The Anglo-Saxons first appeared on the historical scene as Germanic pagan pirates and mercenaries, moving into the declining Roman Empire in the 5th Century AD and forging a series of kingdoms which became 'England'. By the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066, Anglo-Saxon England was one of the most sophisticated states in the medieval West, renowned for its ecclesiastical and cultural achievements.


The written word was of tremendous importance in this transformation. Within a century of the introduction of Christianity and literacy, the book had become a central element of Anglo-Saxon society, and a rich vehicle for cultural and artistic expression.


This new book provides an authoritative introduction to the art of book production in the Anglo-Saxon period and an historical overview of the period by means of its book culture, and illustrates in colour over 140 examples of the finest Anglo-Saxon books in The British Library and other major collections.