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History of the Anglo-Saxons: From the Earliest Period to the Norman Conquest
History of the Anglo-Saxons - From the Earliest Period to the Norman Conquest; Second Edition by Thomas Miller
CHAPTER I. - THE DAWN OF HISTORY.
Obscurity of early history—Our ancient monuments a mystery—The Welsh Triads—Language of the first inhabitants of Britain unknown—Wonders of the ancient world
CHAPTER II. - THE ANCIENT BRITONS.
The Celtic Tribes—Britain known to the Phœnicians and Greeks—The ancient Cymry—Different classes of the early Britons—Their personal appearance—Description of their forest-towns—A British hunter—Interior of an ancient hut—Costume of the old Cymry—Ancient armour and weapons—British war-chariots—The fearful havoc they made in battle.
CHAPTER III. - THE DRUIDS.
Interior of an old British forest—Druidical sacrifice—Their treasures—Their mysterious rites and ceremonies—The power they possessed—Their belief in a future state—Their wild superstitions—An arch-Druid described—Their veneration for the mistletoe—Description of the Druids offering up sacrifice—The gloomy grandeur of their ancient groves—Contrast between the idols of the Druids and the heathen gods of the Romans.
CHAPTER IV. - LANDING OF JULIUS CÆSAR.
Cæsar's reasons for invading Britain—Despatches Volusenus from Gaul to ivreconnoitre the island—Is intimidated by the force he finds arranged along the cliffs of Dover—Lands near Sandwich—Courage of the Roman Standard-bearer—Combat between the Britons and Romans—Defeat and submission of the Britons—Wreck of the Roman galleys—Perilous position of the invaders—Roman soldiers attacked in a corn-field, rescued by the arrival of their general—Britons attack the Roman encampment, are again defeated, and pursued by the Roman cavalry—Cæsar's hasty departure from Britain—Return of the Romans at spring—Description of their armed galleys—Determination of Cæsar to conquer Britain—Picturesque description of the night march of the Roman legions into Kent—Battle beside a river—Difficulties the Romans encounter in their marches through the ancient British forests—Cæsar's hasty retreat to his encampment—The Roman galleys again wrecked—Cessation of hostilities—Cassivellaunus assumes the command of the Britons—His skill as a general—Obtains an advantage over the Romans with his war-chariots—Attacks the Roman encampment by night and slays the outer guard—Defeats the two cohorts that advance to their rescue, and slays a Roman tribune—Renewal of the battle on the following day—Cæsar compelled to call in the foragers to strengthen his army—Splendid charge of the Roman cavalry—Overthrow and retreat of the Britons—Cæsar marches through Kent and Surrey in pursuit of the British army—Crosses the Thames near Chertsey—Retreat of the British general—Cuts off the supplies of the Romans, and harasses the army with his war-chariots—Stratagems adopted by the Britons—Cassivellaunus betrayed by his countrymen—His fortress attacked in the forest—Contemplates the destruction of the Roman fleet—Attack of the Kentish men on the encampment of the invaders—The Romans again victorious—Cassivellaunus sues for peace—Final departure of Cæsar from Britain.
CHAPTER V. - CARACTACUS, BOADICEA, AND AGRICOLA.
State of Britain after the departure of Cæsar—Landing of Plautius—His skirmishes with the Britons in the marshes beside the Thames—Arrival of the Roman emperor Cl
CHAPTER I. - THE DAWN OF HISTORY.
Obscurity of early history—Our ancient monuments a mystery—The Welsh Triads—Language of the first inhabitants of Britain unknown—Wonders of the ancient world
CHAPTER II. - THE ANCIENT BRITONS.
The Celtic Tribes—Britain known to the Phœnicians and Greeks—The ancient Cymry—Different classes of the early Britons—Their personal appearance—Description of their forest-towns—A British hunter—Interior of an ancient hut—Costume of the old Cymry—Ancient armour and weapons—British war-chariots—The fearful havoc they made in battle.
CHAPTER III. - THE DRUIDS.
Interior of an old British forest—Druidical sacrifice—Their treasures—Their mysterious rites and ceremonies—The power they possessed—Their belief in a future state—Their wild superstitions—An arch-Druid described—Their veneration for the mistletoe—Description of the Druids offering up sacrifice—The gloomy grandeur of their ancient groves—Contrast between the idols of the Druids and the heathen gods of the Romans.
CHAPTER IV. - LANDING OF JULIUS CÆSAR.
Cæsar's reasons for invading Britain—Despatches Volusenus from Gaul to ivreconnoitre the island—Is intimidated by the force he finds arranged along the cliffs of Dover—Lands near Sandwich—Courage of the Roman Standard-bearer—Combat between the Britons and Romans—Defeat and submission of the Britons—Wreck of the Roman galleys—Perilous position of the invaders—Roman soldiers attacked in a corn-field, rescued by the arrival of their general—Britons attack the Roman encampment, are again defeated, and pursued by the Roman cavalry—Cæsar's hasty departure from Britain—Return of the Romans at spring—Description of their armed galleys—Determination of Cæsar to conquer Britain—Picturesque description of the night march of the Roman legions into Kent—Battle beside a river—Difficulties the Romans encounter in their marches through the ancient British forests—Cæsar's hasty retreat to his encampment—The Roman galleys again wrecked—Cessation of hostilities—Cassivellaunus assumes the command of the Britons—His skill as a general—Obtains an advantage over the Romans with his war-chariots—Attacks the Roman encampment by night and slays the outer guard—Defeats the two cohorts that advance to their rescue, and slays a Roman tribune—Renewal of the battle on the following day—Cæsar compelled to call in the foragers to strengthen his army—Splendid charge of the Roman cavalry—Overthrow and retreat of the Britons—Cæsar marches through Kent and Surrey in pursuit of the British army—Crosses the Thames near Chertsey—Retreat of the British general—Cuts off the supplies of the Romans, and harasses the army with his war-chariots—Stratagems adopted by the Britons—Cassivellaunus betrayed by his countrymen—His fortress attacked in the forest—Contemplates the destruction of the Roman fleet—Attack of the Kentish men on the encampment of the invaders—The Romans again victorious—Cassivellaunus sues for peace—Final departure of Cæsar from Britain.
CHAPTER V. - CARACTACUS, BOADICEA, AND AGRICOLA.
State of Britain after the departure of Cæsar—Landing of Plautius—His skirmishes with the Britons in the marshes beside the Thames—Arrival of the Roman emperor Cl
- GenresHistoryMedieval History
431 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1848
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
March 22, 2021
Although published in 1850, and therefore lacking certain knowledge gained over time, this is nonetheless an entertaining account of England’s early history.
This is no stuffy textbook, and the narrative is engaging; however, the prose is at times too flowery.
The author has a novelist's imagination, which sometimes enhances the writing quality when he offers his interpretation of how such-and-such a person might have behaved in a certain situation. I like this approach on the most part, but didn’t appreciate the author’s occasional slip into melodrama:
“Oh, what heart-rending shrieks must that beautiful woman have sent forth!”
While I don’t like history books to be too dry or essay-like, I do expect them to be accurate and professionally written. Melodrama has no place here.
Holding back on graphic scenes is typical in pre-twentieth-century works, and this book is no exception:
“We will not pain our readers by describing this unparalleled butchery.”
These sorts of omissions always frustrate me. It leaves me wanting to know the finer details, no matter how gory. Sensitive readers could skip a paragraph if warned, and it feels like a cop out on the author’s part. A good historian should keep no info a secret.
That said, this author doesn’t strike me as a historian, but as a novelist interested in, and knowledgeable about, early history. Not that knowledgeable, though, as certain dates are wrong, such as Alfred the Great’s death, though perhaps this wasn’t known in the mid-nineteenth century.
So, while this book has a few minor faults, I enjoyed it in the most part. If you’re interested in early England, but don’t like dry historical accounts with excess footnotes, then give this a try.
This is no stuffy textbook, and the narrative is engaging; however, the prose is at times too flowery.
The author has a novelist's imagination, which sometimes enhances the writing quality when he offers his interpretation of how such-and-such a person might have behaved in a certain situation. I like this approach on the most part, but didn’t appreciate the author’s occasional slip into melodrama:
“Oh, what heart-rending shrieks must that beautiful woman have sent forth!”
While I don’t like history books to be too dry or essay-like, I do expect them to be accurate and professionally written. Melodrama has no place here.
Holding back on graphic scenes is typical in pre-twentieth-century works, and this book is no exception:
“We will not pain our readers by describing this unparalleled butchery.”
These sorts of omissions always frustrate me. It leaves me wanting to know the finer details, no matter how gory. Sensitive readers could skip a paragraph if warned, and it feels like a cop out on the author’s part. A good historian should keep no info a secret.
That said, this author doesn’t strike me as a historian, but as a novelist interested in, and knowledgeable about, early history. Not that knowledgeable, though, as certain dates are wrong, such as Alfred the Great’s death, though perhaps this wasn’t known in the mid-nineteenth century.
So, while this book has a few minor faults, I enjoyed it in the most part. If you’re interested in early England, but don’t like dry historical accounts with excess footnotes, then give this a try.
June 29, 2020
A good read that hits the high points of the Saxon migration until the Norman conquest. The language and wording can be a bit flowery and one can get lost in it and get confused who or what Miller is referring to sometimes. I definitely dig his use of Bards of the day as sources.
November 30, 2025
A very enjoyable book. A good read.
A very concise history of the Anglo-Saxons, written in a delightful and descriptive way by the author. If you want to know anything of the lives of the Anglo-Saxons, read this book.
A very concise history of the Anglo-Saxons, written in a delightful and descriptive way by the author. If you want to know anything of the lives of the Anglo-Saxons, read this book.
January 24, 2019
this is a narrative style of a history and very old. For me it's much easier to enjoy history when its told as more of a story than "Date => place/Event" format.
June 15, 2021
War and conflict are the history described here
It seems that the knowledge of the history was derived in great part by who fought whom and the victor the new king.
It seems that the knowledge of the history was derived in great part by who fought whom and the victor the new king.
March 11, 2023
This was a very interesting book. I recommend it to those who like history and sagas.
August 15, 2015
Fascinating
Very poetically written. Every chapter paints a picture of England's early history. I wanted a basic timeline of this time period, and this was perfect for that. It was so beautifully written that I know I'll read it again.
Very poetically written. Every chapter paints a picture of England's early history. I wanted a basic timeline of this time period, and this was perfect for that. It was so beautifully written that I know I'll read it again.
May 3, 2017
Disappointing
This was difficult to read. The author has a bias that is blatantly obvious from the very beginning of the book. This is "history written by the victors" at its worst. The author interweaves documented historical accounts with his own opinions and personal beliefs then calls it all truth. I couldn't get past the bias to appreciate the author's detailed knowledge of the subject.
This was difficult to read. The author has a bias that is blatantly obvious from the very beginning of the book. This is "history written by the victors" at its worst. The author interweaves documented historical accounts with his own opinions and personal beliefs then calls it all truth. I couldn't get past the bias to appreciate the author's detailed knowledge of the subject.
August 17, 2017
I wanted a history book, not a poetry book. Couldn't even finish it.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews