In Search of England: Journeys into the English Past

I don't think you'll find another book on history that is quite like this. It is, more or less, a loosely-connected group of essays that mix the personal with the public, the present with the past, the enduring with the transient. It gives you something of an inside look at what a world-class historian thinks and does. For instance, he may spend a considerable amount of time and effort unsuccessfully trying to be the first modern man to determine the location of the battle of Brunanburh (a very important, but obscure, battle fought by a very important, but obscure, king). This is the sort of thing that wouldn't make it into a typical history book, but is quite fascinating nonetheless.One part I found particularly interesting had to do with the concept of the "Norman Yoke," where a very young Wood finds himself debating Field Marshall Montgomery in the House of Lords! I was once involved in a very similar (if much less impressive) debate with my high school history teacher on the same subject. But I digress...There are a lot of neat bits in this book about Aethelstan, Glastonbury, Robin Hood, Bede the Venerable, etc. Lots of pieces of information that even the well-read may have never seen. It's the sort of book that can never make a best-seller list, but educates you not just about history, but how it is recovered and processed by historians.A neat book, very nicely done - except, perhaps, for a couple of oddly gratuitous swipes at Margaret Thatcher.... 4 1/2 stars

A Michael Wood's book which is a journey through England and its history. Nicely written and entertaining, it is a good book for the casual reader with an interest in English history beginning with the Norman invasion through to the Magna Carta. In between he covers the legends of King Arthur and Robin Hood debunking what needs to be debunked all the while staying true to what makes English history, England.

As an American I am experiencing a cutting sense of loss of cultural companionship as society seems determined to aim for the lowest common denominator in the media. I feel loss as noisy interstates plow through once quiet countryside, as houses in my historic neighborhood fall prey to careless landlords and tenants while homeowners rip up fields and woods for treeless MacMansion estates. Storefronts downtown are empty as franchises line higher traffic roads. I used to think, Oh to be in England where they leave things in place. That's why I bought this book, only to learn Wood is as bereft over his culture as I am about mine. There is much I did not expect in this book; especially, I did not expect the author to walk me through his evaluation processes as he pieces together evidence to show what is left or what we can know about England. He puts the reader to work thinking with him. It was a good exercise, though a bit challenging because Wood was really speaking to an English audience and assumed some knowledge I didn't have (I found a chronological list of monarchs on the Internet and a more detailed map which helped). Wood also reminds us gently, at the end, that as sorry our losses, life and history are evolving, we can't expect to freeze life. So right. So what you get out of this book is perspective and an interesting look at how a historian thinks.

Haven't read it yet but he writes great books so I'm sure this one will be just as interesting as his other books.

Michael Wood's books have real style. It is easy to see how much he enjoys his subject. In this book he combines culture and history in a very enjoyable (and at the same time factual) way. I would recommend this book as well as his others to anyone, especially those who fancy English history. What a treat to enjoy cultural history through his eyes.

A wonderful book full of English life, legends, and history, with the majority focused on early medieval England, my favorite.

Thank you very much.

Michael Wood's book is interesting. My particular reason for buying it was to learn about a woods outside Sheffield that bears the surname of my family. So, I wanted the book for this reason. I will inevitably read the other chapters, but really wanted to know the history of this woods and area to gain more knowledge of where my ancestors came from. Well written and he is a wonderful researcher.