Book Review: The Coming of the Saxons
Tony Sullivan’s The Coming of the Saxons is a lively and accessible journey into one of the most fascinating turning points in Britain’s past: the end of Roman rule and the rise of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms. Rather than presenting the period as a shadowy “Dark Age,” Sullivan fills it with texture, character, and drama, showing how ordinary people, migrating warbands, and ambitious leaders shaped the island’s destiny.
One of the real strengths of the book is how it brings Kent into the spotlight. Often overlooked in broad histories, Kent is shown here as a cradle of the new world that was emerging after Rome. We learn how Æthelberht of Kent rose to power, “king of a firmly-established Anglo-Saxon kingdom in Kent, possibly the first of the Germanic kingdoms”. Sullivan makes it clear that Kent wasn’t just another petty kingdom on the map – it was a trailblazer, both politically and spiritually, paving the way for the later Christianisation of England.
The book also captures Kent’s unique geography and role as Britain’s gateway to the continent. From the Isle of Thanet, where Hengest and Horsa are said to have first landed, to Canterbury, which would become a religious capital, Kent was at the heart of the changes that defined this era. Sullivan explains how a relatively small number of newcomers could shift the balance of power, intermingling with the local population and building something new.
What makes this book especially appealing is its ability to balance scholarship with storytelling. Sullivan draws on archaeology, ancient chronicles, and DNA evidence, but he never lets the detail bog the reader down. Instead, he creates a narrative that moves with energy, as gripping as it is informative.
The quote about Æthelberht’s early rule in Kent stays with you: “By this date Æthelberht was king of a firmly-established Anglo-Saxon kingdom in Kent, possibly the first of the Germanic kingdoms.” It’s a reminder that the seeds of England were first planted in a small corner of the southeast.
Overall, The Coming of the Saxons is both enjoyable and enlightening. It will appeal to anyone curious about how Britain transformed after Rome, and especially to readers with an interest in Kent’s pivotal role in that story.
If you want to buy a copy of this book you can buy it direct from Pen and Sword Books.
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