1066 and Rather More follows author Huon Mallalieu in his attempt to recreate the forced march of King Harold’s battle-hardened army in 1066, just before the Norman invasion. The tale of a march from York to Hastings in just twelve days is one which had fascinated Huon for years and this book is an account of the walk he undertook, the people he met on the way, and the history he discovered.
King Harold at Stamford Bridge
Huon’s walk begins at York, from where King Harold and his men recuperated after the Battle of Stamford Bridge in 1066. Weary after a hard fight, they must have been sickened to hear the news that William of Normandy had landed on the Sussex Coast, and they were required to march south to face an invading army.
After a period of training, Huon was ready to begin his walk, and left the city of York behind, following the River Ouse. Throughout his stay, Huon arranged overnight accommodation in a variety of abodes, ranging from a stately home to a spare room. The contrasts between these different experiences make for interesting reading.
King Harold’s March from York to Hastings in 1066
Just as in King Harold’s day, Huon set himself a number of miles to achieve each day, and tried to stick to his target. Throughout the book, which covers the entire journey, the author writes about the landscape and history around him. He writes in a lively and informative style, musing on the characters of the different people he meets, and speculating what life on the road must have been like for Harold and his troops.
Huon is realistic about his trek through history, and how the country must have changed in almost 1,000 years. He discovers many historic sites and intersperses his narrative on the walk with tales from medieval times, and what Harold and his men would have been able to see on their march.
The climax of the work comes, appropriately enough, at a re-enactment of the Battle of Hastings. Here, Huon is able to reflect on his achievements, the sites he has seen and the exertions which Harold and his men must have felt when completing their journey in less than two weeks.
Summary
This is an enjoyable and unusual look at medieval and modern Britain through the eyes of an author who writes in a lively and accessible style. Huon’s honesty throughout the walk makes this a fascinating read, and following his account of the walk is almost like listening to a friend talk.
Publication Details
Mallalieu, Huon 1066 and Rather More [Frances Lincoln Limited, 2009]
ISBN 9780711230484, 239 pages
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