Overview

The bestselling author of The King in the North turns his attention to the obscure era of British history known as 'the age of Arthur'. 'Not just a valuable book, but a distinctive one as well' Tom Holland, Sunday Times 'An accessible and illuminating book' Gerard de Groot, The Times 'A fascinating picture of Britain's new-found independence' This England Somewhere between the departure of the Roman legions in the early fifth century and the arrival of Augustine's Christian mission at the end of the sixth, the kingdoms of Early Medieval Britain were formed. But by whom? And out of what? The First Kingdom is a skilfully wrought investigation of this mysterious epoch, synthesizing archaeological research carried out over the last forty years to tease out reality from the myth. Max Adams presents an image of post-Roman Britain whose resolution is high enough to show the emergence of distinct political structures in the sixth century – polities that survive long enough to be embedded in the medieval landscape, recorded in the lines of river, road and watershed, and memorialized in place names.

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9781788543484

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Reviews

'Not just a valuable book, but a distinctive one as well' -- Tom Holland, Sunday Times 'An engagingly written exploration of these 'fragments', synthesising archaeological and historical research from the last four decades, and applying a critical eye to traditional narratives passed down by medieval chroniclers and later accounts' * Current World Archaeology * 'A remarkable tapestry in which are woven the diverse threads of archaeology, topography, folklore, linguistics, and culture to create a panorama of Early Medieval Britain and its place in the context of European history' -- Sean Beattie, Donegal Annual 'A worthy synthesis of what little we know' Gerard de Groot, The Times. -- Gerard de Groot, The Times

'Not just a valuable book, but a distinctive one as well' -- Tom Holland, Sunday Times 'An engagingly written exploration of these 'fragments', synthesising archaeological and historical research from the last four decades, and applying a critical eye to traditional narratives passed down by medieval chroniclers and later accounts' * Current World Archaeology * 'A remarkable tapestry in which are woven the diverse threads of archaeology, topography, folklore, linguistics, and culture to create a panorama of Early Medieval Britain and its place in the context of European history' -- Sean Beattie, Donegal Annual 'A worthy synthesis of what little we know' Gerard de Groot, The Times. -- Gerard de Groot, The Times 'Max Adams brings to light this period, stripping fact from fiction, particularly when it comes to good old Arthur ... What emerges is a fascinating picture of Britain's new-found independence - pretty pertinent for now' * This England *

'Not just a valuable book, but a distinctive one as well' -- Tom Holland, Sunday Times 'An engagingly written exploration of these 'fragments', synthesising archaeological and historical research from the last four decades, and applying a critical eye to traditional narratives passed down by medieval chroniclers and later accounts' * Current World Archaeology * 'A remarkable tapestry in which are woven the diverse threads of archaeology, topography, folklore, linguistics, and culture to create a panorama of Early Medieval Britain and its place in the context of European history' -- Sean Beattie, Donegal Annual 'A worthy synthesis of what little we know' Gerard de Groot, The Times. -- Gerard de Groot, The Times 'A fascinating picture of Britain's new-found independence' * This England * 'He writes with empathy and sensitivity in this distinctive and valuable book' * Sunday Times *

'Not just a valuable book, but a distinctive one as well' -- Tom Holland, Sunday Times 'An engagingly written exploration of these 'fragments', synthesising archaeological and historical research from the last four decades, and applying a critical eye to traditional narratives passed down by medieval chroniclers and later accounts' * Current World Archaeology * 'A remarkable tapestry in which are woven the diverse threads of archaeology, topography, folklore, linguistics, and culture to create a panorama of Early Medieval Britain and its place in the context of European history' -- Sean Beattie, Donegal Annual 'A worthy synthesis of what little we know' Gerard de Groot, The Times. -- Gerard de Groot, The Times 'A fascinating picture of Britain's new-found independence' * This England *

'Not just a valuable book, but a distinctive one as well' -- Tom Holland, Sunday Times 'An engagingly written exploration of these 'fragments', synthesising archaeological and historical research from the last four decades, and applying a critical eye to traditional narratives passed down by medieval chroniclers and later accounts' * Current World Archaeology * 'Adams is a synthesiser, a noble pursuit often derided within academia, where praise is instead heaped on original research. He has read assiduously the arcane studies written for a specialist audience and condensed them into an accessible and illuminating book, studiously avoiding the temptation to fictionalise when facts are scarce' -- Gerard de Groot, The Times

Author Information

Max Adams is a writer, archaeologist and woodsman whose work explores themes of landscape, knowledge and human connectedness with the earth. He is the author of Admiral Collingwood, Aelfred's Britain, Trees of Life, the bestselling The King in the North and In the Land of Giants. He has lived and worked in the North-East of England since 1993.

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