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The Normans

From Raiders to Kings

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About this listen

There is much more to the Norman story than the Battle of Hastings. These descendants of the Vikings who settled in France, England, and Italy - but were not strictly French, English, or Italian - played a large role in creating the modern world. They were the success story of the Middle Ages: a footloose band of individual adventurers who transformed the face of medieval Europe. During the course of two centuries, they launched a series of extraordinary conquests, carving out kingdoms from the North Sea to the North African coast.

In The Normans, Lars Brownworth follows their story, from the first shock of a Viking raid on an Irish monastery to the exile of the last Norman Prince of Antioch. In the process, he brings to vivid life the Norman tapestry's rich cast of characters: figures like Rollo the Walker, William Iron-Arm, Tancred the Monkey King, and Robert Guiscard. The Normans presents a fascinating glimpse of a time when a group of restless adventurers had the world at their fingertips.

©2014 Lars Brownworth (P)2014 Tantor Europe Expeditions & Discoveries Medieval World Middle Ages Royalty Italy Viking Adventure Africa Crusade

Critic reviews

"Lars Brownworth's The Normans is like a gallop through the Middle Ages on a fast warhorse. It is rare to find an author who takes on a subject so broad and so complex, while delivering a book that is both fast-paced and readable." (Bill Yenne, author of Julius Caesar)
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Once again American pronunciation of places and names are painful to the ears. Otherwise, i enjoyed the book.

Good history

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Not bad expected more, you are just as well listening to the free podcast. That said, still worth a listen.

Not bad

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Enjoyable and entertaining. Learned more beyond just Rollo and William the Conquerer . A short but, exceptional existence.

Highly enjoyable

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Absolutely brilliant book on the history of the Norman’s with some surprising facts top listen

Very interesting

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This is the only work I can find covering the Normans in Europe. Lors is an American historian and covers the period from outside Europe : he points out the most advanced society was more likely the Middle East caliphates. But equally he says somethings I know to be wrong: eg longboats had no keels!?. At several points in the book I found myself sceptical of what I was hearing.
Having said that being English Iam well aware of the Norman influence in England but not what they achieved in Europe even prior to 1066. This book goes a long way to answer that.

Superficial in too many ways but only choice for the Normans.

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