Æthelstan: The Making of England by Tom Holland

Æthelstan: The Making of England Reviews

• 
  Julian Worker

  Athelstan was the person who really defined the geographical areas of Britain for the first time.
  
  I am astonished that we didn't cover his reign, and those of Alfred and Edward before Athelstan, in school history.
  
  This is a great story well told by the author.
  
  I hope someone finds the site of the battle of Brunanburh, so it can take its place alongside Hastings and Bosworth and Marston Moor as places where people can be educated about their past.
  
  The author has written the book about Athelstan that is the first in the Penguin Monarchs series, showing how important Athelstan was and still is to Britain.
• 
  Geevee

  A useful introduction to a king who has been overlooked in part because sources on the man Athelstan are sparse.
  
  In some 100 pages Mr Holland provides useful background to Athelstan's father (Edward) and grandfather (Alfred) and how he transformed his kingdom from reigning over the Anglo-Saxons to all of England and so the title used for the first time Rex Anglorum (King of the English).
  
  Also covered is Æthelflæd (Lady of the Mercians) and Edward's sister. Her own importance in combating the Vikings, and for Athelstan's time at her court as a growing adolescent himself seeing combat against the Vikings, is stated and well made in this small book.
  
  Brief but informative and a helpful starter for the wider Penguin Monarchs series.
• 
  John Anthony

  A super little book. How has this man escaped my radar for so long? – the first real King of a united England and arguably of Britain. Why aren’t there more kids around called Athelstan? He achieved a lot in his shortish life and reign (45 and 15 respectively). Warrior, scholar, patron of the arts and devout Christian with a special relationship with the long dead St Cuthbert. Interestingly, he never married, unlike his father Edward, who was always changing his wives. Athelstan was born to an early and soon to be sidelined, wife. As the new wives and more kids graced the royal fold Athelstan was rather forgotten about, brought up at the court of his indomitable aunt (but a generally good egg, if you kept on the right side of her) Queen Aethelflaed of Mercia.
  
  His Grandfather Alfred (the Great)early spotted Athelstan’s potential and they seem to have had a special relationship.
  
  William of Malmesbury writing his life some 200 years or so after Athelstan’s death said of of him:
  
  “He was a man whose life though short, was glorious”. He pointed to his martial achievements, as well as his passion for justice his piety and learning.
  
  Tom Holland’s conclusion will stick with me for a while:
  
  “In a country that has been a unitary state for longer than any other in Europe, the sheer feat of statecraft that was required to bring it into existence risks being signally underestimated. The king who founded England has largely been forgotten even by the English”.
  
  Recommended. 4*
• 
  Max Berendsen

  Time period before 1066: exists.
  English people: "U wot m8?"
  
  Now that I got my lousy sense of humour out of the way: This is a short, yet very informative biography of the "real" first king of England. Athelstan. I have to admit that I had never come across his name until I picked up this book. I soon found out however that this is also the case for a significant number of English people. Shocking to say the least.
  
  Luckily this book provides an accessible introduction to the life of the man who created the first union state on the British Isles and in doing so set an important precedent for world history. I definitely want to continue exploring early medieval English history as well as the Penguin Monarchs series!
  
  
• 
  Alice-Elizabeth (Prolific Reader Alice)

  Listened to the audiobook via Listening Books!
  
  I've always been a history girl growing up and always keen to find new historical texts and research writing to listen to whenever I need a good distraction from everyday life. Athelstan was the first king to really split up the geography across England into different counties/areas such as Wessex. The start of an interesting series in short but knowledgeable chunks makes it quite approachable for anyone who isn't keen on longer texts.
  
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• 
  Edoardo Albert

  No king in England’s history has been more unjustly forgotten than Æthelstan. This forgetting is all the more poignant in that Æthelstan can reasonably claim to be the first king of England. Not many other nations would flush their founder down the memory hole: Washington adorns dollar bills, every Roman could tell you the story of Romulus and Remus, and Napoleon, the founder of modern France, has had more books written about him than any other human being in history apart from Jesus Christ. But on Æthelstan, almost nothing.
  
  Hopefully, Tom Holland’s marvellous little biography will go some way towards rescuing Æthelstan from his obscurity. With all the excitement that the story deserves, Holland whisks the reader back to 10th century Britain, when the Northmen did not merely launch picturesque, TV mini-series worthy raids, but embarked on expeditions of conquest; this was a country that had suffered two generations of depredations, when anyone living near sea or navigable river went to sleep with the fear that they might wake to find their homes being ransacked and fired, and their children being carried off into slavery. For amid the revision of Vikings as romantic heroes, little attention has been paid to the fact that their most valuable booty was human: men, women and children hauled off to be sold in the slave markets at Dublin, the Viking town that stood at the nexus of the slave routes that delivered captured people to miserable new lives from which they would never return.
  
  Æthelstan, following in the footsteps of his grandfather, Alfred, and his father, Edward the Elder, was a man committed to defending and instilling civilisation in the face of the barbarians. For, make no mistake, for all their accomplishments as explorers and traders, the Vikings were barbarians. Three generations of the most remarkable family in English royal history had made it their lives’ work to first defend and then to reconquer England, and Æthelstan stood at the summit and consummation of this extraordinary familial endeavour. Then, when all seemed accomplished, all was thrown into doubt when the kings of the Vikings, of the Scots and of Strathclyde united against him. The ensuing battle, Brunanburgh, was ‘the battle’ for a hundred years, the battle that ensured that England would be England, and not dismembered. Read Holland’s book and marvel at the scale of Æthelstan’s accomplishments and how much we have to be grateful to him for.
  
• 
  Carolyn Harris

  The epic first installment of the Penguin Monarchs series, describing Athelstan's achievements uniting England, establishing diplomatic relations with continental European powers and managing a fractious royal succession. Athelstan's personality and even the site of the most decisive battle of his reign remain elusive but the book discusses the political and religious influences of his times and the family who shaped his childhood and adolescence - his grandfather, Alfred the Great, his father, Edward the Elder and his warrior queen aunt, Aethelflaed of Mercia. I am pleased that the Penguin Monarchs series includes volumes about the Anglo-Saxon monarchs as it is essential to start before 1066 to understand the foundations of England and the monarchy.
• 
  Richard

  Wonderful little book by excellent popular historian Tom Holland on one of England's least known kings. As I read, there were so many familiar names, Alfred, Edward, Aethelflad, Aethelwold, Athelstan himself, but where was Uhtred? Perhaps I have been reading too much Bernard Cornwell! It's such a shame that there are so few extant sources. Tom Holland brings what is known and speculated about Athelstan into a concise and readable book. Considering what a tenuous hold Alfred had on Wessex it is remarkable that his grandson Athelstan was to become Rex Totus Britannica. Highly recommended if like me your knowledge of this period comes from reading about Uhtred of Bebbanburgh.
• 
  Megan Jones

  After King Alfred ensured the survival of Wessex and his son Edward expanded it, his grandson Athelstan inherited the rule of Mercia and Wessex, conquered Northumbria and was hailed 'King of the whole of Britain'. Holland recounts this extraordinary story and makes it full of drama. We are transported back to a time of omens and blood-red battlefields. As well as giving form to Athelstan, Holland introduces the great figures of the time, including Alfred and his daughter, Aethelflaed. Holland makes sense of the family rivalries and conflicts of the Anglo-Saxon rulers. Holland shows us how a royal dynasty rescued their kingdom from near oblivion and fashioned a nation that endures to this day. 
  Back to this book and Holland writes a highly informative, interesting read about Athelstan and I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. 'Athelstan' is a very accessible read that will be interesting to those new to the period and those who know more about it. This book is a great introduction to Athelstan and I am very impressed at how much information Holland could include in a short book. I cannot wait to continue this series. 
• 
  Bettie

  
  
  
  "A short video I made to coincide with my biography of Æthelstan. It's about his aunt, Alfred's daughter, the founding mother of England: Æthelflæd. 1100 years ago today, in Tamworth, the ancient capital of Mercia that she had recaptured from the Vikings in 913, died Æthelflæd, Lady of the Mercians: a woman who deserves to be commemorated as the Founding Mother of England.
  
  time for some viking kitties
• 
  Eleri

  Not so much the story of Athelstan as of his creation of England. Cool to learn some history I literally knew nothing about and the writing was really good - "Men who had thought by means of sorcery to take on the form and ferocity of a wolf pack now themselves wetted lupine jaws" is one of my new favourite sentences ever.
  
  I had this book hyped up to me a lot and whilst I did enjoy it, I don't think it lived up to the hype.
• 
  Ryan Ripamonti

  An engaging portrait of England’s forgotten founder and the grandson of the better-remembered Alfred.
• 
  Adam Lofthouse

  A fantastic little book, this. Outlying not just the life of a man undeservedly lost in history, but the political state of 'England' during his reign. Tom Holland's prose is so accomplished, easy to read and the odd dash of opinion and wit thrown in to ensure the book is not just pages full of dry facts. In this book he tells the tale of Athelstan and his battle to not only secure the thrown of Wessex but to finally see his Grandfather's dream of a united England.
  
  I am of insufficient learning to know if everything told on these pages is true fact, but even if half of it is than Athelstan must have been a truly remarkable man. Born under a cloud, spending his formative years in a kind of exile in Mercia, this is the boy who would grow to win every battle he fought, on and off the field of battle. From Heathen's in Dublin to the kings' in the north, by true grit and determination Athelstan extended his borders time and time again, until he had eventually carved out the kingdom of what we now know as England.
  
  
  This is a period of history largely forgotten, wedged in between Alfred the Great and 1066. This book is a telling reminder of why it shouldn't be, why it could well be even more important than 1066 and William the Bastard himself. Highly recommend.
  
• 
  John Isles

  The Penguin Monarchs series comprehensively covers the rulers of England since the Norman Conquest, but for the earlier period we are offered (so far?) only Athelstan, Aethelred the Unready, Cnut, and Edward the Confessor. The omission of Alfred is particularly surprising.
  
  Athelstan was the first ruler of a sort-of-united Britain, so he is important, though not so well known. Tom Holland's highly readable account starts in the middle of things with the Battle of Brunanburh, then jumps back to the beginnings of Anglo-Saxon England, and continues into the reigns of Athelstan's successors. The notes to the text, some of which are of great interest, are inconveniently collected in tiny print at the back of the book, instead of appearing as footnotes to the pages concerned, where they would have been more useful to the reader. There's a good section on Further Reading which reminds me to read Michael Wood's books. The binding of this hardback volume doesn't seem robust enough to sustain repeated reading.
  
  The series is an excellent idea, and this author is a good one, but the implementation is flawed.
• 
  Tim Rideout

  'That a union as long lasting as that of Great Britain might fray can hardly help but serve as a reminder that the joining of different peoples in a shared sense of identity is not something easily achieved and maintained.'
  
  Tom Holland's illuminating biography of 10th century's Athelstan, the first true British king, has enormous relevance and resonance with our situation at the beginning of the 21st century. With focus, energy, discipline and luck Athelstan brought the kingdoms of Britain together only for them to separate again on his death.
  
  An excellent introduction to this important historical figure.
• 
  lauren

  April 2022: 2nd read and still v enjoyable & interesting. found my footing with the names eventually this time 🤣
  
  ———
  
  I really enjoyed reading and learning more about this time and the united kingdom in the late 800s/early 900s. I find it so fascinating, and I love hearing/reading about the battles between the English and the Vikings.
  
  The only difficulty I had was the names - literally everyone is either all Athel-something OR Edmund/Edward/Ealred, etc. It got a little confusing at times, and I often found myself wondering who was who.
  
  Nevertheless, I'll definitely be reading some more non-fiction about this time, though! So interesting!
• 
  Cernunnos

  A very readable, succinct but scholarly study of this under-appreciated monarch. I was particularly impressed by the breadth of the author's research as outlined in the extensive and useful suggestions for further reading. Mr Holland clearly knows his stuff and communicates it with admirable clarity. An excellent opener in the "Penguin Monarchs" series.
• 
  Blair Hodgkinson

  This short study of the life of Athelstan covers the main points of what's known about the king's life and shows just how much his reign was the culmination of the work begun in his father's and grandfather's reigns. Very quick and readable and written with just a touch of poetic language to make the prose sing.
• 
  Gemma Williams

  A really good short introduction. I always find this period of history completely confusing and normally end up throwing books about it aside, normally shouting 'Why have they all got the same name?' But didn't get muddled at all here. The sign of good writing!
• 
  Paul English-Wolfe

  This was an interesting read, though perhaps a little dry at times — could be because I was reading it at 00:30.
  
  Watching the many historical dramas that have popped up in recent times it's probably a misconception that it was Alfred who forged England and vanquished the Vikings from its shores.
  
  In truth England wasn't fully formed until after his death at which point the Northmen still lingered like winters chill.
  
  While the book is for Æthelstan it is a little lacking and spends a great deal of time with his forebears Alfred and Edward as well as fleeting moments with those who came after, Edmund and Eadred.
  
  That there isn't a great deal of information on Æthelstan is understandable given the lack of real world information about him. There is sufficient here though to paint him in a positive light; pious, intelligent, generous, and resolute.
  
  It was interesting to read about the struggles with the Kings of Alba, and also that Æthelstan ran a 'Royal Creche' of sorts taking in important but dispossessed wards and ultimately helping them reclaim their lands.
  
  All in all a nice introduction to both Æthelstan and the Penguin Monarchs series.
• 
  Timothy

  Short, punchy, interesting!
  
  A short but enthralling history of a little known but hugely influential and effective English king. Tom’s book has the right balance of setting the scene, explaining Athelstan’s achievements and setting out his legacy. A worthy read.
• 
  Jodie

  A really interesting introduction to Athelstan as well as Alfred, Edward, and Aethelflaed which shows how these personalities established a collected England, and influenced the shaping of Britain.
  
  No rating because it seems weird to rate books which are essentially an introduction series to big subjects, but a really good starting point for anyone interested in this period of royal history.
• 
  Matthew Turner

  A fascinating history of one of England's most important but least well-documented kings. Holland describes the rise to power of Alfred the Great and the reign of his son, Edward. He recounts the difficult position Athelstan occupied as the less-favoured son of an impious king ruling over a fractious kingdom. And he celebrates the successes of Athelstan's military and administrative leadership.
  
  Holland adopts a fascinating trick of describing historical events from the perspective of the participants. Therefore, he writes of God punishing the pagan and succouring the righteous in the same way as medieval historians. I suspect most readers will just enjoy this as a literary device or perhaps read it in a tone of irony, but I appreciated taking Holland's descriptions at face value.
• 
  Tim

  I enjoyed this brief introduction to the first "King of All Britain." Holland does a first-rate job of sharing important info and keeping the narrative flowing.
  The only problem I have with the book is that only about half of the story concerns Athelstan himself. The first two chapters are focused on telling the backstory, starting with Athelstan's grandfather, Alfred the Great. While giving the context is necessary, it seems a lot for such a small book (only 95 pages, not counting indices, etc.).
  While I find this a weakness in the presentation, I am still awarding Holland's efforts with five-stars. My knowledge in this area is limited and the telling of the saga of the House of Alfred was vital for my understanding. If I was conversant in the area I would probably score it lower, but I emphasize that it was an excellent experience for me and I will be keeping my copy handy for future reference.
  
• 
  Sally O'wheel

  I love Tom Holland. This is a short read, compared to his other books, and I needed to read it to give me the historical background to the Netflix series, The Last Kingdom. But in fact it made me frustrated with the Netflix series because I learned how it diverged from the historical facts! I kept saying - that's not right That didn't happen! Oh well, such is historical drama I guess. The book itself was very entertaining although hard to keep track of all the 'Ethels....' or 'Athals,,' Everyone's name seemed to start that way. I was pleased to learn about Alfred's daughter, AEthelflead, Queen of Mercia - and there is nothing about her having a bully of a husband in Aethelred, as depicted in The Last Kingdom. I had to read it twice - which is often the case with Tom Holland. His books are so packed with interesting information I can't take it all in.
• 
  Best British Biographies

  Tom Holland’s name is one that typically I associate with histories of the ancient Greek and Roman world written for a popular audience. Because of this, I was a little surprised when I first saw that he was writing a volume on Æthelstan for the “Penguin Monarchs” series, as it seemed a little outside of his scholarly bailiwick. My curiosity about his contribution grew while reading my earlier selections on the Anglo-Saxon monarchy and Sarah Foot’s biography on the king. Given what they wrote about him, I wondered what insights a scholar of ancient history might offer into Æthelstan’s life and career.
  
  For the rest of my review, click the link:
  
  
  http://www.bestbritishbios.com/2019/0...
• 
  Casey Ogden

  To find out about the man you have to know his history. However I found some of the content wanting really. It's true we don't have as accurate an account of Athelstan's life as we did his predecessors I.e Edward and Alfred. However the information we do have gives us an insight into his character and a forgotten king who ultimately building on his father, grandfathers work formed what we know as England. A good book to read beforehand is Alfred the Great, as it gives you an insight into how Alfred set the formations for his future generations. Altogether a good source of information, well worth the read.