Hastings (Great Battles)

By Peter Poyntz Wright

A highly readable narrative of one of the most crucial clashes in British history: the encounter between England's Harold the Second and Duke William of Normandy at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. At... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0753819945
• ISBN13: 9780753819944
• Release Date: March 2006
• Publisher: Phoenix
• Length: 208 Pages
• Weight: 0.34 lbs.
• Dimensions: 7.8" x 0.5" x 5.5"

Customer Reviews

Brings the Bayeux Tapestry into your own front room.

This tale of the battle is given from Harold's side and well researched.The book has big detailed pictures of the Bayeux Tapestry,with full page explanations of the scenes,backed with historical research.This includes weaponry,personalities,and tactics as well as incidents of the campaign that bring the tapestry to life. I was amazed at how accurate the tapestry is,it isn't just folklore.From the read it seems as though William had developed some new battlefield tactics employing cavalry and archery as well as the shield wall which was common to both sides.Harold held to the shield wall and had just fought 2 battles previously a month before which depleted him.Despite this he stiil gave William a tough ride.William succesfully employed some psychological tactics that forced Harold to come to battle before he had recovered from his 2 previous ones.Lots of illustrations and a few maps.

Definately worth a read...

A lot has been written about the year 1066 and the Battle of Hastings, and what makes it worth the time to read these accounts is that none of them are exactly alike. Most accounts write about the comet that appeared in 1066. Most accounts talk about the fact that William's invasion had Papel blessing and was almost like a Crusade. Most accounts draw information based on the Bayeux Tapestry. Yet each author comes away with a different take on what really happened. Many authors question why, after being so agressive at Stamford Bridge, King Harold was so defensive at Hastings. Howarth: 1066 Year of the Conquest would have you believe that Harold acted the way he did after seeing the Papal Banner flown amongst William's troops. Wright, while mentioning the Papal Banner, minimizes its significance, and instead insists that Haraold's decisions were fundamentally sound. Wright admits that other authors question Harold's decision not to counterattack after William's first attack failed, but says that to do so would not have worked since he would have been sending men, on foot, weighed down by armour, to attack men on horses. Wright claims that to do so would have been illogocal. Wright also shed's light on why Harold waged a battle so soon, instead of waiting for more reinforcements, by stating that William forced Harold's hand by waging a war of terror against Harold's people in the country side. This forced Harold to fight before his army was ready. As with all accounts of the battle, Wright admits that it is almost impossible to tell when, how and by whom Harold was killed. He does shed some light on how the story that Harold was shot in the eye came about, but as with every other author cannot say for certain what transpired. One flaw with the book was Wright's propensity to say the same thing over and over. Other then that, the book was well written and a fast read, but reader beware, as with all accounts of Hastings, some of this is the Author's conclusions and may not be exactly how or why things took place... I would recommend reading this account, as well as Howarth's and then making up your own mind..

Copiously documented history

Wright takes a hard look at the events leading up to the Battle of Hastings. He specifically looks at what led to the enthronment of Harold after Edward the Confessor's demise. Hints at what William's cunning feudal administration skills. Very specific detail into the actually events surrounding the Battle of Hastings. Pictures and Ordnance Survey map references so you can walk the battlefield in order.