R.A.J. Waddingham First Kings review and information, Forged by Vikings in England and Norway. History Press will publish this book by R.A.J. Waddingham, the British historian on January 29 in 2026. Here you can read information about the content of the book, the author and the publication.
R.A.J. Waddingham First Kings review
Whenever a book review of First Kings, Forged by Vikings in England and Norway, history book by R.A.J. Waddingham, appears in the media, we highlight it on this page.
First Kings
Forged by Vikings in England and Norway
- Author: R.A.J. Waddingham (England)
- Book type: English history, Viking history
- Publisher: History Press
- To be released: January 29, 2026
- Length: 192 pages
- Format: paperback / ebook
- Prize: £ 22.99 / £ 12.99
- Order book from: Amazon / Bol
Blurb of the book about the history of Medieval Viking England
Forget 1066 – the making of England began over a century earlier.
When Viking armies first over-wintered in England, they opened a century of conflict and ambition. In Norway, Harald Fairhair rose from a regional chieftain to become its first king, while in England Alfred the Great preserved Wessex from conquest and laid the foundations for unity. His successors, Edward the Elder and Athelstan, extended that vision, leading to the creation of a single English kingdom after Athelstan’s decisive victory at Brunanburh in 937.
Meanwhile, Harald’s heirs struggled for Norway. Eric Bloodaxe briefly claimed the crown before being overthrown by his brother Hakon, fostered at Athelstan’s court. Exiled to Britain, Eric ruled in York until his violent death in 954, ending Norse kingship in England.
This is the turbulent century when kings rose and fell, and when England and Norway first took shape amid rivalry, warfare and shifting alliances.
R.A.J. Waddingham is a retired consulting actuary and an Honorary Fellow of Royal Holloway, University of London. He was awarded a CBE in the Birthday Honours of 2012 for services to pensions. In 2019 he completed a Graduate Certificate in Historical Research, with merit, at Birkbeck, University of London.
