The First King of England: Æthelstan and the Birth of a Kingdom
By David Woodman
Princeton University Press
ISBN: 9780691249490
This biography tells the story of how Æthelstan rose from King of the Anglo-Saxons to King of the English. In doing so, he became a central figure in the creation of a new nation during the tenth century.
Excerpt:
In writing a biography of Æthelstan it is not possible to take a strictly chronological approach. Such is the nature of the surviving source material that there are too many holes to be plugged. But, by addressing the main themes of his life and reign, and by comparing his actions to those of his royal predecessors and successors, a very full picture can be constructed of Æthelstan as king and of his approach to kingship. What emerges is a portrait of a quite extraordinary individual who rose from a position of relative weakness, fighting even to confirm his place on the throne, to one of a power so great that it was recognised across contemporary Europe. And he accomplished this all within a reign that would last for a relatively short period of some fourteen years.
Who is this book for?
Æthelstan has been a somewhat neglected figure when it comes to the history of medieval England, and this author aims to change that and give him a more starring role. The chapters detail his political and military achievements, his government, dealings with the Church, and connections to continental Europe.
Those interested in English history will find this biography to have a deserving place on their bookshelves. It also stands out as a good example of medieval rulership.
“Readers encountering Æthelstan for the first time will be grateful for Woodman’s lucid and compelling prose as well as his authoritative presentation of what would be, in a lesser scholar’s hands, a bewildering mess of charters, annals, laws, and ecclesiastical records. More expert readers will appreciate his judicious weighing of the evidence for Æthelstan’s reign as well as his insightful discussion of problems such as the identity of the anonymous court scribe ‘Æthelstan A’ and the question of the king’s unnamed half-sister, an enigmatic figure referred to only obliquely in the records of his reign.” ~ review by Andrew Rabin in History Today
The Author
David Woodman is Professor of History at Robinson College, Cambridge. He is a historian of the early medieval period, and his books focus on biographies of English rulers: he has previously written on Edward the Confessor and his next work will be about William the Conqueror. His current book gained some media attention, including this piece on our site. You can follow him on Instagram, X/Twitter and Bluesky.
The First King of England: Æthelstan and the Birth of a Kingdom
By David Woodman
Princeton University Press
ISBN: 9780691249490
This biography tells the story of how Æthelstan rose from King of the Anglo-Saxons to King of the English. In doing so, he became a central figure in the creation of a new nation during the tenth century.
Excerpt:
In writing a biography of Æthelstan it is not possible to take a strictly chronological approach. Such is the nature of the surviving source material that there are too many holes to be plugged. But, by addressing the main themes of his life and reign, and by comparing his actions to those of his royal predecessors and successors, a very full picture can be constructed of Æthelstan as king and of his approach to kingship. What emerges is a portrait of a quite extraordinary individual who rose from a position of relative weakness, fighting even to confirm his place on the throne, to one of a power so great that it was recognised across contemporary Europe. And he accomplished this all within a reign that would last for a relatively short period of some fourteen years.
Who is this book for?
Æthelstan has been a somewhat neglected figure when it comes to the history of medieval England, and this author aims to change that and give him a more starring role. The chapters detail his political and military achievements, his government, dealings with the Church, and connections to continental Europe.
Those interested in English history will find this biography to have a deserving place on their bookshelves. It also stands out as a good example of medieval rulership.
“Readers encountering Æthelstan for the first time will be grateful for Woodman’s lucid and compelling prose as well as his authoritative presentation of what would be, in a lesser scholar’s hands, a bewildering mess of charters, annals, laws, and ecclesiastical records. More expert readers will appreciate his judicious weighing of the evidence for Æthelstan’s reign as well as his insightful discussion of problems such as the identity of the anonymous court scribe ‘Æthelstan A’ and the question of the king’s unnamed half-sister, an enigmatic figure referred to only obliquely in the records of his reign.” ~ review by Andrew Rabin in History Today
The Author
David Woodman is Professor of History at Robinson College, Cambridge. He is a historian of the early medieval period, and his books focus on biographies of English rulers: he has previously written on Edward the Confessor and his next work will be about William the Conqueror. His current book gained some media attention, including this piece on our site. You can follow him on Instagram, X/Twitter and Bluesky.
You can learn more about this book from the publisher’s website.
You can buy this book on Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk
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