November 1, 2023
There's no need for fictional dragons when the real-life battle for thrones and empires is as thrilling as Hollway's (The Last Viking: The True Story of King Harald Hardrada) account of England's history leading up to the Norman Conquest of 1066. Beginning with the ineffectual reign of the Anglo-Saxon king �thelred--commonly known as the "Unready"--his book depicts the brutal politics of the early medieval era when Vikings and Normans attempted to seize and hold the English crown. Hollway fleshes out a memorable cast of characters, including the Viking king Cnut, the slippery Earl Godwin, and the noblewoman Emma of Normandy, widow of two kings and mother of several more. He also follows the life and early strains of a Norman duke's son, born out of wedlock, who would go on to conquer England as William I. Illustrating how the schemes and ever-changing alliances of these individuals were as much about survival as ambition, this narrative never lags. VERDICT A deeply researched must-read for anyone interested in this contested era. Readers will be enthralled with quotations from period accounts and insights into the harsh reality of the violent, often short lives of Anglo-Saxon, Viking, and Norman nobility.--Sara Shreve
Copyright 2023 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
November 20, 2023
Historian Hollway (The Last Viking) chronicles in this brisk study the 66 tumultuous years culminating in the Norman victory at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 CE. In the Middle Ages, the island now comprising England, Scotland, and Wales proved tempting to the Scandinavians and the French, Hollway explains; frequent invasions resulted in violent altercations, a rapid turnover in rulers, and the decimation of villages. The luckless Anglo-Saxon king Aethelred the Unready (better translated as “Ill-Advised,” according to Hollway) massacred Danes living under his rule—including the Danish king’s daughter, Gunhilde—on St. Brice’s Day in 1002 CE. Her brother, Svein Forkbeard, retaliated by sacking Essex. While the Anglo-Saxons and Vikings battled for control of the island, William the Bastard’s martial adeptness earned “great respect” from the Norman nobles and paved the way for him to inherit his father’s duchy in France. In 1066, Anglo-Saxon king Harold warded off a Viking incursion in the north co-led by his own disgruntled brother, Tostig. William’s appearance in the south cut celebrations short for Harold and his battle-worn army. Despite the outcome being well-known, Hollway’s suspenseful buildup during William’s rise as a credible threat to Harold pays off in his recounting of the epic battle. Throughout, Hollway explains frankly when source material may be questionable, and his footnotes clarify the path leading to the Norman Conquest. The result is an accessible and vibrant portrait of a turning point in world history.