THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERA clever lively ... splendid new bookDAN JONES SUNDAY TIMESA big gold bar of delightSPECTATORSixteen hundred years ago Britain left the Roman Empire and swiftly fell into ruin. Into this violent and unstable world came foreign invaders from across the sea and established themselves as its new masters. In this sweeping and original history renowned historian Marc Morris separates the truth from the legend and tells the extraordinary story of how the foundations of England were laid.Marc Morris is a genius of medieval narrativeIAN MORTIMER author of The Time Travellers Guide to Medieval EnglandBrilliant ... Beautifully written incredibly accessible and deeply researchedJAMES OBRIENA muchneeded book ... A gripping story beautifully toldBERNARD CORNWELL author of The Last KingdomHighly informative and hugely enjoyableIAN HISLOPA vivid sharply drawn story of seven centuries of profound political changeTHOMAS PENN author of The Winter King