A very pleasant walk though history indeed; with a genial guide. The book is sprinkled with interesting historical notes, though I do wish it included more contemporaneous quotes, more detailed maps showing what the areas in question probably looked like 1,000 years ago, more graphics depicting the people and places discussed (especially as some of the people have virtually the same names and it is sometimes hard to keep track of them all), and more about life at the time. But those are quibbles. This is a perfect book to read while sitting by the fire on a rainy day, with a pint of stout or porter at your side. Recommended. ( )