Harriet Harvey Wood’s fascinating and accessible book will forever change our view of the Norman conquest of England. Although the prevailing view is that the invaders brought culture and enlightenment to England, Harvey Wood argues that the Normans’ aggressive and illegal attack actually destroyed a highly developed civilization with long-established political institutions and sophisticated art forms. The Battle of Hastings explores the background and lead-up to the invasion as well as the motives of the leading players, the state of warfare in England and Normandy in 1066, and the battle itself.

King Harold ought to have won the battle of Hastings and enjoyed a peaceful and enlightened reign; The Battle of Hastings shows that the result could just as easily have gone the other way. This gripping and highly readable book reveals how and why England came to be defeated on October 14, 1066, and what the country lost as a result.

Author Information
Harriet Harvey Wood studied mediaeval languages and literature at Edinburgh University and worked as an orchestral manager before joining the British Council, where she was head of its Literature Department for fourteen years.