Danes, Saxons and Normans or, Stories of our ancestors

by John G. Edgar

This is a sweeping history of the major events in British history from the ninth century AD to the end of the Norman Conquest more than 200 years later, featuring the fascinating stories of the series of Vikings, Saxons, and Normans who blazed their way across England during that tumultuous time.Read here of Rollo the Norman (“Rolfganger”), a Viking and first duke of Normandy, and his most famous descendent, William the Conqueror; and of the Danish invasion under Earl Godwin, the restoration of the Anglo-Saxon kings under Edward the Confessor, and many others, including the adventurers Siward the Dane, Harold Hardrada, and Hereward the Saxon.The overview shows how the Normans under Rolfganger forced a settlement in the dominions of Charles the Simple, while Alfred the Great was struggling with the Danes in England, and recounts the events which led to a connection between the courts of Rouen and Westminster, and to the invasion of England by William the Norman. It then traces the path of William the Conqueror’s career from the coast of Sussex to the banks of the Humber and the “harrying of the north.” It also dramatically reveals the struggles for power within the Norman king’s house, and how, after the wars of succession, the Plantagenet house came to rule England.

Genres: Education

254 pages, Paperback

First published December 18, 2012

About the author

John George Edgar (1834–1864), was a Scottish author who wrote novels inspired by the great events of English history.

Reviews

[Ed Barton · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Decent History of William the Conqueror

The book covers the post-Roman period to about 1100 - and focuses on the rise of William the Conqueror and the subsequent rise of the Plantagenets. The book takes some liberties with “quotes” and reads as much as a fictional account as a historical one. The detail is decent, and it’s readable enough. If this is your genre, you’ll likely enjoy the book.

[Sean Archer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book, very slow start..