What does this mean?Pros & Cons
Pros
The author's style is very readable and comprehensible. The biographical details were gripping. Each chapter follows one colorful character and traces the line of descent.
The from raiders to kings is an extremely readable and approachable popular history of the normans. Read this after reading about the vikings. The book covers thenormans in england, constantinople and sicily. It is this review of the creation and norm... Read More
Brownworth covers the history of the normans in sicily and southern italy. Brownworth briefly covers the success of bohemond in establishing the principality of antioch. Bohemond's direct descendent ruled the city until 1268.
Powerful individuals can create a nexus which bends the course of events around their wills and desires. Real history is painful and fascinating.
Cons
The book is full of over-simplifications and inaccuracies. It also includes a number of plain mistakes which made me wonder whether, and to what extent, the author had researched his topic. One is that the author has in many cases “cut corners” and pr... Read More
There is next to nothing about the principality of antioch after the life and death of bohemond, and just about nothing on tancred, his nephew. Another inaccuracy and a * exaggeration which is made for dramatic effect is the statement according to whi... Read More
Highlights
Quality
As so many have already posted favorable reviews i need only post my five stars here with the comment that i endorse the best o... Read More
“he attempted a ferocious assault against the section of walls that bohemond was defending and was only beaten back with the gr... Read More
” this is one of numerous examples that could be improved by in this case placing only before “with the greatest of difficulty
The normans did not rule a petty state their economic and military strength led the major powers of the time to seek to interma... Read More
Packaging/appearance
Which i loved i picked up this book on the normans
Competitiveness
Fascinating how much they influenced the modern world
In addition one learns the context of competing powers contemporary with normans in the westcentral mediterranean
Overview
- How are reviewers describing this item?
norman, southern, great, first and good. - Our engine has profiled the reviewer patterns and has determined that there is minimal deception involved.
- Our engine has determined that the review content quality is high and informative.
- Our engine has discovered that over 90% high quality reviews are present.
- This product had a total of 976 reviews as of our last analysis date on Aug 3 2023.
Helpful InsightsBETA
Posted by a reviewer on Amazon
Though this is a rather short popular history mr
Posted by a reviewer on Amazon
It would have been helpful to have a method of distinguishing the different kings dukes conquerors etc
Posted by a reviewer on Amazon
The author did mention a few notable women but primarily the text read “wife of” “mother of” “daughter of” “third wife” and so on
Posted by a reviewer on Amazon
It seems that it was due to only a few generations of normans who quickly transformed themselves from raiders to rulers
Posted by a reviewer on Amazon
This a fascinating book far too complicated and detailed to digest in one reading
Posted by a reviewer on Amazon
Note i received a free copy of this book in return for an honest review
Posted by a reviewer on Amazon
As i found on reading his history of thevikings it was too brief
Posted by a reviewer on Amazon
I would have preferred more depth
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