The Normans, Lars Brownworth
The Normans, Lars Brownworth
14 Rating(s)
List: $16.99 | Sale: $11.89
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The Normans
From Raiders to Kings

Author: Lars Brownworth

Narrator: James C. Lewis

Unabridged: 7 hr 4 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Tantor Media

Published: 10/28/2014

Synopsis

There is much more to the Norman story than the Battle of Hastings. These descendants of the Vikings who settled in France, England, and Italy—but were not strictly French, English, or Italian—played a large role in creating the modern world. They were the success story of the Middle Ages: a footloose band of individual adventurers who transformed the face of medieval Europe. During the course of two centuries, they launched a series of extraordinary conquests, carving out kingdoms from the North Sea to the North African coast.

In The Normans, Lars Brownworth follows their story, from the first shock of a Viking raid on an Irish monastery to the exile of the last Norman Prince of Antioch. In the process, he brings to vivid life the Norman tapestry's rich cast of characters: figures like Rollo the Walker, William Iron-Arm, Tancred the Monkey King, and Robert Guiscard. The Normans presents a fascinating glimpse of a time when a group of restless adventurers had the world at their fingertips.

"An evocative journey through the colourful and dangerous world of early medieval Europe"—Jonathan Harris, author of Byzantium and the Crusades

About Lars Brownworth

Lars Brownworth, the author of Lost to the West and The Normans, created the genre-defining history podcast 12 Byzantine Rulers. Lars has written for the Wall Street Journal, and he has been profiled in the New York Times. He lives in Maryland with his wife.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Alan on March 10, 2020

A really fun and interesting romp through the middle ages. During the tenth century nobody would have predicted anything of lasting influence to come out of western Europe, but then the Normans exploded onto the scene, bursting into prominence and transforming European and Mediterranean history with......more

Goodreads review by Faith on June 03, 2014

A popular history of the Northmen (Vikings) influence on Europe primarily during a two century period in the Middle Ages. I was aware of the Viking roots of Normandy in France, but had not known they spread into Italy, Sicily, Byzantium, and North Africa, as well as the better known 1066 invasion of......more

Goodreads review by Rindis on June 29, 2014

Lars Brownworth’s first book catapulted to success on the back of a related podcast, and he used the same formula this time. The Norman Centuries has been another good history podcast from him (though very slow, fourteen episodes in four years, and a note saying the next episode is under production......more

Goodreads review by Laurie on June 10, 2014

The Normans were a group that I knew nothing about beyond the fact that they are why part of France is called ‘Normandy’ and that William the Conqueror was one, so I was happy to get this book. It’s a very fast read; Brownworth doesn’t dwell on the details of battles (although the dates and statisti......more

Goodreads review by Shirley on April 04, 2014

Lars Brownworth's book is very well-written and its actually quite easy to read. I received this book from the publisher as an early reviewer book. In the book, Mr. Brownworth covers the entire history of the Normans from the first Viking raid in Ireland in 885 AD to around the middle of the 12 cent......more

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