Viking Warrior vs Anglo-Saxon Warrior: England 865–1066 (Combat)

This Osprey Combat series #27 "Viking Warrior versus Anglo-Saxon Warrior" by Gareth Williams focuses on the two-century contest between the established Anglo-Saxon kingdoms and the Norse raiders-turned-conquerors from 865 AD to 1066 AD. It contains all the usual, excellent Osprey illustrations, photos and color plates.The author begins with a brief introduction into the dawn of the Viking age when the first raiders came ashore at Lindisfarne and how the raids increased in size and intensity until they were in control of half of England. The author methodically recounts how the opposing sides recruited/marshaled forces, each side's leadership and organization, mobility and logistics, objectives and strategies and formations/tactics used on the battlefield. There are color plates which compare Viking and Anglo-Saxon weaponry and equipment.Williams then analyzes three battles for which there is a good amount of written history. The author looks at the battles in as methodical a fashion as the comparison of the two sides. There are good maps showing movement for forces, there are summaries of the campaign and there is a good description of the course of the battle. The author gives a good interpretation of the period accounts. At the end, Williams offers his analysis and thoughts on the aftermath of the contest.I was impressed by the way the author went about looking at both sides, their advantages and disadvantages. The two sides were very similar in terms of equipment and fighting style. The Anglo-Saxons created a more sophisticated governing system to best use resources, but Viking leadership tended to be better (naturally, since a raiding or invading band led by successful commanders attracted more recruits than less successful ones).The singular advantage of this contest was the strategic mobility advantage of the Viking ships which could navigate across the North Sea and also make their way up rivers. They could literally appear out of nowhere to raid a monastery or take a town intact before most local defense forces could react. To be noted, the more successful Anglo-Saxon leaders such as Alfred the Great created navies of their own.This is a good, short work on the subject, lavishly illustrated with excellent research. If there's anything that gave me cause to question, it was the presentation of the "shield wall" as a phalanx-like, formal formation where individual members "locked shields" like the Greek phalanx. Nonetheless, this is a really good summary on the subject in an accessible and visually impressive package.

Good work, for what it covers. It doesn't go much into the history of the conflicts, focusing mainly on the men and their weaponry. The Vikings and Anglo-Saxons were more evenly matched than I had thought, and the Anglo-Saxons actually held their own in many battles. Plenty of illustrations and photographs. Decent part of the series that makes me want to read more of them.

This book was good and if you like it you could go on to other historical books that can be specific on other related subjects.

Extremely well done. Explains the use of the shield wall in these battles. Vikings usually won during the period covered in this book. Made me want to buy more books in the Osprey Combat series. Have not been disappointed.

Like all of the books recently purchased, I find the illustrations and photos of great use. Lester

The edition I received had blanks where illustrations should have appeared and much of the text was inconclusive speculation. It wasn't the definitive work I had hoped for.

Typically good Osprey book.

Book was very informative. It answered many questions I had about that time in history.

An excellent book. Part of a wider series and on the strength of this one I'll definitely be getting more. I must admit I wasn't impressed by the cover (it looks somewhat childish and is different to that displayed on Amazon), but the contents more than make up for it - shades of don't judge a book by its cover! The author Gareth Williams, is curator of the British museum and he definitively knows his 'stuff' and conveys it in an interesting and easily read way. Good battles details, and well laid out. Definitively pleased

The book is historically well documented and precise and the illustrations are superb. An excellent product at a reasonable price.

Well laid out details about battles. Given as a gift.

Ok . Well written.

Great reference book