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Harriet Harvey Wood's original and fascinating book shows that, rather than bringing culture and enlightenment to England, the Normans' aggressive and illegal invasion destroyed a long-established and highly-developed civilization which was far ahead of other European peoples in its political institutions, art and literature. It explores the background and lead-up to the invasion and the motives of the leading players, the state of warfare in England and Normandy in 1066, and the battle itself. By all the laws of probability, King Harold ought to have won the battle of Hastings without difficulty and to have enjoyed a peaceful and enlightened reign. That he did not was largely a matter of sheer bad luck. The result could just as easily have gone the other way. This gripping and highly-readable book shows how he came to be defeated, and what England lost as a result of his defeat and death.
Hastings and St Leonards have undergone very many changes since the Victorian era: rapid expansion, the impact of two World Wars and new developments over the twentieth century, including the erection of housing areas, shops and roads, have changed the face of the area forever. In this stunning collection of views, both old and new, postcard collector and local historian Mark Harvey invites you to take a fascinating and nostalgic tour of Hastings. With more than ninety images, Hastings Then & Now will delight residents and visitors alike.
The events of 1066 need no introduction and many would claim that we have said all that there is to be said on the subject. Clearly they would be wrong. This thorough and detailed study, "the most detailed treatment of its subject for over a hundred years", reassesses the English and French sources that comment on the size, nature and tactics of the French and English armies and the events of the battle itself. This study breaks from the consensus of opinion in many ways and is a well-illustrated, highly readable account. 1066 remains the most evocative date in English history: King Harold was defeated by William the Conqueror, and the rule of England passed abruptly from the control of Saxo...
Published in association with the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) and introduced by its president, Sir Max Hastings, this beautifully designed coffee-table tome is a must for anyone who cherishes the British countryside. It offers a combination of stunning landscape photography and quintessentially English quotes, poetry, reminiscences, and anecdotes. With a chapter for each of England’s counties, it captures the superb peaks and tumbling waterfalls in the Lake District, the windswept moorland of the Yorkshire Dales, the dramatic cliffs at Land’s End, sunrise on the Norfolk Broads, the historic houses of Chatsworth and Burghley in the East Midlands, and many more locales.
From baker, beekeeper and birdwatcher to falconer, farrier and forager, join poet Angus and printmaker Lilly as they explore the British Isles, uncovering and celebrating our crafts and traditions. This collection of poetry and printmaking aims to capture and celebrate the heritage and craftsmanship of the British Isles. The book comprises of thirty poems with accompanying black and white linocut prints. In this book, Angus and Lilly draw attention to traditional, artisan crafts of particular importance as many are in danger of becoming 'extinct' and there is a fear that, without recognition, aspects of our cultural heritage will disappear. This is a timely celebration of rural lifestyle.
A rousing historical narrative of the best-known and arguably most significant battle in English history. The effects of the Battle of Hastings were deeply felt at the time, causing a lasting shift in British cultural identity and national pride. Jim Bradbury explores the full military background of the battle and investigates both what actually happened on that fateful day in 1066 and the role that the battle plays in the British national myth. The Battle of Hastings starts by looking at the Normans—who they were, where they came from—and the career of William the Conqueror before 1066. Next, the narrative turns to the Saxons in England, and to Harold Godwineson, successor to Edward the...
Osprey's Campaign title for the Battle of Hastings, which was fought on 14th October 1066 between Duke William of Normandy and Harold Godwinson, king of England, and which irrevocably changed the course of English history. William's victory ensured his accession to the English throne. Hastings was also decisive in another way: the horrendous casualties suffered by the English nobility both there and at the two earlier battles of Fulford and Stamford Bridge resulted in there being very few men influential enough to lead an English resistance once William had been crowned. William would survive long enough to successfully found a Norman dynasty of English kings.
From 1840s crossing gatekeepers to 21st century train drivers: a unique book about women working on Britain's railways.