The First Kingdom

Britain in the age of Arthur

By: Max Adams

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Paperback | 1 February 2022

At a Glance

Paperback
480 Pages

Dimensions(cm)
3.4 x 13 x 19.7

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The bestselling author of The King in the North turns his attention to the obscure era of British history known as 'the age of Arthur'.

'Not just a valuable book, but a distinctive one as well' Tom Holland, Sunday Times

'An accessible and illuminating book' Gerard de Groot, The Times

'A fascinating picture of Britain's new-found independence' This England

Somewhere between the departure of the Roman legions in the early fifth century and the arrival of Augustine's Christian mission at the end of the sixth, the kingdoms of Early Medieval Britain were formed. But by whom? And out of what?

The First Kingdom is a skilfully wrought investigation of this mysterious epoch, synthesizing archaeological research carried out over the last forty years to tease out reality from the myth. Max Adams presents an image of post-Roman Britain whose resolution is high enough to show the emergence of distinct political structures in the sixth century – polities that survive long enough to be embedded in the medieval landscape, recorded in the lines of river, road and watershed, and memorialized in place names.

About the Author

Max Adams is a writer, archaeologist and woodsman whose work explores themes of landscape, knowledge and human connectedness with the earth. He is the author of Admiral Collingwood, Aelfred's Britain, Trees of Life, the bestselling The King in the North, In the Land of Giants and The First Kingdom. He has lived and worked in the North East of England since 1993.

Industry Reviews

'Not just a valuable book, but a distinctive one as well'
Tom Holland, Sunday Times

'An engagingly written exploration of these 'fragments', synthesising archaeological and historical research from the last four decades, and applying a critical eye to traditional narratives passed down by medieval chroniclers and later accounts'
Current World Archaeology

'A remarkable tapestry in which are woven the diverse threads of archaeology, topography, folklore, linguistics, and culture to create a panorama of Early Medieval Britain and its place in the context of European history'
Seán Beattie, Donegal Annual

'A worthy synthesis of what little we know'
Gerard de Groot, The Times

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