Athelstan (Penguin Monarchs)
The Making of England

Athelstan was the person who really defined the geographical areas of Britain for the first time. I am astonished that we didn't cover his reign, and those of Alfred and Edward before Athelstan, in school history. This is a great story well told by the author. I hope someone finds the site of the ba......more

No king in England’s history has been more unjustly forgotten than Æthelstan. This forgetting is all the more poignant in that Æthelstan can reasonably claim to be the first king of England. Not many other nations would flush their founder down the memory hole: Washington adorns dollar bills, every......more

The epic first installment of the Penguin Monarchs series, describing Athelstan's achievements uniting England, establishing diplomatic relations with continental European powers and managing a fractious royal succession. Athelstan's personality and even the site of the most decisive battle of his r......more

Wonderful little book by excellent popular historian Tom Holland on one of England's least known kings. As I read, there were so many familiar names, Alfred, Edward, Aethelflad, Aethelwold, Athelstan himself, but where was Uhtred? Perhaps I have been reading too much Bernard Cornwell! It's such a sh......more

After King Alfred ensured the survival of Wessex and his son Edward expanded it, his grandson Athelstan inherited the rule of Mercia and Wessex, conquered Northumbria and was hailed 'King of the whole of Britain'. Holland recounts this extraordinary story and makes it full of drama. We are transport......more