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The Monarchy of England
- The Beginnings
- Narrated by: Tim Pigott-Smith
- Length: 5 hrs and 15 mins
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Summary
Volume one is an in-depth examination of how the English monarchy came into being, and how England became a nation state. It begins with Rome, the 'fount' from which all modern western European countries spring. The importance of the contrasting cultural and intellectual heritage of the Anglo-Saxons is underlined. Wessex, round which England coalesced in the ninth and tenth centuries, was a participatory society which balanced an effective monarchy at the centre with institutions of local governement which required - and got - the active involvement of most free men. It was this combination which enabled Wessex to survive and absorb the Viking invasions, and finally to thrive.
Then came the crisis of the Norman invasion when, as one contemporary put it, 'God ordered that the English should cease to be people'. But - as David Starkey demonstrates - the English proved resilient, and within forty years of the battle of Hastings had conquered Normandy. The values and practices of Anglo-Saxon politics had triumphed and the English nation state had been reborn.
This is popular history of the most exciting and challenging kind.
What listeners say about The Monarchy of England
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- lady-yeah
- 29-06-15
Enjoyable read about our early kings and all the mayhem and murder!
It helps to re-play some chapters to absorb all the facts and names.......altogether a fascinating subject, but not to fall asleep to!
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2 people found this helpful
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- Dirk Daring
- 21-02-22
Abrupt ending....
A brilliantly written book and expertly read.
This was like an exciting movie, real edge of the seat stuff only for it to end abruptly.
Why audible haven't got the other 2 volumes available I don't know.
Worth a listen though, I learned a lot.
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- Lea
- 08-09-18
History listen
the book seems to stop in an odd place. I was disappointed as it sounded like it should go on longer
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- edward sidsaph
- 19-03-19
Loved this book well written and well narrated.
loved it,very easy to listen to.Early history of the English through to the Conqueror and his sons.
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- K Bright
- 21-07-16
Great to refresh
What a great way to refresh my school history. Sure. 1066. But what happened next. Really insightful update that I never got when at school.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Tech_User_AU
- 23-10-21
Brilliant
Great text and outstanding narrator highly recommended listened in one go walking the South Downs Way and was enthralled by the drama of the story of the birth of England
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- PJ
- 17-11-22
David Starkey at his brilliant best
Brilliantly told and wonderfully narrated with a perfectly listenable, rich delivery. A pleasure from start to finish.
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- Richard
- 03-03-09
A superb introduction to audible
An excellently read enthralling review of early English history and the development of what the monarchy has come to mean. The characters vividly came to life and it was difficult to pause when ever anything interupted my listening. I wasn't sure how it would compare to David Starkey's excellent television programmes but it exceeded all expectations. The only problem was the story came to an end - what happens next will take me to the next book and I look forward to many hours of further listening.
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8 people found this helpful
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- Lindsay
- 10-05-23
A Special Learning Experience
Listening to these words and performance provides an enjoyable and indelible learning experience for these formative periods of English history.
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