A good summary of a pivotal year in English history. Slim book but very informative. ( )

Concise and readable history of the Norman conquest of England. Does a wonderful job of conveying the lives of ordinary Englanders and French, as well as the mindset of the leaders who drove the events. ( )

This is not a comprehensive history of the Battle of Hastings, and it is not meant to be. It is a great storyteller's version of events as he understands them.

Howarth uses mostly contemporaneous writings (17 of his 20 sources are within 100 years of the Battle of Hastings) to decipher and tell the history of the battle between King Harold of England and William the Conqueror of Normandy. He infuses the book with his own point of view, which at times can be borderline Francophobic. "[William] was a more barbarous primitive man than either Edward or Harold, but he is not to be blamed: he came from a more barbarous primitive country."

But it is this point of view, and this conversational tone that makes this book so enjoyable. You might not agree with his point of view, but it sure is fun to listen to. "Obviously, nobody could really make a speech to an army, and the chaplain rather gave the game away. He wrote: 'Nobody has reported to us in detail the short harangue with which on this occasion the Duke increased the courage of his troops...' - and he went straight on to quote the speech at great length word for word."

I'll definitely be looking out for Howarth's other books.

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This is a very well-written and well-researched book. It's interesting to see how much of our knowledge of the events leading up to, during, and following the Battle of Hastings relies on much conjecture, simply because the few records that exist often conflict with one another. Read my full review here. ( )

I liked the writing style well enough; however, it felt just old-fashioned enough that I found it difficult to maintain focus. Part of this could be chalked up to personal circumstances, so I wouldn't dissuade anyone from reading the book if it interested them. It's certainly an interesting way to present the events leading up to the Conquest. ( )