Building Anglo-Saxon England

A radical rethinking of the Anglo-Saxon world is presented in this book, which was shortlisted for the Wolfson History Prize. It draws on the latest archaeological discoveries to present a new appraisal of the Anglo-Saxon built environment and its inhabitants. John Blair, one of the world's leading experts on this era, explains the origins of towns, manor houses, and castles in a completely new way, shedding new light on the functions of buildings and settlements in shaping people's lives. The book also explores how the natural landscape was modified to accommodate human activity and how settlements were laid out with geometrical precision.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 496 pages
Publication date: 12 October 2021
Publisher: Princeton University Press

Shortlisted for the Wolfson History Prize, this groundbreaking book offers a fresh perspective on the Anglo-Saxon world by incorporating the latest archaeological discoveries. Beautifully illustrated, it presents a radical reinterpretation of the Anglo-Saxon built environment and its inhabitants. John Blair, a renowned expert on this transformative era in England's early history, delves into the origins of towns, manor houses, and castles, offering a novel understanding of their significance. Through his insights, Blair sheds new light on the role of buildings and settlements in shaping people's lives during the age of the Venerable Bede and King Alfred.

Building Anglo-Saxon England showcases the remarkable diversity of the Anglo-Saxon built environment through hundreds of recent excavations. Blair identifies a region in eastern England with access to the North Sea, characterized by its economy, prosperity, and timber buildings, which stood out from the rest of England. The book provides a clear understanding of the origins of villages and their field systems, as well as the royal administrative organization of the kingdom of Mercia, which dominated central England for two centuries.

Featuring a wealth of color illustrations, Building Anglo-Saxon England explores how the natural landscape was modified to accommodate human activity. It also reveals the precise layout of settlements, both secular and religious, achieved through the expertise of specialist surveyors. The book showcases the Anglo-Saxon love for elegant and intricate decoration, evident in the construction of their living environment, which, in some ways, was more sophisticated than it would become after the Norman Conquest.

This comprehensive and captivating book offers a profound exploration of the Anglo-Saxon world, shedding new light on its rich history and cultural heritage. It is a must-read for anyone interested in medieval England, archaeology, and the evolution of society.

Weight: 1990g
Dimension: 218 x 281 x 30 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780691228426