«'Students and scholars have been crying out for a well-informed and enticing history of early medieval Britain, which treats the whole island rather than selected parts of it. Rory Naismith has given us precisely that. He has also produced a significant work of scholarship, for this is a wonderfully rich book, which is written with confident command of a diverse array of sources and contains many new insights as well as a lucid survey. Anyone reading it should emerge not only confidently equipped but also inspired to explore the period further.' Stephen Baxter, University of Oxford»

«'The design and layout of the book are extremely good: it is attractive and easy to handle, with well-chosen and intelligently placed pictures.' John Blair, Speculum»

«'This timely and refreshing textbook will challenge students' assumptions about 'Dark-Age' Britain. Eschewing the well-worn narratives that search for the national origins of England, Scotland and Wales, Rory Naismith makes a compelling case for adopting a much more holistic approach to the study of British history and taking the early medieval period on its own terms.' Edward Roberts, University of Kent»

«'Rory Naismith adopts a refreshingly new approach to the study of early medieval Britain, which takes into account its political and cultural plurality, while also placing it in a wider European context. Comprehensive, accessible and up-to-date with the most recent historiographical developments, it will easily become a classic.' Francesca Tinti, University of the Basque Country»

«'Up-to-date and judiciously argued, Rory Naismith's book with its excellent illustrations, text boxes addressing detailed evidence, timelines and discussion points is an ideal teaching tool. Covering the whole of Britain, sensible to internal differences and divisions, and attentive to the local and particular alongside major developments, this is also an important new history of these early centuries.' Pauline Stafford, University of Liverpool»