The English and the Normans: Ethnic Hostility, Assimilation, and Identity 1066 - c. 1220

The English and the Normans: Ethnic Hostility, Assimilation, and Identity 1066 - c. 1220

This is an important new study of the impact of the Norman Conquest. It provides the first full explanation of how the English and the Normans merged to become the same people. The author draws on anthropological theory, the latest scholarship on Anglo-Norman England, and sources ranging from legal documents to romances. " Hugh Thomas has written a challenging and rewarding book on a fascinating subject....Thomas has put us all deeply in his debt even where we disagree with him and his assumptions. His book will henceforth be the starting point for discussions of this fascinating topic."-- English Historical Review " The English and the Normans is so rich with detail and challenges that no review can do it justice. Thomas synthesizes analyses of previous scholars while rereading the sources and, in doing so, reveals much about the process of cultural creation. It probably will not be the last word on the subject, but it should be central to the debate. If you study the period or any medieval ethnicity, you will want to have this book on your shelf and return to it often."-- Speculum Explains for the first time how the English and the Normans merged Hugh M. Thomas is at Professor of History, University of Miami.