The History of the English People, 1000-1154: Henry of Huntingdon (Oxford World's Classics)

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Source Material
Review: What surprised me most about reading this was how accessible the book was. I was expecting it to be as dry as the original parchment that it was written on. Instead, it narrative reads more or less like any other history, and I mean that as a compliment. It is apparent that translator Diana Greenway and and the Oxford University Press have bent over backwards to make the text inclusive and unpretentious. The first part of the book has a wonderful introduction, setting the stage of what England was like during the time "History" was written. Including the state of the church and the politics surronding it at that time. It also provides how the book was written and the best way to approach the style of the text. And then of course it gives an interesting look into life of the author itself. This volume also includes a selected bibliography, genealogical tables, as well as a glossary.

The book itself is a fascinating account, starting with the Aethelred's second marrage to his Norman wife Emma and ending with the coronation of Henry II. The pace is brisk and he likes to move things along. One particular aspect of the narrative that I enjoyed was his use of biblical verses used to reflect what he was talking about. I'm not a religious man, but of course Henry was and his broad use of "verse dropping" ranges from clever puns to very profound. And the "eyewitness" factor of Henry I and Stephens reign should be catnip to the history buff.

My only severe complaint about this book was the explanatory notes. Normally footnotes are at the bottom of the page or in back of the book. In this case it's the latter which is fine. However be warned that the notes are not numbered. While reading you will see a simple asterisk. The notes are divided by chapter in the back of the book and it's very frustrating trying to hunt down an explanation when the note list on that chapter is over two pages long and you don't have a "number" to that note to go to.
Aside from that complaint everything else about this outstanding. So armchair historians can relax. This is a comprehensive and accessible offering. A definite must have.