The History of the Anglo-Saxons (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781108082020)

Sharon Turner (1768-1847) practised as a solicitor in London, specialising in the law of copyright, but devoted his free time to studying Anglo-Saxon literature and history. In 1799-1805 he published this four-volume work, still acknowledged as a turning point in Anglo-Saxon studies and a benchmark in historiography. Turner was elected a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries in 1800, soon after the first volume appeared. His approach of contrasting 'Anglo-Saxon freedom' with 'the Norman yoke' held particular appeal at a time of deteriorating political relations with France. Turner's lasting achievement, however, was to draw public attention to the rich and fascinating material contained in the Anglo-Saxon manuscripts he had studied at the British Museum. This work went through many editions, but was eventually superseded by Kemble's The Saxons in England (1849, also reissued). Volume 2 (1801) covers the period from 839 to the death of King Alfred in 899.

Author: Sharon Turner
ISBN-10: 1108082025
ISBN-13: 9781108082020
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Language: English
Published: 03/15/2018
Pages: 430
Format: Paperback
Weight: 1.20lbs
Size: 8.50h x 5.50w x 0.96d