Product Description

While the date 1066 is familiar to almost everybody as the year of the Norman conquest of England, few can place the event in the context of the dramatic year in which it took place. In this book, David Howarth attempts to bring alive the struggle for the succession to the English crown from the death of Edward the Confessor in January 1066 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 the Battle of Hastings. The author draws on the wealth of contemporary sources to describe Harold Godwinson's seizure of the throne, the brilliant defeat of the invasion from Norway at Stamford bridge and the forced march south to eventual defeat at Hastings. Howarth recounts events from the perspective of the common Englishman - describing how he worked, fought and died - and how he perceived from his isolated shire the overthrow of his world.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1654459 in Books
• Published on: 2002-04-25
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 208 pages

About the Author
David Howarth (1912-1991) served in the Royal Navy during WWII. He wrote an account of the Norwegian operations in which he was involved, The Shetland Bus, and subsequently turned his attention to maritime history books which include Sovereign of the Seas, Trafalgar and the Nelson Touch.

Customer Reviews

An exciting investigation of motive and opportunism.
1066 unveils the psychological motives of Harold, William, Tostig and all those who would help or not help them. He has a gift for making each person believable, and for engaging our sympathy for all players in the drama. Howarth's conclusions are credible. He brings to life the complexities of being born to, or aspiring to, the throne, and the tentative quality of life for those born into royalty in that time. His reconstruction of the details of the year 1066, its events and its battles that would change the course of Britain and the world irreversibly, is engaging, sometimes sad, and extremely worthwhile.

Beautifully written and insightful
Howarth creates memorable portraits of the players in this drama. His ability to tell a story and bring out the human side of history makes this book a delight. I strongly recommend this book.

A Real Page-Turner!
David Howarth does a masterful job of bringing the Norman Conquest to life. The collected evidence is fascinating and the way he puts it together makes the story truly compelling--I had trouble putting it down. This book is a wonderful medium for those who like history but have trouble connecting with many of the books available. It is very down-to-earth and easy to read. It sparked my interest in the subject and inspired me to further study of the dramatic events of 1066. Happy reading!