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The English Monarchs
Æthelstan: The First King of England
The powerful and innovative King Æthelstan reigned only briefly (924-939), yet his achievements during those eventful fifteen years changed the course of English history. He won spectacular military victories (most notably at Brunanburh), forged unprecedented political connections across Europe, and succeeded in creating the first unified kingdom of the English. To claim for him the title of "first English monarch" is no exaggeration.
In this nuanced portrait of Æthelstan, Sarah Foot offers the first full account of the king ever written. She traces his life through the various spheres in which he lived and worked, beginning with the intimate context of his family, then extending outward to his unusual multiethnic royal court, the Church and his kingdom, the wars he conducted, and finally his death and legacy. Foot describes a sophisticated man who was not only a great military leader but also a worthy king. He governed brilliantly, developed creative ways to project his image as a ruler, and devised strategic marriage treaties and gift exchanges to cement alliances with the leading royal and ducal houses of Europe. Æthelstan's legacy, seen in the new light of this masterful biography, is inextricably connected to the very forging of England and early English identity.
In this nuanced portrait of Æthelstan, Sarah Foot offers the first full account of the king ever written. She traces his life through the various spheres in which he lived and worked, beginning with the intimate context of his family, then extending outward to his unusual multiethnic royal court, the Church and his kingdom, the wars he conducted, and finally his death and legacy. Foot describes a sophisticated man who was not only a great military leader but also a worthy king. He governed brilliantly, developed creative ways to project his image as a ruler, and devised strategic marriage treaties and gift exchanges to cement alliances with the leading royal and ducal houses of Europe. Æthelstan's legacy, seen in the new light of this masterful biography, is inextricably connected to the very forging of England and early English identity.
283 pages, Hardcover
First published June 28, 2011
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About the author
Sarah Foot
27books11followersSarah Foot is the Regius Professor of Ecclesiastical History at Christ Church, Oxford. She is the author of AEthelstan: the First English Monarch (2011); Monastic Life in Anglo-Saxon England, c. 600-900 (2006) and has written widely on perceptions and uses of the past in the early medieval West.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
June 5, 2020
”Aethelstan’s fifteen-year reign (924-939) constitutes one of the most significant periods in the history of England before the Norman Conquest. He was the first monarch to create and rule over a unified kingdom of the English, and proved himself adept at defending that kingdom against rival powers in northern Britain and Ireland as well as from Scandinavian incursion. In life, Aethelstan’s contemporaries regarded him as the ‘the most excellent and illustrious among the earthly kings of our own day.’�
If early English medieval history is a large banquet hall, Alfred the Great sucks all the oxygen out of the room. His reign is the beginning of the Anglo-Saxons seeing themselves as a united people. It is the emergence of the idea of Englishness. Sarah Foot mentions in this book that even well educated Britains today would struggle to remember the names of the early English kings other than Alfred and poor Harold, who took the arrow in the eye at the Battle of Hastings. It helps to have the epitaph Great attached to your name, and certainly Alfred was a wonderful self-promoter, teaching himself Latin and recording his own deeds. Few kings throughout history have had that opportunity. He looms so large on the historical horizon that the accomplishments of his son, Edward the Elder, and his grandson Aethelstan are overshadowed and, frankly, nearly forgotten.
Alfred is the first monarch of the Anglo-Saxons; Edward, with the help of his sister Aethelflaed, Lady of Mercia, grows the borders of the kingdom, but it is Aethelstan who unites all of England and becomes the first monarch of the English.
It is unknown for sure what exactly happened with Aethelstan’s mother. She is either set aside by Edward for a more advantageous match or she dies. Bernard Cornwell presents her in his works of fiction as the passionate, ill-advised match for a lustful Edward, who for the sake of the kingdom has to spurn her and his son and daughter. The negotiations with the family of Edward’s second wife, Aelfflaed, most probably included an understanding that Aethelstan would be skipped in the line of succession to favor her future sons.
Aethelstan seems to have spent a considerable amount of time in Mercia, under the care of his aunt, Aethelflaed. I believe he benefited from that time with his aunt. She was a powerful, dynamic woman who was much loved by her people and had shown success on the battlefield as well as at the negotiation table to help Edward extend the influence of the Wessex and Mercian alliance. Aethelstan was also well-loved in Mercia and when his father dies he is hailed as the new king of Wessex by admiring Mercians.
Aethelstan is with his father in the northern part of the kingdom when Edward dies. Aelfweard is in Wessex. Is this simply a matter of geography, or was it firmly established that Edward intended Aelfweard to succeed him? I believe it to be both. Regardless, Aelfweard becomes king for 16 days, such a short time that on my poster of the kings and queens of England that hangs on my office wall he is not even listed.
Aelfweard dies rather suddenly. Is it fate? Is he poisoned?
Aethelstan becomes king. The air may be redolent with the smell of intrigue, but it becomes a stench when Aelfweard’s younger brother, Edwin, becomes involved in an attempt to dethrone his half brother. Edwin is banished, and as he is crossing the sea to exile, he drowns.
Did Aethelstan have him killed? It could have been just misadventure, after all crossing the sea in the 10th century always carried some risk, but if I were a betting man, I would guess some coin crossed some palms, and Edwin was destined to sleep with the fishes long before he reached shore.
Aethelstan is a collector of books and relics. He is more like his grandfather in this regard. His father is pious and educated, but does not seem to be as fervent about either as was Alfred or his son. Aethelstan prefers the company of young men. From a modern perspective, much can be intimated into that statement. He appears to have taken a vow of chastity, never marries, and there has never been any mention of any bastard children. By doing so, he ensures that his younger brother Edmund, by his father’s third wife, will succeed him without a challenge from his offspring. These half brothers seem to get along well. They fight together and appear to be sympatico.
In fact, they are together at the defining moment of Aethelstan’s reign in 937 at the battle of Brunanburh. The Anglo-Saxon army squares off against the Dublin Norse, the Scots, and the Welsh and wins a resounding victory. This is the moment when Aethelstan becomes the undisputed first monarch of the English. He adds the final bricks to the wall that his father and grandfather had started. This is an important victory and would have been a devastating defeat. If Aethelstan had lost this battle, he would have also lost all the territorial gains that his father, Aethelflaed, and himself had made. He may have had trouble hanging onto Wessex. A very different England may have emerged.
What is also significant is that Aethelstan is known on a national stage. He is seen as a powerful leader by the other kings of Europe and is often asked by them for his military assistance and his wise counsel.
It is easy to make the case that Aethelstan should also bear the epitaph Great. He takes what his ancestors gave him and made it into a great kingdom. He certainly shouldn’t be thought of as a footnote to the life of his grandfather. In The Last Kingdom, the TV series created from the books of Bernard Cornwell, Aethelstan makes his appearance in the fourth season as a young boy. I’m fascinated to see how Cornwell interprets Aethelstan’s life and rise to power. Sarah Foot, as a researcher and the author of this book, has a legitimate concern that most of what we know about Aethelstan is from one source, the writings of William of Malmesbury. She would have loved to have had a plethora of source documentation to resource while writing this book, and was frequently in the position, as many historians are, of making a best guess. This is a scholarly book, and as fascinating as I found it to be, it may prove to be a rough go for the average reader.
I will be continuing my journey through the lives of the early kings of England with Edmund, Aethelstan’s younger half brother and successor.
If you wish to see more of my most recent book and movie reviews, visit
I also have a Facebook blogger page at: and an Instagram account
If early English medieval history is a large banquet hall, Alfred the Great sucks all the oxygen out of the room. His reign is the beginning of the Anglo-Saxons seeing themselves as a united people. It is the emergence of the idea of Englishness. Sarah Foot mentions in this book that even well educated Britains today would struggle to remember the names of the early English kings other than Alfred and poor Harold, who took the arrow in the eye at the Battle of Hastings. It helps to have the epitaph Great attached to your name, and certainly Alfred was a wonderful self-promoter, teaching himself Latin and recording his own deeds. Few kings throughout history have had that opportunity. He looms so large on the historical horizon that the accomplishments of his son, Edward the Elder, and his grandson Aethelstan are overshadowed and, frankly, nearly forgotten.
Alfred is the first monarch of the Anglo-Saxons; Edward, with the help of his sister Aethelflaed, Lady of Mercia, grows the borders of the kingdom, but it is Aethelstan who unites all of England and becomes the first monarch of the English.
It is unknown for sure what exactly happened with Aethelstan’s mother. She is either set aside by Edward for a more advantageous match or she dies. Bernard Cornwell presents her in his works of fiction as the passionate, ill-advised match for a lustful Edward, who for the sake of the kingdom has to spurn her and his son and daughter. The negotiations with the family of Edward’s second wife, Aelfflaed, most probably included an understanding that Aethelstan would be skipped in the line of succession to favor her future sons.
Aethelstan seems to have spent a considerable amount of time in Mercia, under the care of his aunt, Aethelflaed. I believe he benefited from that time with his aunt. She was a powerful, dynamic woman who was much loved by her people and had shown success on the battlefield as well as at the negotiation table to help Edward extend the influence of the Wessex and Mercian alliance. Aethelstan was also well-loved in Mercia and when his father dies he is hailed as the new king of Wessex by admiring Mercians.
Aethelstan is with his father in the northern part of the kingdom when Edward dies. Aelfweard is in Wessex. Is this simply a matter of geography, or was it firmly established that Edward intended Aelfweard to succeed him? I believe it to be both. Regardless, Aelfweard becomes king for 16 days, such a short time that on my poster of the kings and queens of England that hangs on my office wall he is not even listed.
Aelfweard dies rather suddenly. Is it fate? Is he poisoned?
Aethelstan becomes king. The air may be redolent with the smell of intrigue, but it becomes a stench when Aelfweard’s younger brother, Edwin, becomes involved in an attempt to dethrone his half brother. Edwin is banished, and as he is crossing the sea to exile, he drowns.
Did Aethelstan have him killed? It could have been just misadventure, after all crossing the sea in the 10th century always carried some risk, but if I were a betting man, I would guess some coin crossed some palms, and Edwin was destined to sleep with the fishes long before he reached shore.
Aethelstan is a collector of books and relics. He is more like his grandfather in this regard. His father is pious and educated, but does not seem to be as fervent about either as was Alfred or his son. Aethelstan prefers the company of young men. From a modern perspective, much can be intimated into that statement. He appears to have taken a vow of chastity, never marries, and there has never been any mention of any bastard children. By doing so, he ensures that his younger brother Edmund, by his father’s third wife, will succeed him without a challenge from his offspring. These half brothers seem to get along well. They fight together and appear to be sympatico.
In fact, they are together at the defining moment of Aethelstan’s reign in 937 at the battle of Brunanburh. The Anglo-Saxon army squares off against the Dublin Norse, the Scots, and the Welsh and wins a resounding victory. This is the moment when Aethelstan becomes the undisputed first monarch of the English. He adds the final bricks to the wall that his father and grandfather had started. This is an important victory and would have been a devastating defeat. If Aethelstan had lost this battle, he would have also lost all the territorial gains that his father, Aethelflaed, and himself had made. He may have had trouble hanging onto Wessex. A very different England may have emerged.
What is also significant is that Aethelstan is known on a national stage. He is seen as a powerful leader by the other kings of Europe and is often asked by them for his military assistance and his wise counsel.
It is easy to make the case that Aethelstan should also bear the epitaph Great. He takes what his ancestors gave him and made it into a great kingdom. He certainly shouldn’t be thought of as a footnote to the life of his grandfather. In The Last Kingdom, the TV series created from the books of Bernard Cornwell, Aethelstan makes his appearance in the fourth season as a young boy. I’m fascinated to see how Cornwell interprets Aethelstan’s life and rise to power. Sarah Foot, as a researcher and the author of this book, has a legitimate concern that most of what we know about Aethelstan is from one source, the writings of William of Malmesbury. She would have loved to have had a plethora of source documentation to resource while writing this book, and was frequently in the position, as many historians are, of making a best guess. This is a scholarly book, and as fascinating as I found it to be, it may prove to be a rough go for the average reader.
I will be continuing my journey through the lives of the early kings of England with Edmund, Aethelstan’s younger half brother and successor.
If you wish to see more of my most recent book and movie reviews, visit
I also have a Facebook blogger page at: and an Instagram account
February 28, 2015
Aethelstan seems like one of those interesting and very important "forgotten" kings, with his main flaw being the fact that he wasn't long sighted enough to pay for a biographer like his granddad Alfred the Great did. He also seems like an interesting personality, a contended ascension to the throne possibly influencing his subsequent decision to never marry and have kids, thus ensuring a smoother succession for his half-brother. Most of what little fame Aethelstan still has today comes from the Battle of Brunanburh in 937, when he defeated an allied army led by five different Kings and cemented his rule over the whole of England, something none of his predecessors ever quite managed.
So, some of that interest carries this book a fair way, but after a while it gets a bit buried by some pretty dry details. I always feel like a dick giving work of history a bad rating when it's obvious a lot of work went into it and it doesn't have any contentious or bad opinions or arguments but there's a whole long chapter in here about holy relics given to King Aethelstan with detailed descriptions of where they came from and where they might have gone and it actually put me to sleep twice.
So, some of that interest carries this book a fair way, but after a while it gets a bit buried by some pretty dry details. I always feel like a dick giving work of history a bad rating when it's obvious a lot of work went into it and it doesn't have any contentious or bad opinions or arguments but there's a whole long chapter in here about holy relics given to King Aethelstan with detailed descriptions of where they came from and where they might have gone and it actually put me to sleep twice.
March 3, 2020
This book is extremely well written and interesting to read. Ms. Foot covers all the basics of Aethelstan’s reign and goes over even unconventional sources to give us a portrait of this remarkable man and his time as the first true king of Britain. She has written a genuinely engaging and documented biography of one of the most important of Anglo-Saxon monarchs about whom all too little has previouslybeen known by others than experts in medieval English history. King Athelstan comes alive in these pages, and all the implications of his considerable accomplishments are examined thoroughly and accurately.
October 23, 2015
This is an exceptional book. Very academic in tone so for those readers that have a deep interest in pre Conquest England. Not recommended to those that are after popular history.
The author has delved into every source available to give a thorough coverage of Æthelstan and his reign. No stone has been left unturned to cover areas from his early life, an area very bereft of information through to his modern legacy.
There are 8 chapters and an epilogue covering debates as to Æthelstan place in English history, coverage of his family, his role in the church, his kingdom and wars. The epilogue made wonderful reading on his initial popular memory to the disappearance of such as time went by.
On finishing this book I looked at 2 popular history's of England that I have at hand, Seaman's A New History of England from 1981 and the recent Foundation by Ackroyd. Seaman makes reference to Æthelstan on page 22 calling him "one of the most successful Kings" based on his overlordship of other British kings via the Battle of Brunanburh. This is covered by all of a scant paragraph. Æthelstan receives a short mention in relation to laws on page 38. Ackroyd does better with coverage from page 69 to 72. Ackroyd says that Æthelstan was "revered for centuries" and covers the meaning of his name, Noble Stone, his lineage through to the precedents he set as to lordship and landownership. Considering the scope of Foundation Ackroyd seemingly does a fine job considering the limitations of his subject.
With that I came away considering that Sarah Foot has produced one of the most important biographies from Anglo Saxon England. My 2 popular histories are fairly scant on the subject but do both make mention of Æthelstan's importance to English history. This is why this book by Sarah Foot is of such importance. Her research of the source's is superb, they lack any form hyperbole with interpretation, she makes it abundantly clear as to their limitations and with that brings us up to date with what little information is available. Her footnotes and bibliography are of the highest quality. Highly recommended.
The author has delved into every source available to give a thorough coverage of Æthelstan and his reign. No stone has been left unturned to cover areas from his early life, an area very bereft of information through to his modern legacy.
There are 8 chapters and an epilogue covering debates as to Æthelstan place in English history, coverage of his family, his role in the church, his kingdom and wars. The epilogue made wonderful reading on his initial popular memory to the disappearance of such as time went by.
On finishing this book I looked at 2 popular history's of England that I have at hand, Seaman's A New History of England from 1981 and the recent Foundation by Ackroyd. Seaman makes reference to Æthelstan on page 22 calling him "one of the most successful Kings" based on his overlordship of other British kings via the Battle of Brunanburh. This is covered by all of a scant paragraph. Æthelstan receives a short mention in relation to laws on page 38. Ackroyd does better with coverage from page 69 to 72. Ackroyd says that Æthelstan was "revered for centuries" and covers the meaning of his name, Noble Stone, his lineage through to the precedents he set as to lordship and landownership. Considering the scope of Foundation Ackroyd seemingly does a fine job considering the limitations of his subject.
With that I came away considering that Sarah Foot has produced one of the most important biographies from Anglo Saxon England. My 2 popular histories are fairly scant on the subject but do both make mention of Æthelstan's importance to English history. This is why this book by Sarah Foot is of such importance. Her research of the source's is superb, they lack any form hyperbole with interpretation, she makes it abundantly clear as to their limitations and with that brings us up to date with what little information is available. Her footnotes and bibliography are of the highest quality. Highly recommended.
April 7, 2014
Ah, Aethelstan. The first English king. A great warrior - he conquered or threatened all of England into recognizing him as king. A scholar - he learned to read, not something everybody did back in 900, and supported the intellectuals of the time. A lawgiver - and his laws were pretty much obeyed, which is impressive as this was the depths of the "dark ages" when it could not be assumed that one was safe from mayhem just because the king said you should be. Devout, brave, honest, just.
The grandson of Alfred, the only English king called "the great," Aethelstan was the one chosen by the great man to acceed to the throne after his father, Edward the Elder. Even as late as the 12th century it was said that "no one more just or more learned every ruled the kingdom." This is from William of Malmsebury, upon whom we must rely for much of what we know about the late years of the Anglo-Saxon world.
Sarah Foot's biography, Aethelstan: The First King of England, is crammed with information, surprising (at least to me) since there wasn't a lot of history being written back then and the historian has to rely on documents from all over Europe created for other purposes. This is the first of the series of books in the Yale English Monarchs series. The next one chronologically is Frank Barlow's Edward the Confessor (1042-1066), great-grand-nephew of Aethelstan.
I won't send you to read this book unless you are deeply interested in the English monarchs before William the Conqueror. The book is by necessity dry and filled with dates. The author has compiled a time-line telling us where Aethelstan was at almost every moment during his reign, 927-939. She does bring to life the important battle of Brunanburgh in which Aethelstan defeated the combined forces of the Norse and the Scots. She describes the king's household, and she gives the reader an idea who lived there. But this is not a social history. You are on your own to figure out what the common folk do.
But do remember Aethelstan, in the shadow of his famous grandfather, forgotten in the later struggle between the House of Wessex and the House of Denmark, and of course, overwhelmed, as is much of Anglo-Saxon history, by the bastard from Normandy.
The grandson of Alfred, the only English king called "the great," Aethelstan was the one chosen by the great man to acceed to the throne after his father, Edward the Elder. Even as late as the 12th century it was said that "no one more just or more learned every ruled the kingdom." This is from William of Malmsebury, upon whom we must rely for much of what we know about the late years of the Anglo-Saxon world.
Sarah Foot's biography, Aethelstan: The First King of England, is crammed with information, surprising (at least to me) since there wasn't a lot of history being written back then and the historian has to rely on documents from all over Europe created for other purposes. This is the first of the series of books in the Yale English Monarchs series. The next one chronologically is Frank Barlow's Edward the Confessor (1042-1066), great-grand-nephew of Aethelstan.
I won't send you to read this book unless you are deeply interested in the English monarchs before William the Conqueror. The book is by necessity dry and filled with dates. The author has compiled a time-line telling us where Aethelstan was at almost every moment during his reign, 927-939. She does bring to life the important battle of Brunanburgh in which Aethelstan defeated the combined forces of the Norse and the Scots. She describes the king's household, and she gives the reader an idea who lived there. But this is not a social history. You are on your own to figure out what the common folk do.
But do remember Aethelstan, in the shadow of his famous grandfather, forgotten in the later struggle between the House of Wessex and the House of Denmark, and of course, overwhelmed, as is much of Anglo-Saxon history, by the bastard from Normandy.
January 7, 2014
Sarah Foot's Aethelstan is one of the few biographies written about the life of the West Saxon king, Aethelstan. The book covers every aspect of his life: Lineage, upbringing, travels, royal expenses, his Court, his private life and religious devotion (Aethelstan never married), and his success as a king who would rule all of England.
However, the mistake I made in reading this book, was that I chose to read it immediately following Neil Oliver's brilliant A History of Ancient Britain. I found myself constantly comparing how different the two were in the way they'd been written. Foot's biography, whilst containing a hefty amount of information, just isn't presented in a particularly interesting way. It feels hefty, daunting and, at times, completely overwhelming. It isn't free-flowing and it feels very academic.
I would not recommend this to anyone but the most ardent history-nerd who harbours a special interest in this particular era.
However, the mistake I made in reading this book, was that I chose to read it immediately following Neil Oliver's brilliant A History of Ancient Britain. I found myself constantly comparing how different the two were in the way they'd been written. Foot's biography, whilst containing a hefty amount of information, just isn't presented in a particularly interesting way. It feels hefty, daunting and, at times, completely overwhelming. It isn't free-flowing and it feels very academic.
I would not recommend this to anyone but the most ardent history-nerd who harbours a special interest in this particular era.
March 8, 2016
This book is really just 1 star or me, but I give it 2 stars because I did finish the whole thing. It is a well written book, but turned out to be a very bad fit for my interests.
The book was recommended to me years ago because I have been reading a long series of historical novels dealing with medieval England in the time of Alfred the Great and his son Edward the Elder.
AEthelstan was the eldest son of Edward and succeeded his father to the throne in the year 924.
In the most recent book in the Saxon Stories Series mentioned above, AEthelstan is a 15 year old boy learning to be a warrior. So I finally had to get this book to learn all about AEthelstan.
After trying for years to get the book from a library with no success, I finally bought the book eagerly expecting to learn just how AEthelstan conquered all of England and Scotland, which his Grandfather and Father had been trying to do unsuccessfully for their entire reigns.
To my horror it turns out that the answer is completely unknown. All that is known is from a brief poem that mentions one great battle with no details at all. It isn't even known where the battle was fought!
The author of the this book, a professor at Yale, says there are 40 different candidates for the site of the battle. This book is really just a purely academic exercise by a professor of medieval studies trying to piece together the history of AEthelstan from the few tiny scraps of information that have survived. And adding insult to injury I paid $40 to buy the book.
So in conclusion of this rant, I do recommend the Saxon Stories Series by Bernard Cornwell, but obviously not his book.
The book was recommended to me years ago because I have been reading a long series of historical novels dealing with medieval England in the time of Alfred the Great and his son Edward the Elder.
AEthelstan was the eldest son of Edward and succeeded his father to the throne in the year 924.
In the most recent book in the Saxon Stories Series mentioned above, AEthelstan is a 15 year old boy learning to be a warrior. So I finally had to get this book to learn all about AEthelstan.
After trying for years to get the book from a library with no success, I finally bought the book eagerly expecting to learn just how AEthelstan conquered all of England and Scotland, which his Grandfather and Father had been trying to do unsuccessfully for their entire reigns.
To my horror it turns out that the answer is completely unknown. All that is known is from a brief poem that mentions one great battle with no details at all. It isn't even known where the battle was fought!
The author of the this book, a professor at Yale, says there are 40 different candidates for the site of the battle. This book is really just a purely academic exercise by a professor of medieval studies trying to piece together the history of AEthelstan from the few tiny scraps of information that have survived. And adding insult to injury I paid $40 to buy the book.
So in conclusion of this rant, I do recommend the Saxon Stories Series by Bernard Cornwell, but obviously not his book.
March 8, 2015
I'll start off by saying this is not necessarily written for the casual reader of history. It is a well-researched, as-detailed-as-possible biography of one of England's greatest, but long-forgotten, kings. In fact, even I - a more than casual reader of very specific history (Anglo-Saxon England) - had to pause at times, read and reread, because of the wealth of information. It truly surprises me that this book has such a (what I consider) low rating, leaving me to wonder if we've even read the same book.
This period is by far one of my favorite historical subjects, but one we can never truly know about, which makes it all the more intriguing. Foot uses the very best resources she has and makes quite educated statements about this man and king. While at the end of the day, many statements are still simply conjecture, it didn't feel that way while reading. I've read many books in the past where the info was presented with more 'possiblies' and 'probablies' than I knew what to do with. Yet here, while clear that much is still supposition, it's still presented in a very readable way that doesn't leave you wondering at the end why the author even bothered to write it. Very, very well-done, highly recommended.
This period is by far one of my favorite historical subjects, but one we can never truly know about, which makes it all the more intriguing. Foot uses the very best resources she has and makes quite educated statements about this man and king. While at the end of the day, many statements are still simply conjecture, it didn't feel that way while reading. I've read many books in the past where the info was presented with more 'possiblies' and 'probablies' than I knew what to do with. Yet here, while clear that much is still supposition, it's still presented in a very readable way that doesn't leave you wondering at the end why the author even bothered to write it. Very, very well-done, highly recommended.
December 7, 2014
Foot's narative of Aethelstan is surely a very well researched piece of work. As the author states right at the beginning, this book tries to shine a light on the person of Aethelstan as a whole, not just as warrior, lawgiver or promoter of the church. This goal is, I'd say, duly achived.
So one might ask: Why just a two-star-rating?
The answer to this is, that Foot's book constitutes a textbook for students of early English history and is therefore written in a very scientific mannor. This let me, as I normaly read biographies for relaxation and fun, more than once think of putting the book away for good.
The other thing I have to say is something that all authors of books on early history might know: For my taste there is a bit too much of what Aethelstan might have done, where he presumably went or what this or that charter of his possibly ment. So there are too few facts and too much speculation for my taste.
So one might ask: Why just a two-star-rating?
The answer to this is, that Foot's book constitutes a textbook for students of early English history and is therefore written in a very scientific mannor. This let me, as I normaly read biographies for relaxation and fun, more than once think of putting the book away for good.
The other thing I have to say is something that all authors of books on early history might know: For my taste there is a bit too much of what Aethelstan might have done, where he presumably went or what this or that charter of his possibly ment. So there are too few facts and too much speculation for my taste.
August 14, 2018
Sarah Foot does a fantastic job in illuminating the life of one of England's great Anglo-Saxon monarchs. The thematic, rather than chronological, approach is the correct one for a figure lacking in reliable early sources. Whilst this does mean certain facts are repeated, this for me was not a problem, allowing deeper understanding of the structure of Athelstan's life and the events that shaped it.
Other readers have criticised Foot's prose style. In fact, rather than finding it dull as others have, I found it to be straightforward yet deeply engaging. Foot handles very well, as one would expect of such a well-qualified historian, traditional historical narratives, such as military exploits or religious patronage. However, Foot is also at home in other important and fascinating areas which I have often found other historians to be weaker in, or to neglect totally, such as art historical analysis or numismatics.
Overall an excellent book.
Other readers have criticised Foot's prose style. In fact, rather than finding it dull as others have, I found it to be straightforward yet deeply engaging. Foot handles very well, as one would expect of such a well-qualified historian, traditional historical narratives, such as military exploits or religious patronage. However, Foot is also at home in other important and fascinating areas which I have often found other historians to be weaker in, or to neglect totally, such as art historical analysis or numismatics.
Overall an excellent book.
June 19, 2014
This was an excellent book on a lesser known Anglo-Saxon king. The author does a great job bringing Aethelstan to life and I can't help but wonder why he is forgotten where another childless warrior king, Richard I, has been so remembered. Aethlestan was a much better king to his people, mentor for many younger relatives and a man of noted piety. This biography was very well researched and documented.
February 12, 2020
This is a belter of a book and is easily the best book on Aethelstan that I've read. It is probably going to be the standard work on him for years to come.
The chapters are loosely arranged in a chronological order, but also thematically, which isn't easy to do. Young life, court, kingdom, the church, warfare, death, British King?, memory, etc and a couple of appendices which show where he was when charters were signed or question the reliability of William of Malmesbury.
This book is extremely well footnoted; you can see exactly where Foot got her information from and not only that, but there are some useful explanatory notes present when there has been a small historical debate over one tiny aspect. This means that the text doesn't get bogged down and it's also great to see our own Ann Williams' expertise referenced in this book. Foot packs a lot into each sentence, so this isn't necessarily a fast read. She also expects a certain level of knowledge from the reader. Not masses of it, but the best example would be that she doesn't explain what a Charter is, but does explain that the 'proem' is the flowery preamble to a charter. To me, this made it an even better book. It is absolutely streets ahead of Paul Hill's book on Æthelstan, which despite being shorter, says almost as much about Alfred as he does Æthelstan. This starts with Edward the Elder being dead for a couple of pages (spoiler alert, he stays deceased) and then moves into the circumstances of Æthelstan and stays focussed on him throughout. It can be very disappointing to buy a book about one ruler and find that they are only a small part of the book, but that's not a problem here.
A lot of the information is taken from Charters and Foot makes great use of these, even to the extent of showing how a couple that invoked their recipients to give alms to the poor were issued over the festive period of 932. The ASC forms a fair part of this work, but Foot is happy to look further and find other sources to fill in the blanks, such as coin evidence, inscriptions in donated religious works and foreign sources. Her use of William of Malmesbury is good. She does point out that there is a problem in him often being the only source for some things and doesn't always follow him, especially where (such as with his account of the retaking and fortifying of Exeter) it goes against what we know. However, she does come down on the side of him having access to a now lost work and regards him as very useful for a lot of things, which is reasonable given her appendix entry discussing him. The examination of the three most likely locations for the battle of Brunanburh is interesting, but probably a moot point now that the discoveries near Bromborough have been made. Happily that is her favoured location. The section on court culture is fascinating. Æthelstan was certainly a big fan of poetry.
On the slight downside, it is mildly Wessex centred and has Edward the Elder fortifying Chester in 907 instead of Æthelræd and Æthelflaed, who seem more likely. Her comments about Ælfheah the Bald being so called because of his monastic tonsure, aren't that convincing. There were probably a lot of people with monastic tonsures, so I'm not sure that would be enough to distinguish him from all of the others that were bald for similar reasons, but could be wrong. There are some conflicting dates given for Frithestan and Beornstan as bishops of Winchester, but that's pretty minor. The comments about Sihtric coming to Tamworth in the centre of Æthelstan's territory are perhaps more questionable now that a coin of Sihtric's from the Vale of York hoard, minted at Rorivacastr has been found, IF this is indeed to be identified as Rocester on the Staffs/Derby border. As this would show that Sihtric's writ ran further south than was previously thought and that a meeting at Tamworth would be almost on the border. The chapter on relics was a bit dry, mostly because it felt like a sea of obscure names and places. Saint Paternus? No me, neither.
This is a book that is well worth buying and reading. You almost get a feel for the character of the king.
Three things you'll take away from this work:
1, Beowulf possibly written down, but probably not created during his reign.
2, the law code entry that references only one coin in the realm, along with provisions for shield making and the export of horses, etc, is probably interpolated and belongs to an earlier code from Edward the Elder's reign. It sits between parts of the Grately code, rather than being part of them.
3, William of Malmesbury probably did have access to a history now lost.
The chapters are loosely arranged in a chronological order, but also thematically, which isn't easy to do. Young life, court, kingdom, the church, warfare, death, British King?, memory, etc and a couple of appendices which show where he was when charters were signed or question the reliability of William of Malmesbury.
This book is extremely well footnoted; you can see exactly where Foot got her information from and not only that, but there are some useful explanatory notes present when there has been a small historical debate over one tiny aspect. This means that the text doesn't get bogged down and it's also great to see our own Ann Williams' expertise referenced in this book. Foot packs a lot into each sentence, so this isn't necessarily a fast read. She also expects a certain level of knowledge from the reader. Not masses of it, but the best example would be that she doesn't explain what a Charter is, but does explain that the 'proem' is the flowery preamble to a charter. To me, this made it an even better book. It is absolutely streets ahead of Paul Hill's book on Æthelstan, which despite being shorter, says almost as much about Alfred as he does Æthelstan. This starts with Edward the Elder being dead for a couple of pages (spoiler alert, he stays deceased) and then moves into the circumstances of Æthelstan and stays focussed on him throughout. It can be very disappointing to buy a book about one ruler and find that they are only a small part of the book, but that's not a problem here.
A lot of the information is taken from Charters and Foot makes great use of these, even to the extent of showing how a couple that invoked their recipients to give alms to the poor were issued over the festive period of 932. The ASC forms a fair part of this work, but Foot is happy to look further and find other sources to fill in the blanks, such as coin evidence, inscriptions in donated religious works and foreign sources. Her use of William of Malmesbury is good. She does point out that there is a problem in him often being the only source for some things and doesn't always follow him, especially where (such as with his account of the retaking and fortifying of Exeter) it goes against what we know. However, she does come down on the side of him having access to a now lost work and regards him as very useful for a lot of things, which is reasonable given her appendix entry discussing him. The examination of the three most likely locations for the battle of Brunanburh is interesting, but probably a moot point now that the discoveries near Bromborough have been made. Happily that is her favoured location. The section on court culture is fascinating. Æthelstan was certainly a big fan of poetry.
On the slight downside, it is mildly Wessex centred and has Edward the Elder fortifying Chester in 907 instead of Æthelræd and Æthelflaed, who seem more likely. Her comments about Ælfheah the Bald being so called because of his monastic tonsure, aren't that convincing. There were probably a lot of people with monastic tonsures, so I'm not sure that would be enough to distinguish him from all of the others that were bald for similar reasons, but could be wrong. There are some conflicting dates given for Frithestan and Beornstan as bishops of Winchester, but that's pretty minor. The comments about Sihtric coming to Tamworth in the centre of Æthelstan's territory are perhaps more questionable now that a coin of Sihtric's from the Vale of York hoard, minted at Rorivacastr has been found, IF this is indeed to be identified as Rocester on the Staffs/Derby border. As this would show that Sihtric's writ ran further south than was previously thought and that a meeting at Tamworth would be almost on the border. The chapter on relics was a bit dry, mostly because it felt like a sea of obscure names and places. Saint Paternus? No me, neither.
This is a book that is well worth buying and reading. You almost get a feel for the character of the king.
Three things you'll take away from this work:
1, Beowulf possibly written down, but probably not created during his reign.
2, the law code entry that references only one coin in the realm, along with provisions for shield making and the export of horses, etc, is probably interpolated and belongs to an earlier code from Edward the Elder's reign. It sits between parts of the Grately code, rather than being part of them.
3, William of Malmesbury probably did have access to a history now lost.
September 14, 2017
As is the problem with a lot of literature on Anglo-Saxon kings, writing that could be described as biographical is few and far between, Æthelstan being a prime example of that. In modern times all pre-conquest kings tend to be overshadowed by Alfred the Great - and this is something that Foot tries to rectify. She is successful in uncovering something of a real person from among the various sources that exist, creating an image of a man with interests, passions, love and obsessions. However, she remains careful throughout to provide evidence for everything she says, making the portrait she creates all the more believable. If anything Foot is too sympathetic to Æthelstan, and could be accused of playing down the flaws that many past writers have dwelt on, but maybe that's just to balance the scale a little bit. Overall, bias seems minimal and Foot has succeeded in creating a highly learned piece of work.
As for her endeavour to writ a biography, Foot is less successful. In the introduction she states her intention to break down Æthelstan's life into the different spheres in which he existed, from the more intimate spheres of his family and immediate entourage, to the church and finally to war and international politics. However, in doing so Foot fails to produce any sort of coherent narrative, which could be considered a defining feature of a biography. While the book passes seemlessly from one subject to the next, Foot's method doesn't allow for analysis of how the different aspects of Æthelstan's life interconnected, which is relegated to a relatively short final chapter. The analysis in each of the chapters is superb, but the Yale English Kings series was meant to provide a baseline of information for each King, and in some ways Foot's work is a more sophisticated piece. In summary, while Foot makes some excellent points and the book itself is well-written, it fails to a fill in a gap in the market of a biography for Æthelstan, England's first king.
As for her endeavour to writ a biography, Foot is less successful. In the introduction she states her intention to break down Æthelstan's life into the different spheres in which he existed, from the more intimate spheres of his family and immediate entourage, to the church and finally to war and international politics. However, in doing so Foot fails to produce any sort of coherent narrative, which could be considered a defining feature of a biography. While the book passes seemlessly from one subject to the next, Foot's method doesn't allow for analysis of how the different aspects of Æthelstan's life interconnected, which is relegated to a relatively short final chapter. The analysis in each of the chapters is superb, but the Yale English Kings series was meant to provide a baseline of information for each King, and in some ways Foot's work is a more sophisticated piece. In summary, while Foot makes some excellent points and the book itself is well-written, it fails to a fill in a gap in the market of a biography for Æthelstan, England's first king.
October 13, 2021
Author Sarah Foot attempts to give a fuller picture of Athelstan than a biography that travels from the subject's birth to his death. Instead, her chapters sport these titles: English King?, Family, Court, Church, Kingdom, War, Death, British Monarch. Foot explains that her organization is based on the fact that little evidence exists about Athelstan.
Well, a straight narrative biography would have been a far better way to organize her material, however scant it is. Instead, Foot keeps footnoting other parts of the book and has to rehash or skim over subjects with which she has already dealt or will discuss in detail later on. Her organization further frustrates anyone who wants to search for specific people, events, or issues during Athelstan's life.
A second major problem is Foot's writing style. She uses negative sentence construction to emphasize that actually the positive situation existed. Also, her constant qualification of statements -- which she has already explained lack proof -- makes for exhausting reading.
These problems are a shame because Athelstan deserves attention. I've read some of the reviews below, and readers seek information on the first king who ruled all of Britain. I feel sorry for the folks who picked up this biography because of Bernard Cornwall's stories or because they wanted to explore 10th century British kingship. Clearly, the market exists for a decent biography of Athelstan.
Well, a straight narrative biography would have been a far better way to organize her material, however scant it is. Instead, Foot keeps footnoting other parts of the book and has to rehash or skim over subjects with which she has already dealt or will discuss in detail later on. Her organization further frustrates anyone who wants to search for specific people, events, or issues during Athelstan's life.
A second major problem is Foot's writing style. She uses negative sentence construction to emphasize that actually the positive situation existed. Also, her constant qualification of statements -- which she has already explained lack proof -- makes for exhausting reading.
These problems are a shame because Athelstan deserves attention. I've read some of the reviews below, and readers seek information on the first king who ruled all of Britain. I feel sorry for the folks who picked up this biography because of Bernard Cornwall's stories or because they wanted to explore 10th century British kingship. Clearly, the market exists for a decent biography of Athelstan.
September 23, 2018
This book is incredibly well researched, and everything Sarah Foot says is thoroughly proven and explained. When she is unsure about something, which is quite common when you are researching anything from the 10th century, she gives the background about her assumptions and ideas from both contemporary and medieval historians. I loved how she never seemed to exaggerate, and she was okay with admitting we don't have the answers to a lot of things surrounding Æthelstan's life.
I also appreciated how she set up the chapters. Instead of going through Æthelstan's life chronologically, she goes through his life based on topic, including family life, religion, battle, etc. My favourite section was the one around saint cults and relic collecting; I had no idea how much a saint's decaying arm was actually worth. (Gross. Weird. Oh, and cool.) I also particularly loved it when she cleverly threw shade at other historians, (like John Maddicott, whom I love, but put me to sleep with his obsession of the symbolism of the crown in The Origins of the English Parliament, 924-1327.) Thanks for not doing that to me, Sarah Foot.
The reason I did not give this 5/5 is because her tone was rather inconsistent. Some of her chapters were dryer than most dissertations I have read, while other chapters were written in a very conversational style.
I also appreciated how she set up the chapters. Instead of going through Æthelstan's life chronologically, she goes through his life based on topic, including family life, religion, battle, etc. My favourite section was the one around saint cults and relic collecting; I had no idea how much a saint's decaying arm was actually worth. (Gross. Weird. Oh, and cool.) I also particularly loved it when she cleverly threw shade at other historians, (like John Maddicott, whom I love, but put me to sleep with his obsession of the symbolism of the crown in The Origins of the English Parliament, 924-1327.) Thanks for not doing that to me, Sarah Foot.
The reason I did not give this 5/5 is because her tone was rather inconsistent. Some of her chapters were dryer than most dissertations I have read, while other chapters were written in a very conversational style.
January 8, 2021
Sarah Foot, in her Athelstan: The First King of England manifests an awe-inspiring mastery of primary & secondary sources related to the reign of Athelstan. Not surprising for a 10th century figure, firm facts are few for Athelstan. Nevertheless, Foot has carefully parsed and appraised such sources as exist and has created as reasonable a portrait of this important king as we are ever likely to get. Given the fragmentary historical record, I appreciate Foot’s topical approach in contrast to a traditional chronologic narrative. I’d like to see this approach applied elsewhere. Athelstan’s life is covered in terms of family, court, church, kingdom, war, etc. This makes sense and yet, it’s still a biography and not a ‘life & times during Athelstan’s reign� kind of narrative. Another aspect of Foot’s approach that I appreciate is the balance she admits for interpretations that differ � even when I disagree. I buy into her conjecture on the location of the battle of Brunanburh, but disagree with her reasoning into the origin of the depictions of Athelstan’s crown. That’s a quibble hardly worth mentioning. Finally, I have to wonder why no one has made a mini-series out of Athelstan’s sending of two of his sisters to Otto in the Saxon court for him to have a choice of either one for a wife.
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September 20, 2021Saxon England is not my field exactly, but I have been re-reading on it and filling in the gaps recently in my collection (the idea of a bio on Edward the Elder or Aethelstan when I last read up on the subject was likely daunting to academics). Very simply, this is a good work that covers Aethelstan's life and legacy by pulling together previous work as well as offering the authors own thoughts on aspects of it. I recommend it, however, with caveats as it depends what you want: Foot acknowledges this is not a biography as such, as so little is known about Aethelstan that you could fit it on the postage stamp never mind the post card (ok, I exaggerate a bit but the excellent discussion on the site of Brunanburh is an example - as nobody knows where such a pivotal battle took place); the second thing is that its target audience is rather for the academic rather than the general reader, but I strongly suggest you give it a go if interested in the period.
July 21, 2021
Sarah Foot is to be congratulated. A brilliant & outstanding book
You do not need to be an academic, or even an expert in Anglo Saxon history to appreciate what Foot has achieved here. A biography that clearly describes a monarch (absolutely) on her own terms. She sought, as far as is possible ,to search for and find the person behind the forgotten name of Aethelstan. She succeeded for me.
I also enjoyed her humorous asides ,and given I judge non fiction writers ( especially academic ones) on their ability to be themselves ( rather than play to their respective galleries . preening like peacocks) Foot gets full marks.
I cannot recommend this book highly enough, not it's author. I enjoyed every narrative page and so to you Sarah Foot from Sheffield I give you a round of 👏👏👏👏👏👏
You do not need to be an academic, or even an expert in Anglo Saxon history to appreciate what Foot has achieved here. A biography that clearly describes a monarch (absolutely) on her own terms. She sought, as far as is possible ,to search for and find the person behind the forgotten name of Aethelstan. She succeeded for me.
I also enjoyed her humorous asides ,and given I judge non fiction writers ( especially academic ones) on their ability to be themselves ( rather than play to their respective galleries . preening like peacocks) Foot gets full marks.
I cannot recommend this book highly enough, not it's author. I enjoyed every narrative page and so to you Sarah Foot from Sheffield I give you a round of 👏👏👏👏👏👏
June 29, 2020
I thought this was a pretty fascinating thematic biography of Aethelstan. Foot's main argument is that Aethelstan was more influential and accomplished than he is given credit for, and he should be remembered as the first monarch to rule over a united England. I think Foot makes her case: in his time Aethelstan was an accomplished, well-regarded king who had a huge influence on the development of England. And yet today he is largely forgotten -- partly because he had no heirs, partly because his story was less useful than that of other kings to the monks who preserved much of medieval English history, partly because posterity is fickle. This book partly brings him back to life and memory, and partly serves as a take on Ozymandias in the form of a biography.
January 5, 2022
An exhaustively researched scholarly biography about the first Anglo-Saxon king to unite what is now England and be known as "rex anglorum." My favorite chapter concerned Athelstan's family. He never married or fathered known children but his eight (possibly nine) sisters married into European royal houses or assumed leadership roles in convents, expanding the ruling house's sphere of influence though diplomacy and religious patronage. There is also a fascinating conclusion about how the once well known Athelstan was eclipsed by his grandfather Alfred the Great in the popular imagination and remains little known today despite his military victories.
October 24, 2022
Excellent thematic rather than chronological biography of one of our least known & most underrated Kings. Æthelstan deserves so much better & this biography succeeds in so many ways in giving his reputation a much deserved boost. He was the first King of England indeed it could be argued the first of the British Isles. He died in 939 childless. He never married. He was deeply religious & scholarly. He was also a proper warrior King winning one the greatest & most consequential battles ever fought on these islands at Brunanburh (possibly modern day Bromborough). Want to know more? There are facets to this man's story that Sarah Foot uncovers in this excellent biographical treatment.
October 13, 2019
There is a lot in this book I didn't previously know and I also found it very readable. The author discusses the problems of writing about a king from long ago about whom there is very little known compared with others, but demonstrates extremely well how much can be gleaned about the king from the evidence of what he did. I enjoyed the way the material was arranged.
It's a great shame Athelstan is comparatively so little known, but this book goes a very long way to put us back in touch with him. Very interesting to hear how he appears to have managed kingship in his own way.
It's a great shame Athelstan is comparatively so little known, but this book goes a very long way to put us back in touch with him. Very interesting to hear how he appears to have managed kingship in his own way.
May 5, 2024
[15 Jul 2015] I was drawn to this as Athelstan was the first King who first publicly (in documentary evidence) declared that Cornwall was a separate political entity to England and although he claimed over-lordship of it, he recognised that England's territory ended at the east bank of the Tamar. This book gives a good overview of his live and times, although it could not be described as for the general reader. It is written in a traditional slightly academic style, but if you need to understand more about him or this period in British history it will deliver.
January 27, 2020
Excellent book about one of the greatest, yet least remembered, kings in English history. This book definitely requires at least some passing interest in Saxon history, and the realisation that a lot of our understanding of that period comes from piecing together very small scraps of information from a handful of surviving documents. In a way, that's part of the magic - taking such limited clues as a charter here, a bill there, and turning it into an engaging narrative.
April 15, 2022
A detailed and well argued overview of the reign of AEthelstan, an Anlgo-Saxon king that should be more widely known and admired for his acheivements, and for his place as the first true king of England. I'm not sure I'm entirely convinced by Foot's argument that she has written a biography of the man, rather than a survey of the reign - though where possible she does attempt to suggest where historians can detect AEthelstans personality.
September 22, 2020
By the authors own admission its difficult the do a biography of such a shadowy character. You have to rely on events around the main character. Having said that although its a little bit of a slog to get through perseverance is the key. A little too scholarly.
April 9, 2025
Very enjoyable read about what we know and some of what we don't do much about Athelstan, the first king of England. There were some pasta that I did not find as interesting but that's a personal thing. This is likely a must read for anyone interested in the person in the title!
June 26, 2017
interesting
September 7, 2017
As blade runner has it , the light that burns shortest burns brightest and you have burned so very very brightly .... good account of a short but important reign .
November 26, 2017
Seems exceptionally well researched but still you don't get much of the story of the man or the times
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