AD1399.One small town in Northumberland.One castle contract. Two apothecaries.Civil war is brewing. Usurpation, rebellion, betrayal, even black magic; these are hard times for the English people. Harder yet for near-destitute apothecary, Harry-the-Cough. Fleeing persecution and trumped-up murder charges, Harry is hunted by the law, jovial cutthroats, confused outlaws and an assassin who cannot die. When a suspected ...

'Spirited and enjoyable' Nicholas HighamOswald had found peace. But now he must fight for the throne.Northumbria lies undefended. Cadwallon and Penda, the kings of Gwynedd and Mercia, ravage the land. Oswald has a rightful claim to the throne, but he is sick of bloodshed, and in his heart he longs to lay down his sword and join the monks of Iona. However, the abbot of Iona does not need another monk; the abbot wants a warrior king to spread...

Why is the North East the most distinctive region of England? Where do the stereotypes about North Easterners come from, and why are they so often misunderstood? In this wideranging new history of the people of North East England, Dan Jackson explores the deep roots of Northumbrian culture--hard work and heavy drinking, sociability and sentimentality, militarism and masculinity--in centuries of border warfare and dangerous and demanding work in industry, at sea and underground. He explains...

Inspired by the Old English Rune Poem, Northumbrian Rune Poems centres its focus on the Early Medieval English Futhorc runerows with additional attention paid to the four runes that were in use in Northumrbia. Mixing free verse poetry with kennings found within Old Norse and Old English poetry, Northumbrian Rune Poems is a magical read that breathes new life into an otherwise neglected runerow. Alongside each poem is an Old English adaptation written in a Northumbrian dialect using Old Eng...

In common with many teenage railway enthusiasts on Tyneside in the late 1970s and early 1980s, Colin Alexander clocked up hundreds of miles per day travelling on a variety of classic diesel trains, especially their beloved Deltics. October half-term week 1979, for example, saw him cover just under 3,000 miles. How did they afford this? The answer is that good old British Rail always had bargains on offer, with the Northumbrian Ranger ticket being the ultimate example. At that time, the pri...

In all of the literature on Anglo-Saxon England, rarely has the question of social class been confronted head-on. The Anglo-Saxon Elite: Northumbrian Society in the Long Eighth Century draws upon recent research into topics such as religious practice, emotions, daily life, and intellectual culture to investigate how the aristocracy of Northumbria maintained social dominance over wider society. Moreover, this monograph suggests that the crisis that brought an end to Northumbria as ...

In "St. Cuthbert's," Robert E. Knowles embarks on an evocative exploration of the life and legacy of St. Cuthbert, a revered figure in early Christian Britain. Through a blend of historical narrative and lyrical prose, Knowles intricately weaves the saint's life story with the socio-political landscape of 7th-century Northumbria. His vivid characterizations and attention to detail create a rich tapestry that captures the essence of devotion, pilgrimage, and the clash between paganism and C...

"Edwin, High King of Britain, brings to life the heroic age of our distant past, a splendid novel that leaves the reader wanting more." Bernard CornwellDebut historical fiction series vividly recreating the rise of the Christian kings of Northumbria, EnglandIn 604 AD, Edwin, the deposed king of Northumbria, seeks refuge at the court of King Raedwald of East Anglia. But Raedwald is urged to kill his guest by Aethelfrith, Edwin's usurper. As ...

'Edoardo Albert’s book is brilliant: hugely enjoyable, a galloping plot with characters I care about – exactly the sort of thing I love to read. . . . This was a joy to read from start to finish.' Conn Iggulden, author of the Conqueror and Emperor series.Oswald’s head is on a spike. Can Oswiu avoid the same fate?The great pagan king Penda set a trap, and when the brothers Oswiu and Oswald walked in, only one came back alive.Rumours ...

The Northumbrians have been overlooked by British and global history, but they’ve made astonishing contributions to both. Dan Jackson sets out to recover this lost history, exploring the deep roots of Northumbrian culture—hard work and heavy drinking, sociability and sentimentality, militarism and masculinity—through centuries of border warfare and dangerous industry. He explains what we can learn about Northumbria’s people from its landscape and architecture, and revisits the Northumbrian...

A unique collection of traditional Northumbrian music arranged for fingerstyle guitar. Selections include Salmon Tails Up the Water; Johnny Armstrong; Jimmy Allen; Felton Lonnen; Sir John Fenwick; Bonny Gallowgate Lad; Buy Broom Besoms; Elsie Marley; Sweet Hesleyside; Chevy Chase; Lea Riggs; Noble Squire Dacre; Dolia; Are You My Hinny Burd; and more. Each piece is written in standard notation and tablature and includes brief technical and performance notes.

Letter writing in the Northumbrian Kingdom offers the first comprehensive study of Northumbria’s vibrant epistolary culture in the seventh and eighth centuries. Through a close examination of more than fifty surviving Latin letters—many written by or to figures such as Bede, Acca of Hexham, Ælfflæd of Whitby, and Alcuin —this book uncovers the literary, political, and spiritual dimensions of early medieval correspondence. From royal diplomacy to theological debate, these letters r...