Harold: The Last Anglo-Saxon King

Until now, King Harold Godwineson’s claim to fame was that he was shot through the eye with an arrow and died at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. Known mainly for this defeat, his true status and achievements have been overshadowed. Ian Walker contends that Harold deserves to be remembered as one of England’s greatest rulers and sets out to correct his distorted image. Harold: The Last Anglo-Saxon King offers the first full-length critical study of his career in the years leading up to 1066. Walker reveals the distortions in the divergent ‘English’ and ‘Norman’ accounts available, allowing the reader a realistic assessment of Harold and his rival William and in the process enhancing our view of both.