Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms

Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms Synopsis

In 2018, the British Library staged a landmark exhibition, the largest ever to deal exclusively with Anglo-Saxon England. Presenting over 180 objects, the exhibition and its book were a critical and commercial success and led the way for a cultural re-appraisal of Anglo-Saxon culture. This expanded edition of the bestselling exhibition book includes new retrospective material on the influence of this exhibition and subsequent discoveries in the field.

The Anglo-Saxon period stretches from the arrival of Germanic groups on British shores in the early 5th century to the Norman Conquest of 1066. During these centuries, the English language was used and written down for the first time, pagan populations were converted to Christianity, and the foundations of the kingdom of England were laid.

This richly illustrated book presents Anglo-Saxon England as the home of a sophisticated artistic and political culture, deeply connected with its continental neighbours. Leading specialists in early medieval history, literature and culture engage with the unique, original evidence from which we can piece together the story of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms.