A New History of 1066: Erin Goeres for Nineteen Days in Autumn
Tuesday 13th October, 7pm
The Royal Scots Club, 29-31 Abercromby Pl, Edinburgh EH3 6QE
6.30pm
7pm
For the first time in 1000 years, the Bayeux Tapestry is returning to the UK. When better to welcome the magnficent Erin Goeres for her new book, Nineteen Days in Autumn. Erin is Associate Professor in Scandinavian Studies at UCL, and an expert on medieval history. It's sure to make a fascinating evening.
We hope to see you there!
On 5 January 1066, Edward the Confessor's death plunged England into a succession crisis that would change the kingdom forever. Mere hours after Edward's remains had been laid to rest, his brother-in-law Harold II seized power, inciting the wrath of two formidable challengers: King Haraldr Sigurdarson of Norway and Edward's ambitious cousin, William, Duke of Normandy.
In this startling new history, Dr Erin Goeres unveils the intense drama that unfolded, culminating in the tumultuous nineteen days between the battles of Stamford Bridge and Hastings in the autumn of 1066 - the decisive event that ended Anglo-Scandinavian rule, secured the Norman Conquest and transformed medieval England.
Drawing together sources from the three regions at the heart of the fray - England, Normandy and Scandinavia - Goeres uncovers the complex histories, characters and motivations that shaped one of the most defining moments in British and European history. We discover the stories of Tostig Godwinson, Harold II's estranged brother; of William the Conqueror's enigmatic wife, Matilda of Flanders, alleged lover of Harold of England; and we meet the regular people swept up in events beyond their control, such as an English farmer beheaded for his unwillingness to give up his fur-lined coat to a Norwegian invader.
Rich in new research and vivid storytelling, Nineteen Days in Autumn reveals the gripping tale of three nations entwined and the enthralling yet devastating consequences of their unravelling.