Harold and William: The Battle for England, A.D. 1064-1066

The fundamental event in British history is the Norman Conquest, when William, Duke of Normandy defeated Harold, Earl of Wessex, and took over England. In “Harold and William,” historian Patterson presents an evenhanded look at the relationship between the two leaders. Patterson presents the Conquest, and the years leading up to it, from both the Norman and the Saxon points of view. He also assess the skills of both-as rulers and as warriors-and offers a new look at the still-debated politics of succession in which both men claimed to be rightful heirs to Edward the Confessor’s throne. According to Patterson, one man was the rightful heir, and the other was the better choice.