The Making Of England : A New History Of The Anglo-Saxon World - 9781838604035
Bloomsbury Academic
ISBN13:
9781838604035
$56.25
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.
- | Author: Mark Atherton
- | Publisher: Bloomsbury Academic
- | Publication Date: Sep 19, 2019
- | Number of Pages: 355 pages
- | Language: English
- | Binding: Paperback
- | ISBN-10: 1838604030
- | ISBN-13: 9781838604035
- Author:
- Mark Atherton
- Publisher:
- Bloomsbury Academic
- Publication Date:
- Sep 19, 2019
- Number of pages:
- 355 pages
- Language:
- English
- Binding:
- Paperback
- ISBN-10:
- 1838604030
- ISBN-13:
- 9781838604035