Robert Bartlett’s contribution to the New Oxford History of England series is about a kingdom in transition.  In 1075, England was a newly conquered realm of William of Normandy, who was transforming the sleepy monarchy of the Anglo-Saxons into a powerful feudal state.  A century and a half later, his great-great-great grandson, Henry III, issued a modified Magna Charta that served as the foundation of English common law, establishing the right of the English aristocracy against the king.  How this evolution took place forms just one aspect of this exceptional book, which addresses nearly every aspect of England’s politics, culture, and society during this period.

In doing this, Bartlett adopts an analytical rather than narrative approach.  Events are studied within the context of the broader patterns and developments of the era.  This makes for a more challenging read but also a much more rewarding one, with insights contained on every page.  Readers unfamiliar with the period should start with a survey such as David Carpenter’s The Struggle for Mastery, but even knowledgeable students of the period will learn much from Bartlett’s clear writing and perceptive analysis.

Morris has given us a thorough yet readable explanation of events surrounding the Norman Conquest with this well-researched work. With a detailed look at the years leading up to William's invasion through the ascendancy of Henry II, the reader is made aware of each nuance of English life that was affected by the arrival of the Normans.

Morris has a brilliant style of writing that takes into account a variety of theories and tends not to more forcefully press with one than the evidence supports. He manages a huge cast of vivid characters and masterfully weaves their stories together. Rather than claiming that he can solve for questions, like who Edward really intended to have inherit his crown, Morris presents related theories and admits that there is no way for us to know for sure.

Looking into consequences that reach far beyond Hastings, this narrative explains the years of rebellions and setbacks that William was forced to cope with and explores how the shifting of power caused sweeping changes that are noted in everyday life, down to the language that was spoken.

I admit that most of my knowledge of this period has previously come through historical fiction and some random fact checking. This more thorough study enabled me to see, for the first time, some interesting comparisons and contrasts between William's arrival in England and Henry Tudor's. Though Morris does not make any parallel observations, some of the connections in my own mind were thought provoking. Where William was fought against for years, Henry was (more or less) welcomed. Both Richard III and Harold had questionable rights to the throne....anyway, I could go on, but that is not really the subject of this particular work. Morris does note the differences between earlier take-overs, such as Cnut's, and William's. I found it all rather intriguing.

A wonderful study of the reasons for and results of the Norman Conquest, I would recommend this book to anyone who would like to dig deeper into this era of history.