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The Godwins: The Rise and Fall of a Noble Dynasty 1st Edition

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Frank Barlow (Author)
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4.1 out of 5 stars 11 customer reviews
ISBN-13: 978-0582784406
ISBN-10: 0582784409
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Product Details

  • Paperback: 232 pages
  • Publisher: Routledge; 1 edition (September 11, 2003)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0582784409
  • ISBN-13: 978-0582784406
  • Product Dimensions: 5.1 x 0.6 x 7.9 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #217,140 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Informative and highly readable - a brilliant introduction to the period
By The Wanderer on April 21, 2008
Format: Paperback
"The Godwins" by Frank Barlow is an excellent account of the turbulent history of England in the half-century leading up to the Norman Conquest, charting the rise and fall in fortunes of the dynasty established by Earl Godwin and which reached its zenith with the succession of his son, Harold, as king in 1066.

Though the book is less than 200 pages long, Barlow nevertheless is able to write in great depth about his period, evoking a sense of the turbulent politics and the rapidly shifting fortunes of his subjects. He describes the rapid rise of Godwin and his family, from relative obscurity in the reign of Aethelred 'the Unready' (978-1016) to power and wealth under Edward the Confessor (1042-66), and then finally to the kingship itself with Harold's succession in 1066. His account of the events leading up to the Norman invasion, as well as of the Battle of Hastings itself, is thorough and detailed in every respect.

The sources available to the historian for the 11th century are fuller than for earlier periods, but nevertheless remain somewhat fragmentary. Barlow, however, does an excellent job of drawing them all together in a scholarly yet readable manner. Indeed these sources are constantly referenced throughout the book, with a list of notes at the end of every chapter. Moreover, where there are uncertainties or discrepancies in the material, he is careful to highlight them. To help the reader keep track of the various players, there are four family trees, depicting both the Anglo-Saxon and the Danish royal lines, as well as Godwin's own family. Also included are 12 pages of black and white plates, reproducing images of the coinage of the age in addition to key scenes from the Bayeux Tapestry.Read more ›
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Definitive book on the subject
By Jordan M. Poss VINE VOICE on March 28, 2009
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
When I first received The Godwins in the mail, I was surprised at how short it is. But Frank Barlow has packed the book from cover to cover with good, unembellished information on the leading family of the late Anglo-Saxon period.

The Godwins rose from seemingly nowhere in the early 11th century and, through military prowess and masterful political maneuvering, were the ruling family by 1066. But internal strife--between two of Godwin's sons, King Harold and Earl Tostig--played a great role in the family's downfall. Barlow traces this rise with wit, a clear style, and detailed attention to the original sources. Especially interesting are the fates of the surviving members of the Godwin family--in my years of study I had never thought to research them.

The book includes a lot of appendices and genealogical charts, which are very helpful in keeping track of names and relationships. Especially helpful is Barlow's discussion of the recent historiography on the subject--if your interest is piqued by The Godwins, you'll know where to look next.

If you're looking for a place to start in the study of late Anglo-Saxon England, this is it.

Highly recommended.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
A Wonderful Survey of the Godwins
By Randaal on May 8, 2011
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
I was quite surprised to find that there was a book on this subject in the first place. After all, who in the world is even conscious of the Godwin family, and who among that small number would be so interested in the subject to purchase a book about it? I was one of that small fraction, and I can honestly say that I am thoroughly impressed with Frank Barlow's work here.

Obviously a serious scholar, Barlow balances a good narrative with scholarly tone and thorough research. While not exactly matching Simon Schama's level of eloquence, Barlow still manages to capture a sliver of the high-drama inherent to the Godwin family's history. A caveat to this though; the story of the Godwin's is fitting of a television series like "The Tudors" or "The Borgias", so I may be giving Barlow a little too much credit in terms of narrative power.

If you're interested in late Anglo-Saxon history, or if you're interested in reading a great example of historical thought in action, this book is the one for you.

My ONLY reasonable critique is that the story of the Earl of Wessex and his children is a powerful story in itself, and there is so much room for exploring this rich story. Barlow, while maintaining an engaging narrative, seems more focused on establishing and maintaining the authoritative tone of a super-scholarly historian than truly delving into the story itself. My only wish would be that he would have really taken flight with this wonderful epic.

All in all, if you're interested in the Godwins, get this book. Not merely because its one of the few books dedicated to the subject, but because it really is a worthy examination.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
An excellent lead in to the end the Anglo-Saxon rule in England
By Gerard A. Proudfoot on June 7, 2012
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
Frank Barlow hit the target dead centre with this small but impressive book. The layout is chronological and the writing flows easily and naturally from chapter to chapter. The book covers not only the Godwins but the early 11th C before their rapid rise during the brief Danish rule. While most books focus on Harold Godwinson this text fills out the familiy's role in the final years of Anglo-Saxon England. Taken together with his other book "Edward the Confessor" (with whom the family was not always in accord) a reader will come away with as clear an understanding as is possible, considering the sources and distance in time, of what happened and why.
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