The Anglo-Saxon World Book

Reading this book has been a lengthy business, because I keep returning to read passages and pieces that have become favourites within this lovely book; especially "The Ruin". Hence it's been a difficult book to 'finish'.

I'm not so much as a one-time student of Anglo-Saxon, let alone an experienced academic in the subject. However, I do like the way that Crossley-Holland comes over as such a genuine and talented enthusiast. His website, does nothing to dispel my appreciative thanks to him that his work has increased the scope of my knowledge of that period.

How very deeply astounded the Anglo-Saxons must have been to arrive in England, to be confronted by the literally massive evidence of an utterly decayed once-great (Roman) civilisation. In Crossley-Holland's translation of "The Ruin", I could visualise not only the patterns of lichens, but the very land-heave caused by the growth of weeds and larger vegetation. Was C.S. Lewis inspired by "The Ruin" when he sat down to write "Prince Caspian", I wonder? Crossley-Holland's translation of Beowulf left me pondering how uncommon it now is for people to come together to listen to a storyteller, maintaining shared 'knowledge', defining a community. Anonymity (whether real or believed) and use of modern computers fragments our society into so very many different communities. Perhaps over-population plays a part, too?

My education in British history began with the Norman Invasion in 1066. Crossley-Holland says, "…I hope only that it will prompt those who start on it to continue the journey and look further for themselves." Well, with me, he's certainly succeeding in his aim. The Anglo-Saxon world (this is about more than England) had been almost as dark as the blackout curtain hanging over the earlier British period of 'King Arthur' and the 'Dark Ages' (terms that Crossley-Holland has no need to use because they're irrelevant in this book). Now my knowledge and appreciation of the roots, battle skills and culture of the Anglo-Saxon invaders and settlers of our land has been greatly enhanced. One feels oddly slightly more European for it, too!