1066 from a different perspective
Most of us got about 2 paragraphs in history books about William the Conqueror and Battle of Hastings. I thought he was just one more marauding barbarian driven blindly by need for conquest and booty. Not so. This wonderfully readable book reveals the story behind William of Normandy and the fateful year of 1066. He had a long history with King Edward and his successor King Harold and believed he was the rightful heir to the throne.
The best thing about this book, however, is the picture it paints of the ordinary Englishman's life and that time. An appreciation for the trials and tribulations of our ancestors gives me a much fuller appreciation of my life and the endless tenacity of living things to continue despite incredible odds.