The History of the Anglo-Saxons

Sharon Turner (1768–1847) practised as a solicitor in London specialising in the law of copyright but devoted his free time to studying Anglo-Saxon literature and history. In 1799–1805 he published this four-volume work still acknowledged as a turning point in Anglo-Saxon studies and a benchmark in historiography. Turner was elected a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries in 1800 soon after the first volume appeared. His approach of contrasting ''Anglo-Saxon freedom'' with ''the Norman yoke'' held particular appeal at a time of deteriorating political relations with France. Turner''s lasting achievement however was to draw public attention to the rich and fascinating material contained in the Anglo-Saxon manuscripts he had studied at the British Museum. This work went through many editions but was eventually superseded by Kemble''s The Saxons in England (1849 also reissued). Volume 1 (1799) covers Anglo-Saxon history up to the death of Egbert King of Wessex in 839.