,(slaves)? and were gobbled up rapidly by the nations/tribes(including previously arrived Anglo-Saxons) already established in the isles,at least that is(MY) read of Campbells'book.I have heard it said on occasion that the WestSaxon tongue was the language of slaves.Would it be the first time in history that slave-lingo took over a country?This is not to say that the Anglo-Saxons did not make a major contribution to English law and culture.The numerous essays and descriptions of the works of art and law by the Anglo-Saxons included in the book leave one in awe.But how much of this was the result of Roman and other Continental influences?Good luck trying to separate it!!but it was never meant to be separated anyway.
If I've confused you that's good because almost every work on the Anglo-Saxons is VERY confusing due to lack of records-no ships lists,no records of crossings--no nothing-a culture of wood buildings.There are a few one-sided (Hell and Damnation)scribbling of monks based on folklore who may have been court propogandists bolstering a shaky throne.Then you have crossings of numerous contintental tribes,vikings,etc.,etc, so numerous that noone even knows their names(or for that matter cares or should care).Then suddenly someone writes a book and everyone with caucasion features is you guessed it Anglo-Saxon.It's a scissors and paste and every which way but loose fit.Suddenly around 800 AD England is Anglo-Saxon.I've seen so many different books and they all have different dates anywher form 200AD to 800AD when England is Anglo-Saxon.Anglo-Saxon as far as a label is good enough for me.With little to none writings and archaeological records,the Anglo-Saxon historian becomes the (ARTIST)! or what the heck! The spinner of tall tales,I understand Paul Bunyon was Anglo-Saxon too!!I gave the book 5 stars not becuase I'm convnced about Campbells' assumption of an Anglo-Saxon England,but because of the extreme scarcity of sources except imagination,any attempt is praiseworthy.By the way great pictures!!
 Idiosyncratic but delightful September 23, 2005
14 out of 15 found this review helpful
I recently used this text in a graduate course on the early Middle Ages. I like it because it does several things really well -- most of what is written about the period tends to focus on the period after Alfred the Great because historians are rightly dependent upon written sources that become relatively more plentiful in the later period. This text draws on archaeology really nicely and gives a lot of good visuals. The sidebar discussions of things like estimating the populations of medieval cities are really nice jumping off points for discussion. The book does gloss over several ongoing historiographical debates and becomes, I think, problematically idiosyncratic for the eleventh century. It also lacks discussion of some important issues such as institutional and military history (which is hard to write about in an engaging fashion) and women's history. I wouldn't use it in an undergrad course without a lot of supplementation.
Thoughts from an armchair historian December 31, 2003
31 out of 31 found this review helpful
The book is rich in detail, highly informative and well illustrated. The picture essays throughout the book are great, the ones on the cult of St. Cuthbert and the formation of boroughs I found particularly enjoyable.
Part history, part archeology the book tracks down and gives origins and backgrounds of the source materials that the authors use providing some great insight not normally found in other books on the subject. After reading this book, one can't help become an admirer of Bede. Also what I found interesting is that most of the book emphasizes the history of Anglo-Saxons ecclesiastically instead of following the monarchs like most others.
My one severe critizism of the book is that there is no mention of the Witanagemot anywhere. Other problems that I had were that the last third of the book was surpisingly a glossy overview of events. Which is ironic since that is the era of Saxon England that has the most detail. And the book can be dry in places. It has been noted that this has been used as a text book and I can see why. But I do not recommend this as the first book to get regarding this subject. The authors expect you to have at least a general knowledge of Anglo-Saxon England, particularly when it comes to its kings. Those familiar with the history will find this an excellent addition to your library. Critizisms aside, this is an admirable work and I'm glad I bought it.
A great introduction March 23, 2000
27 out of 28 found this review helpful
This well-illustrated volume provides an excellent introduction to the Anglo-Saxon period. The "picture essays" regarding coinage and other specialized topics help provide detail without interrupting what amounts to historic narrative.The problems of using source documents are detailed as well as the triumphs of modern archealogy in expanding our understanding of this period of history. The photographs, drawings, and maps compliment and support the text nicely. Highly recommended as an introduction to the period and its people.
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