The History of the Anglo-Saxons The History of the Anglo-Saxons 4 Volume Set Series

Sharon Turner (1768?1847) practised as a solicitor in London, specialising in the law of copyright, but devoted his free time to studying Anglo-Saxon literature and history. In 1799?1805 he published this four-volume work, still acknowledged as a turning point in Anglo-Saxon studies and a benchmark in historiography. Turner was elected a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries in 1800, soon after the first volume appeared. His approach of contrasting 'Anglo-Saxon freedom' with 'the Norman yoke' held particular appeal at a time of deteriorating political relations with France. Turner's lasting achievement, however, was to draw public attention to the rich and fascinating material contained in the Anglo-Saxon manuscripts he had studied at the British Museum. This work went through many editions, but was eventually superseded by Kemble's The Saxons in England (1849, also reissued). Volume 1 (1799) covers Anglo-Saxon history up to the death of Egbert, King of Wessex, in 839.

Preface; Part I: 1 The origin of the Saxons; 2. Description of the country inhabited by the Saxons; 3. Circumstances favourable to the increase of the Saxon power; 4. The application of the Saxons to maritime expeditions; 5. The league of the Saxons with other states; 6. Their general character; 7. Sequel to their history to the period of the English invasion; 8. The history of Britain from the death of Maximus in 388 to the arrival of the Saxons in 449; 9. The period between the departure of the Romans and the invasion of the Saxons; Part II: 1. The arrival of Hengist; 2. The peoples that established themselves in Britain; 3. On the existing works of the British bards; 4. The conflicts between the Britons and the Anglo-Saxons; 5. Arthur, as he appears in tradition; 6. The history of the Anglo-Saxon octarchy to the victory of Oswald over Cadwallon; 7. Continuation of the history of the octarchy to the death of Ina; 8. The history of the octarchy from the death of Ina to the ascension of Egbert; 9. A view of the state of Europe at the accession of Egbert; 10. The reign of Egbert.