Whether you want an accessible introduction to all things Anglo-Saxon, a thorough refresher of key points, or a reliably comprehensive reference tool to dip into, this is a wonderful book. Satisfyingly detailed, the authors assume no specialist knowledge on the part of their readers, but do not talk down to them either. It is an interdisciplinary work, combining lively analysis of written sources with archaeological discoveries, linguistic evidence, landscape archaeology, palaeobotany, genetics, and more. The scope is broad but often zooms in on interesting digressions...Complementing this treasure trove of information is a series of superb maps, we well as generous quantities of big, coloum either.rful photos that vividly illustrate the masterpieces that these supposedly Dark Age peoples were able to create.-Current Archaeology
Higham and Ryan have managed to write a tome that provides a thorough introduction to the complexities of the 'Anglo-Saxon world' at a level that will challenge and stimulate informed readers while introducing those new to the subject to what makes it so fascinating.
Of course, it helps that the book weighs in at 447 pages, and that with almost 300 colour illustrations it is a work of beauty: the publishers must be given full credit for investing in the production of such a richly illustrated work on this scale. But this is no picture book. Higham and Ryan do not dumb down for their readers. . . . The authors demonstrate that they are writing about a serious subject worthy of serious consideration.
What is presented right not remains valuable and, indeed, a pleasure to read.-Ryan Lavelle, BBC History Magazine, 1st August 2013
A magisterial new overview the Anglo-Saxon World. . . . Higham and Ryan, marshalling the latest research from archaeology, genetics, paleobotany, and even plain old literary studies... do a superlative job of putting actual day-to-day flesh and bone onto a period that for far too long was rather conveniently labelled 'The Dark Ages.' Their efforts - hugely aided by the glorious illustrations with which Yale University Press has packed this pleasingly oversized volume - are comprehensive and successful; the Anglo-Saxon worlds in all their violent splendour come alive in these pages. . . . By its very nature, The Anglo Saxon World represents a factual advance over all similar volumes that have preceded it, but the passion of its enthusiasms is its main recommendation. Our authors have a big, sprawling story to tell - of ornate tombs and sword-hacked skulls, of gorgeous handcrafts and marauding Vikings, and of some remarkable warrior-kings who stitched a country together out of fragments left behind by the most powerful empire the world had ever seen - and they tell it exceedingly well.-Steve Donoghue, Open Letters
This superb book explains clearly and engagingly how the nation of England began. A comprehensive, readable and up-to-date account of an extraordinarily creative period of history.-Francis Pryor, author of Britain AD: The Quest for Arthur, England and the Anglo-Saxons