The Making of England - A New History of the Anglo-Saxon World

During the tenth century England began to emerge as a distinct country with an identity that was both part of yet separate from ''Christendom''. The reigns of Athelstan, Edgar and Ethelred witnessed the emergence of many key institutions: the formation of towns on modern street plans; an efficient administration; and a serviceable system of tax. Mark Atherton here shows how the stories, legends, biographies and chronicles of Anglo-Saxon England reflected both this exciting time of innovation as well as the myriad lives, loves and hates of the people who wrote them. He demonstrates, too, that this was a nation coming of age, ahead of its time in its use not of the Book-Latin used elsewhere in Europe, but of a narrative Old English prose devised for law and practical governance of the nation-state, for prayer and preaching, and above all for exploring a rich and daring new literature. This prose was unique, but until now it has been neglected for the poetry. Bringing a volatile age to vivid and muscular life, Atherton argues that it was the vernacular of Alfred the Great, as much as Viking war, that truly forged the nation.>

Product details

• Authors: Mark Atherton, Mark (Oxford University Atherton, Mark (Oxford University) Atherton, Mark (University of Oxford Atherton
• Publisher: Bloomsbury Academic
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 30.09.2019
• EAN: 9781838604035
• ISBN: 978-1-83860-403-5
• No. of pages: 352
• Series: Library of Medieval Studies
• Subjects: Non-fiction book > History > Biographies, autobiographies; History of Ideas, European History, BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Military, Biography: historical, political & military, HISTORY / Military / General, LANGUAGE ARTS & DISCIPLINES / General, LITERARY CRITICISM / Ancient & Classical, HISTORY / Social History, military history, Social & cultural history, RELIGION / Christianity / History, LITERARY CRITICISM / Medieval, RELIGION / Christianity / General, Christianity, CE period up to c 1500, History of Religion, Medieval History, Literary studies: classical, early & medieval, Language: history & general works, Social and cultural history, Biography: historical, political and military, European history: medieval period, middle ages, Literary studies: ancient, classical and medieval, HISTORY / Europe / Medieval, C 500 CE To C 1000 CE, Language: history and general works, Anglo-Saxon / Old English, Anglo-Saxon