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A review by lewis_wf
Britain in the Middle Ages: An Archaeological History by Francis Pryor
2.0
2.5-3
So, there are two levels to this. (1) The first half of the book is mostly pretty boring, because Pryor does not engage with the archaeology itself but rather indulges in pretty yawn inducing examinations, and personal anecdotes, of the politics of archaeology and the various events and issues surrounding it. As a casual reader, which this book is very much marketed towards, I just...don't..care that much. I found parts of it interesting, such as the move from charity funded digs to commercial digs with the adoption of new planning laws (if only for gaining another random fact) but really I just wanted to know more about Saxon and Medieval life. (2) Thankfully, as the book progresses (especially in the last 25%) Pryor picks up the pace and a sizeable amount of truly interesting recent (as of 2004) discoveries are outlined to comprehensively squash certain perceptions about medieval Britain being a sort of back water swamp.
Yet, it could have been half the length and been significantly more enjoyable...so who knows. Maybe it should be adapted (if not already) into a series of column articles or blog posts by Pryor, with a more laser focus.
So, there are two levels to this. (1) The first half of the book is mostly pretty boring, because Pryor does not engage with the archaeology itself but rather indulges in pretty yawn inducing examinations, and personal anecdotes, of the politics of archaeology and the various events and issues surrounding it. As a casual reader, which this book is very much marketed towards, I just...don't..care that much. I found parts of it interesting, such as the move from charity funded digs to commercial digs with the adoption of new planning laws (if only for gaining another random fact) but really I just wanted to know more about Saxon and Medieval life. (2) Thankfully, as the book progresses (especially in the last 25%) Pryor picks up the pace and a sizeable amount of truly interesting recent (as of 2004) discoveries are outlined to comprehensively squash certain perceptions about medieval Britain being a sort of back water swamp.
Yet, it could have been half the length and been significantly more enjoyable...so who knows. Maybe it should be adapted (if not already) into a series of column articles or blog posts by Pryor, with a more laser focus.