Aethelred the Unready (Penguin Monarchs)

<p><b>A major new title in the <i>Penguin Monarchs </i>series </b><br><br>In his fascinating new book in the <i>Penguin Monarchs </i>series, Richard Abels examines the long and troubled reign of Aethelred II the 'Unraed', the 'Ill-Advised'. It is characteristic of Aethelred's reign that its greatest surviving work of literature, the poem <i>The Battle of Maldon, </i>should be a record of heroic defeat. Perhaps no ruler could have stemmed the encroachment of wave upon wave of Viking raiders, but Aethelred will always be associated with that failure.</p> <p><b>A major new title in the <i>Penguin Monarchs </i>series </b><br><br>In his fascinating new book in the <i>Penguin Monarchs </i>series, Richard Abels examines the long and troubled reign of Aethelred II the 'Unraed', the 'Ill-Advised'. It is characteristic of Aethelred's reign that its greatest surviving work of literature, the poem <i>The Battle of Maldon, </i>should be a record of heroic defeat. Perhaps no ruler could have stemmed the encroachment of wave upon wave of Viking raiders, but Aethelred will always be associated with that failure.</p>