The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle | 
|  | | | Title: | The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle | | Author: | Swanton | | Publisher: | Routledge | | Type: | Book / Paperback | | Publication Date: | 18 August, 1998 | | ISBN / ISBN-13: | 0415921295 / 9780415921299 | | List Price: | $45.00 | | You Save: | $4.50 | | Amazon Price: | $40.50 | |
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Product Description
The first continuous national history of any western people in their own language, The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle traces the history of early England from the migration of the Saxon war-lords, through Roman Britain, the onslaught of the Vikings, the Norman Conquest and on through the reign of Stephen.Michael Swanton's translation is the most complete and faithful reading ever published. Extensive notes draw on the latest evidence of paleographers, archaeologists and textual and social historians to place these annals in the context of current knowledge. Fully indexed and complemented by maps and genealogical tables, this edition allows ready access to one of the prime sources of English national culture. The introduction provides all the information a first-time reader could need, cutting an easy route through often complicated matters.
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Customer Reviews:
• Good Edition Of An Important Work 12 October, 2008
Michael Swanton's edition of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle is a good, handy reference in modern English. A group of manuscripts (eight in all) rather than a single unified book, the Chronicle is the first continuously-maintained vernacular national historical work in Western history. Swanton has here translated and edited the manuscripts to form a continuous whole, and included extensive notes.
I bought this edition in college and have used it for a lot of classwork and independent research since then. The translation is clear and simple and the notes are certainly helpful.
The only thing I dislike about this book is the way in which the text is presented. Rather than each manuscript being presented as-is, they are divided up and rearranged so that all of the manuscripts form a piecemeal chronology from Creation to the final entry in 1154. If you're trying to follow the account of a particular manuscript it can be frustrating, as you have to flip back and forth quite a bit, but this is really a small complaint.
Swanton has included a lengthy introduction that details the various manuscripts of the Chronicle, and extensive back matter including family trees, bibliography, maps, photos, and a detailed index of names and places.
Highly recommended.
- Reviewed by customer ID: A2540MKQ9Q6N7Q
• A Work Of Incalculable Historical Importance 29 December, 2005
Yes, this is an admittedly taxing read with its streams of tri-numbered dates and peculiar `olde English' names and its raw fact after raw fact, but if it begins to overwhelm you, stop to reacquaint your mind with exactly what it is you have the privilege of holding in your twenty-first century hands. This once rare book is no less than a thirteen-hundred-year-old historic record, compiled century by century across the entirety of the Anglo-Saxon period and into the first decades of Norman domination of England in the time commonly termed "the Dark Ages." Without this compilation, patiently and dutifully reported by Benedictine monks who passed the project on generation to generation, our knowledge of an entire millennium in British history would be far reduced. Here in this monumental work events mighty and minor are recorded. Such as:
"A.D. 920. This year, before midsummer, went King Edward to Maldon, and repaired and fortified the town, ere he departed thence. And the same year went Jarl Thurkytel over sea to Frankland with the men who would adhere to him, under the protection and assistance of King Edward. This year Ethelfleda got into her power, with God's assistance, in the early part of the year, without loss, the town of Leicester; and the greater part of the army that belonged thereto submitted to her. And the Yorkists had also promised and confirmed, some by agreement and some with oaths, that they would be in her interest. But very soon after they had done this, she departed, twelve nights before midsummer, at Tamworth, the eighth year that she was holding the government of the Mercians with right dominion; and her body lieth at Glocester, in the east porch of St. Peter's church. This year also was the daughter of Ethered, lord of the Mercians, deprived of all authority over the Mercians, and led into Wessex, three weeks before midwinter. Her name was Healfwina."
Think you can handle that?
In The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle lies news of battles, coronations, the marriages and bloodlines of ephemeral sword-wielding dynasties who braced against the Danelaw, gossipy remarks on yearly Viking onslaughts, plagues, rumors, meteorological milestones, agricultural information, obituaries, and much more. All of these matters were ponderously detailed for posterity by diligent monks who safeguarded history itself during Europe's most perilous epoch. No one can be truly well-versed in the lore and happenings on the island of Britain until she's read the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, and this version, edited by historian Michael Swanton, is as good as any I've seen and better than most. Considering that this amazing work of western civilization is available for about the same price you'd pay for a ticket the latest mind-slurping Hollywood summer blockbuster, it should make you glad you live in the information age, as you do. People died to keep this chronicle safe, after all, it's the least we can do to give it a respectful perusal.
Best of luck. It's worth the effort.
- Reviewed by customer ID: A28WJUJF6D2ULA
• Anlgo-saxon Chronicle 10 September, 2007
Interesting book with details about the English medievale history hardly possible to find in bookshops in Italy.
- Reviewed by customer ID: A3VNZQN89C8AH8
• Great Source, Not For Casual Readers. 22 October, 2004
I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys exploring the Anglo-Saxons and is keen on studying History. This edition uses all of the manuscripts, and gives the same annals from seperate sources. This setup gives the reader a very thorough look into Anglo-Saxon writen history. This edition is also very beautiful and contains many helpful Appendices, such as pictures and maps. The price isn't too high, I would highly recommend it. Although the Translator and editor Michael Swanton states that this edition is for reference, and not a steady read strait through, I still found it enjoyable to sit down and read it in order page by page.
- Reviewed by customer ID: A211K9A5NV7DRN
• May The Force Not Be With You... 25 September, 2008
The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle is a political treatise and 'history' that has affected our view of the very nature of England. As a person of Anglo-Danish ancestry I have taken a special interest in the story of Alfred the Great. I think it must be noted that the Chronicles were written by Christian monks--Anglo-Saxon monks. This has, probably necessarily, colored our view of history. The standard model is that Alfred, having been driven into southern marshes, stages a great military revival, defeats the Danes and England is.....well.... England. Not quite. Despite the bias of the 'Chronicles', it tells a rather different story. There is a see-saw struggle between the Dano-Saxons and the Anglo-Danes. There is no clear victory. Alfred, allying with and compromising with 'The Force' lives on to retain a certain style of Anglo-Saxon presence. Still the Danes are a significant factor long after Alfred's death and eventually gain suzereignty over large parts of now England.
The Danes, for the most part, meld into the Germanic Anglo-Saxon population. The Franco-Danish William the Bastard eventually proves victorious over the English and slaughters his cousins in Yorkshire. In that sense, the Danes control England and all its possessions until the present day.
Ron Braithwaite, author of novels--"Skull Rack" and "Hummingbird God"--on the Spanish Conquest of Mexico
- Reviewed by customer ID: A2RH7ARWQSUVQV
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