Athelstan (Penguin Monarchs): The Making of England by Tom Holland (PDF)

Description

The formation of England occurred against the odds: an island divided into rival kingdoms, under savage assault from Viking hordes. But, after King Alfred ensured the survival of Wessex and his son Edward expanded it, his grandson Athelstan inherited the rule of both Mercia and Wessex, conquered Northumbria and was hailed as Rex totius Britanniae: ‘King of the whole of Britain’.Tom Holland recounts this extraordinary story with relish and drama, transporting us back to a time of omens, raven harbingers and blood-red battlefields. As well as giving form to the figure of Athelstan – devout, shrewd, all too aware of the precarious nature of his power, especially in the north – he introduces the great figures of the age, including Alfred and his daughter Aethelflaed, ‘Lady of the Mercians’, who brought Athelstan up at the Mercian court. Making sense of the family rivalries and fractious conflicts of the Anglo-Saxon rulers, Holland shows us how a royal dynasty rescued their kingdom from near-oblivion and fashioned a nation that endures to this day.

User’s Reviews

Reviews from Amazon users which were colected at the time this book was published on the website:

⭐A fascinating book about a outstanding monarch! Athelstan, grandson of Alfred the Great, was such a remarkable figure, that he even surpassed his famous ancestor. It is regerttable that Athelstan has been forgotten, yet Tom Holland, in his superb style, has managed to introduce him to a wide audience.Highly recommended.

⭐I was so looking forward to an informative read on King Atheistan. Maybe very limited info on Athelstan. And if so a shorter book might be in order. And possibly a bit more interesting. I’ve never read Tom Holland before. Yes, I did learn quite bit from this book about Athelstan. Without a doubt, much more than I knew. I’m no dummy, but in Mr. Holland’s way of writing, I had to back up and reread parts just to understand which character he was talking about? This book was way too “wordy ” and in truth very boring for me. Kind of a jumbled mess in spots!

⭐This is not a full fledged book but more of an extended essay about Athelstan’s achievements and his importance as the first king of a united England. Upon becoming king of Mercia and then Wessex, Athelstan’s purpose was to realize the vision of his grandfather Alfred the Great, his father Edward of Wessex, and his indomitable aunt Aethelfleda, the Lady of the Mercians. This meant eliminating the Viking threat and finally incorporating Northumbria into his kingdom. He did have hopes of making the kings of Alba (Scotland), Strathclyde and Wales recognize him as overlord. Athelstan was a successful warrior, lawgiver, and diplomat, overall a great king. Unfortunately he was followed by lesser kings and the unity he created came apart, not to be restored until the time of Canute, a Danish conqueror. Athelstan is not particularly famous today despite his achievements. His grandfather Alfred the Great is far more famous although he only was able to secure his kingdom of Wessex and dream about a united England or Angleland. Athelstan made those dreams a reality for ten years and deserves greater recognition as the first true king of England. As Holland suggests, without Athelstan’s achievements the political landscape of England might have been very different, with a Northumbria and “Southumbria” existing for many years. Holland has done commendable work in his beautifully written summary exposition, but the price of the book is a bit steep.

⭐I enjoy these biographies because though short, they are straightforward and a necessary read, especially regarding a king who is much speculated about but still remains an enigma. The facts can’t be denied, but as with most historical figures for which a lot of documentation has been lost, all that’s left is to deconstruct copies of alleged primary sources and secondary sources (like William of Malmesbury), coupled with archaeological evidence and what’s known this far about the period to complete (most of) the puzzle.This objective and serious approach the author takes is what makes this an engaging read. Moreover, it is clear that the author has a deep respect and appreciation for the past, exhorting us not to forget or dismiss the past and acknowledge the notable people (like Athelstan) who beat the odds and are responsible for something many take for granted.

⭐Tom Holland of course. –

⭐This is beautifully written. Mr Holland tells a story as exciting and romantic as anything that could possibly be imagined with the added advantage of it being true. It’s brief enough and so neatly explained that even if this is the first time you are learning about the Aethels and their place in history – you’ll have no trouble locating where and when you are and keeping up with the speed of the unfolding events. It’s just delicious. More!

⭐Quick read. Well written. I do not feel like it enhanced my understanding of the era but enjoyed reading it.On further reflection I have added a star to the review. The book is well written, entertaining and does a nice job explaining Athelstan’s reign, achievements.

⭐I just received Tom Holland’s book on Aethelstan, have not read it, so maybe my low rating is premature. This is a booklet not a book. Barely 90 pages & only somewhat larger than my smartphone. It’s my fault for not reading the description more carefully. Anyone interested in this story should buy Sarah Foot’s “Aethelstan – the First King of England” & skip Tom Holland. I read this a couple of years ago and in his recommendations for further reading, Sarah Foot is the first historian Holland mentions. I have other books by Holland & enjoyed them so I’m looking forward to this one. But I don’t expect to see much new & it’ll be a quick read.

⭐This short book is about the life and reign of the Anglo Saxon king Athelstan – a ruler who should be better known, as he was effectively the architect of England as a (more or less) united country, bringing into reality the vision and concept of his more famous grandfather Alfred. The fact of his being (almost certainly) brought up at the Mercian court for his own protection from rival factions to his Wessex father Edward the Elder, led to his being accepted eventually as the best ruler for both Wessex and Mercia. Then later he was to challenge and overthrow Viking rule in York, the capital of Northumbria (though that was reversed after his and his successor’s deaths, and only eventually cemented in the reign of his much younger half-brother Edred). Athelstan’s vision went even further to include overlordship of the whole British isles (“rex totius Britanniae” the contemporary chroniclers called him), defeating Scottish, Welsh and Irish rulers at the decisive battle of Brunanburh in 937 (a battle the site of which remains unknown to this day). This did not outlast his death; but Athelstan saw himself, and was seen by many of his contemporaries, as a European monarch of the stature of Charlemagne, marrying off several of his many half-sisters to Frankish and German princes. When he died, an Ulster chronicler described him as “the roof-tree of the dignity of the western world”. The author Tom Holland is better known for his excellent books on ancient history, such as Rubicon, about the fall of the Roman Republic, and other works covering a broad sweep of ancient history. While a new period for him, he has a similar broad view here when he concludes that “In a country that has been a unitary state for longer than any other in Europe, the sheer feat of statecraft that was required to bring it into existence risks being signally underestimated. The king who founded England has largely been forgotten even by the English”.

⭐This is a very good, but all too brief, outline of events surrounding Athelstan and the creation of the Kingdom of England. Sadly even 50 years ago we were not taught about the rise of Saxon England, and I went to school in Kingston, where seven Saxon Kings were crowned! As there are many references to Athelstan in Kingston I’ve always been interested in who he was. Tom Holland’s books never disappoint.

⭐Concise expert analysis communicated through exquisite prose gives significant detail of the shadowy figure of the elusive Athelstan. As the union starts to unravel, the start of England and the existence of an integrated Britain becomes more important.

⭐Holland has produced a superb book. This is a period that I have studied deeply and was impress. Academic historians can be turgid and boring. For a historian Holland has avoided this

⭐Most people have heard the story of King Alfred but little of his grandson, Athelstan. I believe that he was as important as his Grandfather and Tom Holland details his many achievements in keeping the realm peaceful and prosperous at the same time. It is a most interesting tale.

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