Murder in Anglo-Saxon England - by Annie Whitehead (Hardcover)

About the Book

'The raiding army became much stirred up against the bishop, because he did not want to offer them any money... They pelted him there with bones and the heads of cattle.'

Book Synopsis

The records pertaining to the Anglo-Saxon period contain many stories of murder, particularly regicide, many of which include details of witchcraft and poisoning, or of betrayal of the worst kind, leaving us with the impression that this period was one of lawlessness and rebellion. But how many of these tales are true, and how do they square with a period known to have had lengthy, detailed law codes and harsh punishment for unlawful killing? Putting these stories together in one volume allows for the analysis of each tale in its historical context and allows for the examination of the sources, filtering out the bias, and leading to a greater understanding of the period so erroneously labelled the Dark Ages. That said, while not a lawless period, it was one of violence, as the murder of Archbishop Aelfheah described above left, pelted to death by Cnut's drunken army, attests. Several eleventh-century murders are attributed to the 'most evil man in English history', Eadric Streona. Was the 'Viking' practice of killing by blood eagle, with reference to King Aelle of Northumbria, an alleged victim, a myth or real?

Review Quotes

'A casebook of a hundred cases of slaughter that strikes themes of Justice, wergild and revenge is the author's latest offering as she sat down in discussion with Paul Bernardi. As a lover of all things pre-conquest, it was a must-have for me, and let's just say, I wasn't disappointed.'--Paul Bernardi, Aspects of History Magazine, June 2025

'This book is a rewarding and informative read for anyone interested in early English history, crime and punishment, or the roots of justice.'--History Roadshow, May 2025

'When I saw this book was coming out, I had to buy and read it!'--Elizabeth Springer Author Blog, March 2025

'Annie Whitehead does an excellent job of navigating the wealth of myths and legends in search of historical evidence to find what we can learn about Anglo-Saxon values and society. I've learned more than I expected from this highly readable new book, and like how Annie Whitehead's passion for the subject shines through. Highly recommended.'--The Writing Desk, February 2025

'I found this book extremely informative and easy to follow. Whitehead does it again and makes the world of Anglo-Saxon England come alive with her extensive research and her writing style. I may be a novice to the Anglo-Saxon period in English history, but it is books like this that make me want to continue to study this era. If you are interested in murder mysteries from the Anglo-Saxon world, I highly recommend you read "Murder in Anglo-Saxon England: Justice, Wergild, Revenge" by Annie Whitehead.'--Adventures of a Tudor Nerd, February 2025

'The skilful composition of this book makes a complicated era widely accessible to many, bringing the Middle Ages into technicolour and allowing the reader to feel personally invested in and connected to both our past and our future as a free nation of peoples held together by our common code of Christianity.'--Conservative & Reformer Post, March 2025