Millennium

Of all the civilisations existing in the year 1000, that of Western Europe seemed the unlikeliest candidate for future greatness. Compared to the glittering empires of Byzantium or Islam, the splintered kingdoms on the edge of the Atlantic appeared impoverished, fearful and backward. But the anarchy of these years proved to be, not the portents of the end of the world, as many Christians had dreaded, but rather the birthpangs of a radically new order.

MILLENNIUM is a stunning panoramic account of the two centuries on either side of the apocalyptic year 1000. This was the age of Canute, William the Conqueror and Pope Gregory VII, of Vikings, monks and serfs, of the earliest castles and the invention of knighthood, and of the primal conflict between church and state. The story of how the distinctive culture of Europe - restless, creative and dynamic - was forged from out of the convulsions of these extraordinary times is as fascinating and as momentous as any in history.

“Tom Holland's Millennium is a wonderful spotlight for a general readership wondering how we got here without knowing where we d come from...Holland has written a rattling book, full of blood, guts and insight. - Good ReadingA mighty narrative of kings and popes, battles and massacres... A tremendously good read. - Sunday Telegraph MagazineHolland excels at narration, never jogging when he can gallop, using generous quotations to convey the mind-set of centuries hagridden with millennial rumours of the end of the world. His highly individual road map to the hitherto dark ages is written with forceful - and convincing - panache.' - Christina Hardyment, IndependentIt is perfectly right for Holland to claim a great deal for the 11th century, of which his book is a splendid, highly coloured canvas.' - Norman Stone, Guardian”

Tom Holland's Millennium is a wonderful spotlight for a general readership wondering how we got here without knowing where we d come from...Holland has written a rattling book, full of blood, guts and insight. - Good Reading

A mighty narrative of kings and popes, battles and massacres... A tremendously good read. - Sunday Telegraph Magazine

Holland excels at narration, never jogging when he can gallop, using generous quotations to convey the mind-set of centuries hagridden with millennial rumours of the end of the world. His highly individual road map to the hitherto dark ages is written with forceful - and convincing - panache.' - Christina Hardyment, Independent

It is perfectly right for Holland to claim a great deal for the 11th century, of which his book is a splendid, highly coloured canvas.' - Norman Stone, Guardian

Tom Holland received a double first from Cambridge. He has adapted Homer, Herodotus, Thucydides and Virgil for BBC Radio. His scholarly style is perfect to reposition him as a writer of non-fiction as well as fiction.

Of all the civilisations existing in the year 1000, that of Western Europe seemed the unlikeliest candidate for future greatness. Compared to the glittering empires of Byzantium or Islam, the splintered kingdoms on the edge of the Atlantic appeared impoverished, fearful and backward. But the anarchy of these years proved to be, not the portents of the end of the world, as many Christians had dreaded, but rather the birthpangs of a radically new order.MILLENNIUM is a stunning panoramic account of the two centuries on either side of the apocalyptic year 1000. This was the age of Canute, William the Conqueror and Pope Gregory VII, of Vikings, monks and serfs, of the earliest castles and the invention of knighthood, and of the primal conflict between church and state. The story of how the distinctive culture of Europe - restless, creative and dynamic - was forged from out of the convulsions of these extraordinary times is as fascinating and as momentous as any in history.

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