The Year 1000

I bought this particular book somewhere around the new millennium. Caught up in the general enthusiasm of the significant moment of time, this book appealed to my inner historian with its question; "What was life like at the turn of the first millennium?"

After my initial enthusiasm buying the book, it lived on a shelf (well, several different shelves) for the next decade or so.  A full third of my life so far... and losing its time-bound significance all the while.  

I can't believe I waited all this time.  What a fantastic book!  The first page was read on Friday past and the last tonight (Monday) which is record breaking time for me - as regular readers of my blog will know from the infrequency of posts about books. I have spent a good few minutes reading back through this blog to double check, and yes, I can now confirm that this is the best book I have ever posted about.

If you decide to give it a go, persevere through the first page, which is surely one of the driest and most off-putting introductions I have ever read.  I can't remember if I have ever tried to read the book before, but I do recognise the quote that precedes the first chapter.  Perhaps I only got to the first page all those years ago.  The quote I remember because as a young history teacher I asked the head of the newly formed history department to stick it on the wall above the history corridor;

I warmly welcome your eager desire to know something of the doings and sayings of the great men of the past, and of our own nation, in particular.

- The Venerable Bede (673 - 735)

I still find the quote electric.  Maybe I'll sneak back into the history department I have long since departed, with spray can in hand, and cover the walls!

Anyway, a couple of pages in, and you'll be hooked.  It lives up to all the reviews printed on the cover.  Fascinating and funny, it is devilishly well written.  A frightening accusation by medieval standards, but my contemporary readers will recognise the complement!  Who knew that a social history book could produce laugh out loud moments?  It happened!

I think one of the best things about this book is the spot on the timeline it examines.  The vast majority of us will remember the Romans from our history lessons, and the smaller number who remember what happened next will think of the Battle of Hastings and Norman feudalism.  The Year 1000 illuminates a hidden and unexplored part of our timeline before the infamous arrow-in-the-eye incident.  So much of the character of our society today, our language and our culture can be seen in development in Anglo-Saxon Engla-lond that I wonder why I haven't read about it before now?  I suppose I don't have time to read all the books... but I'm certainly glad I found time for this one.