Why read The Ecclesiastical History of the English People?

Book cover of The Ecclesiastical History of the English People

Book description

The Ecclesiastical History of the English People (731 AD) is Bede's most famous work.
As well as providing the authoritative Colgrave translation of the Ecclesiastical History, this edition includes a new translation of the Greater Chronicle, in which Bede examines the Roman Empire and contemporary Europe. His Letter to Egbert…

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European history

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Why read it?

1 author picked The Ecclesiastical History of the English People as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Richard Shaw

Author

This is the basic text. You can’t study early Christian Anglo-Saxon England without Bede’s Ecclesiastical History – and why would you want to?

Bede’s History was an instant classic, popular from the moment it was published. Bede’s scholarship and clear prose – as well as his eye for detail, chronology, and a good story – mean this book will always be engaging, intriguing, and relevant.

The version recommended here is an updated translation including an Introduction to get you going with the History, together with some other helpful texts – especially Bede’s Letter to Ecgberht, which is vital for…

From Richard's list on The best books about Bede, his Ecclesiastical History and early Christian Anglo-Saxon England.