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Summary: The best telling of the battle at Hastings
Review: The late Mr. Howarth simply did not write an uninteresting book, and this one is probably his best. Howarth had a way of mixing his clever insight with detailed historical accuracy and managed to make it all read like an exciting novel. Of the dozens of recounts of the Battle of Hastings and the events leading to it, this is the most accurate and most enjoyable read.
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Summary: Captures the characters of William and Harold and the impact
Review: This is an excellent and readable book about the 1066 Norman Conquest, covering the characters of Harold and William and the reasons for the Norman Invasion and victory outside Hastings in October 1066. It is fast-paced and shows the small but critical turns in the story. The impact of the Papal support for William is a surpise; giving William men and money, and Harold a fatal blow. The minor characters are well drawn, as well. These characters shape the outcome greatly. I have visited Battle, the scene of the Hastings fight and seen the small area of the battle yard and the place where Harold fell. The ruined Abbey is an historical sight now, build by Williem as penance. This book tells the story just as powerfully as walking there in person. The last aspect that is notable is the description of that age and the impact of the Norman Invasion upon the common man of the day. William's army and followers dominated the people like none before or after. The subtle reasons for this are clearly explained and 1000 year old pain is felt.
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Summary: Very Nice!
Review: Well written and concise narrative of the events leading to and including the Norman Conquest of Britain in 1066. It makes for compelling reading and is well worth the time.
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Summary: An Excellent Work of Popular History
Review: David Howarth's account of the Battle of Hastings provides both a detailed chronicle of the battle and the conquest itself, and valuable insight into English life, culture and government before the Norman conquest. Howarth also discusses at great length the motivations and characters of the chief players involved with the battle. As one reads the book, one seems to come to know Duke William, Edward the Confessor, King Harold, Gyrth, the Earl of Northumbria, and Harald Hardraada. As the battle is fought one can almost hear the clank of metal and the twang of bows. One can almost feel the ground shake at the approach of William's cavalry.
This book succeeds in what many of history books do not; it transports the reader to a distant time and place, and leaves him with a lasting impression, as well as detailed knowlegde of the subject matter.
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Summary: Excellent job. Well-written. Draws you in and keeps you.
Review: Rather than give you a lengthy re-hash of the contents of the book let me tell you that this book is a nifty little history of the events of the fateful year of 1066. All history buffs have trudged through poorly written tomes. There is no danger of that with this book. Horwath's well-researched book is so well-written that it almost reads like a tragic novel.
Bravo! Well done!
Rating: 
Summary: Good history always makes a good story!
Review: I liked this book. The author covers the events preceeding 1066 and the Battle of Hastings, starting with a great introduction that really brings the reader an understanding of the social and politcal structure in England at that time. Much of the writings about this historic year are centered around the wealthy land owners and the ruling class. This introduction gives you a much better understanding of what life was like for the common man...and woman though little written evidence for the life of women seems to be available. Once you are firmly rooted in the world of 11th Century England, the author takes us to the death of King Edward the Confessor and his connection to the Godwin family. Following chapters deal in great detail with the areas and people who are heading toward the collision course that was the year of 1066. I thought the story was well-strung together and the author avoided jumping ahead to the climax of the story and focussed on truly educating the reader on the fine details behind one of the most exciting years in history. I only withhold that last possible star because I personally reserve that for books that I feel are beyond amazing. This is an excellent book - but only 4 stars on my personal scale. You can't go wrong with this book if you like history - good history always makes an interesting story...even when all of the information is factual.
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Summary: A Clear History Of The Conquest
Review: In "1066: The Year Of The Conquest" David Howarth introduces the reader to the world which existed during that pivotal year in the history of England. Howarth does an excellent job in laying the background and explaining how the change of dynasties was effected. The background is seen in terms of an English village, the governmental structure of England and the basis for each claim to the throne. Character studies of both Kings Harold and William enable us to feel as if we know each of them. The explanation of the structure, strengths and weaknesses of each army prepare the reader to follow the excellent narrations of the battles at which the issues were decided. The consequences of this momentous year to all involved, Harold, who was killed, William, who gained the crown of a land he learned to detest, the English nobility, the Normans who supplanted them and the common people of England, whose lives were disrupted forever, blend multiple threads of the book to a unified conclusion.
I often have difficulty in following a book about a portion of history about which I know little. Although I knew little of the environment or events of "1016", I had no such difficulties in this case. Howarth presents "1066" as a such a self contained unit as to make it totally understandable on it's own. This is the mark of a masterful story teller.
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Summary: A Wonderful Chance Encounter
Review: Chances are good if you were raised speaking English you know something significant happened in the year 1066. You may even have heard about the Battle of Hastings and know it had something to do with fellows named Harold and William. Here is your chance to have the whole deal laid out for in one short, sweet and easy to follow book. "1066" focuses on the events of the year, with enough background information to make the events understandable. Details of battles, both political and martial, are well presented but the human side of the major players in the events is not overlooked. Writing as a history buff not a history expert, I say after reading this book I understand the year much better and I enjoyed the time I spent reading this book.
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Summary: A Masterpiece
Review: 1066: The Year of the Conquest is a richly entertaining account of the Battle of Hastings. It starts off after the death of the mildly insane English king, Edward the Confessor, when an earl with no blood relation with the king, Harold, is elected as king by a group of noblemen. A Norman duke, William, believes that he had a better claim to the throne and thus plans to invade England to claim the crown. To add to the chaos, Harold¡¯s half-brother, Tostig, incites another king Harald (¡°Hadrada¡±) to invade England also in pursuit of the crown. The author gives an intriguing view into the mindsets of three related, but vastly different cultures: the English, Norman, and Norse. He draws skillfully upon a variety of primary resources of around that period to provide vivid descriptions and a touch of humanity. However, the book seems to be firmly biased in favor of the English, establishing the confines of the rudimentary parliament far wider than in actuality. It belittles William¡¯s claim to the throne, and thoroughly vilifies the man as an arrogant, war-mongering despot who does not hesitate to manipulate people and even the church for his purposes. The invasion of Hadrada is put off as a silly, presumptuous campaign, spearheaded by a ¡°berserk¡± ruler. In addition, English peasant life is overly idealized, and Harold is glorified¡. However, despite its English prejudices, it is an amusing, captivating book and well worth your time.
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Summary: Succinct & Engaging
Review: Whether or not you have any particular interest in the history of England, this is a worthwhile read. There are certainly many sources for the history of the Norman invasion, within context or without. Howarth's account casts the oft-repeated events of 1066 into a vivid and impressive light. His "fairness" obviously depends on your point of view, but he readiliy admits his prejudices. Any effort to inject life into historical events is bound to be objectively flawed. There is much that we simply cannot know, yet without that knowledge, the events lose their impact and become a tangled mass of cause & effect (unless, of course, you are of the existentialist school, in which case they are meaningless anyway). Howarth defends his sources and interpretation, and does so credibly. And within this selected framework, succeeds in a portrait of Harold, William, England, and the Continent that has all the resonance of current events. I would venture to say that Howarth depicts 1066 as something other than a fait accompli, which is no mean feat for such an famous date.
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