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  • In Search of the Dark Ages

  • By: Michael Wood
  • Narrated by: Marston York
  • Length: 14 hrs and 27 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (127 ratings)

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In Search of the Dark Ages

By: Michael Wood
Narrated by: Marston York
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Summary

Brought to you by Penguin.

In Search of the Dark Ages is an unrivalled exploration of the origins of English identity, and the best-selling book that established Michael Wood as one of Britain's leading historians. Now, on the book's 40th anniversary, this fully revised and expanded edition illuminates further the fascinating and mysterious centuries between the Romans and the Norman Conquest.

Alongside portraits of Boadicea, King Arthur, Alfred the Great, Athelstan, and William the Conqueror, the story of England is expanded further to include new voices, with all-new chapters on fascinating characters such as Penda of Mercia, Aethelflaed Lady of the Mercians, Hadrian the African, Eadgyth of England and Wynflaed. It's an altogether richer, more varied and inclusive study on the creation of Britain.

Just as it did when it first published 40 years ago, In Search of the Dark Ages overturns preconceptions of the Early Middle Ages as a shadowy and brutal era, showing them to be a richly exciting and formative period in the history of Britain.

©2001 Michael Wood (P)2022 Penguin Audio
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History
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What listeners say about In Search of the Dark Ages

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Very good

Unfortunately pages 53-56 are missing. Hopefully these are the only ones. Narrator is excellent

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Outstanding

A wonderful introduction to the Dark Ages in England which is both informative and entertaining. A masterfully presented standard in popular history. Michael Wood is a treasure.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Issues with editing

A wonderful book by a fabulous author and read beautifully- the editing is a bit dodgy in the first 2 chapters.

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent update on a classic book

reason for 3 stars on performance was purely down to some editing mistakes I think, here and there. At the end of chapter 2 it ends abruptly mid sentence..what was it going to be for the conclusion of the King Arthur story and myth!!

Otherwise I found it excellent and up there for me with Michael Woods best writings. I can highly recommend it.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A wonderful review of history .

I loved it. I have listened 3x and it still fills me with fascination . You feel as if you are in the mind of the shapers of a half millenium .

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

fantastic book

I enjoyed listening to this so much, the narrator is excellent (especially given the unusual names and words to pronounce from old English, Danish etc). I felt the historical figures were really brought to life and given a detailed setting of the times they lived through. if only there was more!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Mostly okay

I'm on a bit of a history binge at the moment, so most of this was familiar enough to be interesting. However, there were several points that where it would have made sense to dive deeper into the primary source material, or examine the conclusions the author made. But instead, the author skimmed over a lot of interesting material e.g. that Harold probably wasn't killed by an arrow to the eye. Still, it was an okay book.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Magnificent.

A seminal work. Accessible, interesting and well read by the narrator. Well worth a listen.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Loved it

I very much enjoyed listening to this. It wasn't overly long, like many historical works can be and wasn't dry and boring. My knowledge of the dark ages isn't great so it was a treat to hear of this period in more detail. Obviously well researched. Of course there were some perhaps and maybes but this is understandable as it was so long ago that there are bound to be gaps in the historical record, the author would admit this instead of just voicing personal opinion as I've seen elsewhere. The narrator was excellent.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent

The book and TV series had a profound effect on me many years ago. This revised Audible book has rekindled my interest in the period once again. A wonderful narration of a fabulous book

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1 person found this helpful