Folly and fortune in early British history

"Many questions are examined in Folly and Fortune in Early British History, in which Kenneth Henshall attempts to restore human beings, with all their human failings and eccentricities, to a central role in history. In particular, he turns the spotlight on human folly and its decisive influence on some of the key events and epochal turning-points in British history between Caesar's invasion and the Norman Conquest." "Many historians believe it impossible to evaluate folly in a bygone age, but Henshall disagrees, taking the reader through the most momentous events of the Roman, Saxon, and Viking eras, and examining the decisions of some of the leading actors involved. By casting a fresh eye over apparently familiar territory, he demonstrates the inaccuracy of many popular assumptions about the wisdom or foolishness of these prominent historical figures." "Folly and Fortune in Early British History concludes each section with a series of provocative questions, encouraging the reader to place themselves at that point in time and consider the alternative options besides."--Jacket.