The Life and Times of Godwine, Earl of Wessex [first edition]

Godwine, Earl of Wessex dominates the history of England in the second quarter of the eleventh century, accruing enormous power and wealth to himself and his sons, the text book example of an over-mighty subject. This new biography offers an extremely detailed reassessment of his actions and the complex politics of eleventh century northern Europe. It is based on rigorous interrogation of the patchy and often contradictory sources, few of which have anything good to say about Godwine, and unpicks the varying reasons for the widespread demonisation of the earl, particularly under the Normans.