An Unofficial 'The Rest Is History' Reading List

554. 1066: The Shadows of War (Part 1)

April 06, 2025

Description

Why is 1066 the most important year in English history? Who were the three main candidates vying for the English throne on the eve of Edward the Confessor’s death? And how did the coronation of...
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Books Referenced

A History of the English-Speaking Peoples

Author: Winston Churchill

Context:

The episode opens with an audio excerpt from this book, read by Churchill himself. The hosts discuss how Churchill wrote parts of it in April 1940 while preparing for potential invasion, drawing parallels to 1066.

The Battle of Hastings

Author: Michael Lawson

Context:

Described as 'the definitive book on the Battle of Hastings itself' with 'amazingly detailed, subtle treatment of all the sources and the evidence.' A quote from Lawson about English military mobilization is cited.

Predatory Kinship: The Creation of Norman Power

Author: Eleanor Searle

Context:

Described as 'a wonderful book' by Tom, who quotes from it regarding the Anglo-Saxons' lack of sophisticated cavalry units and new military technology compared to the Normans.