Rating: 
Summary: Great History Lesson
Review: After reading this book, the one thing that amazes me is how the author could have fit all that information into such a short book! This is history at its best, as I believe another reviewer said. Concise, well written and extremely readable and interesting. William the Conqueror and King Harold come to life in this book, and Howarth details the background of the Norman invasion. The difference between the English culture and the Norman culture, why William thought he was the rightful heir, the psychology of Harold, particularly at the Battle of Hastings. If you are at all interested in this period of British history, this book is a great place to start!
Rating:
Summary: A fabulous book!
Review: This book is, in a word, wonderful. Some people have criticized the author for not being scholarly enough, but as he himself says in the book, this book was not written for that purpose. He's telling the story of 1066 and the Norman Conquest, and he does a darn good job. I myself get bored when I read so-called scholarly books that drum out the facts in a ho-hum fashion. I much prefer Howarth's friendly approach, and I greatly appreciate his opinions. It is up to the reader whether to agree with him or not. I for one also feel that had I been alive at the time, I too would have like Harold, disliked King Edward, and been terrified of William. I suggest you read and buy this book!
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Summary: Evil over Good
Review: I have read this book several times and although it is not a scholarly book it is a enjoyable read. When it first came out some reviewers got rather upset over the books treatment of William. It is amazing to me that the story of Edward's alleged offering of the throne to William is taken seriously. It is plain nonsense. To review the facts. 1, Edward had neither the right nor the power to dispose of the English throne in this fashion without the express consent of the Witan. 2, A few years after he allegedly made this offer he invited back to England a Son of Edmund "Ironside" and began to groom him as his heir. After this mans death his son Edgar was being groomed and would probably have succeeded Edward if he had been of age. As it is Edgar was crowned after Harold's death at Hastings. The whole story of Harold's "Oath" is also a lot of Bull. Even if it is true, given the circumstances it was not binding and in fact being clearly coerced worthless in any sense. William was a winner and as such historians have spent centuries praising him while ignoring the disasterous effects of the conquest on the English people for the generation unfortunate enough to be conquered. There seems little doubt that the conquest both devasted England, diminished and impovrished the population. To say nothing of cultural damage. But then we know that the Conquest was a good thing because of long term benefits. So I guess it is alright to sacrifice past generations for our benefit?This book is a reminder that the fact something happened doesn't mean that it was right or good. It is a pity that historians frequently forget that.
Rating:
Summary: A short, fantastic read
Review: After I spent 3 days in Normandy in France in May 2000, I was intrigued with the history of the region, particularly after seeing the captivating Bayeux Tapestry (which details the events of 1066, though a work of propaganda). I found this book here at Amazon, and it was a fun and exciting read. The author is very personable and creates vivid imagery and characters, and while at times seems slightly biased towards the English (being English himself) it's fairly even-handed throughout. Excellent research. I will never forget Harald the Viking! A light read and an educational one.
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Summary: Learning is fun
Review: I read for entertainment and for information, and when the two are combined it is a true joy. This is a very "user-friendly" book, written in a lively and engaging style. The author describes the background situation, the lives of the ordinary and extraordinary people, and weaves the events into the total tapestry. Tell your friends about this book.
Rating:
Summary: A very good read...
Review: I have read this book for sheer pleasure at least four times since I came across it a few years ago. David Howarth writes extremely well and does an excellent job of engaging the reader in the times, the events, and the characters, making the presented facts much more memorable than they would be in a "scholarly" work. I would recommend this book to anyone as a valuable introduction to the history of the Norman Conquest, or just as an enjoyable book.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Historic Read
Review: I really enjoyed this book, having read it twice. Howarth presents his arguments clearly and doesn't waste a lot of time making his points. I particularly liked the way he described life in England at the time, thus giving you the "man in the street's" perspective. His sympathy for the English is understandable and justified, after all, they were the victims of an invasion, had a good king leading them and, as Howarth makes clear, ultimately lost due to sheer bad luck and the deviousness of Duke William. I highly recommend this book. It would also make a great movie and I can only hope some enterprising film maker decides likewise.
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Summary: A great guideline for any history author.
Review: Right from the beginning, Howarth warns us of the dangers of historians who bias there writings, especially if they happen to have their ancestry rooted in the subject matter. Howarth has also devoted a considerable part of his life to studying this era, and these two strong points make up a fantastic historical work. He has really sifted through the information out there to come up with one of the finest historical books ever written. History is only as good as the people who wrote it, and the farther we go back in time, the more this information can change or have a biased spin. Howarth is a true historian and any student of history should read this work and appreciate the effort and style.
Rating: 
Summary: A boring read for kids , informative read for adults
Review: i was given this book to read by my teacher , and i couldnt read more than 5 pages at a time , its too much of an overload. its gives too much information that isnt needed , i think its a okay book because it is well written but it really dissapointed me on how truely boring it was too read , i suggest that older people read this not younger kids , if you dont believe me , youll find out before the 2nd page.
Rating: 
Summary: A simple book
Review: The work is historically accurate and presented in an uncomplicated and gentle style. Howarth, however, is an unskilled writer and certainly not an erudite. He somewhat inelegantly presents major historical events in a storybook fashion to keep the reader interested, and writes at a level, while accessible to younger children, is unnecessarily patronizing (e.g. parenthetically adding that Harald Hardrada's first name is spelled with two 'a's' is rather foolish). Howarth needs to improve his writing proficiency and avoid the temptation to insert his own voice into the story, especially to refer back to his other works. Despite these criticisms, this is a good book for anyone aged 14-20 years who is seeking an introduction to some of the events surrounding the Norman invasion of England.
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