History, we’re often told, is written by the victors. But in the BBC’s latest offering, King & Conqueror, history is rewritten by screenwriters who appear to have skimmed a Wikipedia stub, lit a few candles in a cowshed, and declared themselves medievalists. The premise was promising. Harold Godwinson versus William the Bastard - England’s last … Continue reading King & Conqueror: A Royal Mess of Mud, Murk, and Misfires
Tag: Normans
The Saxon Spirit in a Modern Age: Kipling’s The Norman and the Saxon
Rudyard Kipling’s The Norman and the Saxon is a poem steeped in history, but it also serves as a stark and prophetic warning. On the surface, it appears to be a study of the differences between the Norman conquerors and the Saxons they subdued, but beneath the historical veneer lies a commentary on resilience, justice, … Continue reading The Saxon Spirit in a Modern Age: Kipling’s The Norman and the Saxon