Battle for the Island Kingdom
England's Destiny 1000-1066

Description
SHORTLIST FOR MILITARY HISTORY MATTERS BOOK OF THE YEAR 2024
Weaving together period sources and a fast-paced narrative, this is a rich history of the years leading up to 1066 when Vikings, Anglo-Saxons and Normans vied for the English crown.
Includes all the key individuals that inspired the final season of Netflix's Vikings: Valhalla and the brand-new BBC drama King and Conqueror.
Bloody battles, political intrigues and dynastic marriages all played a part in shaping a nascent England. Battle for the Island Kingdom is a rich history of the violent six decades when Vikings, Anglo-Saxons and ultimately Normans vied for the English crown before the seismic Battle of Hastings determined the fate of England for centuries.
Discover the defining personalities of the age, from the English king Aethelred and his nemesis Viking Svein Forkbeard to Cnut who forged an empire across England and Scandinavia only for his Norman queen Emma and Saxon consort Aelfifu to pit his sons against each other. We discover how the power-hungry Earl Godwin plays all sides until his own son Harold eventually seizes the crown and why Harold's brother Tostig chose to betray both him and his people for the Norman William the Bastard, who would become William the Conqueror.
Thisis a gripping tale of divided loyalties, treason and military might by master storyteller Don Hollway, author of the critically acclaimed The Last Viking.
About this Author
Don Hollway is an author and historian. His first book, The Last Viking, is a gripping history of King Harald Hardrada which was acclaimed by bestselling author Stephen Harding, by Carl Gnam of Military Heritage magazine and by Michael Dirda in The Washington Post. He is also a classical rapier fencer. His work is also available at www.donhollway.com. He lives in Pennsylvania.
Reviews
"A great book both for those exploring the story behind the Norman Conquest for the first time, and for more knowledgeable readers who want to read a fresh account of it." --Aspects of History
"Battle for the Island Kingdom is thoroughly enjoyable, and is recommended to anyone looking for a comprehensive and accessible history of the period." --Military History Matters
"The story of England and how it came to be a Norman possession is an intricate and fascinating one. This is a very readable book which opens up this complex period." --Battlefield
"Historian Hollway chronicles in this brisk study the 66 tumultuous years culminating in the Norman victory at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 CE... The result is an accessible and vibrant portrait of a turning point in world history." --Publisher's Weekly
"There's no need for fictional dragons when the real-life battle for thrones and empires is as thrilling as Hollway's ...account of England's history leading up to the Norman Conquest of 1066... A deeply researched must-read for anyone interested in this contested era. Readers will be enthralled..." --Library Journal
"The second type of person who would love this book is pretty much everyone else. There is war, back-stabbing, polygamy, politics, poisonings, and a saint or two. What's not to love?... Hollway keeps everything clear and concise while telling a great story.... Just plain fantastic." --History Nerds United
"Hollway's book is anything but dry. At every turn, he infuses his accounts with a novelist's flair...Hollway makes it feel so loud and headlong that the story feels both new and unpredictable... he's filled a long-lost era with color and life." --Open Letters Review
"In his latest work on this era, the author [Hollway] brings this period to vivid life through engaging prose, a coherent narrative and a mind for the most minute yet interesting detail ... This book is lively and easy to read." --Military Heritage
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