The subtitle ‘From the Vikings to the Tudors – and everything in between' gives readers a good indication of what to expect from the ‘History Hit Guide to Medieval History'. The book covers the Viking invasion of 1066, when King Harold was killed at the Battle of Hastings, and on Christmas Day that year, William the Conqueror became King, all the way up to the Wars of the Roses and the resulting accession of Henry VII to the throne in 1485.
The four hundred years of history in between are, as the book shows, tumultuous, full of social and religious upheaval as well as political intrigue. Necessarily, in a book covering over four hundred years in under three hundred pages, ‘History Hit Guide to Medieval England' is an edited highlights through the epoch.
The aim of History Hit and their podcasts is to make history more accessible in the digital age. This book succeeds in ensuring that often complex history can be readily understood by all readers. The book is well-illustrated with maps, paintings and etchings to provide visual guidance to embellish the text. QR codes provide links to relevant podcast episodes so that readers can listen to the subject in greater detail.
As with the previous title, ‘History Hit Miscellany', there is an introduction by TV historian Dan Snow who provides a context as to the similarities and differences between Medieval England and the modern day United Kingdom.
There are many interesting Herodotean digressions throughout the text, but they always provide more insight into the basics of history that fascinate most people. For example, there's a brief diversion to discuss the landmarks that are written into British topography and create a tourism industry of their own – castles. The chapter on Norman England examines how the castle became a primary method to impose Norman control upon the native populace.
Readers will also find familiar stories that have been popularised in contemporary culture. This includes the tempestuous relationship between Henry II and his wife Eleanor of Aquitaine, memorably depicted by Peter O'Toole and Katharine Hepburn in ‘The Lion in Winter'. Henry would later have his Chancellor, Thomas Becket, murdered in Canterbury Cathedral. O'Toole also played Henry II in a film about the incident, with Richard Burton playing Becket. A later chapter deals with Edward the First, the so-called ‘Hammer of the Scots', played by Patrick McGoohan in Mel Gibson's historically illiterate ‘Braveheart' film.
All of which is to say that the Medieval history covered in this book is a familiar part of the English psyche already, which is why so much ground can be covered in a short space of time. Also examined is how Magna Carta began to rebalance power, leading inexorably to the formation of a Parliament under the reign of Henry III. For better or worse, the resulting institution in Westminster continues to have a direct impact upon all of our lives up until this day.
There are sections of the book that cover important influences on people's lives outside of the realm of monarchs and politicians. After the Covid-19 pandemic, interest has increased in the Black Death which killed half of the population of England in the mid-Fourteenth Century. An enlightening section of the book details how the massive population loss later benefited the survivors, at least initially, when more jobs were available and resources such as food were not as scarce, with fewer mouths to feed. Ordinary people felt wealthier, at least until the invention of the poll tax (the first time around).
If you have a general interest in British history, then the ‘History Hit Guide to Medieval England' will prove an enjoyable read, offering an introduction to the most significant figures and events that shaped the Medieval period. It may inspire readers to examine particular characters or incidents in more detail, or follow through to the relevant episodes of the podcast.
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton Publication date: 27th June 2024 Buy ‘History Hit Guide to Medieval England'
