Books

Books : reviews

Dawn M. Hadley, Julian D. Richards.
The Viking Great Army and the Making of England.
Thames and Hudson. 2021

The Viking Great Army that swept through England between AD 865 and 878 altered the course of British history. Instead of making quick smash-and-grab summer raids for silver and slaves, Vikings now remained in the country and became immersed in its communities. The Viking army was here to stay.

Tracing the movements of the Great Army across the country, this book pieces together a new picture of Viking Age England in unprecedented detail, from swords, coins, jewelry and the burials of great warriors to the everyday objects that ordinary farmers and craftsmen discarded. Drawing on the most up-to-date discoveries and the latest scientific techniques, this is the definitive account of a vital period in England’s history.