Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Kingdom of the Anglo-Saxons:
Who would have thought writing stuff down would make such a difference.
Quick synopsis:
The story of England around the time of Alfred the Great.
Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like:
Alfred the Great kept a third of his revenues to provide gifts to visiting dignitaries and travelers. Essentially, Alfred loved party favors.
Fun Fact for History Nerds:
Alfred was the fifth in line to assume the throne. Yup, he somehow made it.
My Take on The Kingdom of the Anglo-Saxons:
Paul Hill is one of those special authors who is deeply entrenched in the work he is doing but also realizes just how confusing reaching back into history can be. It makes for a very entertaining read in The Kingdom of the Anglo-Saxons.
Hill takes you step by step through the time just before and during the life of Alfred the Great. Along the way, we are introduced to many characters who are cloaked in the mist of history. Hill is adept at making sure to separate fact, conjecture, and just straight fiction. He keeps the reader engaged with witty observations and more importantly, the deft touch of a teacher rather than a lecturer. I laughed out loud multiple times when Hill admits how confusing it can be to figure out if these historical figures are the same people or separate people with the same name. Scholarly works can often veer into a dry restatement of facts. Hill avoids those pitfalls and keeps this interesting.
Verdict:
Hill adds a bit of fun and it makes for a very readable book. This is a scholarly book so don’t expect it to read like a novel. Buy it here!
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