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Wessex
- A Captivating Guide to an Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of England and Its Rulers such as Alfred the Great, Edward the Elder, and Athelstan
- Narrated by: Colin Fluxman
- Length: 3 hrs and 16 mins
- Categories: History, Europe
Non-member price: $20.83
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Publisher's Summary
If you want to discover the captivating history of the Wessex, then pay attention...
The Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Wessex was created through conquest by the Germanic tribe known as the Gewisse. For the following 500 years, this kingdom went through various transformations. Some even argue that those transformations were nothing more than the natural development of a society.
However, while the other Anglo-Saxon kingdoms prospered and rose to be a significant power in the region, just to fall from grace and be consumed in the events of the period, Wessex pressed on. It, too, came close to its downfall when it seemed that Mercia, a neighboring kingdom, would prevail in the constant struggle for domination. But Wessex showed that it could thrive even under the pressure of other, much stronger forces.
One of the main reasons for the success of the West Saxons was its leadership. A series of strong kings ruled this kingdom, expanding its borders, maintaining prosperous alliances, and leading their people into a better future. Wessex was one of the richest kingdoms, and it is no wonder that law and education prospered here. The kings of Wessex understood the significance of the written word, and it is from here where most of the written records come, and these records survived the ages to tell us their stories.
In Wessex: A Captivating Guide to an Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of England and Its Rulers such as Alfred the Great, Edward the Elder, and Athelstan, you will discover chapters, such as:
- The Transitional Period
- The Creation of the Kingdom of Wessex
- Problems in the North
- The Expansion of West Saxon Power
- The Royal Brothers
- Alfred the Great (r. 871-886)
- The Great Heathen Army
- Edward the Elder (r. 899-924)
- And much, much more!
So, if you want to learn more about the history of the Wessex, scroll up and click the "buy now" button!
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What listeners say about Wessex
Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Chad D Meek
- 07-09-2020
really great
"Wessex: A Captivating Guide to an Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of England and Its Rulers Such as Alfred the Great, Edward the Elder, and Athelstan" provides an excellent knowledge of an intriguing period of English history. This short book provided a thorough review of a medieval English kingdom.
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- Dixie J Quinn
- 07-09-2020
Great work
A thorough and concise review of Wessex history. The issues of warfare, invasion, establishing rulers, and the influence of religion was well covered. The roles of women were reviewed. This Audible is really helpful.
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- Jesse L Derosa
- 07-09-2020
Good book
The author mentions a lot of good names, battles, and books to research if I want to find out more later, but since they're pretty quick to understand I don't feel overwhelmed while listening to it as I do with some history books.
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- April N Radcliff
- 07-09-2020
I love it
I simply can't get enough of English history. This is the first Captivating History book that I've listen about Ancient England and they are, by far, my favorites. I love that they are quick, but also very informative.
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- Marion Smith
- 07-09-2020
This was a book that I truly enjoyed
This was a book that I truly enjoyed, however, the whole history for Wessex was invigorating. I was completely enthralled, even back when feudalism existed and transfer of power would suddenly cease to exist, there was no guarantee that the sole decision was the correct one. Danish King Cnut in 1016 started with a unified vision of complete and utter autonomy, providing assurances against the crown's inclusion in all of Wessex's affairs. I love history.
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- Carl Smith
- 07-09-2020
This is an excellent audiobook
This is an excellent audiobook about the history of Wessex. Some of the interesting information that this book mentions in it includes the following: The Angelo Saxon Kingdom of Wessex was created through conquest by the German tribe known as Gewisse. Alfred the Great died in the year 899. The year 1066 is often considered the year when Wessex ceased to exist as a political entity. However, it has influenced culture even to this modern day.
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- Patricia S Smith
- 07-09-2020
Well Done
Rarely does a brief historical study educate, entertain, and fulfill all proper citation requirements? “Wessex,” however, has achieved this ambitious goal with resolve. Even the lack either of footnotes or endnotes are solved both through meticulously written references and an academic bibliography that gives listeners the information necessary to conduct further research should they desire.
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- Donald Johnson
- 07-09-2020
Awesome
Captivating History has always accepted the challenge of sharing an expansive history concisely. “Wessex” not only accomplishes this goal in detailing the titular medieval Kingdom of the West Saxons but also elevates the historian’s craft to an apogee in its thorough analysis amid general readership.
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- Edward J Smith
- 07-09-2020
History
I await the Captivating History presentation of the remaining kingdoms of the Saxons in Britain, and I look forward to their fleshing out the larger picture of the world of Saxon Britain in the half-millennium before the arrival of the Normans. Taken together, these will surely be a captivating Guide.
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- Stuart Johnson
- 07-09-2020
interested!
This is my first review of an entity that history calls the heptarchy, the seven kingdoms of the Saxons in Britain, which rose during the five centuries before the Norman Conquest in 1066. As I mentioned in the review of Mercia, the various Saxon kingdoms rose (and fell and rose again) in Britain after the departure of the Romans from that Imperial outpost. The Saxons, Angles, and the Jutes raided and then invaded from the continent, mostly in search of food and then land, and they supplanted the native Briton and Celtic tribal areas.
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- emrys
- 23-09-2020
Interesting.
A book filled with a lot of information portrayed in an interesting manner. A brilliant narrator made the text " live " in the right manner - i. e. the entire book became truly interesting in a way that many history books can become quite dry in performance.
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- Maya J Steele
- 07-09-2020
brilliant!
As an American, I didn’t know England started this mainly just a Celtic‘s and then became a theory of kingdoms and on and on until it all as one kingdom today. There is a lot in between that and history compacted tells you everything I found this book so interesting so many a-ha moments and things I didn’t know. That’s why I love this book.
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- Hannah C Tomlinson
- 07-09-2020
really great
This gave way to modern English that was shared with many other civilizations spanning around the globe. This book is really awesome and helpful. I definitely recommended it to all the history lovers.
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- Elliot A Hilton
- 07-09-2020
there should be another option for stars
This guide indefinitely allows the view of possibilities of past Wessex and future Mercia. From the Germanic tribe conquered to become and influence what England has become today, including Alfred the Great, that died in the year 899, and the year,1066, when Wessex ceased as a political entity, the heavens parted and thus became England. Lasting for more than 500 years. I learned a lot from this Audible.
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- Andrew A Carter
- 07-09-2020
five stars
I'm so glad I found this and all the history books that Captivating History puts out! I love history and learning this, I learned so much about this Kingdom, the history of these two places, I have listened of these places in books, but now I will appreciate the history of these places more when I listen about them in a story! Thank you so much for all of your research and for sharing!
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- Melissa H Garner
- 07-09-2020
wonderful
This book is going to cost me a lot of money...I have been to England several times. I've taken the appropriate tours, visited the recommended museums, and so on. But now I must go back. After listening to this audible, I finally understand some of the more distant aspects of English history that are always mentioned and yet never really explained.
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- Libby Z Slater
- 07-09-2020
Lovely book
"Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms" will please any fan of medieval history with its enticing prose, diligent research, and transparent joy in the subject matter. Whether you have listened none, some, or all of the featured books, you will enjoy exploring the development of these kingdoms that continue to mesmerize.
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- Phoebe K Owen
- 07-09-2020
This excellent book tells about the history
This excellent book tells about the history of Wessex. Some of the interesting information that this book mentions in it includes the following: The Angelo Saxon Kingdom of Wessex was created through conquest by the German tribe known as Gewisse. Alfred the Great died in the year 899. The year 1066 is often considered the year when Wessex ceased to exist as a political entity. This book is great.
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- Mark C Davis
- 07-09-2020
excellent work by the author
The story kept me interested to the end and gave me a greater understanding of the role the Danes had in shaping Wessex culture and history. Great Audible!
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- Rima R Raynor
- 07-09-2020
well done
I didn't know much about Wessex before, if anything really, so this book was very interesting. I learned so much.
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