A very well researched and detailed history. Ackroyd writes with his usual skill and makes this a riviting read. My only criticisim is that the Prehistoric and Roman periods were covered very quickly, in the space of just two chapters while in the later part of the book each king got his own chapter. I look forward to the rest of the series.

A tough challenge covering all this in one volume but overall an easy read. However, I'm increasingly irritated by the author's inaccurate understanding of north east England. Chapter 4 locates Jarrow in Northumberland when it lies south of the Tyne in Durham. Germanic tribes in East and South Yorkshire are said to form the kingdom of Deira comprising Yorkshire from the Humber to the Tees! (Whatever happened to South Yorkshire?) Aethelfrith, whose kingdom stretches from Durham to Edinburgh and from Derwentwater to Ayrshire, is described as the first king of Northumberland - does the author mean Northumbria? It does make it difficult to follow and to reconcile with other sources. Where was his editor?