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The First Kingdom
Britain in the age of Arthur
Series: The Founders of Britain Quartet
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Check link for latest rating. ( 689 ratings, 69 reviews)
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The First Kingdom
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?
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An investigation of the obscure centuries that followed the departure of the Romans from Britain.
From the author of The King in the North β an intellectually probing and beautifully wrought investigation of the obscure centuries that followed the departure of the Romans from Britain.
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Description
The bestselling author of The King in the North turns his attention to the obscure era of British history known as 'the age of Arthur'.
'Not just a valuable book, but a distinctive one as well' Tom Holland, Sunday Times
'An accessible and illuminating book' Gerard de Groot, The Times
'A fascinating picture of Britain's new-found independence' This England
Somewhere between the departure of the Roman legions in the early fifth century and the arrival of Augustine's Christian mission at the end of the sixth, the kingdoms of Early Medieval Britain were formed. But by whom? And out of what?
The First Kingdom is a skilfully wrought investigation of this mysterious epoch, synthesizing archaeological research carried out over the last forty years to tease out reality from the myth. Max Adams presents an image of post-Roman Britain whose resolution is high enough to show the emergence of distinct political structures in the sixth century β polities that survive long enough to be embedded in the medieval landscape, recorded in the lines of river, road and watershed, and memorialized in place names.
Series: The Founders of Britain Quartet
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The Mercian Chronicles
A brilliant recreation of the golden age of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Mercia β its landscapes, peoples, conflicts, power structures, and political geography. The eighth century has long been a neglected backwater in English history: a shadowland between the death of Bede and the triumphs of Γlfred. But before the hegemony of Wessex, the kingdom of Merciaβspread across a broad...Hardback$5499Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
The First Kingdom
The bestselling author of The King in the North turns his attention to the obscure era of British history known as 'the age of Arthur'. 'Not just a valuable book, but a distinctive one as well' Tom Holland, Sunday Times 'An accessible and illuminating book' Gerard de Groot, The Times 'A fascinating picture of Britain's new-found independence' This England Somewhere...Paperback$3499Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
Aelfred's Britain
The story of Aelfred the Great, his war against the Vikings, and the foundations of modern Britain. In AD 865, a 'great host' of battle-hardened Norse warriors landed on England's eastern coast, overwhelmed East Anglia with terrifying swiftness, and laid the North to waste. Ghosting along estuaries and inshore waters, in 871 they penetrated deep into the southern kingdom of...Paperback$3299Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
The Mercian Chronicles
A brilliant recreation of the golden age of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Mercia β its landscapes, peoples, conflicts, power structures and political geography. The eighth century has long been a neglected backwater in English history: a shadowland between the death of Bede and the triumphs of Γlfred. But before the hegemony of Wessex, the kingdom of Mercia - spread across...PaperbackSold Out -
The King in the North
A triumph β a Game of Thrones in the Dark Ages - TOM HOLLAND. The magisterial biography of Oswald Whiteblade, exiled prince of Northumbria, who returned in blood and glory to reclaim his birthright. A charismatic leader, a warrior whose prowess in battle earned him the epithet Whiteblade, an exiled prince who returned to claim his birthright, the inspiration for...PaperbackSold Out
Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
Max Adams' The First Kingdom is praised for its distinctive and engaging writing, synthesising archaeology and historical research over recent decades. Reviewers highlight its critical examination of traditional narratives and its success in painting a vivid panorama of Early Medieval Britain within the broader European context. The book's approach is seen as both valuable and sensitive, offering an insightful picture of Britain's emerging independence.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9781788543484
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 11 November 2021
Country: United Kingdom
Imprint: Apollo
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Spine width: 34.0mm
Width: 130.0mm
Height: 196.0mm
Weight: 412g
Pages: 512
About the Author
Max Adams is a writer, archaeologist and woodsman whose work explores themes of landscape, knowledge and human connectedness with the earth. He is the author of Admiral Collingwood, Aelfred's Britain, Trees of Life, the bestselling The King in the North and In the Land of Giants. He has lived and worked in the North-East of England since 1993.
Also by Max Adams
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The Mercian Chronicles
A brilliant recreation of the golden age of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Mercia β its landscapes, peoples, conflicts, power structures, and political geography. The eighth century has long been a neglected backwater in English history: a shadowland between the death of Bede and the triumphs of Γlfred. But before the hegemony of Wessex, the kingdom of Merciaβspread across a broad...Hardback$5499Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
The Museum of the Wood Age
A passionate and imaginative exploration of wood β the material that shaped human history. As a material, wood has no equal in strength, resilience, adaptability and availability. It has been our partner in the cultural evolution from woodland foragers to engineers of our own destiny. Tracing that partnership through tools, devices, construction and artistic expression, Max Adams explores the role...Hardback$6499Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
The Wisdom of Trees
A passionate and informative celebration of trees and of man's ingenuity in exploiting their resources: the perfect gift for anyone who cares about the natural world. Trees are marvels of nature, still-standing giants of extraordinary longevity. In a beautifully written sequence of essays, anecdotes, and profiles of Britain's best-loved species (from yew to Scots pine), Max Adams explores both the...Paperback$2499Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
In the Land of Giants
The bestselling historian tells the story of the landscapes, peoples and culture of early medieval Britain in eight walks, an epic sea voyage and a north-south ride by motorbike. The five centuries between the end of Roman Britain (410) and the death of Alfred the Great (899) have left few voices save a handful of chroniclers, but Britain's 'Dark Ages'...Paperback$2699Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
Aelfred's Britain
The story of Aelfred the Great, his war against the Vikings, and the foundations of modern Britain. In AD 865, a 'great host' of battle-hardened Norse warriors landed on England's eastern coast, overwhelmed East Anglia with terrifying swiftness, and laid the North to waste. Ghosting along estuaries and inshore waters, in 871 they penetrated deep into the southern kingdom of...Paperback$3299Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
Northumbria AD 367-867
From the author of the bestselling The King in the North. The story of the lands between the Forth and Humber from the end of the Roman period to the Viking kingdom of York is one of the most richly fascinating in British history. This is the age of Lindisfarne and of Bede; of the dramatic hills, valleys, and ancient...HardbackSold Out -
The Mercian Chronicles
A brilliant recreation of the golden age of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Mercia β its landscapes, peoples, conflicts, power structures and political geography. The eighth century has long been a neglected backwater in English history: a shadowland between the death of Bede and the triumphs of Γlfred. But before the hegemony of Wessex, the kingdom of Mercia - spread across...PaperbackSold Out -
The King in the North
A triumph β a Game of Thrones in the Dark Ages - TOM HOLLAND. The magisterial biography of Oswald Whiteblade, exiled prince of Northumbria, who returned in blood and glory to reclaim his birthright. A charismatic leader, a warrior whose prowess in battle earned him the epithet Whiteblade, an exiled prince who returned to claim his birthright, the inspiration for...PaperbackSold Out
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