1066: The Year of the Conquest
by David Howarth
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Book Summary Information
Author: David HowarthEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 1981-08-27
ISBN: 0140058508
Number of pages: 208
Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics)
Book Reviews of 1066: The Year of the Conquest
Book Review: 1066
Summary: 5 Stars
The book is about the year 1066 and what happens through out the year in chronological order. He focuses on England and the fight for the crown. He gives you an authentic feel of what life resembled for people in every level of society. Although it's main focus is on England the book does offer a look into the lives of others during the year 1066.
I am doing this paper in the book 1066: the year of the conquest. The book is by David Howarth. There were few illustrations in the book, but the few that are in there is by Gareth Floyd. They are at the heading of every chapter. The illustrations are black and white sketches not even half a page. Each one shows a scene from the chapter that is beginning. They are simplistic and works perfectly with the books elemental feel that is dominant. There is also one map on page 146 showing coast of England by the English Channel.
This wasn't David Armine Howarth's first, or last, historical book. Some of his other books are Voyage of the Armada: The Spanish Story, Tahiti: A Lost Paradise, Famous Sea Battles and also Waterloo: A Near Run Thing. He is a notable navel and military historian.
The book starts and continues throughout describing the life of people in 1066. He clearly explains the hierarchy and what life was like on each level. An average Englishman's life in the beginning of 1066 was "of endless labor...the labor was rewarded: there was plenty to eat and drink, plenty of space, and plenty of virgin land...Most were still very poor, but most of the comforts they lacked were things they had never heard of." (Pg 12) "villains...thought if themselves with pride as being their own masters" (pg 18)
He not only gives facts about people, but he also describes their personality and looks. He describes King Edward as "having a beard... a long, thin and rather lugubrious face." (Pg 34) "he lost his temper...he punished ...with exile...when his anger cooled, he was penitent, prayed for forgiveness, forgave the offenders and often invited them home." (Pg 35-36)
He even goes to their past to explain why they were the way they were. He tells of Harald at the age of fifteen he "had to hide in the forests until his wounds were healed and then escape from the country." (Pg 108). This shows how long Harald had been fighting and how used to it he was before he ever came to England. To describe William as a child Howarth wrote, "He began to grow up with precocious signs of a genius for politics and violence." (Pg 64). The best example I found is Howarth describing King Edward "he had grown up to be a melancholy man...never recovered from the shock of exile as a child." (Pg 34). "No doubt he had turned to religion for a comfort in his lonely youth." (Pg 35)
He goes into the personal relationships of people. "All the versions... suggest that Harold and William took an instant liking to each other... Harold the patient conciliator, William the man of decision." (Pg 72). Howarth also goes into the relationships of a few Kings and their wives. He describes other friendships like the friendship of Tostig and King Edward. He didn't just leave them as people he described who they were, what they were like, and how they liked each other.
Describes the background the events that happened. It describes a time in Normandy when there was "Anarchy, devastation and slaughter" (pg 64). Howarth describes Bozzam as " a beautiful place that anyone might cherish as a home" (Pg 89).
He gives a good feel for the dramatically different settings that are given through out the book.
Church is definitely included in the book. "the English then were devoutly religious people and were satisfied on the whole that their church provided for their spiritual needs." (pg 100) Although the "Papacy itself, were full of corruption" (pg100). The Church wasn't just mentioned as part of the people's lives, but also in politics. As an "afterthought in William's plan" (pg 101). William, through Lanfranc, asked the Pope to bless his "holy endeavor" (pg 102). This became incredibly important. William was able to invade England to fight "under the papal banner" (Pg 161). Which Howarth explains is "the most powerful weapons he took to England." (Pg 102)
He explained how the problem of who would take the crown arises. He clearly and interestingly describes King Edward life and death. He goes into detail of how and why Harold was named King. He also gives details of Williams reasoning and plans for the crown. Howarth even explained why and how King Harald got put in the mix with Tostig.
Howarth richly and realistically describes the battles. Especially the last battle in Hastings he noticeably has multiple sources explains how and why things happened the way the did. He vividly describes how things were "the battle of Hastings was completely silent, with only the evil thud of weapons, the sounds of the horses' hoofs on the muddy ground, the snorts and neighs, the human cries if triumph or agony, and ordinary conversation." (Pg 174).
Howarth went to many sources to get his information. Occasionally he will add where he got the information right in the text although he clearly lists all of his sources before the index. He explains plainly; "each historian made the message fit his own version" (pg 77). He also clearly says, "all the early accounts are more or less prejudice." (Pg 7) .He understands that " every sentence in a story nine centuries old should include the word perhaps: nothing is perfectly certain." (Pg 8). He knows it and he tells the readers before he even goes into the book, in the introduction. He has this story based in fact, but with all history from that distant of the past you have to fill in some gaps on your own.
He not only explains what happens, but he also explains what could have happened. An example of this is how he explains "If the King had lived another couple of years, Edgar would have been fifteen and considered old enough to reign." (Pg 56). He makes you think about what could have happened and about how different things could have been.
Howarth goes back to modern day and uses examples form modern day. "Napoleon and Hitler only attempted the conquest of England after conquering the rest of Europe, not before." (Pg 94). He does focus on 1066, but he doesn't mind going outside of the year to have you understand what happened. It also helps you put in perspective the incredible change that happened in 1066.
The book is clearly in chronological order. Although there aren't many specific dates it shows you clearly what the time period was. In the Table of contents it goes chapter by chapter and tells you at least what season it is to help you know around what time it was for each and every chapter.
I have never read a history book that is written in a style like Howarth's. He gives you the facts and information, but he presents it in a more interesting way. He doesn't tell you exactly what happened where and when in straight data. He describes a place. He describes brilliantly how it happens. He describes what a person was like, not just in that particular instance, but also through out his life. Most important he tells why. He explains the most logical thought processes of people and also explains some illogical reasons why they did things also.
My favorite bit of the book was the little stories and odd facts that Howarth included. When Harold was crowned "England had a new anointed king before anyone outside of London knew the old king was dead" (pg 57). Also on page 59 it talked about the "Danish marriage", or a love marriage some men would have before they got married for politics.
I would absolutely recommend 1066: the year of the conquest. I was pleasantly surprised how much I wholly enjoyed the book. It merges a good deal of fact into an interesting story. Howarth clearly explains what happened through the year, why it happened, where it happened, when it happened, and what the results were. It was a wonderful read.
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